J'Adler et al

Jonathan Adler's Top Design Word of the Week:

Insouciance. Usage: "Nathan's table setting was riddled with panache and insouciance." (I had to look it up! I love when I have to look it up.)


Items pronounced j'adorable by Jonathan Adler:

Nothing from this week, but previous items include

-Dog bed in the first episode ("because every gay has a dog")

-The marital bed of Nathan and Wisit in the bunker episode. Lord, how I love the Nathan and Wisit fake relationship!


Now let's talk about this for a minute


A crimped beehive! Delightful. Reminded me of this:


Don't you think that's totally what she was going for? The Iona Prom Look? If the camera pans down, she has on furry slippers. For sure. How much time does this woman spend in hair and make-up? Do you think after taping she goes to happy hour looking like that? I truly did love her other costume last night--the hat and the huge black belted shirt:


The only thought in my head during that scene was "she is so pretty!" She is.

What about Nathan, when he said "I diarreahed in my mouth" because Teresa told him that her zen design was similar to his? I like Nathan. I think Eddie wants him dead.

I am also feeling strong emotion for the ultra feminine Wisit.


He's happy, he's chill, and he was totally robbed in the garden portion of the triathalon last night. I don't know what it is about him, I just want to cuddle him. Did you hear Nathan call Wisit "pumpkin" a few episodes back? Their fake marriage is so tender, I could cry.

TV Whore: Oh, Bee-HIVE

Kelly Wearstler makes my job too easy. I mean, look at that photo. She was working a two-toned sequined shift with a crimped beehive last night on Top Design. Yes, you read that correctly. As if it wasn't fashion forward enough to rock a gargantuan hive on tv, she had to push the envelope just a wee bit further and crimp it. LOVE. It's kind of genius. And it made me laugh so hard that I almost fell off the couch. I think the producers should ditch the snoozy "competition" portion of the show and just let us watch Kelly try on clothes and different hairstyles for an hour every week, self-narrating the whole enchilada with that voice that sounds like air slowly being let out of a balloon. Hell, put it on pay-per-view!

The Best Exchange

Shazia (to Preston): ....why don't you go do that because it's not so labor intensive. I thought that was the most disgusting thing you could have said to me!

Jeff: Shaz. Did you call him an a-hole?

Shazia: Yes.

Jeff (gentle voice): Isn't that the most disgusting thing you could say to somebody?

SGM (fanning herself): OMIGOD.

Look at that smirk! Did anyone else sense a love triangle blossoming among Jeff, Jonathan Adler and Preston? What about Eddie's gorgeous floral arrangement? It's almost like the judges were saying "Eddie, we can't have you win every time, so we're going to make up some bullshit excuse and give this one to Nathan."

I was happy to see Shaz go, but not because of the a-hole comment. What do you think?

My arms ache for him

Jeff Lewis guest judges on Top Design tonight. (I'm totally fanning myself at my desk right now. HOT.)

Also, if you've been watching the show regularly this season, then you are familiar with the super-talented Eddie Ross. Look at him!

God, how I love me some smart-mouthed preppy gay. Sigh. Paloma at La Dolce Vita scored an interview with him, and he's just as fabulous as you would expect. Check it out here.

TV Whore: Top Design

This season of Top Design on Bravo is way better than the first. For starters, someone came to their senses and banned Ms. Adler from using his über annoying elimination line, "See ya' later, decorator." Great move. Since it's essentially Project Runway for interior designers, here's the breakdown:

• elegant new addition to the team India Hicks as Heidi Klum
• multi-talented snaggle-toothed vegetarian Todd Oldham as Tim Gunn
• heavy lidded celebrity pot thrower Jonathan Adler as Michael Kors
• botoxed Elle Decor editrix/sourpuss Margaret Russell as Nina Garcia
• helium-voiced fashion abusing Hollywood Regency proponent Kelly Wearstler provides visual comic relief
  

Her eye-popping hair and clothing choices were hysterical the first season and she doesn't disappoint this time either. One might think Jonathan's fitted safari jackets and bloated neckwear (that knot could choke a mule!) is a bit over the top until you see Kelly's pink sequined beret perched atop an explosion of ratted, matted, and frizzed brillo hair paired with a vintage Chinoiserie schmatta and purple leg warmers. Delicious.

