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TresSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:11:06 -0700

"I tell you, if there's anything worse than dealing with a staunch woman . . .
S-T-A-U-N-C-H. There's nothing worse, I'm telling you."

-Little Edie Beale

If you're not familiar with the fantastically crazy hermits of East Hampton (cousins of Jackie O.), check out the buzz on documentary-turned-movie Grey Gardens and click here to see the clip from the original documentary.

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Casa Interview: Grey Gardens Set Designer Kalina Ivanov

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:13 -0700

In a Love It or Hate It poll, I asked for your opinion on the sets of the HBO movie Grey Gardens. You overwhelmingly loved them, just as I did. The film, which focuses on "Big Edie" (played by Jessica Lange) and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale (played by Drew Barrymore), and their home, Grey Gardens, is currently playing on HBO, and the DVD will be available in July. The film's beautiful look is courtesy of designer Kalina Ivanov. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Kalina about how she crafted the set of Grey Gardens, and how the designs developed.

CasaSugar: You had to imagine much of the original look of Grey Gardens. What was the most challenging part of this re-imagining?

Kalina Ivanov: Grey Gardens is one of the most intriguing and challenging projects of my career. There is a large fan base of the original documentary and Little Edie is a true icon in the gay community. I had a huge responsibility of getting the look right. The house needed to be both authentic and poetic. The director, Michael Suscy, spent three years researching the project, and he had a treasure trove of images, articles, and architectural drawings. However, we didn’t have images of what the interiors looked like in the 1930s, only the exteriors. We did have a verbal description Little Edie wrote many years later, but . . . as you know she isn’t a very reliable source. That left Michael and I with much room for interpretation. My main goal was to create an environment that captured the Edies' spirit perfectly.

CasaSugar: The original pre-decrepit Grey Gardens set has a very bohemian feel to it; were you inspired by any art, movies, or cultural happenings from that time?

Kalina Ivanov: On my interview, I brought Michael an image of a purple French Art Deco room. He immediately fell in love with it and this image became the base for our design concept. I felt strongly that since Big Edie was a Bouvier by birth, her taste would be influenced by European design. American Art Deco style is much more masculine and geometric; European Art Deco is fluid and organic.

I also wanted to introduce the idea of a garden inside the house, which is why we painted Big Edie’s bedroom with trees and birds. An astute viewer would notice that the colors of that room are yellow and pale turquoise. These colors show up later as the famous yellow bedroom and turquoise staircase in the documentary.

For the rest of the interview, read more.

CasaSugar: I love the use of Chinoiserie in the set. Tell me about how you decided to use it.

Kalina Ivanov: Good question - it was the one element Michael and I kept from Little Edie’s description of her home. Chinoiserie was very popular in the 1930s, and according to Edie, they had many Chinese antiques around the house.

CasaSugar: On the set, there's a plant inside a bird cage; was this inspired by the light bulb inside the birdcage that was from the original house?

Kalina Ivanov: Actually, Michael and I wanted to do something unexpected to show the non-conformist spirit of Big Edie. We thought putting a plant inside the cage is whimsical and not exactly what a proper society woman would do.

CasaSugar: What furniture and décor sources did you use for the set?

Kalina Ivanov: Most of the furniture was antique; all the paintings were from the period or earlier. We did buy some Chinese pieces of furniture and aged them to look older. We used different vendors from Toronto (the film was shot here) and Montreal. For the wallpaper, we used sources like Second Hand Rose in New York. We also made some of the furniture - the beds in the yellow room are so well known from the documentary, they had to be re-created.

CasaSugar: What's your favorite room in the house?

Kalina Ivanov: Short answer - all of them. Long answer - Big Edie’s bedroom because I created it from scratch. There was no photographic evidence of what it had looked like or a verbal description. People seem to love the purple room too; I’ve received many calls and emails asking me what color we used. I guess we started a trend of purple rooms across America.

CasaSugar: What was the most challenging part about deconstructing/aging the house?

Kalina Ivanov: Making it look real and not too theatrical. I wanted the audience to feel the authenticity of the decay, to be able to smell the cat piss and the raccoon stench.

CasaSugar: What era do you consider your greatest inspiration or interest in terms of interior decorating?

Kalina Ivanov: It depends on the nature of the film. I love Art Deco and Art Nouveau. At the same time I also love minimalist design. I think of myself as a storyteller, so for each film, I choose a design style that tells the best story. That’s how I arrived at European Art Deco as the inspiration for Grey Gardens.

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Facinelli on Pattinson, Ashlee on Bronx, Hunter on Zac, and More at Showtime, CW, and CBS Party!

Molly — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:00:37 -0700

The stars of Showtime, the CW, and CBS came together at their TCA party in Pasadena last night. The Huntington Library was bursting with celebrities from all three networks who mixed and mingled at the gorgeous venue. Ashlee Simpson-Wentz looked perfectly petite in her sexy dress as she told us about how well-behaved Bronx is these days. Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth both had shows to promote, though Peter was also happy to chat about feeling like Robert Pattinson at Twi-Con and heading back to work in Vancouver today!

