tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9292184421807290272024-03-14T00:00:55.197-07:00TopDesignBloggerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-21279662999243769462007-04-23T05:12:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:35.359-08:00Thanks Everyone!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiTkBu9aY1I/AAAAAAAACFA/KtN0yaD35VI/s1600-h/Carisa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054415400253154130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiTkBu9aY1I/AAAAAAAACFA/KtN0yaD35VI/s400/Carisa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">That's All Folks!!!</span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Thank you, the readers, for all the support and for dropping in each day. TD was an ... uh... fair show with some outstanding designers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Our thanks to all the designers who dropped by to chat with us as well. We wish them all the best and appreciated them having some fun with us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Now come join us for more fun and laughs over on <a href="http://bravissimoblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Bravissimo</strong></span></a>. We are blogging everything Bravo. </span></p><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-69704390294436645622007-04-19T06:47:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:35.670-08:00Designer's Wedding Bells<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RidzFK0ax7I/AAAAAAAACFI/DH88EB1SviE/s1600-h/wed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055135639387424690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RidzFK0ax7I/AAAAAAAACFI/DH88EB1SviE/s400/wed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Congratulations to Carisa and Sebastian!!<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/blog/thedish/2007/04/design_star_weds.php"><span style="color:#cc0000;">HERE</span></a> to read more.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-13342963135036117162007-04-17T11:58:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:35.976-08:00Top Design Loft Floor Plan Challenge!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Riu7_60ax8I/AAAAAAAACFQ/K31Klq4vGRE/s1600-h/TopDesignLoftplan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056341713448781762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Riu7_60ax8I/AAAAAAAACFQ/K31Klq4vGRE/s400/TopDesignLoftplan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The talented Linda Merrill of <a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/">::Surroundings:</a>: has created a basic floor plan of the loft spaces used in the final challenge on Top Design and is hosting a challenge. Can you figure out a way to use the space better? I know I'll be submitting an entry! I love floor plans! Fun!<br /><br />Check out Linda's post <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2007/04/top-design-real-final-challenge.html">here</a>!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Update: Linda has updated the basic floor plan and has already gotten a few entries. Get those entries in! There will be a prize!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-49182457962592495842007-04-15T08:05:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:36.538-08:00Diva of the Week<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiI_me9aY0I/AAAAAAAACE4/yDxt0kjvWMo/s1600-h/DivaMug.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053671662241342274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiI_me9aY0I/AAAAAAAACE4/yDxt0kjvWMo/s400/DivaMug.jpg" border="0" /></a>The final Diva of the Week award goes to......<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiI_gu9aYzI/AAAAAAAACEw/FZiMyFfS8Xk/s1600-h/Bravo-Diva.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053671563457094450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiI_gu9aYzI/AAAAAAAACEw/FZiMyFfS8Xk/s400/Bravo-Diva.jpg" border="0" /></a> If Top Design had been their first attempt at a reality show, I could understand the amateurish drivel that they cranked out each week. The designers were not allowed to show the full scope of their talents with the stupid challenges that Bravo kept throwing at them. And couldn't they have let the designers design actual rooms and not those claustrophobic cubicles that they were stuck in so often? The judges never took into account the time restraints, miniscule budgets, ect, ect, ect....I would have loved to have seen Jonathan, Kelly, Margaret or any of the guest judges in the same situations. I bet they would have made Carisa look like Mother Teresa.<br />Let's hope that they get it right next season!<br /><br />(((MUAH)))</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><em>Posted by TheHoInMO<br /></em></div><div align="center"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-63192744354333206812007-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:39.634-08:00Final Taste Patrol<div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkeHzTTOI/AAAAAAAABaw/kO212yErauA/s1600-h/TastePatrol_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037316283122797794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkeHzTTOI/AAAAAAAABaw/kO212yErauA/s400/TastePatrol_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="color:#993399;">Note: Our wonderful Ms. Place is jetting around the globe and asked that we fill in for her this week. Miss you Ms. Place.<br /></span></em><br /><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Three Hula Men Bobble Award<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkQHzTTNI/AAAAAAAABao/eYOCOCaLETU/s1600-h/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037316042604629202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkQHzTTNI/AAAAAAAABao/eYOCOCaLETU/s200/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a> The Three Hula Men Bobble Award goes to Ed and Carl and their hard working teams. This would not have been much of a season without all the talent these individuals brought to each designer.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiElHu9aYyI/AAAAAAAACEo/cZI67aePIJ8/s1600-h/ed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053361071681332002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiElHu9aYyI/AAAAAAAACEo/cZI67aePIJ8/s400/ed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Week after week, they were the backbone of each of the finished rooms.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEggu9aYrI/AAAAAAAACDw/I_5j_kC4d40/s1600-h/s.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053356003619922610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEggu9aYrI/AAAAAAAACDw/I_5j_kC4d40/s400/s.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">They faced demanding challenges,<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEg3u9aYsI/AAAAAAAACD4/x00HGFpRTK4/s1600-h/s2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053356398756913858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEg3u9aYsI/AAAAAAAACD4/x00HGFpRTK4/s400/s2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">time lines, </div><div align="center">supply issues and diva designers. </div><div align="left"><br /><br />They lost their cool at times and almost a thumb... </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEh0e9aYtI/AAAAAAAACEA/OR1WTrhlCD8/s1600-h/carl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053357442433966802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEh0e9aYtI/AAAAAAAACEA/OR1WTrhlCD8/s400/carl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p align="center"></p><div align="left">but hung in there for each episode. They gave their all long before they learned they might also win $10,000. They did it for the designers, not the money.<br /><br /></div><p align="left"><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Two Hula Men Bobble Award<br /></span></span></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RcPPp4N-JpI/AAAAAAAAAmo/4OCdsgCPUk0/s1600-h/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027089927448176274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RcPPp4N-JpI/AAAAAAAAAmo/4OCdsgCPUk0/s320/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a><br />The Two Hula Men Bobble Award goes to both Matt and Carisa for the designs of each loft. </p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">You both put heart and soul into those lofts ...<br /></p><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEiqe9aYuI/AAAAAAAACEI/MMv8xmpoGhs/s1600-h/carisa1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053358370146902754" style="CURSOR: hand" height="179" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEiqe9aYuI/AAAAAAAACEI/MMv8xmpoGhs/s400/carisa1.jpg" width="235" border="0" /></a> </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053358473226117874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="178" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEiwe9aYvI/AAAAAAAACEQ/hizsMlyl5aY/s400/matt.jpg" width="240" border="0" /> but did not sit on your ass and watch the crew do all the work.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEjWu9aYwI/AAAAAAAACEY/vrS2I4TAhxk/s1600-h/ed1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053359130356114178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEjWu9aYwI/AAAAAAAACEY/vrS2I4TAhxk/s400/ed1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p>You noted their talent and gave credit where credit was due.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053359216255460114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEjbu9aYxI/AAAAAAAACEg/cdNPsF9ebq0/s400/cc.jpg" border="0" />Then gave up the diva role, and let them do what they needed to do. </p><p></p><p align="center">Kudos to both of you for a job well done. </p><p align="left"><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><strong></strong></span></p><div align="left"><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><strong>The Trash it Award<br /></strong></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Regj33zTTKI/AAAAAAAABaQ/7eRlxufX4ho/s1600-h/trashit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037315625992801442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Regj33zTTKI/AAAAAAAABaQ/7eRlxufX4ho/s200/trashit.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">The Trash It Award goes to Bravo. What a load of shovable crapola you put this crew through. Watching them work this hard was almost as painful as watching Ed cut his thumb.</p><p align="left"></p><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="left"></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEfCe9aYqI/AAAAAAAACDo/3qFEchJhXKk/s1600-h/crew2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053354384417252002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEfCe9aYqI/AAAAAAAACDo/3qFEchJhXKk/s400/crew2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">First, no freight elevator for moving the tons of materials, appliances and furniture up to the 3rd and 6th floors. Bravo we have 1 word for you, used 3 times. Learn it, remember it, don't let it happen again. LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION.</p><p align="left"></p><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEbL-9aYpI/AAAAAAAACDg/ZaK-t_bA3us/s1600-h/floor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053350149579498130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEbL-9aYpI/AAAAAAAACDg/ZaK-t_bA3us/s400/floor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You hand out a wad of money for each of the designers to use, assure them their lofts will be painted and the floors done... BEFORE construction begins. Then you cut corners in doing the floors. WTF!?!?!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEa5O9aYoI/AAAAAAAACDY/yi0trGhKSj4/s1600-h/carlhead.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053349827456950914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RiEa5O9aYoI/AAAAAAAACDY/yi0trGhKSj4/s400/carlhead.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center">More than once, you made our beloved Carl hold his head.</p><p align="center"></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-16216550164962818222007-04-13T16:04:00.001-07:002007-04-13T18:53:15.573-07:00Top Design Recap: Season Finale Shocker!<span style="color:#ff0000;">Posted by Eric3000</span><br /><br />Wow! Who saw that coming?!<br /><br />Oh, yeah; everyone.