At Home with Rhonda Shear
Hollywood bombshell, lingerie mogul, former Playboy model, actress and comedy queen Rhonda Shear lives in Snell Isle when she’s not pitching her intimate apparel on HSN, doing good deeds or promoting her new hilarious memoir “Up All Night.” With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I asked Rhonda and husband Van Fagan how they keep the sizzle in their Valentine’s Day celebration. Between touring her luxury downtown St. Pete home (which she calls her “Barbie Dream House”) and talking about her New Orleans to Las Vegas to Tampa journey and her new book, we couldn’t stop laughing. In her funny, naughty, candid book Shear shares the unforgettable story of a woman who was always “up to something”—too pretty, too funny, too ethnic, too blonde—to achieve anything, but who ended up achieving everything. Packed with vivid characters, hilarious stories and wisdom for women of all ages, “Up All Night”, proves that when it comes to achieving your dreams, the only voice that matters is your own, and her business/life tips resonate as the real deal. First up, it was time for romance. “I always love Valentine’s Day and when I hosted “Up All Night” late night movie show, it was huge for us and in the lingerie business, Valentine’s Day is the apex, although I like to say that every day should be boudoir dress up day!” says Shear. How do she and Van like to celebrate? In addition to both being incredible home cooks who enjoy hipping up a romantic meal, topped off with good bubbly (Veuve Cliquot, of course and chocolate strawberries), they like dating and a romantic dinner. “We love Rococo Strak Restaurant, it’s so romantic and intimately dark, and the food is amazing and in Tampa, we love Capital Grille.” Shear’s home décor is “romantic, eclectic style.” With a fabulous Snell Isle bay view from the backyard, they overlook an alfresco haven complete with pool and their 52-foot yacht for cruising to the Keys or Sarasota. Van and Rhonda live there with their four Chihuahuas and one Yorkie, her “little heartbeats” and the inspiration for her latest philanthropic effort as an SPCA Tampa Bay Ambassador. “Each room is uniquely interesting and eclectic and part of our personality,” says Shear about the 10,000 square foot home with four bedrooms. “We’ve repurposed the three bedrooms and rooms in unique ways.” [uam_ad id=”29782″] “For example, we created a complete art deco home entertainment theater. Local artist Jeff Walling painted art deco canvases of old movie posters and the Hollywood sign covers a window like a black out shade. With eight leather chairs and state-of-the-art sound system, it’s where everyone wants to hang out.” They turned another bedroom into the “Zen Room,” a spa with candles, Buddhas and beautiful Asian artwork, a spa bed, high-end massage chair and cabinet with all the spa oils and creams. With a penchant for play and entertaining guests, Shear created a billiard room, and when the grandkids visit, the pool table converts to a ping pong table. Who’s the better pool player? “Van of course,” she laughs. “For charity events, we’ve covered the pool table with black velvet and shown amazing jewelry, even the Dali brought jewels never seen in the museum to the house with a security guard, of course.” Under the spiral staircase is a little round room Shear calls “my speakeasy game room,” stocked with games (poker table, Clue, Monopoly, checkers) and framed in beautiful heavy green velvet drapes with rope tie-backs. The cozy hideaway stars another of Jeff Walling’s 40-foot canvas’s showcasing his Florida vision of Monet’s water lilies, filled with mangroves and Florida birds Shear transformed the laundry/sewing room into a beauty salon and green room for photo shoots and make-up sessions. Even the mobile dog groomer sets up here, and a refrigerator full of bubbly water and soda makes it a “den for women” she calls “Spa Eukie.” Her romantic styling wafts through the house. In the living room is an elegant white couch and a teinway grande piano is the center of the Grand Salon, where she hosts 300-person fundraisers and where she and Van renewed their wedding vows. There’s a high ceiling den with a Chihuly-esque chandelier and a formal dining room that seats twelve guests comfortably. “I love tablescapes,” says Shear. The kitchen is the heart of the home with an antique wooden table from Paris, a butler area and three sinks plus a prep sink. Next to the kitchen is a stand-alone bar with 12 barstools and a pub table that’s “bigger than most bars, all mahogany, hand-built,” says Shear. The house also features three balconies, a three-room master bedroom that doubles as a den/office with a two-sided fireplace, a full gym with dance barre, a steam room and a mother-in-law guest suite with bath and kitchen. “Good thing because I will be kicking up the exercise routine now that I’ve signed to be one of Nutrasystem’s online influencers.” Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell to Lingerie Mogul, Life Lessons from an Accidental Feminist is available on www.Amazon.com. (All photos courtesy of Rhonda Shear )
Home: Creating Extraordinary Spaces Hot Trends for Fall 2016