Weeds hottie Hunter Parrish was happy to joke around about not having any sexy scenes this week though admitted that his comments about High School Musical were totally blown out of proportion: "You know what's funny? I talked about that three years ago when it was relevant and now that it's not relevant at all everyone's talking about it." AnnaLynne McCord is always a blast to chat with and she was so excited to dish on the new season and her desires for a Gossip Girl crossover. Check out all the quotes after the jump and more coming soon!

To see lots more from the party and read what Peter Facinelli had to say about Rob, Ashlee about Bronx, and AnnaLynne about Gossip Girl just read more.

Peter Facinelli on Twi-Con: "It was phenomenal! It was probably the biggest event I've been to. 3000 fans from all over. I had a woman come in from Colombia. Another woman came in from Germany. It was pretty amazing. I don't know a lot of fans who would fly in from other countries for a weekend. At one point we were doing a Q & A and we were throwing paper airplanes into the audience that had the casts' signature on them. So I wanted to try and get one in the back [of the room], so I decided to run it to the back. It seemed like a good idea, but halfway through it got really scary. I don't know how I made it back. I thought to myself - now I know what Robert Pattinson feels like."
Ashlee on bringing Bronx to set: "He does [come to set a lot]. He's incredible. He's such a big boy. He's amazing! He's attempting to walk. I can hold him as he tries to walk - he's only eight months. He's learning fast. He's growing! He's such a big boy, it's good. He's nice and healthy and a happy baby, which you couldn't ask for more.
AnnaLynne on her dream Gossip Girl crossover: "I am still sticking to the Gossip Girl crossovers that need to happen. Naomi goes to New York. Beverly Hills girl falls in love with the bad boy - Chuck Bass and Naomi Clark. I very much adore Leighton Meester and that story line with Blair and Chuck but Naomi could come spice it up a little! Why not?
Kevin Williamson on keeping up with cast of Dawson's Creek: "Kerr Smith drove me here. I had lunch with James a couple of weeks ago and we vowed to stay in touch so we've been texting. The only one I haven't seen in a while is Michelle, who is in New York. I see Katie in LA."

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Images include: Kevin Nealon, Jennifer Carpenter, AnnaLynne McCord, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Elle Macpherson, Jamie Kennedy, Jenna Elfman, Jennie Garth, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Stroup, Patricia Arquette, Peter Facinelli, Sara Paxton, Shenae Grimes, Simon Baker, Sophia Bush, C.S. Lee, Diablo Cody, Edie Falco, Hunter Parrish, James Remar, John Corbett, John Lithgow, Michael C. Hall, Robert Greenblatt, Rosemarie DeWitt, Toni Collette,Tracey Ullman, Robert Buckley, Laura Leighton, Grant Show, Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Jenna Elfman, Allie Grant, Sofia Vassilieva

Drew and Her Grey Gardens Score Big With Emmy Nominations

PopSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore was back on the set of Going the Distance Tuesday in NYC, and she spent yesterday afternoon strolling with Justin Long. This morning she has reason to celebrate with the news that her Grey Gardens received 17 Emmy nominations. She was dedicated to her role of Little Edie, and she's up for Best Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, as is Jessica Lange, her close friend and costar in the HBO film - ICYMI, here's the full list of nominees. The awards show is still two months away, but in the meantime we can take a glimpse at Drew's directorial debut in the brand new trailer for Whip It!

To see more Justin and Drew just read more.

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On the Market: Grey Gardens For Summer Rental

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:24 -0700

Grey Gardens, the once squalor-filled Hamptons mansion that was the home of "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, aunt and first cousin of Jackie O., and the subject of HBO's recent flick of the same name, can be yours for $30,000 this Summer. Current owners journalist Sally Quinn and husband Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee are renting out their East Hampton mansion from August 28 to Labor Day. Thirty thousand for 11 days in a former garbage-strewn home? Well, the turn-of-the-century house has since undergone an intensive renovation, and Long Island is nice in the Summer. See postrestoration photos of the home from a 1984 issue of Architectural Digest when you read more.