<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "Was there ever any doubt?"<br /><br />Unfortunately, no. It was pretty clear weeks ago who the judges wanted to win. Of, course, it didn't help that Margaret accidentally leaked that Elle Decor article about Matt winning. And I didn't buy her lame explanation about writing an article for each designer. [joking!]<br /><br />But, I have to say that when I saw how much better <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> loft was I did have a tiny bit of doubt, thinking, "Maybe the judges will have no choice but to reward the best design, even thought they've already decided who the winner should be."<br /><br />We start the episode with a clip of Matt telling us he's going to kill himself if he doesn't make it into the final two. Well, that's certainly a mature and professional attitude.<br /><br />Then we play a little game of catchphrase:<br /><br /><strong>Jonathan</strong>: "He's the mayor of excuses village."<br /><br /><strong>Kelly</strong>: "I feel like I'm in an assisted living facility."<br /><br /><strong>Margaret</strong>: "You can't just design a room around a cat."<br /><br />Yep, those are classics.<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "Designers, you will be designing a 1,700 square foot loft in one of the hottest areas of downtown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Los</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Angeles</span></span></span></span>."<br /><br />What difference does it make that the lofts are in a hot area of town? We don't have to live there; we just care what the designers do to the inside, right?<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "Santa Fe Lofts is paying us to say the building is in a hot part of town."<br /><br />Oh, of course.<br /><br />The lofts are identical. They laugh alike, they walk alike, At times they even talk alike; what a crazy pair of lofts.<br /><br />The designers will have two months to plan the space and then five minutes to actually do the project. OK, they actually have five days for the project. But I still wonder why they have such a generous amount of time for planning and then have to rush like crazy at the end. They also have a generous budget: $12,500 plus $150,000 from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">PDC</span></span></span></span> and $25,000 in GE appliances.<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "Well, I'm not used to such a small budget but I guess I'll just have to do my best."<br /><br />Todd gives them envelopes containing their clients. They are designing for themselves:<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "My client is me! I couldn't ask for a better client! I couldn't ask for a better designer, either! I am so in love with myself!"<br /><br />They get to see the loft space.<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Do you want to measure together?"<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "No. you won't measure it as well as I will because I have so much more experience."<br /><br />OK, it's two months later and the designers are back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Los</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Angeles</span></span></span></span>, ready to start work. Todd tells them he's going to have their floors done while they are shopping. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Carisa</span></span></span></span> is getting black lacquer "hand carved" something-or-other floors. How can you tell they are hand carved? And how can you tell what kind of wood they are if they are covered in black lacquer? Matt just has his concrete floors painted black. I happen to like concrete floors but this is still a little surprising since Matt is usually all about the floors and this is a little boring. I also wonder if those floors are going to get messed up with all the work that's going to go on.<br /><br />We get reacquainted with Ed and Carl. It's the Ed and Carl show! Oh, wait, no, it isn't. But they both work really hard and do a great job, with the assistance of some other carpenters.<br /><br />The stupid freight elevator for the Santa Fe Lofts doesn't hold shit so they have to carry everything up the fire escape, which really sucks. We get a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">weird</span> scene with Carl talking with two of his helpers and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Carisa</span></span></span></span> comes in:<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "What's going on?"<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: "They didn't know they were going to have to carry things up the fire escape."<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Carisa</span></span></span></strong></span>: "This is bullshit!" [storms off]<br /><br /><strong>Two Guys</strong>: "What the hell was that?"<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: "That was your boss."<br /><br /><strong>Two Guys</strong>: "Oh. She seems like a real bitch."<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: "Yep. OK, let's get back to work."<br /><br /><strong>Two Guys</strong>: "OK."<br /><br />Seriously, what the hell was that scene about? Were the guys threatening to quit? Were they demanding more money? Were they just complaining for the hell of it? Anyway, they get all the stuff up to the lofts with only minor injuries: Ed shows up with his hand bandaged on the second day:<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "What happened?"<br /><br /><strong>Ed</strong>: "Oh, I lost my thumb in a freak elevator-call-button accident. Don't worry; I'll be fine."<br /><br />Oh, that Ed; what are we going to do with him?<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, all the construction work in the lofts completely fucks up the floors. Matt has to completely repaint his, causing me to wonder why they bothered painting them first or why they didn't cover them up during construction.<br /><br />Carl and Sarah destroy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> floor. The floor she loves so much and had been dreaming about having her whole life.<br /><br /><strong>Sarah</strong>: "Oh, my god! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> going to kill us! Carl, what are we going to do? Oh, no; here she comes! I'm scared!"<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "You ruined the floors? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">C'est</span></span></span></span> la vie. You did a great job on those cubes!"<br /><br /><strong>Sarah</strong>: "What have you done with the real <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Carisa</span></span></span></span>?"<br /><br />With one hour to go Todd makes an announcement:<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "Models, this is also a competition for you! You'll get a spread in Elle magazine!"<br /><br /><strong>Ed and Carl</strong>: "But we aren't models."<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "Oh, I forgot. We got most of the carpenters from a modeling agency so I got confused. Well, we'll give you $10,000 then. How's that?"<br /><br /><strong>Ed and Carl</strong>: "That's great. Of course it would have given us more motivation if you had told us that earlier."<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Carisa</span></span></strong>: "I'm more interested in Carl getting that $10,000 so he can send his girls to the cheapest college on earth than I am in winning $100,000 for myself. That's just the kind of selfless person I am."<br /><br />So, the finished lofts:<br /><br />Matt really butchered his loft space. The point of a loft is to have a large, open space and he made it feel very cramped and narrow. I understand that he had to incorporate sleeping spaces for his family but I think he could have done it better. He could have put a bedroom in the corner, which would have left the central space more open and he could still have used a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">movable</span></span> wall to open it up so you wouldn't lose the corner window views. Or he could have put a small bedroom right when you come in the front door, which would have created a hallway that would lead into the living room. I don't like how you have to walk around the living room furniture to get to the rest of the apartment. I just don't think he used the space very well.<br /><br /><strong>Trudie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Styler</span></span></span></span></strong>: "I don't think he has a grasp of architectural space, though he's a good decorator."<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "What gives you the right to judge my space, Mrs. Sting?"<br /><br /><strong>Trudie</strong>: "I'm the guest judge. That gives me the right to judge, you jackass."<br /><br />His daughter's room is really cute. I think his bathroom is ugly. If Michael had painted a bathroom eggplant the judges would have ripped him a new one. But Matt did it so they like it. Trudie thinks the bathroom is sexy. She would totally have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">tantric</span></span></span></span> sex with Sting in there. She wishes Matt had made his bedroom a little sexier:<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "God, there's no pleasing that woman! I'm just going to be in the bedroom with my wife; why would I be thinking about sex?"<br /><br />Well, the judges think his loft looks really expensive. He spent almost $200,000; it fucking better look expensive!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> loft looks really cool! As far as furnishings, I know it's subjective; I happen to share her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">aesthetic</span></span> taste more than I do Matt's. But objectively, I think she used the loft space better. I wish she hadn't had to use the exact dining room set that Andrea used for her winning design but apparently the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">PDC</span></span></span></span> only carries one dinette set and a ceramic pepper and that's it. No, but really, I'm sure there were lots of items that were reused in several of the challenges because they had a limited number of stores to shop in, but because it was Andrea's winning design it was pretty obvious. I didn't think her work space was very exciting, though it did seem pretty functional. her bed pit was totally groovy! I loved it!<br /><br /><strong>Margaret</strong>: "I was really prepared to hate that bed pit. In fact, I tried really, really hard to hate it. I just couldn't; I don't know what has come over me."<br /><br /><strong>Jonathan</strong>: "I could really get up to some mischief in that bed pit."<br /><br /><strong>Margaret</strong>: "That's nasty, Jonathan! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Hee</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">hee</span></span></span></span>!"<br /><br />Matt wins.<br /><br />Duh.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><strong>Carisa</strong></span>: "This is the best possible outcome. I'm pretty sure if Matt had lost he would have ended up as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">trannie</span> hooker on Santa Monica Blvd. but I'll be perfectly fine. I'm really happy for him. That's just the kind of caring nurturer that I am."<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "If I had lost to a design student I would have robbed a bank and spent the rest of my life drinking in Mexico. Actually, I may do that anyway."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-15240398945613588652007-04-12T08:24:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:41.898-08:00I Can Do ThatI wasn't overly impressed with the winning design...sorry Matt. They were equally interesting and equally "eh". Carisa losing is directly related to me I think. You know those magic tricks they have on tv and computers where they ask you to think of a number and them add and subtract and multiply and then they guess your number...bang! That's how I feel about most reality show competitions...the minute I pick who I think might win, the magic producers read my mind and make them lose....weird!<br /><br />Anyway, since Matt's loft didn't have very may distinctive items...ahem...I thought I would choose pieces from both spaces that caught my eye...