From beautiful area rugs to spacious eat-in kitchens and weatherproof cabinets that look like wood, Tampa Bay’s design experts give readers a peek at the latest new trends for kitchens, baths and outdoor rooms. Minimalist Luxury “Easy, comfortable living with a focus on ‘luxe’ minimalism, clean lines and simplicity is the new vibe,” says John Cannon, president of John Cannon Homes. Natural, organic elements are mixing with contemporary materials, especially wood, steel and glass. Master bathrooms are evolving into high-end spa retreats, where large tubs take center stage, almost like a work of art or sculpture. In the kitchen, distinctive tiles are adding pizzazz, while the traditional triangle design is giving way to the idea of “work zones” where storage and entertainment are the priorities, says Cannon. New trends utilize clean white cabinetry as the base palate of color for the kitchen. To contrast the white cabinetry, bold colors are incorporated into areas such as tile backsplash, countertop selection, and hardware. For added glamour and elegance, highlight the upper tier of kitchen cabinetry with glass doors and LED lighting. Other popular trends include wood floors and contrasting butcher-block island countertops, larger farm sinks and commercial grade appliances for those who love to cook. It’s All About the Comfort Erik Hughes of Don Hughes Construction says kitchens and baths are the two areas where homeowners are willing to make a major investment to get the comfort they want. A recent project Hughes did in Tampa is a good example. An all-white master bath features stunning white statuary quality marble countertops, polished chrome fixtures, marble flooring and marble wall tiles, some of which extend from floor to ceiling. An oversize freestanding tub stands in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. The master bedroom is equally lavish with a morning bar that includes sink, dishwasher and icemaker, as well as coffee maker and under-the-counter refrigerator. “You don’t even have to go downstairs; just grab a cup of coffee and sit on the patio overlooking the water,” says Hughes. It’s the ultimate Florida lifestyle. Kitchens Are For Gathering The design team at Kitchen Center Plus – Nicole Drew, Tevic Sotomayer and Sherry Wohn – says that spacious eat-in kitchens with big islands continue to be a focal point in the home. It’s the ideal spot for conversation, for the kids to do homework and everyone to gather. Not surprisingly, built-in charging stations for smartphones and other technology are in demand. Also popular are counter-depth appliances for a more streamlined look since they don’t protrude past the cabinets or countertops. Another popular feature says is the Florida “mud room” or “drop zone.” It’s that area where backpacks, briefcases, purses, pet bowls and other items and other clutter can hide behind a closed door. Laura James of Triad Construction agrees that spacious kitchens with large work islands, eat-at bars, large pantries for storage and extra tall cabinets that reach to the ceiling are the hottest new trend. She also seeing a demand for quartz countertops in a variety of colors and patterns, as well as exotic wall tiles in different sizes and materials, including metallic, glass and iridescent. Add cool lighting and artisan pulls on cabinet doors and you have a show-stopping kitchen. The Outdoors Beckons As homes become bigger and lot sizes smaller, homeowners want to make best use of their outdoor area for entertainment, says Bart O’Connell of Landmark Pools. That’s driving the demand for pools with clean angular lines, which allows homeowners to maximize their space and still leave room for extras like fire elements, especially a fire pit with chairs clustered around. Continued on the next page. Additional new design trends for pools include decorative, artisan handrails, automation to control everything via smartphone, and travertine pavers rather than brick as the decking material of choice. “Travertine doesn’t discolor or bleach out from the sun and it requires less maintenance than traditional brick pavers,” says O’Connell. As outdoor rooms take on the same luxury as the home’s interior, products that can withstand Florida’s tropical weather are essential. A new line of outdoor cabinetry offered by Olde World Cabinetry is ideal. NatureKast cabinets have the look and feel of beautiful rich wood, but are instead a man-made polymer coated with a weatherproof resin that can handle any environment. The cabinets come in three door styles and 15 finishes, says Nancy Braamse of Olde World Cabinetry. The hardware is rust-proof stainless steel. Fire it Up What would an outdoor room be without a grill? Doug Driscoll at Just Grillin suggests Alfresco grills for their durability and their commercial restaurant-grade capability, which means they can put out the high heat needed for a perfect sear. Additional features on the Alfresco include a built-in rotisserie, ceramic briquettes for even heating with no hot or cold spots, and a spring-assisted lid to make it easy to open and close. “Rather than eating out, we’re finding there’s a cultural shift and more focus on the quality and freshness of food and spending time with family,” says Driscoll. “Having the right tool to cook with is essential. High-end grills will give you an outstanding restaurant quality steak and help caramelize the food for great taste.” Enrique Crespo of Crespo Design Group also likes a bit of color, especially in beautiful custom area rugs – artisan carpets that can really dress up a living room or bedroom. “If you have a lot of colors going on, a custom area rug can really pull it all together and anchor the room,” says Crespo. “I like to match the carpet to the fabrics on the sofa and window treatments, and even the artwork. Area rugs add another layer and texture to define and finish the room.” High-Tech, Smart-Tech We love our technology and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery finds that innovations like digital readouts to wireless connectivity give homeowners more smart choices than ever before. “More clients are asking for products that function around the way they live, especially in the kitchen, which