Oh, and the design challenges are pretty fun, too. Watch it and get back to me.

BravoTV - A Swirling Mass of Information?

BravoTV has announced several new initiatives to fully leverage (meaning exploit, exploit, exploit) the brands of their popular reality shows like Top Chef, Shear Genius, Project Runway and, yes, even Top Design, among others. Brace yourselves for "a swirling mass of information" for customers who "feel very comfortable living in a cyclone of a brand." These initiatives include publishing, mobisodes (mobile users), dedicated websites, social networking and, in the future, themed cruises and cooking tours.

Bravo has also announced a partnership with talent agency Pangea Management Group, that will manage the careers of the contests who suddenly find themselves reality stars. One assumes this means all contestants must sign this deal in order to compete and that Pangea has a right of first refusal on managing each contestants career. I have to wonder what this will do to the quality of contestant in the future. The more mature and business savvy might be less willing to sign away the rights to their own career path.

So... what do we think? Are we ready for this "swirling mass of information"?

Swirling Mass of BravoTV
	Yes, bring it on!
	No! Overexposure will topple the empire!
pollcode.com free polls

sources: Online Media Daily, MediaWeek

BravoTV - A Swirling Mass of Information?

BravoTV has announced several new initiatives to fully leverage (meaning exploit, exploit, exploit) the brands of their popular reality shows like Top Chef, Shear Genius, Project Runway and, yes, even Top Design, among others. Brace yourselves for "a swirling mass of information" for customers who "feel very comfortable living in a cyclone of a brand." These initiatives include publishing, mobisodes (mobile users), dedicated websites, social networking and, in the future, themed cruises and cooking tours.

Bravo has also announced a partnership with talent agency Pangea Management Group, that will manage the careers of the contests who suddenly find themselves reality stars. One assumes this means all contestants must sign this deal in order to compete and that Pangea has a right of first refusal on managing each contestants career. I have to wonder what this will do to the quality of contestant in the future. The more mature and business savvy might be less willing to sign away the rights to their own career path.

So... what do we think? Are we ready for this "swirling mass of information"?

Swirling Mass of BravoTV
	Yes, bring it on!
	No! Overexposure will topple the empire!
pollcode.com free polls

sources: Online Media Daily, MediaWeek

Boston Design Center - Dream Home

The Boston Design Center is sponsoring its first decorator show house, which opened at the beginning of the month. Located on the 6th floor of the building, nine rooms were assigned to nine of the regions best know design firms who created their spaces from the luxury goods available at the showrooms. (note to BravoTV's Top Design producers - this is what we wanted to see, or a reasonable 2 day facsimile thereof). The showhouse is free to the public but donations benefiting the new Institute of Contemporary Art are being accepted.

The BDC will launch a full scale website on May 18th which will showcase and sell the furnishings, fabrics and accessories used in these spaces.

I had the place to myself one day last week and had the freedom to wander through and take photos of a few of the rooms.

This is the living room, designed by Mollie Johnson of Molly Johnson Interiors of Wellesley, MA






The Music Gallery was designed by Jean Verbridge and Thaddeus Siemasko of Siemasko + Verbidge, located in Beverly, MA

Grand piano's are well named, aren't they?



The Library was designed by Michael Carter of Carter & Co., Boston, MA

I loved the juxtaposition of the formality of the deep toned wall treatment and burled woods with the comfy nature of the ticking stripes on the matched chaises. While a little stagy (hard to avoid that), it still felt like a room one might like to nap..err... read in.




The Kitchen was designed by Paul J. Noel, Paul J. Noel Designs

This kitchen was surprisingly contemporary - very different from the rest of the rooms. The rich colors and textures made the space feel old world and new century, all at the same time. I particularly liked the window art. This is something that could be replacated in many different materials - a great way to obscure a less than wonderful view, while warming the quality of light.