<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5RVe9aYEI/AAAAAAAAB-4/vOsN5ZMBVek/s1600-h/Matt+dining.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5RVe9aYEI/AAAAAAAAB-4/vOsN5ZMBVek/s320/Matt+dining.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052565261486022722" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=115&f=3420&viewall=1"><span style="color:#ff0000;"> CB2</span></a></div><div align="center">I thought this was an interesting pop of color that didn't appear anywhere else in the space...besides his daughter's room</div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5RVe9aYFI/AAAAAAAAB_A/fzLyTsymBlc/s1600-h/Carisa+Chair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5RVe9aYFI/AAAAAAAAB_A/fzLyTsymBlc/s320/Carisa+Chair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052565261486022738" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://hivemodern.com/products/?view=sub_product&sid=4&cid=2&cid2=3"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hive</span></a></div><div align="center">I think Carisa likes to be enveloped in things...this chair...the bed "nest"...</div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5TJe9aYGI/AAAAAAAAB_I/d6MZkSygFFw/s1600-h/Matt+Chandilier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5TJe9aYGI/AAAAAAAAB_I/d6MZkSygFFw/s320/Matt+Chandilier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052567254350848098" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.thelightshop.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=CH458"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Light Shop</span></a></div><div align="center">Matt's sexy bathroom...is very feminine...?...</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5TJu9aYHI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/IuUJDTUMPNA/s1600-h/Carissa+Mirror.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5TJu9aYHI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/IuUJDTUMPNA/s320/Carissa+Mirror.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052567258645815410" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODa048&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1WALMIR&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1WALMIRt"><span style="color:#ff0000;">West Elm</span></a></div><div align="center">Carisa's was not a useful mirror...but it was very chic. In the real world function usually needs to accompany form.</div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5Uy-9aYII/AAAAAAAAB_Y/WSHuVc1poc8/s1600-h/Carisa+shelf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5Uy-9aYII/AAAAAAAAB_Y/WSHuVc1poc8/s320/Carisa+shelf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052569066827047042" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=11499&langId=-1&categoryId=17066&chosenPartNumber=40047675"><span style="color:#ff0000;">IKEA</span></a></div><div align="center">I was excited to see something I actually own in the final designs last night. Obviously this one does go to the ceiling but it is a good room divider.</div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5Yxe9aYNI/AAAAAAAACAA/T-IYmbORkyw/s1600-h/Matt+pics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5Yxe9aYNI/AAAAAAAACAA/T-IYmbORkyw/s320/Matt+pics.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052573439103754450" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.art.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Art.com</span></a></div><div align="center">I think collections of things add personal touches to a home...Matt's photographs brought his family into the space.</div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5VhO9aYJI/AAAAAAAAB_g/FlKCAAOX1K4/s1600-h/Carisa+pillows.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5VhO9aYJI/AAAAAAAAB_g/FlKCAAOX1K4/s320/Carisa+pillows.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052569861395996818" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.pier1.com/catalog/collections.aspx?fh_view=lister&fh_refpath=facet_59433428&fh_location=%2f%2fpier1direct%2fen_US%2fcategories%3c%7b110299%7d%2fcategories%3c%7b110348%7d&fh_eds=ß&fh_start_index=0&fh_view_size=104"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Pier1</span></a></div><div align="center">While Matt's bedroom was lacking something...as Trudie Styler pointed out (and wouldn't she know about bedroom...um...stuff*wink*)...Carisa's had a physically challenging yet appealing space.</div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5XZ-9aYLI/AAAAAAAAB_w/5qFucmaY97A/s1600-h/Matt+kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5XZ-9aYLI/AAAAAAAAB_w/5qFucmaY97A/s320/Matt+kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052571935865200818" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p6116/index.cfm?pkey=caccstrkit"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Pottery Barn</span></a></div><div align="center">Both kitchens left little to be desired...a bit sterile. I think Matt could have been more creative with his canisters</div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5XaO9aYMI/AAAAAAAAB_4/30tViWfEuUQ/s1600-h/Carisa+Speaker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5XaO9aYMI/AAAAAAAAB_4/30tViWfEuUQ/s320/Carisa+Speaker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052571940160168130" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007QQXM6/ref=olp_product_details/002-5327639-4338465?ie=UTF8&seller="><span style="color:#ff0000;">Amazon</span></a></div><div align="center">I don't know...they look more like targets for ping pongs to me...but...</div><br />And finally, just incase you have been admiring the edited snippets they've been showing all season...<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5ZWO9aYOI/AAAAAAAACAI/eF-XtWM71n8/s1600-h/clock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh5ZWO9aYOI/AAAAAAAACAI/eF-XtWM71n8/s320/clock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052574070463946978" /></a><div align="center"><a href="http://hivemodern.com/products/?view=sub_product&sid=97&cid=42&cid2=49"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Hive</span></a></div><br />So, congratulations veiwers. We made it through a very strange, and sometimes comical, reality show season. I'm not sure if I'll take odds on a Top Design 2 but if it comes...I guess I'll be here...trying "to do that".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-69214359799323605992007-04-11T20:09:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:42.681-08:00And The Top Designer Is...<p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jL-9aYDI/AAAAAAAAB-w/F0y0-WpzAzI/s1600-h/m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052373783254032434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jL-9aYDI/AAAAAAAAB-w/F0y0-WpzAzI/s320/m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Congratulations to Matt. The Top Designer!!!<br /></span><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jH-9aYCI/AAAAAAAAB-o/TeSnm56hy7M/s1600-h/c.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052373714534555682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jH-9aYCI/AAAAAAAAB-o/TeSnm56hy7M/s320/c.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Carisa, you came a long way. You will go far honey!<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jD-9aYBI/AAAAAAAAB-g/i5vN3f765GE/s1600-h/ed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052373645815078930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rh2jD-9aYBI/AAAAAAAAB-g/i5vN3f765GE/s320/ed.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">A very special congratulations to Carpenter Ed. </p><p align="center">We love you here at TDB and thank you for all your support </p><p align="center">of our little blog.<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">We will be back with more to say here </p><p align="center">and be sure to join us over on <a href="http://bravissimoblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Bravissimo</strong></span></a> for Shear Genius.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-1913534358085609262007-04-11T20:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:43.032-08:00Final Live Chat With BTD!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rckg7_Fd3yI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_SEoUB18eyM/s1600-h/Blogging+TD+Party.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028586673854603042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 132px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="140" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rckg7_Fd3yI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_SEoUB18eyM/s400/Blogging+TD+Party.bmp" width="151" border="0" /></a><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">You’re invited to the Top Design Party</span><br />Over at Blogging Top Design to discuss Episode 10!</span> </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><strong></strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)"></span> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">Grab a seat and chat with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BTD</span> folks</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Phaolo</span>, The Scarlett, Laura K, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">TBone</span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">as the show airs live tonight,</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">then come back here and tell us what you think of the new episode!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)" href="http://bloggingtopdesign.blogspot.com/">Click here to join the party!</a></span><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><div style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); TEXT-ALIGN: center">Then come back and tell us what you think!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-38852911414966134622007-04-11T04:22:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:43.546-08:00Who Will Be The Top Designer?<p align="right"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">12 designers, 10 challenges.</span></strong> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhzFVe9aYAI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/E3PhBR-C_hw/s1600-h/matt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052129854881423362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhzFVe9aYAI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/E3PhBR-C_hw/s320/matt.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhzFQu9aX_I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ejIebazE5IA/s1600-h/carisa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052129773277044722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhzFQu9aX_I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ejIebazE5IA/s320/carisa.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">2 are left.</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052129580003516386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="334" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhzFFe9aX-I/AAAAAAAAB-I/RJvJe8eKWJ4/s320/title.jpg" width="254" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Who do you think will be the Top Designer?</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't forget the premier of Shear Genius </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">tonight following Top Design. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Join us as we blog Shear Genius over on <a href="http://bravissimoblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Bravissimo</span></a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-25183267206416626502007-04-09T05:08:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:43.717-08:00Preview Time<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rhow2TB0DBI/AAAAAAAAB-A/XpRxr25hLW8/s1600-h/p.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051403641428380690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rhow2TB0DBI/AAAAAAAAB-A/XpRxr25hLW8/s320/p.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">One last time everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div align="center">Let's see what a 2 month break to prepare does for Matt and Carisa.