Mar
2
Our Mega Fan?
Gail is our Super Fan, for sure, but did you know we’ve recently discovered a Mega Fan? Kate Seaman from New Jersey gave her bedroom a complete makeover in the spirit of the HGTV Dream Home 2009 master bedroom! Check out our exclusive interview with this creative HGTV fan and find out how she pulled off the look for less.
 Bedroom Before |
 Bedroom After |
It’s easy to agree w/Kates’ move toward the
Dream Home master bedroom decor. It is so
beautiful & peaceful, a perfect place for
sleep and peaceful meditation. It’s my
favorite room in the house.
WoW! I feel like I’m in the 360? room. Great job! You’ve got the right touch.
Happy Monday, Bloggers and other California Dreamers. It’s another (much needed) rainy day in sunny Northern CA. Gail, bless you for putting up A NEW BLOG. What a great idea Kate did with her bedroom.
Katherine, we are glad that your mom is recovering from her stroke. Unlike most blogs, this blog is like a family. We joke, we laugh, we make fun of each other, we share ideas, we disagree sometimes but we share a common dream. And we are all in agreement on wishing everyone good will and speedy recoveries.
Zachery Ellis, Marie Miller is right – there are two dishwashers in the kitchen.
DBCoop, I dare not try to send you any greetings in Thailand, as they all came up as ???????, so I’m just wishing you a safe, happy and relaxing trip in ENGLISH characters.
There is only one more day to the big day, and then 12 more for the “Big Reveal”. This has been such a dreamy ride. Regardless of how enthusiastic we are, how many sob stories we share, or how many “deserving” people there are, the bottom line is only one person will be fortunate to win and everything is in the hands of God and the people responsible for selecting and vetting the blessed winner. We share the dream and hope that the winner is one of us. Matthew Prior says “Hope is but the dream of those who wake.”, while St. Clement of Alexandra said, “If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes” and Jesse Jackson said, “Keep hope alive”. Let’s keep our dreams and hopes alive because some wonderful person will be blessed abundantly with this dream, in the very near future. Good luck to all us bloggers.
Sorry, I need to give Mary the credit for posting this new blog. Thank you very much.
Hi Gail and Fellow Bloggers! It’s been awhile. Kate – Wow…nice “before and after”! Inspirational! I plan to do some painting and re-decorating late Spring/early summer. It makes such a huge difference.
I’ve been away from this wonderful community awhile. I am still getting over a cold from a few weeks ago. I know some of our fellow bloggers are also fighting colds/flu’s…get well soon! It is so nice to see many familiar people and postings. I am still insanely jealous that Coop is in Thailand (or are you elsewhere??). I enjoy reading each and every post, and I am still getting caught up. WOW – 500 blogs??
I cannot believe that we have just a few weeks left until the DH winner is announced! Very exciting, indeed. I look forward to the big countdown, Gail!
More fun, please!
Very impressive Kate! I tried painting my bedroom furniture once and didn’t find it easy at all. I love the white furniture with that wall color, it’s very elegant and welcoming.
Kate Seaman,
You are awesome!!! Instead of dreaming, you gave birth to your dream and now you are able to enjoy your beautiful bedroom.
You go, girl!!!
Kate Seaman you did a Great Job on the bedroom, it looks just like the Dream Home Bedroom ,thank you for the Pictures before and after,love it!! Dream BIG, GOOD LUCK TO ALL.
Wow! what an improvement! I am glad there is finally another post to the blog too, after there is over 400 posts it gets hard to find where you left off reading, for me at least haha!
Tomorrow is the day! They pick the winner! I can’t wait! Are we going to find out how they pick the winner? If it is all computerized or if they do throw some one into a giant tank with all the envelopes and swims to find “the one” ?
GO KATE!!
When I first saw you bedroom on rate my sapce I was extremely excited, I said see heres someone who doesn’t waiste time, I like that. You were inspired and you went for it and LOOK Kate you did it, You went GREEN and it shows your love for HGTV DH designs thats great.