The Bedroom was designed by Alan Reniere, Alan Reniere Interiors and Meryl Santopietro, Meryl Santopietro Interiors, both of Providence, RI.

The relatively monochromatic color palette is enlivened by the subtle textures and stripes - from the grasscloth walls, canopy gathers to the pillows.

I just loved the interplay of texture between the
silk lamp shade and the grasscloth wallpaper.

These were my favorite spaces, but there is also a dining room, bathroom, sitting room and foyer. Worth the trip, if you're in the area.

Would I say it is the "ultimate" design installation? No, I guess I wouldn't. There are lots of designer show houses around here each year and each one is usually just as beautiful and just as safe. That the furnishings will all be available for sale under one roof is a bonus. But, I would have loved to see something really outside our box here - like crazy wall papers or a bolder color palette. These rooms were designed to sell.

Would you buy?

Photography by Linda Merrill

Boston Design Center - Dream Home

The Boston Design Center is sponsoring its first decorator show house, which opened at the beginning of the month. Located on the 6th floor of the building, nine rooms were assigned to nine of the regions best know design firms who created their spaces from the luxury goods available at the showrooms. (note to BravoTV's Top Design producers - this is what we wanted to see, or a reasonable 2 day facsimile thereof). The showhouse is free to the public but donations benefiting the new Institute of Contemporary Art are being accepted.

The BDC will launch a full scale website on May 18th which will showcase and sell the furnishings, fabrics and accessories used in these spaces.

I had the place to myself one day last week and had the freedom to wander through and take photos of a few of the rooms.

This is the living room, designed by Mollie Johnson of Molly Johnson Interiors of Wellesley, MA






The Music Gallery was designed by Jean Verbridge and Thaddeus Siemasko of Siemasko + Verbidge, located in Beverly, MA

Grand piano's are well named, aren't they?



The Library was designed by Michael Carter of Carter & Co., Boston, MA

I loved the juxtaposition of the formality of the deep toned wall treatment and burled woods with the comfy nature of the ticking stripes on the matched chaises. While a little stagy (hard to avoid that), it still felt like a room one might like to nap..err... read in.




The Kitchen was designed by Paul J. Noel, Paul J. Noel Designs

This kitchen was surprisingly contemporary - very different from the rest of the rooms. The rich colors and textures made the space feel old world and new century, all at the same time. I particularly liked the window art. This is something that could be replacated in many different materials - a great way to obscure a less than wonderful view, while warming the quality of light.




The Bedroom was designed by Alan Reniere, Alan Reniere Interiors and Meryl Santopietro, Meryl Santopietro Interiors, both of Providence, RI.

The relatively monochromatic color palette is enlivened by the subtle textures and stripes - from the grasscloth walls, canopy gathers to the pillows.

I just loved the interplay of texture between the
silk lamp shade and the grasscloth wallpaper.

These were my favorite spaces, but there is also a dining room, bathroom, sitting room and foyer. Worth the trip, if you're in the area.

Would I say it is the "ultimate" design installation? No, I guess I wouldn't. There are lots of designer show houses around here each year and each one is usually just as beautiful and just as safe. That the furnishings will all be available for sale under one roof is a bonus. But, I would have loved to see something really outside our box here - like crazy wall papers or a bolder color palette. These rooms were designed to sell.

Would you buy?

Photography by Linda Merrill

Top Design - Congratulations! And the prize goes to...

Congratulations! It's a tie!

Damselfly

Editor Girl

You have both won a custom designed and made pillow! We'll chat about what you'd like!

Special thanks to Eric3000 for his help working on the basic floor plan and to everyone who participated by entering and voting and to those who helped promoted this little contest.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE ENTRIES.

Top Design - Congratulations! And the prize goes to...

Congratulations! It's a tie!

Damselfly

Editor Girl

You have both won a custom designed and made pillow! We'll chat about what you'd like!

Special thanks to Eric3000 for his help working on the basic floor plan and to everyone who participated by entering and voting and to those who helped promoted this little contest.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE ENTRIES.