Homes: New Trends in Luxury Home Decor
Black stainless appliances, cool new wallpaper designs and exotic countertops. Tampa Bay’s design experts share what’s hot in luxury home décor for 2016. Not Your Grandmother’s Wallpaper: Enrique Crespo of Crespo Design is crazy about wallpaper. “Wallpaper can add a subtle layer of texture and color that you just can’t get from paint,” says Crespo. Traditional toile wallpaper is still beautiful, he says, but it’s the new wallcoverings that are catching attention with their interesting combinations, such as mother-of-pearl, amethyst or recycled newspaper. For families with young children, Crespo suggests commercial grade wallpaper. “It’s virtually indestructible and easy to care for,” he says. Variety is the Spice: Brigette Pina of Ethan Allen reports that for the first time, this summer Ethan Allen is introducing several distinctly different product lines all at the same time. The new “South of France” features an old-world distressed look with beautiful carved pieces. Buckhead, named after the affluent suburb of Atlanta, showcases bright pinks, rich greens and blues. Santa Monica features California chic, while Brooklyn mixes up metal with stone and heavy wood, or shiny reflective surfaces with a brick wall as a backdrop. “Brooklyn is very hot right now with millennials, who love the idea of taking older classic designs and creating a totally updated look,” says Pina. Sleek &Sophisticated: Tom Lamb of Thomas Everett Lamb Design andDevelopment appreciates the growing demand for a modern sophisticated look. “This is a style that is increasingly popular with more mature homeowners,” says Lamb. “These are individuals who have been through various stages of life and now want a simpler lifestyle. That’s reflected in their desire for less clutter and a cleaner pallette with fewer, finer things.” Extra-large floor tiles – tiles that range in size from 24-by-24-inches all the way up to 24-by-48-inches and more – add to the contemporary look. “Large-scale tiles mean fewer lines on the floor and a less busy look overall,” says Lamb. Nancy Braamse of Olde World Cabinetry is also seeing a growing interest in cleaner lines and less detail as both millennials and baby boomers gravitate toward a more contemporary look that’s been labeled “transitional.” “It’s the bridge between the more decorated traditional style and a more angular modern look,” says Braamse. Amazing Baths: Olde World Cabinetry is pleased to announce that this summer they will become the exclusive showroom in the area for Crosswater Bathrooms, a leading bathroom design firm that is headquartered in England. “They’re very European in their approach to design and innovation, but also offer a wide range of styles, from traditional and elegant to very contemporary,” says Braamse. “Their products are quite distinctive.” Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery is also an expert in luxury baths. And Marc Hammar, showroom manager, says new trends in bath design are showcasing innovative technology, such as electronic showering and steam generators integrating with your smartphone or tablet, or bath ventilation with Bluetooth capabilities. In addition, he says that manufacturers are developing shower drains that mount to the bottom of the wall as opposed to the floor, creating a seamless installation. Hammar also notes that gold lighting fixtures that vary in hue from soft rose gold to a deep burnished gold are “all the rage” right now. In addition, he says designers are incorporating linear LED light strips into the ceiling, as opposed to recessed can fixtures. Gorgeous Woods & Exotic Countertops: Wired-brushed oak and ash are hot as shelving and accents for kitchens and baths, says Ralph Mills of Artisan Design. “Wire brushing raises the grain and gives the wood a textured look without the feel,” says Mills. Also popular are high-gloss acrylic finishes and a blend of stains, such as an earth-tone base complemented with a transparent grey or white on top. In addition, he reports that countertops and back splashes are going exotic with black, gold and silver combinations. Quartzite adds a pop of interest. The Little Details Count: Suzan Decker Ross of Decker Ross Interiors points out that unusual ceiling details are gaining in popularity. For example, she and her design team recently created a curved ceiling detail for a client whose living room has panoramic views of the water. “We dropped the soffit down about eight-to-ten inches and then backlit everything with a ring of LEDs so the light flows over the ceiling almost like a waterfall,” says Decker Ross. The end result adds drama and ambience to the space. Other new trends? Decker Ross says she is seeing a growing interest in black stainless steel kitchen appliances (they don’t show all the fingerprints like more traditional stainless), a second set of chandeliers in the dining room, especially over a long rectangular table, and color shades of taupe, gray and silver metallic with highlights of blue. Whatever new trends for 2016 speak to your sense of style, creating a beautiful interior design is all about good taste and attention to details.