Wathch out LINDA, notice I didn’t say move over Linda, Linda we know you are UNTOUCHABLE!!
Kate you are sooooO cleaver! The room looks great and I hope you are enjoying it.
Best of health to you and yours.
Esla Sinclair NY
Thats your bedroom on Rate my space.
Hey Gail, I was wondering if in the end the HGTV dream home comes out free of all cost or does it have an end price? Does it have a gift tax? please answer because i have been in doubt about the contest for a few days now and am beginning to regret my entry.
How wonderful! I’ve tried to use bold colors and some work, some don’t. Your room turned out really nice. It’s so fresh looking.
It is nice to have a new blog. I look to see what is new. The older blogs sometimes slow my computer down and I can’t get through them all. I’m on lunch though, so better go. Beautiful job again on the room makeover.
Hey Bloggers,
First let me say I like the idea of HGTV just throwing someone into a giant tank and letting them swim to find a winner (Good One Samantha). Fabulous job with the room Kate, I think they should involve you in some future HGTV promo. As for me? I’ve just been quietly reading daily and every once in a while throwing in a comment. It is wonderful to see so many dedicated fellow dreamers. I know I will not be able to sleep tonight at all and although I pray that the Lord blesses me with this beautiful home, if it is not me I hope that it is someone that is in need and this will serve as a blessing to them in some way. I also am very interested in doing the “hands across HGTV” type thing where everyone donates a few dollars to help the winner keep the home. In today’s gloomy economy how nice would it be to spread a small ray of hope that will allow someone else to bask in the sunshine. Count me in…
~~Delise
Stuck in my cubicle but still daydreaming about the Dream Home.
While the new room is more in line with the direction we are seeing rooms taking these days, the ‘before’ bedroom looks more restful to me with muted colors. Also hope it wasn’t real wood you painted over, what a shame.
I do like the placement of the bed better though.
She did an excellent job on the bedroom makeover. Still hoping for a Linda Woodrum original myself…
Wow! its amazing how creative people can be. The bedroom really captures the feel and look of the dreamhome. It reminds me of that show where they would highlight an expensive designer room and then put together a less expensive version.
John you’ll definitely have to pay tax on the DH but why would you regret entering? Worst case you have to sell and walk away with several hundred thousand dollars. That should be enought to get you started on another dream.
Delise – I keep reading about people mentioning this “gift” to the winner to help pay the taxes… but I cant help but think that any money donated to a person that is not a not-for-profit organization would also be taxed as income. So if the federal taxes were 700,000 for the whole prize of the 2 million, plus the 2000 a month for city taxes for the rest of the year. That would come out to…720,000 roughly that the winner would also have pay taxes on.. correct?
It sounds like it would help a little, but I really think it would be best for whoever won to just sell the house and find their own dream home with the left overs.
OH! Btw- If you sold the home for even only 1 million you could take 700,000 and put them into 7 different CD accounts. Local banks here are insured for up to 100,000 per account. The interest is 3.5 for 100,000 or over so for each 100,000 you would earn about 3,000 a month. Keep that in the bank until the next april 15th, yes you will have to pay taxes on the interest earned, but should give you about 100,000 to help with bills next year! plus take the other 300,000 and buy your own dream home.
haha my little plan anyway
It’s a very impressive recreation. You seem to be very talented at renovation and handy-work. I only wish that you had put a personal spin on it. The gap in styles between the before and after make the new room seem really impersonal, like you sacrificed your own notions of style to duplicate someone else’s vision. I would have liked to see what would have happened if you had put your own signature on it, and with your talent for design projects I am sure it could have been amazing with a little thought creativity.
collegemom – I’ve painted real wood furniture before, it’s a great way to give it a second life and get a new look without chopping down more trees! They have products now that make it fairly easy to remove the paint and restore the wood so it’s not like you’re ruining it.