</div><div align="center"><br /><br />Click <a href="http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=88220"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a> to view the Bravo preview<br /><br />and do not miss the shopping over on the Yahoo video. Click <a href="http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/player/popup-2-0/index.php?cl=2310670"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-59267886314564390992007-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:46.307-08:00Taste Patrol<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkeHzTTOI/AAAAAAAABaw/kO212yErauA/s1600-h/TastePatrol_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037316283122797794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkeHzTTOI/AAAAAAAABaw/kO212yErauA/s400/TastePatrol_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Three Hula Man Bobble Award<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkQHzTTNI/AAAAAAAABao/eYOCOCaLETU/s1600-h/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5037316042604629202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RegkQHzTTNI/AAAAAAAABao/eYOCOCaLETU/s200/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a></p><p>This award goes to Carisa for the most exciting design of the week. My jaw dropped when Matt's unfinished room won.<br /></p><p>I had not been liking Carisa's taste in decor all season. (Too many tschotsckes, Margaret was right.) Then it dawned on me (silly person that I am) that she's been channeling the unabashed gaudy, in-your-face sense of color and design of the 60's (this room) and 70's (previous rooms).<br /></p><p>This room had zing and excitement.<br /></p><p>But can anyone recall how awful the kitchens and shaggy rugs of the 70's looked? Rust-Avocado Green-Clementine Orange-Sunburst Yellow. Those were the predominant colors back then. Uggh. No wonder I had a visceral reaction to Carisa's early orange and green striped interiors. She should have won the competition, but I don't think that Margaret wanted this funky interior showcased in Elle Decor magazine.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcerRwImOI/AAAAAAAAD4g/Ep-2O3T3baU/s1600-h/carisa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050539235967801570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcerRwImOI/AAAAAAAAD4g/Ep-2O3T3baU/s400/carisa.jpg" border="0" /></a>Other designers have jumped onto the same visual bandwagon as Carisa. Witness these Thomas Paul pillows for Blue Flye...<br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcfKRwImPI/AAAAAAAAD4o/qzxUm5UYC-g/s1600-h/Thomas+Paul+at+Bluefly+Pillows.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050539768543746290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcfKRwImPI/AAAAAAAAD4o/qzxUm5UYC-g/s400/Thomas+Paul+at+Bluefly+Pillows.gif" border="0" /></a>...or the interior of the Continental Lounge in Rosslyn, Virginia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcfkBwImQI/AAAAAAAAD4w/MdccaU0hhSs/s1600-h/interior_color3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050540210925377794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcfkBwImQI/AAAAAAAAD4w/MdccaU0hhSs/s400/interior_color3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhcl_hwImSI/AAAAAAAAD5A/yJlP_scTgNE/s1600-h/interior_color5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050547280441547042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhcl_hwImSI/AAAAAAAAD5A/yJlP_scTgNE/s400/interior_color5.jpg" border="0" /></a>Now view Carisa's own living room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcmRBwImTI/AAAAAAAAD5I/cow9Pn35ggU/s1600-h/carisa_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050547581089257778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcmRBwImTI/AAAAAAAAD5I/cow9Pn35ggU/s400/carisa_01.jpg" border="0" /></a>She's giddily happy with her own inspirations. No wonder Jonathan loves her style. Yet I feel that her design sensibility is destined to become tired and outdated in the blink of an eye ... as all trendy styles do. Let's hope that as Carisa matures, she broadens her design horizons.<br /><br />"Admit it, you yap flappin' bitch, I had a hand in helping you achieve your vision. Now, move your bloomin' ARSE, deal with your trust issues, and let me finish this friggin' room!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcsARwImUI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/TWjVMpfrGpo/s1600-h/c7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050553890396215618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcsARwImUI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/TWjVMpfrGpo/s400/c7.jpg" border="0" /></a>"Yeah, up yours, too, Carl. Whatever. Notice the title of this series is Top DESIGNER! Not Top Carpenter. Me, myself, and I intend to wallow in all the glory."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcvGxwImXI/AAAAAAAAD5o/fiFRDpyRkjk/s1600-h/carisa2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050557300600248690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcvGxwImXI/AAAAAAAAD5o/fiFRDpyRkjk/s400/carisa2.jpg" border="0" /></a>"So? The TD fans love me more!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcvRhwImYI/AAAAAAAAD5w/VtPLSfowab8/s1600-h/Carl.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050557485283842434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcvRhwImYI/AAAAAAAAD5w/VtPLSfowab8/s400/Carl.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Two Hula Man Bobble Award<br /><br /></span></span></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RcPPp4N-JpI/AAAAAAAAAmo/4OCdsgCPUk0/s1600-h/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027089927448176274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RcPPp4N-JpI/AAAAAAAAAmo/4OCdsgCPUk0/s320/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a>This award goes to Matt and Andrea.</p><p align="left">To Matt, because he is the pater familias to this adoring and adorable child.</p><br /><p align="left"><br /></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhcw3hwImZI/AAAAAAAAD54/hh3Ostg7Yf8/s1600-h/matt_10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050559237630499218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhcw3hwImZI/AAAAAAAAD54/hh3Ostg7Yf8/s400/matt_10.jpg" border="0" /></a>"My daddy's bona fide!"<br /></p><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhc1OxwImdI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/2ZFkmXg51dk/s1600-h/matt+and+sarah.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050564035108968914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rhc1OxwImdI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/2ZFkmXg51dk/s400/matt+and+sarah.bmp" border="0" /></a>"You're just a boy. Only a boy."<br /><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">"He, he, he. I'm effin' 30 years old. What are you? 80? I'm also gonna win this show 'cause Margaret loves me."<br /></div><br />Too bad Andrea didn't zero in on fabulous furniture shapes like this one by Jelly Bean Contemporary Furniture. Variations in shapes and textures would have jazzed up her bland room's quietly balanced but passive design.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcxQBwImaI/AAAAAAAAD6A/xN1GY-MQC8k/s1600-h/Cameleon+Jelly+Beans+Contermporary+Furniture+reinterpret+popular+shapes+of+the+60%27s.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050559658537294242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcxQBwImaI/AAAAAAAAD6A/xN1GY-MQC8k/s400/Cameleon+Jelly+Beans+Contermporary+Furniture+reinterpret+popular+shapes+of+the+60%27s.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcyfRwImcI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/PCwE64fsYoA/s1600-h/andrea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050561020041927106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/RhcyfRwImcI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/PCwE64fsYoA/s400/andrea.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There are no other categories this week, dahlings. The show is down to the final two. From the previews it looks like the designers will be asked to design real interiors, and I for one can't wait to see the results!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">By <a href="http://dis-ndat.blogspot.com/">Ms. Place</a></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-61107940233643556682007-04-07T09:00:00.000-07:002007-04-07T09:18:50.903-07:00Top Design Recap, Episode 9: Cover Girls: or Todd's Angels<span style="color:#ff0000;">By Eric 3000</span><br /><br />Alas, it couldn't be "Cover <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Goil</span></span>." It just wasn't meant to be. Well, at least Matt gets to be Farrah.<br /><br /><strong>Todd <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Oldham</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Previously on Top Design: there was blood everywhere!"<br /><br />Oh, for crying out loud, Todd, I had just gotten over that!<br /><br />OK, there are three designers left and this season is almost over. Hooray! No, actually I've enjoyed the last few episodes; it's just the team challenges that I find unwatchable. What will happen next?<br /><br /><strong>Andrea</strong>: "Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Carisa</span></span></span></span> shouldn't even be in the final three with Matt and me. Everything she does looks like it was done by the same designer. Boring! My spaces all look like some random person off the street just threw a bunch of crap into a room. I think that's what the judges are looking for."<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Matt guessed that this challenge will be to create an elegant living room inspired by a cover of Elle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Decor</span></span> magazine. I don't know where he comes up with these stupid ideas."<br /><br /><strong>Andrea</strong>: "Well, I just hope it's anything other than an elegant living room inspired by a cover of Elle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Decor</span></span> magazine because then Matt will be out of his element and he'll be eliminated."<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Oh, you're terrible, Muriel!"<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "OK, designers, you'll be creating elegant living rooms inspired by a cover of Elle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Decor</span></span> magazine!"<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong> <strong>and Andrea</strong>: "Son of a bitch."<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "You'll have to design elegance on a budget, however. You're only getting $7,500."<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "Someone please kill me."<br /><br /><strong>Todd</strong>: "That's cash, by the way."<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "Oh, good. That will be so much easier to spend than $7,500 worth of gold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bullion</span></span> or GE stock certificates. But there is still no way I can do that. I am not a bargain shopper. I usually try to waste as much of my client's money as possible."<br /><br />Now, I don't remember how much they get for supplies or if they get a separate fabric budget, but $7,500 is a lot of money in the real world. Sure, it wouldn't buy much at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PDC</span></span></span></span>, but there are lots of places in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Los</span></span></span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Angeles</span></span></span></span> where you can get a lot for a few thousand dollars. I would start at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Wertz</span></span></span></span> Bros. in Santa Monica, which sells used furniture. They also have a more expensive store on Lincoln Blvd. that is still pretty reasonable. Matt may be lucky enough to work with clients for whom money is no object but most clients will want as much as possible for the least amount of money so he's going to have to learn to be a bargain hunter at some point.<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "Margaret is in the back of my head. I'm always thinking, 'What would Margaret Russel do?'"<br /><br />Yeah, we should all walk a mile in Margaret's shoes.<br /><br /><strong>Matt</strong>: "God, I wish! Her shoes are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hawt</span></span></span></span>!"