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Drew Isn't Afraid of Red Carpet Annihilation at Grey Gardens

Molly — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore perfectly looked the part at the premiere of Grey Gardens in NYC last night. She was joined by costars Jessica Lange - who looked great after her recent fall - and Jeanne Tripplehorn. It was a rainy night in Manhattan but the HBO movie's stars smiled big on the red carpet. Drew Barrymore's maybe on-again boyfriend and definitely repeat costar Justin Long also came out to support the film. On the red carpet Drew talked about taking on the role and how she related to her character:

On her red carpet fashion: "People get annihilated if people don’t like what they’re wearing, but then they dress plain to not get annihilated and then that’s boring. So I don’t care what people say I want to have fun with fashion."
On playing Little Edie: "I only care about if she thinks that I did right by her. And I lived and breathed her for three months, I cut off myself from the rest of the world to literally understand really being isolated in life and not live in a world with technology and to not have friends and family in abundance around me and I just kept thinking, 'I just want to honor you, I just want to honor you, I just want to honor you.'"
On missing playing the part: "The whole thing was challenging and scary. I’ve never been so terrified in my life [as when I was] pulling off Little Edie. . . I think one of my favorite things about her is her - and maybe it’s a character flaw, but I find it wonderful - is that she’s not afraid to show her emotions. She’s not afraid to be childlike. She’s not afraid to dance around a room. She’s not afraid to be angry. She’s not afraid to be vulnerable and quiet and calm and sad and to have that level of range as a human being I just find that rather interesting."

Grey Gardens premieres this Saturday on HBO. To see more from the premiere including Kristen Wiig, Justin Long, Stanley Tucci and others just read more.

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Images include: Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kristen Wiig, Justin Long, Rudy Guiliani, Stanley Tucci, Jimmy Fallon

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Love It or Hate It? HBO's Grey Gardens Interiors

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:33:00 -0700

Over the weekend, I watched the HBO movie Grey Gardens, which dovetails with the 1975 documentary by Albert and David Maysles of the same name. The film focuses on "Big Edie" (played by Jessica Lange) and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale (played by Drew Barrymore), who live out their later years in a decrepit, squalor-filled Hamptons mansion. While the set and costume design was amazing throughout the film, I found the decaying, garbage-strewn mansion of the Beales' later years as compelling to look at as the intact, perfectly put-together mansion of the past. Were you equally interested in the interiors of this film?

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On Our Radar: Designers Inspired by Grey Gardens

FabSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:00:22 -0700

If you're going to watch HBO's Grey Gardens, look forward to seeing a bevy of beautiful (and kooky) costumes worn by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. For those of you who don't know, Grey Gardens follows the eccentric, isolated, and crazy lives of of "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, aunt and first cousin to Jackie Onassis, played by Lange and Barrymore.

As for the costumes, they'll be dazzling since they mirror the Beales' unique sense of style. "You’re recreating iconic people. [The style] has been covered so many times and in so many different ways by designers,” said Grey Gardens costume designer, Catherine Marie Thomas, who also mentioned that many of the costumes were found at various vintage shops while others were virtual knock-offs from the original documentary. Such looks include a floral brown and yellow maillot worn by Drew Barrymore which is the same print as the original. “We were lucky that a fan of Grey Gardens had collected that bathing suit,” said Thomas. In fact, designers have been so inspired by this movie, they've created pieces replicating the Beales' one-of-a-kind style that spanned from the 1930s to the 1970s.

To see outfits inspired by the film, read more.

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Drew Barrymore Dresses in Red and Talks Grey

PopSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Drew Barrymore goes for the tousled hair look on the April cover of W Magazine. The actress is continuing her promotions for Grey Gardens, which is premiering April 18 on HBO. In the interview she talks about how this role is different for her, and we also get a look at what Cameron Diaz has to say about her friend. Here's more:

On playing Edie: "I was excited to bring my own pain to something. I mean, contrary to my happy-go-luckiness, I have so much darkness in there. Playing Edie, I felt like s---. I thought, I’m afraid beyond anything I’ve ever known. I’m miserable; I’m scared; I feel sick all the time. And I was like, Good! At least I have somewhere to put it. You know what? I’m not f---in’ happy all the time. I like making people feel good, but it was great not to have to please anybody. I was out there for myself and for her."
On her ex, Fabrizio Moretti: "[That was] one of the most, if not the most, important relationships I’ve had in my life. We’re still very close. I’m just learning who I am and how relationships work and how to make them function. No different from anyone else."
Cameron Diaz on why Drew's determination shouldn't be underestimated: "She has that delicate little jaw, you know? But she’s like a pit bull. You can’t shake her loose."

Drew sounds excited to be taking on new challenges, and we're glad that she and Cameron are still BFF despite recent rumors that they'd grown apart.

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Which Drew Barrymore Grey Gardens Look Is Most Fab?

FabSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:50:22 -0700

The much-anticipated Grey Gardens is premiering Saturday night on HBO - are you gonna watch?! Drew Barrymore channeled her stylish, inner "Little Edie" during her promotion circuit this week wearing an abundance of sensational ensembles. The adorable actress showed off her experimental side in a flattering striped dress by Narciso Rodriguez; old Hollywood glamour in an Alberta Ferretti nude gown; bohemian chic in a white, '60s-inspired frock by Andrew GN; and avant-garde appeal in a dramatic Giambattista Valli creation. I know my favorite Drew look, which is yours?

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