Interview with CariDee
Top Model winner CariDee English likes her home life with a side of hookah lounge
By Elaine Matsushita | Tribune Newspapers
March 29, 2009
You might not see it right away, the common thread connecting CariDee English's childhood home in Fargo, N.D., and the four-bedroom "palace" she lives in now in Los Angeles.
But the "America's Next Top Model" winner gladly will point it out: "My clothes are still all over the floor."
"I live by myself. I love it," English, who won Cycle 7 in 2006 and who has a new reality show, "Pretty Wicked" on Oxygen, told us in a recent e-mail interview. (She did add that she actually does share her home with a couple of roomies-two cats-"Diva, and a kitten named Vogue.")
And there's plenty of room for all three of them. Four bedrooms, five baths, 20-foot ceilings. Music room and hookah lounge. Really.
"I have many different themes in each wing and room in my penthouse," the 22-year-old English told us. "I have a hookah lounge where friends come over to unwind and make a drink at my bar and sit in huge memory-foam beanbag chairs and have a tobacco hookah.
"And then, when we feel like having some fun, we go into my music room where I installed all red lights, and I have three guitars ... a Taylor, a Martin acoustic-electric and my first one I got from my mom, a Washburn. The other side, I have a full electric Roland drum set that I jam out on whenever I am having a hard day. I beat the ... out of them."
Elsewhere in her home, the decor ranges from modern (living room) to romantic (guess which room-you'll be right).
"I did all the decorating myself. I am single for the first time in five years, and I wanted full say and [to] make the place my new boyfriend."
What thing or things in your home shout that CariDee English lives here? My instruments-all my guitars. People who know me know that music is my life. I have played guitar for years, piano for 15 and drums for years. Music is a huge part of my life. So seeing my guitars, you would definitely be able to tell it was my place.
One thing on your nightstand: Chocolate milk glass.
One thing you have in your house from your childhood: My baby pillow named Stinky.
Three things we'd find under your bed: Right now, actually nothing. I recently moved, so it is probably the cleanest part of my room. Ask me again in a few months, though, and I'm sure I could list a lot.
If you had to save one "thing" from your home, what would it be? My guitar.
What is the biggest collection in your home? Shoes! I'm an avid collector.
What reading material would we find in your bathroom? A book called "Stuff on My Cat." It's a collection of things people put on their cats.
What artist would we find in your CD player or on your iPod? You would find everything. A random assortment, everything from Tupac to Led Zeppelin.
Most embarrassing thing in your home that you hide when guests come over: Stinky, my baby pillow.
If we came unexpectedly, would we find your bed made-or not made? Definitely not made.
Best furniture bargain you ever got? Anything and everything from overstock.com. I can't even list one bargain from there because it's half of my place.
Biggest surprise we'd find in your closet: The biggest surprise wouldn't be in my closet : )
What would we find on your living room coffee table? A bowl of candy and probably a couple of magazines.
What color are your kitchen walls? White for now. I need some pictures.
Do you hang your toilet paper over the front or down the back? I never thought about it. I guess I don't have a set way.
What do you see out your bedroom window? Mountains and little kids playing.
Do you do any snooping of your own at friends' homes? No!!! Plus I have no need to! My friends keep everything out in the open.
By Elaine Matsushita | Tribune Newspapers
March 29, 2009
You might not see it right away, the common thread connecting CariDee English's childhood home in Fargo, N.D., and the four-bedroom "palace" she lives in now in Los Angeles.
But the "America's Next Top Model" winner gladly will point it out: "My clothes are still all over the floor."
"I live by myself. I love it," English, who won Cycle 7 in 2006 and who has a new reality show, "Pretty Wicked" on Oxygen, told us in a recent e-mail interview. (She did add that she actually does share her home with a couple of roomies-two cats-"Diva, and a kitten named Vogue.")
And there's plenty of room for all three of them. Four bedrooms, five baths, 20-foot ceilings. Music room and hookah lounge. Really.
"I have many different themes in each wing and room in my penthouse," the 22-year-old English told us. "I have a hookah lounge where friends come over to unwind and make a drink at my bar and sit in huge memory-foam beanbag chairs and have a tobacco hookah.
"And then, when we feel like having some fun, we go into my music room where I installed all red lights, and I have three guitars ... a Taylor, a Martin acoustic-electric and my first one I got from my mom, a Washburn. The other side, I have a full electric Roland drum set that I jam out on whenever I am having a hard day. I beat the ... out of them."
Elsewhere in her home, the decor ranges from modern (living room) to romantic (guess which room-you'll be right).
"I did all the decorating myself. I am single for the first time in five years, and I wanted full say and [to] make the place my new boyfriend."
What thing or things in your home shout that CariDee English lives here? My instruments-all my guitars. People who know me know that music is my life. I have played guitar for years, piano for 15 and drums for years. Music is a huge part of my life. So seeing my guitars, you would definitely be able to tell it was my place.
One thing on your nightstand: Chocolate milk glass.
One thing you have in your house from your childhood: My baby pillow named Stinky.
Three things we'd find under your bed: Right now, actually nothing. I recently moved, so it is probably the cleanest part of my room. Ask me again in a few months, though, and I'm sure I could list a lot.
If you had to save one "thing" from your home, what would it be? My guitar.
What is the biggest collection in your home? Shoes! I'm an avid collector.
What reading material would we find in your bathroom? A book called "Stuff on My Cat." It's a collection of things people put on their cats.
What artist would we find in your CD player or on your iPod? You would find everything. A random assortment, everything from Tupac to Led Zeppelin.
Most embarrassing thing in your home that you hide when guests come over: Stinky, my baby pillow.
If we came unexpectedly, would we find your bed made-or not made? Definitely not made.
Best furniture bargain you ever got? Anything and everything from overstock.com. I can't even list one bargain from there because it's half of my place.
Biggest surprise we'd find in your closet: The biggest surprise wouldn't be in my closet : )
What would we find on your living room coffee table? A bowl of candy and probably a couple of magazines.
What color are your kitchen walls? White for now. I need some pictures.
Do you hang your toilet paper over the front or down the back? I never thought about it. I guess I don't have a set way.
What do you see out your bedroom window? Mountains and little kids playing.
Do you do any snooping of your own at friends' homes? No!!! Plus I have no need to! My friends keep everything out in the open.