<br /><br />Last week we met G<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">oil's</span> sewing professional. [it took me a while to find that gender-neutral term. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Wikipedia</span> actually mentions "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">seamster</span>" as the male version of seamstress but I don't think that's a real word and the term seamstress is a little old fashioned anyway. I don't think they are tailors because they aren't making clothes. I believe Todd actually refers to them as seamstresses in the first episode but I'm not sure] Anyway, this week we meet Matt's. You'll remember him from his last gig as a member of the Village People.<br /><br />Ed will be back for the finale but Sarah is filling in for him while he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">recuperates</span> from his accident:<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Swift Boat</span></span> Veterans for Truth</strong>: "He just scratched his finger so he could get out of combat duty. I know because I was there."<br /><br />Whatever. Anyway, Matt seems to be having trouble with Sarah. Hey, Matt, read your script; complaining about the carpenters is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> job. You'll just confuse the viewers, who are expecting one dimensional characters.<br /><br />Fortunately <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Carisa</span></span></span></span> is arguing with Carl, as usual:<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "OK, so we're using plaster. I'm going to get plastered later! Ha, ha!"<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: [just stares at her]<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "I'm getting plastered later. Get it, Carl? ... Carl? You're just the life of the party, aren't you, Carl?"<br /><br />Carl continues to ignore her and starts making the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">faux</span></span></span></span>-stone wall:<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Carl, could you make the stones a little flatter?"<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: "I'm not making that kind of stone! You're thinking of slate but I'm making sandstone. I wish you would just believe that I know what I'm doing."<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Carisa</span></span></span></span></strong>: "Who cares what kind of stone it is? This isn't a geology class! Please just make them flatter."<br /><br />I almost made the title this week, "Carl Talks!" Are you as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">surprised</span></span> as I am to learn that Carl can speak? I just assumed he was deaf and mute because he never responds to Carisa or listens to anything she says. This is almost as exciting as first hearing Garbo speak. That's right, my little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Ninotchka's</span></span></span></span>, maybe in the next episode we'll even hear him laugh:<br /><br /><strong>Carl</strong>: "That's not going to happen."<br /><br />And what was the deal with the fireplace? I don't understand what Carl was planning to make with that angled piece of wood. Well, the final result worked. I loved <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Carisa's</span></span></span></span> room! I agree she could have done with fewer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">tschotchkes</span></span></span></span> but, other than that, it was great! It definitely looked inspired by the picture but, other than the fact that it had a fireplace, it wasn't a copy. Carl did a great job with the wall (though you'll notice that the stones get flatter higher up on the wall, which looks better). Why didn't she win? Oh, yeah:<br /><br /><strong>Margaret</strong>: "I've said it before and I'll say it again: America: it's a problem."<br /><br />What?<br /><br /><strong>Margaret</strong>: "Sorry, what I meant to say is that this room just isn't boring enough for the cover of Elle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Decor</span></span>."<br /><br />Right. So which room <em>is</em> boring enough for the cover of Elle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Decor</span></span></span>? Well, that's a toss-up. Andrea's and Matt's rooms are both pretty dull. Which one is better? I can't decide.<br /><br />I agree with the judges that the architectural details in Andrea's room are good. Although I'm not sure about the embroidered baseboards; I'm sure they looked better in person, but on television I thought they looked strange. Everything else in her room was completely forgettable.<br /><br />Matt's room looks unfinished and I can't figure out what it has to do with his inspiration picture. In the picture there is basically a chaise and a bunch of black and white striped drapery fabric. The only thing his room has in common with the picture is the chaise. I understand he didn't want to copy the striped fabric but it seemed like he needed something to give the feeling of the picture. The room itself is OK. The floor, as usual, is beautiful. But a room needs more than a cool floor. And it doesn't even look like a living room to me. There is not much appropriate seating. The chaise together with those Rorschach-test paintings on the wall make me think of a psychiatrist's office. Anyway, Matt wins.<br /><br /><strong>Jonathan</strong>: "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Carisa</span></span></span></span> and Andrea, could you please take a step forward?"<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Carisa</span></span></span></span> and Andrea</strong>: "Why?"<br /><br /><strong>Jonathan</strong>: "How should I know? Just do it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Carisa</span></span></span></span>, you're in. Andrea, Goodbye."<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Carisa</span></span> is in the finale! America shits itself!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-53444518213919726052007-04-06T11:11:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:47.718-08:00Diva of the Week...<div align="center">There will not be a Diva of the Week. </div><div align="center">Instead we have...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050379613850831682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaNgDB0C0I/AAAAAAAAB8M/HS9DQgYzVWk/s320/CarpenterOfTheYear.jpg" border="0" /> Carl wins the Carpenter of the Year award for putting up with Carisa's never ending bitching. How he has managed not to kill her yet is an amazing feat. He has the patience of a saint and the skills of a master craftsman. He has deserved his place in the Carpenters Hall of Fame. </div><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaO0DB0C1I/AAAAAAAAB8U/cQgr_AUtkKE/s1600-h/Carl1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050381056959843154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaO0DB0C1I/AAAAAAAAB8U/cQgr_AUtkKE/s320/Carl1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPAzB0C2I/AAAAAAAAB8c/_ZD5o_T-J84/s1600-h/Carl2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050381276003175266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPAzB0C2I/AAAAAAAAB8c/_ZD5o_T-J84/s320/Carl2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPHzB0C3I/AAAAAAAAB8k/eS6mN5_qjO8/s1600-h/Carl3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050381396262259570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPHzB0C3I/AAAAAAAAB8k/eS6mN5_qjO8/s320/Carl3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPODB0C4I/AAAAAAAAB8s/0mhNqm1awmg/s1600-h/Carl4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050381503636441986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaPODB0C4I/AAAAAAAAB8s/0mhNqm1awmg/s320/Carl4.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><p align="center"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaRQzB0C8I/AAAAAAAAB9M/U97DS9DRodA/s1600-h/Carl5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050383749904337858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhaRQzB0C8I/AAAAAAAAB9M/U97DS9DRodA/s320/Carl5.jpg" border="0" /></a> (((MUAH)))</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-28915072980187545722007-04-05T06:36:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:49.044-08:00I Can Do That<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7ujB0CsI/AAAAAAAAB7M/omFbzHmtek4/s1600-h/large_matt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7ujB0CsI/AAAAAAAAB7M/omFbzHmtek4/s320/large_matt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049937859284568770" /></a>Matt can try to sell this design, but I’m not buying it. Maybe I have an aversion to khaki, but I just don’t see how this is the winning design. Not that I liked any of them really. I guess I was not following how this design was inspired by the cover of that magazine or how the seating arrangement worked to the benefit of a social setting like a living room. And it didn’t help that Matt kept complaining about having only $7,500 to decorate this room. If you can’t reel yourself in a bit to accommodate the requirements placed on you, how good are you at your job? Besides, it really alienated me as a viewer who decorated my living room for less than $3,000 that this was “impossible” to do well. He had been my choice for Top Design-er but now I think he’s a snooty “so-and-so” who needs to get knocked off his pedestal. So, in protest I’m only doing the parts of the room that I feel like doing...I quote myself when I say “If you want a beige rug...get a beige rug.”<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CtI/AAAAAAAAB7U/rEE_co0PN-k/s1600-h/settee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CtI/AAAAAAAAB7U/rEE_co0PN-k/s320/settee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049937863579536082" /></a>The chaise that he so oddly placed in the center of the seating area after ripping it to shreds and haphazardly reupholstering it was a beautiful piece with elegant lines. I found this one at <a href="http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/main.detail.tpl.DETAIL.item.H02894\.ref.CJ8\/aol_refer.false/msn_refer.false/ref.CJ8\?cm_ven=SHOPPINGFEED&cm_cat=HOME%20DECOR&cm_pla=FURNITURE&cm_ite=H02894"><span style="color:#ff0000;"> QVC</span></a>, believe it or not. While it is defiantly more elaborate it has a similar feel...and it’s already ivory.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CuI/AAAAAAAAB7c/FwK069hc6kY/s1600-h/chair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CuI/AAAAAAAAB7c/FwK069hc6kY/s320/chair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049937863579536098" /></a>The armless wingbacks are not easy to find since traditionally their purpose is to support the "sitter" and surround them with warmth which old homes didn't have. These leather chairs, from <a href="http://www.wards.com/wards/prod_display1.asp?product=102147&PID=348&CMB=3-537-348&partner=61"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Wards</span></a> have two advantages, they are a darker tone therefore removing some “blah” from the room and they’re two for the price of one...beat that, Mr. Money.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CvI/AAAAAAAAB7k/MtgfwUEBuXk/s1600-h/sidechair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7uzB0CvI/AAAAAAAAB7k/MtgfwUEBuXk/s320/sidechair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049937863579536114" /></a><br />I return to my cheap roots for the accent chairs that sat by the...wait for it...yellowy-beige curtains. <a href="http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_13/601-0778607-8489765?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000MJYBDQ"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Target</span></a> had these fabric ones that had the right touch of orange-beige that the room needed. <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7vDB0CwI/AAAAAAAAB7s/E4jpWRrFB9g/s1600-h/chest.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7vDB0CwI/AAAAAAAAB7s/E4jpWRrFB9g/s320/chest.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049937867874503426" /></a><br />From what I could see the chest of drawers that sat lonely against the side wall had an inlaid top. This one from <a href="http://www.onewayfurniture.com/po-332-220.