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Dooce’s Recap: Does Anyone Have a Tomato I Can Throw?

by ChadP August 15, 2010 No Comments

We’re down to the final three: Casey, Michael and Emily. The contestants walk out to Foley Square to greet the judges in front of three giant glass structures. Please let this mean they get to design their own spaces. Please? Design Star, I’ll give you a shoulder rub.

Genevieve reminds them not many people get to be in their shoes right now, and then she introduces last season’s winner, Antonio Ballatore, someone who knows exactly how they are feeling. Oh, and before I go any further, is Michael wearing suspenders? COULD HE BE MORE ENDEARING? I mean, Larry King is retiring, so someone has to take up that post. Who better for the job, am I right?

Read the rest over at the Design Star Blog

Dooce’s Recap: Design Star, Have You Ever Seen a Souvenir?

by ChadP July 25, 2010 No Comments

This week begins with the red team returning to the apartment without Nina, and Stacey could not be happier: “This is probably the best outcome of any elimination to date. She’s gone. Like, do you know what a relief that is?” Meaning Stacey read the note I slipped her WORD FOR WORD.

The contestants meet Vern in the lobby of Trump Tower to meet Donald Trump, Jr. who is going to help judge the challenge this week. Each team has to design a model apartment in the brand new Trump property, The Trump Plaza Residences in Jersey City. Don, Jr., explains that the Trump look is consistently about luxury, but that it has to be contextual, which in this instance means it should reflect Jersey City. And since the Trumps are all about New York, each contestant must choose a New York City souvenir package and physically incorporate it into their designs. Uh, Design Star? Have you ever seen a souvenir? About as luxurious as an ingrown hair.

Casey takes the architectural package, Stacy grabs the yellow taxi bag, Alex selects the Big Apple package, Tom takes the Statue of Liberty, Emily gets the subway bag, Courtland takes the Times Square package, leaving Michael with the Broadway souvenirs. They head out to their apartments and the blue team immediately decides to apply crown molding. Emily worries it’s going to be a time suck. These designers have to realize at this point that if their gut is telling them TIME SUCK, then the reality is going to be TIME BLACK HOLE.

Read the rest of Dooce’s review»

Freebie Friday: Soy Delicious

by ChadP March 5, 2010 350 Comments

SoyDelicious Welcome to the first Freebie Friday of March. Post a comment with a valid email address before 12/11c, Monday, March 8, to be entered for a chance to win.

This week’s Freebie comes from Soy Delicious, makers of 100% pure soy candles. Maggie and Georgette are committed to making an eco-friendly product in every way – from their dye-free wax to the lead-free wicks. Even the glass jars are reusable for your favorite beverage once you’re done with candle. Their fragrances are spa worthy – from Dulce de Leche to Tahitian Orchid.

The winner this week will receive their choice of one full-sized candle along with one of their sugar scrubs. This was the same gift they gave out at The Grammys back in January! Take a look at some of the celebs that visited them.

This Week’s Question

Some Wonderous Inspiration

by ChadP March 5, 2010 9 Comments

Alice200 The buzz around the office over Disney’s Alice in Wonderland has reached critical levels. Some of us are hoping this returns Tim Burton to the glory of his earlier works like Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas. Others just can’t wait for a return to the fantasy world of Wonderland, filled with its anthropomorphic animals and logical loopholes. And we won’t lie, there are a few around here that just can’t wait to see Johnny Depp on the big screen. No matter what the reason, we’re all excited for Alice and we bet you are too. Take a look at some creations inspired by what’s beyond the looking glass.

Freebie Fridays: Cake Vintage

by ChadP February 26, 2010 307 Comments

It’s the last Friday of the month – time for another Freebie! Post a comment with a valid email address before 12/11c, Monday, March 1 (Can you believe it’s March already?) to be entered for a chance to win.

This week’s Freebie comes from friends right down the road in Nashville, TN. After running the online boutique, Knobstoppers, for a few years, Robbie and Angie decided they need to expand beyond vintage bottle-stoppers and include a wider range of items – enter Cake Vintage. They’ve taken the retro style of Knobstoppers and applied it to the whole house, with charming place mats, an eclectic silverware collection and custom lighting fixtures made from salvaged silverware and door plates.

Up this week is a pack of items from their Kitchen & Home collection: two notepad sets (their Cake set, which includes a vintage butter knife, and their Kitchen Notes with a vintage spoon). On top of that, you’ll get both of their paper place mat pads, perfect for spring teas or casual suppers.

CakeVintagePlacemats

This Week’s Question

Design With Dooce

by ChadP February 24, 2010 208 Comments

A few weeks ago, we announced that Heather Armstrong would be joining the HGTV family. Since then, we’ve gotten lots of feedback asking what she’ll be doing around here. While we still have a lot of tricks up our sleeves, starting this week, Heather will post every week on Design Happens. (Yay!)

If you could have her post on any design-related topic, what would it be? What do you want to see HGTV and Heather tackle together?

Freebie Fridays: Dream Home Edition

by ChadP February 19, 2010 1197 Comments

MonicaPedersonWrap This week we have a very special item to give away, straight from HGTV’s Dream Home. When the Dream Home special first aired in January, the folks over on the Dream Home blog went nuts for the wrap that host Monica Pedersen wore. Our HGTV Super Fan, Gail, called Monica to let her know how much everyone loved her wrap and Monica offered to give it away to one lucky blog reader.

For a chance to win Monica’s wrap, comment on the post with a valid email address before 12/11c, Monday, February 23, with your answer to this week’s question. For some inspiration, check out the wrap during Monica’s tour of the Dream Home.
This Week’s Question

Freebie Fridays: Eco Water Bottles

by ChadP February 5, 2010 1081 Comments

Another Friday, another freebie! You have until 12 noon ET on Monday, February 8, to comment on this post with a valid email address and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.

This week we’re bringing a little green to your weekend with some help from our friends at REDUCE. Their WaterWeek system brings an end to the wasteful and expensive habit of purchasing bottled water. According to REDUCE, “WaterWeek is the ONLY true solution for consumers to end the wasteful and costly purchasing of bottled water, saving them over $500 a year!“ Just fill the 16 oz. BPA-free bottles at the beginning of the week and stash them in your fridge in the convenient tray. With WaterWeek there’s no need to buy water on the way to work or when heading to the gym.

This Week’s Question

Freebie Friday: Table Runner Giveaway

by ChadP January 22, 2010 350 Comments

We’re happy to announce that Freebie Fridays are back! For anyone who missed our last round of Freebies, each week we’ll post a question here on Design Happens on Friday. You have until 12 Noon ET on Monday to comment on this post with a valid email address and you’re entered for that week’s giveaway. It’s that simple!

We’ve partnered with Saffron Marigold to kick off this new round of Freebie Fridays. They describe themselves as “cozy boutique, home to an exquisite collection of exotic, unique, designer handcrafted, India inspired bedding and linens.” Their commitment to fair trade and use of eco-friendly products really impressed us here at Design Happens. Saffron Marigold is offering this week’s winner their choice of any table runner featured on their site.

Continue for This Week’s Question