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;">One Way Furniture</span></a> was the only one I could find that had that style. It’s a little more gaudy with the inlay on the front too, but this room doesn’t have to worry about becoming Carisa’s room so I think it can handle the extra “oomph”.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_TB0CxI/AAAAAAAAB70/vIgCnqjUaig/s1600-h/lamps.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_TB0CxI/AAAAAAAAB70/vIgCnqjUaig/s320/lamps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049938147047377682" /></a><br />The floor lamp is from <a href="http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_4/601-0778607-8489765?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000GF3J8Y"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Target</span></a>, not much to say about that except I really liked how he stylishly pushed the cords under the bench the way he did. Sure Margaret, that would photograph well...(sense the sarcasim). The table lamp was interesting. I found this one at <a href="http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/desk-lamps/Finish_Brass-@-Antique-Brass/page_5/62468/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Lamps Plus</span></a>. While architecturally eye catching, its defiantly more form than function.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_TB0CyI/AAAAAAAAB78/OwFPrgaYtLk/s1600-h/art.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_TB0CyI/AAAAAAAAB78/OwFPrgaYtLk/s320/art.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049938147047377698" /></a><br />I went to <a href="http://www.art.com/asp/default-asp/_/posters.htm?ui=6CE15D87ADC74F08A839B658A2C7B774"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Art.com</span></a> and picked myself out these three pieces. Cheap, simple...Matt, are you paying attention.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_jB0CzI/AAAAAAAAB8E/xIJ07U02KZw/s1600-h/silver.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhT7_jB0CzI/AAAAAAAAB8E/xIJ07U02KZw/s320/silver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049938151342345010" /></a><br />And last but not least, the eggs. At least they looked like eggs to me....little metallic, shiny eggs. Needless to say they weren’t easy to find. So, since I am a some what creative person, I changed direction to these. Found at <a href="http://www.guild.com/artitem/23230.html"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Guild</span></a> these little silver bud vases would provide an interesting focus for the otherwise pointless, aforementioned table lamp.<br /><br />On a final note, where I might have blamed the judges in the past for odd decisions I really have to say they didn’t have much to choose from...kahki, khaki, or Carisa’s colorful combination of crazy clustered crap. Hmmm....tough choice....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-47252629435907000012007-04-04T20:40:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:49.402-08:00The final two top designersMatt and Carisa<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhRv7zB0CqI/AAAAAAAAB68/eAPcRMpZ7hM/s1600-h/todd_109_01_320x240.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhRv7zB0CqI/AAAAAAAAB68/eAPcRMpZ7hM/s400/todd_109_01_320x240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049784155289946786" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />What do you think? Don't hold back. Give us your opinions. Were the viewers robbed, or did the right designers earn the two top slots?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-52401147839161111882007-04-04T20:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:49.522-08:00Check Out Our New Blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhRx7jB0CrI/AAAAAAAAB7E/GUpjBUcrmeY/s1600-h/altered+states.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhRx7jB0CrI/AAAAAAAAB7E/GUpjBUcrmeY/s400/altered+states.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049786350018235058" border="0" /></a><br />The Top Design Blogger team, with the fabulous addition of Lazarus West, is ready to discuss, dissect, and dish any and all reality t.v. offerings, particularly all things Bravo. Our first snark fodder? Shear Genius!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.bravissimoblog.blogspot.com/">Click here to view our site, dahlings!</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-27800717072515117022007-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:49.557-08:00Live Chat<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rckg7_Fd3yI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_SEoUB18eyM/s1600-h/Blogging+TD+Party.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028586673854603042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 144px; cursor: pointer; height: 132px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rckg7_Fd3yI/AAAAAAAAAtM/_SEoUB18eyM/s400/Blogging+TD+Party.bmp" border="0" height="140" width="151" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">You’re invited to the Top Design Party</span><br />Over at Blogging Top Design to discuss Episode 9!</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Grab a seat and chat with the BTD folks</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Phaolo, The Scarlett, Laura K, and TBone</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">as the show airs live tonight,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">then come back here and tell us what you think of the new episode!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://bloggingtopdesign.blogspot.com/">Click here to join the party!</a></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> Then come back and tell us what you think!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-66139831010413022852007-04-04T00:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:49.938-08:00Who Is Going, Gone, Tonight<p align="center">Oh down to three... who will it be?!?!</p><p align="center">Who is going home?</p><p align="center">Who is going all the way?</p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhMmGjB0CpI/AAAAAAAAB60/54iDjhEgVFc/s1600-h/go.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049421501136374418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhMmGjB0CpI/AAAAAAAAB60/54iDjhEgVFc/s400/go.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhMmBDB0CoI/AAAAAAAAB6s/_HXC6MJqqrA/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049421406647093890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhMmBDB0CoI/AAAAAAAAB6s/_HXC6MJqqrA/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">If your favorite designer is no longer in the running. Tells us who they were and why they were your favorite.</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Let's not forget the carpenters. Who is your favorite carpenter?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-10418264748487403452007-04-03T00:23:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:50.118-08:00Video Time<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhIBA0hN_CI/AAAAAAAAB6k/RDmNTgODGmg/s1600-h/preview+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049099245845347362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RhIBA0hN_CI/AAAAAAAAB6k/RDmNTgODGmg/s400/preview+9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Three are left. <br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Check out the previews for episode 9 by clicking <a href="http://video.bravotv.com/player/?id=86356"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a> for the Bravo preview.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> <br /></div><div align="center">Don't forget "Shopping in LA" by click <a href="http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/player/popup-2-0/index.php?cl=2237239"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a> for the Yahoo preview.</div><div> <br /></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Posted by Calady</span></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-70486100789675375762007-04-01T05:58:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:53.003-08:00Taste Patrol<div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNXTeNFLAI/AAAAAAAABi8/ZTbh5E_HfUo/s1600-h/TastePatrol_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040468399994776578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNXTeNFLAI/AAAAAAAABi8/ZTbh5E_HfUo/s400/TastePatrol_1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="left"><p><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Three Hula Man Bobble Award<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNWKuNFK-I/AAAAAAAABis/Ac8NzbC6upY/s1600-h/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040467150159293410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNWKuNFK-I/AAAAAAAABis/Ac8NzbC6upY/s200/Animation_Great_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a> </p><p>My top award goes to all our carpenters: To Ed for butchering his thumb in the quest for someone else’s glory. </p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8F9c37a3I/AAAAAAAADwQ/FtAyxz_x-Gk/s1600-h/c13.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048260260586548082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8F9c37a3I/AAAAAAAADwQ/FtAyxz_x-Gk/s400/c13.jpg" border="0" /></a> To Carl for not betraying one single emotion as Carisa nagged him for three straight days in a row. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8Fvs37a2I/AAAAAAAADwI/lyWWSvJZTx0/s1600-h/c7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048260024363346786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8Fvs37a2I/AAAAAAAADwI/lyWWSvJZTx0/s320/c7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />To Blair for quietly doing his damnedest to follow Andrea’s vague instructions.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048259813909949266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8Fjc37a1I/AAAAAAAADwA/svd4WJeswNE/s320/c8.jpg" border="0" /><br />And to Sarah, whose mobile expressions as she viewed Goil’s designs were priceless. She used my favorite diplomatic expression when Goil asked her what she thought of his wall: "It's definitely unique!"<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048259642111257410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8FZc37a0I/AAAAAAAADv4/XrOY-OdJRQ8/s400/c11.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Two Hula Man Bobble Award<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RddFUgLsCfI/AAAAAAAABC0/4WpNHMAQ7sk/s1600-h/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032567327148476914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RddFUgLsCfI/AAAAAAAABC0/4WpNHMAQ7sk/s320/Animation_Tepid_Bobble.gif" border="0" /></a>Two hula men go to Todd for providing such humane and thoughtful advice to exiting designers. You can see them hang onto his every word as he tells them something positive about their talents, and then wish them luck as they pack up. Todd’s gentle, sane demeanor is growing on me, and I wish he’d been given a more substantive role in this series.<br /></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8FIM37azI/AAAAAAAADvw/LltDdswtjl0/s1600-h/goil+and+todd.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048259345758513970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8FIM37azI/AAAAAAAADvw/LltDdswtjl0/s400/goil+and+todd.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >The Bobble Won’t Wobble Award<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNVRONFK9I/AAAAAAAABik/8P_MuvdzEaE/s1600-h/The_Bobble_Won_t_Wobble.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040466162316815314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNVRONFK9I/AAAAAAAABik/8P_MuvdzEaE/s200/The_Bobble_Won_t_Wobble.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left">The Bobble won’t wobble goes to Carisa’s mouth. Zip it, girlfriend. Just shut your trap. Carl’s a saint. I’d kill to have such a patient, talented man working alongside me. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7_r837axI/AAAAAAAADvg/DZI6UNVEW3k/s1600-h/c5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048253362869070610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7_r837axI/AAAAAAAADvg/DZI6UNVEW3k/s400/c5.jpg" border="0" /></a> And, yes, many creative folks are a pain in the butt and I shouldn't be influenced by such a factor in deciding on whether I like your work or not, but I abhor stripes and checks, so I doubt I would ever hire you as my designer.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7vHM37avI/AAAAAAAADvQ/Y-1wIzcHR-A/s1600-h/c1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048235139322833650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7vHM37avI/AAAAAAAADvQ/Y-1wIzcHR-A/s400/c1.jpg" border="0" /></a>I’ve also been wondering where I’ve seen your walls before. Then, eureka! Here is Joanne Mattera's painting in all its boxy, striped and dripping glory.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7vcM37awI/AAAAAAAADvY/bDZ-cxV6coY/s1600-h/joanne+matterra+striped+painting.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048235500100086530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg7vcM37awI/AAAAAAAADvY/bDZ-cxV6coY/s400/joanne+matterra+striped+painting.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >The Trash It Award<br /></span></strong><br /><p><strong><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNU7ONFK8I/AAAAAAAABic/SI5wWlMQ7OM/s1600-h/trashit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040465784359693250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RfNU7ONFK8I/AAAAAAAABic/SI5wWlMQ7OM/s200/trashit.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></strong>The Trash It Award goes to Andrea. I found it interesting that you hated the earth theme. Your winning room the previous week reminded me of earth, from the subdued colors, to the textures of wood and stone, to the elemental gifts that earth provides us (sustenance and the raw materials that clothe and house us). You used those design elements quite effectively, but you were coveting Matt’s and Carisa’s themes so much that you blinded yourself to any creative possibilities. Frankly, your room was lackluster and quite trite in places (plugs of grass!!?) </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8AC837ayI/AAAAAAAADvo/2bDXsY0T_kg/s1600-h/grass.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048253758006061858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LCVZWFAEodk/Rg8AC837ayI/AAAAAAAADvo/2bDXsY0T_kg/s400/grass.bmp" border="0" /></a><br />and I truly thought it should have been your time to go.<br /><br /><em>Disclaimer: This show has had such a numbing effect on my poor nerves (Carisa’s nonsensical blathering had my brain shut down completely) that I’ve ms. placed my sense of humor. If you find my funny bone, please wrap it tenderly and return it via express mail. I do so love a handsome man in uniform knocking at my door.<br /></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://dis-ndat.blogspot.com/"><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">Ms. Place</span></a></span></em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-30470383704863089022007-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:002007-04-02T09:40:13.308-07:00Top Design Recap, episode 8: A Bucket of Blood<span style="color:#ff0000;">Posted by Eric3000</span><br /><br />OK, I think I'm going to be sick. Seriously. All the previews show a table-saw with blood on it and I'm just about to die. I'm not sure I can watch this episode because I'm so freaked out about the blood.<br /><br />OH, MY GOD! I'M TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!<br /><br />Sorry. But there are only two things that paralyze me with fear: cockroaches and blood. I don't know why.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll just cover my eyes and try to describe what's going on from the audio. OK? Other Eric is in Mexico so he's no help. Let me know when it's safe to look. Thanks.<br /><br />So we're down to the final four. I think I hear Matt and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Goil</span></span> talking about how this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">challenge</span> could be really weird because it's a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">manageable</span> number of designers. I'm not sure I get the logic there, but whatever.<br /><br />Todd says they are at the Viceroy in Santa Monica, which was designed by our very own Kelly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wearstler</span></span>. Ooh, I've never been there ... is it pretty? I open my eyes just long enough to see that the designers are talking to Zandra Rhodes. Oh, sorry; turns out it's Linda <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">O'Keefe</span></span> of Metropolitan Home. She's going to be the guest judge and she's telling the designers about boutique hotels.<br /><br /><strong>Linda</strong>: "They're like hotels, only smaller."<br /><br />Or something like that.<br /><br />They will be designing hotel rooms. Now, you're thinking, "Oh, great; they'll be designing actual hotel rooms!" But no. They'll be creating stupid <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">facsimiles</span> of hotel rooms in the studio. Why? Why not let them into real rooms? I'm sure they could have found a hotel (obviously not one designed by Kelley <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wearstler</span></span>) that would be delighted to feature actual rooms from the show. It might cause a little inconvenience to other guests but hotels remodel all the time so I'm sure they could have done it. Of course, they wouldn't have been able to "memo out" $30,000 worth of furniture but so what? Bravo can afford to give away $120,000 worth of furniture. Oh, well; stuck in the studio again.<br /><br />The designers pick elements. I think Zandra Rhodes is laying out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">taro</span> cards or something. I can't really tell what's going on. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Goil</span></span> picks the death card. Oh, tough break.<br /><br />Andrea picks earth:<br /><br /><strong>Andrea</strong>: "Oh, boo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hoo</span></span>; earth is the worst element. I hate the earth. Recycling is for suckers. Global warming rocks!"<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Goil</span></span> picks fire:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Goil</span></strong></span>: "I'm a bowl of noodles kind of guy. I don't know what fire is. All I know is people tell me I'm flaming, whatever that means."<br /><br />Why don't you go play with matches?<br /><br />Matt picks water. God, that lucky bastard.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Carisa</span></span> picks air:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Carisa</span></strong></span>: "I don't want to be literal so I'm going to suck all the air out of my room. It will be like the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">vacuum</span> of space."<br /><br />Well, I appreciate the desire not to be too literal, but that might be going a bit far.<br /><br />The designers all create the same layout for their rooms:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Carisa</span></strong></span>: "Oh, my god! We're all putting beds in our rooms? This is a disaster!"<br /><br />Everyone changes their room layout except Matt. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Goil</span></span> complains that this is unfair. Later, he complains that the other designers are not paying enough attention to him. He is <em>so</em> Jan Brady!<br /><br />We actually meet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Goil's</span></span> seamstress. We kept hearing about seamstresses but I didn't think they really existed.<br /><br />Then we finally get the answers to some of the weird pieces of preview editing. I understand that the previews are intentionally mysterious and vague but this one made it pretty clear that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Carisa</span></span> says something to Andrea and then Andrea tells her that it was a bitchy thing to say and then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Carisa</span></span> is shocked. You're wondering what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Carisa</span></span> said to Andrea, right? Turns out, nothing. What happened is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Carisa</span></span> jokingly told Matt his room looked like a nursery, mainly because that's exactly what it looked like. Matt then mentions this to Andrea, who then says to Matt that it was a bitchy thing for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Carisa</span></span> to say. Then, later, Andrea tells <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Carisa</span></span> that her room looks a little "muted," though it doesn't, and this causes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Carisa</span></span> to say, "What?!" That was worth the wait, wasn't it?<br /><br />Then the other piece of mysterious promo editing: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Goil</span></span> yelling "Oh, my god," with a picture of blood. Now, I was pretty sure it wasn't <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Goil</span></span> who was bleeding because it seemed too much like that's what they wanted us to think. It's Matt's carpenter, Ed. Ed cuts his finger. Todd tells us it is pretty bad.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Oooooh</span></span> ... I'm feeling a little woozy ...<br /><br />What? What happened? Where am I? And why am I not wearing any underpants?<br /><br />Turns out Ed is going to be fine. Who needs <em>all</em> their fingers, right? He's soon back at work with a bandaged hand. That Ed; he'll do anything for more camera time!<br /><br />OK, well, now that that's over with I can open my eyes and look at the finished rooms:<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Goil's</span></span> room is apparently not finished, though I can't really tell. I know he was sliding the bed into place with only a few seconds to go so I don't know if he actually put the $3,000 sheets on it. Seriously, what was the point of the $3,000 sheets? You can't see them. Well, I guess that includes the bedspread but that still seems like a lot of money.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Goil</span></span> really did have the worst element. As Margaret points out in one of the best lines of the episode, fire and hotel rooms is not something you normally want to put together. He really did spend too much time on that cushioned wall sculpture that went around the whole room. It was interesting but the room still wasn't that great. He tells us he was going with the softer side of fire and points out that metal is forged in fire, which I understand, and that fire gives life to wood, which I don't. I mean, I know there is a certain type of pine tree that can only germinate its seeds after a forest fire but, come on, that's a bit of a stretch.<br /><br />I still liked his room more than Andrea's. I thought her room was a mess. There was no real couch, just an ugly bench, so it wouldn't be a very nice room to relax in. She put in fake windows, which I appreciate, but they were in places you wouldn't find them in a real hotel room. I think they were off-center and on two walls. I've never been in a hotel that had windows placed like that. Anyway, I think Andrea should have been out for this room but I think she was given a pass because of her past work and because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Goil</span></span> was already hanging by a thread.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Carisa</span></span> puts the fake window in the right place. She covers one whole wall with curtains, which corresponds to the window placement of most hotel rooms. I really like her room. I don't love the fence in the middle of the space <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">because</span> I feel like it makes the room smaller, but I love the detailing on the side walls. It really gives the feeling of air vents without being too literal. This is the room I would want to spend time in.<br /><br />But Matt wins it. I thought his room was very nice but it was a little too bleached out. I realize the walls were actually really light blue but the whole space looked too monochromatic to me. It could have used a little contrast. I'm sure it looked better in person; Margaret said she was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">mesmerized</span> by the color so I was obviously missing something. And where was the water? Where's the Jacuzzi? Or why not a nice table-top fountain from Sharper Image?<br /><br /><strong>Michael Adams</strong>: "This is a hotel room; not a bar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">mitzvah</span>!"<br /><br />You're right; I'm just kidding. But how about a glass of water? Can't I just get a glass of water? Is that too much to ask?<br /><br />That room needed a color splash. Speaking of which, did anyone see that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">awful</span> new show that they are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">advertising</span> during Top Design? That <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">HGTV</span></span> show with "America's next design star," David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Bromstad</span></span>? Could there be a less <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">necessary</span> show? They should have called it, "We Promised Him a Show, So Here it Is." Yes, I'm partly to blame; I voted for him. We watched the first episode, where David excitedly tells us how great color is while he makes sexy poses and then he completely destroyed some couple's cool mid-century living room. When we saw the before picture of the room I asked, "You know what that room doesn't need?" Other Eric suggested, "A make-over?" Well, yes; but what it really didn't need was a color splash.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-67208391034549295422007-03-30T09:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:54.930-08:00Diva Of The Week<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg030khN_BI/AAAAAAAAB6c/EmlGtLmSPZI/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047752133647924242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg030khN_BI/AAAAAAAAB6c/EmlGtLmSPZI/s400/1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center">Carisa's ego wins this weeks Diva of the Week award. I mean, come on now, the woman has such an over inflated opinion of herself, it's a wonder she doesn't float away with how big her head is getting.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047752004798905346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03tEhN_AI/AAAAAAAAB6U/NSuj-AstJqI/s400/2a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03okhN-_I/AAAAAAAAB6M/tT_ZxlQfQvc/s1600-h/2b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751927489494002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03okhN-_I/AAAAAAAAB6M/tT_ZxlQfQvc/s400/2b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03lEhN--I/AAAAAAAAB6E/YSmny9HO8PQ/s1600-h/2c.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751867359951842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03lEhN--I/AAAAAAAAB6E/YSmny9HO8PQ/s400/2c.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03hUhN-9I/AAAAAAAAB58/QQq6zDC2aNs/s1600-h/2d.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751802935442386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03hUhN-9I/AAAAAAAAB58/QQq6zDC2aNs/s400/2d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03eEhN-8I/AAAAAAAAB50/G1f6mBkftfc/s1600-h/2e.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751747100867522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03eEhN-8I/AAAAAAAAB50/G1f6mBkftfc/s400/2e.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03ZUhN-7I/AAAAAAAAB5s/TfdAGUuq12Y/s1600-h/2f.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751665496488882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03ZUhN-7I/AAAAAAAAB5s/TfdAGUuq12Y/s400/2f.jpg" border="0" /></a> Need I say more?</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I would also like to take this opportunity to award The Gold Hammer to carpenter Ed.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03VUhN-6I/AAAAAAAAB5k/rtIlKNQcMSY/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751596777012130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03VUhN-6I/AAAAAAAAB5k/rtIlKNQcMSY/s400/3.jpg" border="0" /></a> What a trouper. He got hurt and hauled off to the hospital, but still managed to come back and kick ass on Matt's room. You are da man!!!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047751489402829714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/Rg03PEhN-5I/AAAAAAAAB5c/2llIaBdz0U0/s400/4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>Posted by TheHoInMo</em> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-28012082032151122002007-03-29T07:51:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:56.163-08:00I Can Do That<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTPkhN-yI/AAAAAAAAB4g/MT9NMakiIkU/s1600-h/large_matt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTPkhN-yI/AAAAAAAAB4g/MT9NMakiIkU/s400/large_matt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360071853275938" /></a><br />Well, I thought that the designs last night were great. With the exception of Andrea, who couldn’t find an “earth tone” if it was...I don’t know...outside, everyone really captured the feel of their element. Let me just say this about Matt’s winning design: I loved looking at it, but if a bell boy walked me into it at a hotel I would honestly look at him and say “You don’t want me to stay here.” Not that it wasn’t one of the most beautiful set ups I’ve seen on the show, it’s just I would scratch those tables, spill something on the floor or seating area, and probably drool on the sheets in my sleep. But for those of you who don’t have children and keep your homes as immaculate as Colin Cowie does (If you didn’t see that episode of Oprah watch the repeats this summer for it...you will feel inadequate) here is the “Close but Cheaper” version for your home.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTcUhN-zI/AAAAAAAAB4o/vyBduQJy7yY/s1600-h/mirrortable.TIF.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTcUhN-zI/AAAAAAAAB4o/vyBduQJy7yY/s400/mirrortable.TIF.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360290896608050" /></a><br />The mirrored side tables I found at <a href="http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?DeptID=0&CatID=041608&Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=11421a2&siteID=210054842"><span style="color:#ff0000;">JC Penny</span></a>. They have a little more structure than Matt’s...but hey, a mirrored table is a mirrored table.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTcUhN-0I/AAAAAAAAB4w/N13BVHulYDo/s1600-h/coffeetable.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTcUhN-0I/AAAAAAAAB4w/N13BVHulYDo/s400/coffeetable.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360290896608066" /></a><br />While we are on tables, the coffee table was not as easy as I thought it would be. I guess the world isn’t that into clear tables. Who knew? This one is at <a href="http://www.johnsalibelloantiques.com/items.php?sup=1&sub=12&item=708"><span style="color:#ff0000;">John Salibello</span></a> and is the only thing I ever put in these posts that says “Please call” for price. So...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTckhN-1I/AAAAAAAAB44/k-ie-LAtByI/s1600-h/sofa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTckhN-1I/AAAAAAAAB44/k-ie-LAtByI/s400/sofa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360295191575378" /></a>The sofa comes from my “go to” furniture store <a href="http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15585&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=74336&langId=-1&categoryId=15945&chosenPartNumber=S39836688"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Ikea</span></a>. I’m sure if you actually visit a store you could find a black throw there as well. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTckhN-2I/AAAAAAAAB5A/HilodPVh8vU/s1600-h/chair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTckhN-2I/AAAAAAAAB5A/HilodPVh8vU/s400/chair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360295191575394" /></a><br />These were actually the hardest to find this week. Surprising, since I feel like I have seen these chairs everywhere. This one is from <a href="http://www.thomasville.com/Item6223/Upholstery-Leather-Jackson-Game-Chair.aspx"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Thomasville</span></a> and can be ordered in an array of fabrics, from my understanding. Personally, I might have picked something a bit more comfortable looking. These remind me more of the chairs you sit in while being interviewed for a job...and who wants to be reminded of that while at a luxury suite or in your bedroom.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTc0hN-3I/AAAAAAAAB5I/r4eNDHCRjYU/s1600-h/lamps.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvTc0hN-3I/AAAAAAAAB5I/r4eNDHCRjYU/s400/lamps.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360299486542706" /></a><br />The lighting choices were great, but I took some liberties. The floor lamp is very similar, coming from <a href="http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/floor-lamps/Style_Contemporary/page_17/50925/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Lamps Plus</span></a> it has a slightly different shade but...who really cares? The table lamps were not an easy color combination to find and when I did find it, the base was usually black with a whote shade. So, during my searching I found this lamp at <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=6728"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Crate and Barrel</span></a> and I thought it brought more consistency to the flow of the room with it’s glass base. I have a theory that I hold to when choosing lamps for a room. Either the styles should all be flattering to each other or the shades should. If I’m wrong...oh well, not the first time.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvT4EhN-4I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/lNdsOZVNhwI/s1600-h/decor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgvT4EhN-4I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/lNdsOZVNhwI/s400/decor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047360767637977986" /></a><br />The two accent pieces in the room that I focused on were the mirror and the glass bowl on the coffee table. If you want a beige rug...get a beige rug. I found the mirror at <a href="http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod27250168&parentId=cat5440732&masterId=cat000092&cmCat=cat000000cat4100735cat000092cat5440732&index=3"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Horchow</span></a>. This one has a bit more detail but I kind of like it better. I do find it amusing that something we used to look at a reminder of our “Brady Bunch” days, is now the “topest” of interior design. The bowl that Matt put in was ok, but if you are going to put something as a center piece to the room this one from <a href="http://www.lightopera.com/gallery.cfm?Dept=vases&SKU=SK-V-0004&NextRow=127"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Light Opera</span></a> has a presence and demands a closer look.<br /><br />So, there it is in all its glory. And if you do put a room of it’s magnitude in your home I would love to see it and I promise, if I visit, I’ll sleep on the pullout in the den.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-929218442180729027.post-47391990761276710602007-03-28T20:09:00.000-07:002008-12-09T14:23:56.823-08:00Congratulations, Matt<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgsuDUhN-bI/AAAAAAAAB1o/6EscOnlmVys/s1600-h/Top_Design_ep108_20.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047178441981295026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgsuDUhN-bI/AAAAAAAAB1o/6EscOnlmVys/s400/Top_Design_ep108_20.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Ha, ha, ha, so glad you won!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047178570830313922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgsuK0hN-cI/AAAAAAAAB1w/kBmpto47BII/s400/Top_Design_ep108_23.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">Hee, hee, hee, I haven't seen that hairstyle since Mom and Dad dragged me to that Olan Mills photo shoot.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgsviUhN-dI/AAAAAAAAB14/8HRNWXtUzXA/s1600-h/childabuse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047180074068867538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-RWY6p_hp7Y/RgsviUhN-dI/AAAAAAAAB14/8HRNWXtUzXA/s400/childabuse.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">By <a href="http://dis-ndat.blogspot.com/">Ms. Place</a></span></em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2