Maybe I’m mean but I don’t think I’ll be making a donation to someone who just one a two million dollar prize. Donate to charity for heavens sakes!
Wow, you did a great job! How long did it take? Very creative lady…
HAHAHA Samantha you almost have to split the money into different banks since there’s no guarantee that they won’t go under… or use your money to pay for a Sheryl Crow concert
. Oh and good point about the winner paying taxes on the “gift” that would kind of suck. With so many people losing their homes maybe the REAL dream could be two or more less expensive “Dream Homes” in 2010. Or some kind of deal where they can pay the taxes for a year? Just wishful thinking.
STILL daydreaming in Southern California with a 20-30% chance of rain about the Dream Home while SUFFERING in my cubicle.
~~Delise
Wonderful job Kate! I am super thankful to have HGTV both on the computer and television. The inspiration is incredible! I, too, have remodeled almost every room in my place, built two decks, and a double sided cedar fence around my entire yard. My fiance is just amazed at all I have accomplished by myself! Thanks to HGTV, even a woman can be a successful remodeler! Again, Great Job Kate!
Tamara in Alaska
Happy Dreaming Everyone!
Beautiful job by Kate! The room almost comes close to the DH Master room! Are you the New Jersey Girl blogger?
Here we go on the tax issue again – but I realized that it’s Monday and we are allowed to mention it on Mondays –
John – to answer your question on the tax issue, it is ‘Yes’ you have pay tax on this 2.2 million dollar home and you do have the option of forfeiting your entries – it says that in the ‘rules’.
MARY- the new bedroom looks Enchanting. HGTV Always does a Great job with Decorating. I watched the Oprah Show last week(never watch the day time shows)–but Glad I did. Peter Walsh and an HGTV Celebrity did Wonder’s with the re-transformation of rooms— I think that its ‘part of a series.’ So if ya’ll have the time to watch it— you will get Great Ideas!
I’ve cleaned up and organized my Living Room, just in case, if I’m lucky enough to get ambushed! I just recently moved, and I’m almost done unpacking those boxes!
Diana
Geeze I had to take a second look at the actual Dream home to see if that was the actaul thing! Great job on the makeover! Post on “rate myspace” on the HGTV website for other viewers insight. Love the illusion of the infiniate ceilings! Keep up the great work and good luck to all, DREAM BIG! Everything starts with a dream! cant wait to see Lauren Lake at my place! Best Wishes!
Ashley
Katherine – lol, it’s not me
. In fact, Kate’s before picture looks better than my bedroom – yes, it’s in serious need of a makeover. Kudos to Kate for a great job!
One more day, One more day! Can’t wait…stay positive and keep the dream alive!
Good afternoon everyone from cold and very snowy Massachusetts.
Thank you Gail for another blog. Kate, what a wonderful bright improvement for your bedroom.
I agree Brenda that one special family is about receive a much appreciated gift. The rest of us will wish them well and know that our lives have been enriched by chatting on this blog.
Good luck everyone. Not much longer to wait now. Dream Big! Speaking of which, just how big would that drum have to be to hold all of the entries? Lol. I would say that it is done by computer. but fun to visualize. Would the experts of HGTV have to construct it and Who would be chosen to do so? Put on your thinking caps. I am sure with all of the creativity on this blog, we wil see more on this subject.
Have a wonderful evening and Dream Big.
Cynthia Newland
Thanks Brenda for the good wishes for my mother – I also feel as though we are family and I true enjoy blogging daily because this where I can express myself freely and dream together with like-minds.
Unfortunately I have some more bad news, when it rains, it pours – I just learned that my company is cutting 20% of our paychecks. We already laid off 3 people and are still in the ‘red’. We need more clients and for the existing clients to pay us what they owe us – our biggest clients are highly delinquent!
I need to de-stress – and coming to this blog is doing the trick! I’m really sorry to be negative because I am a very positive person so the best I can do is let you know that I’m wishing everyone the best and requesting that the DREAM stay alive!
Great job, Kate. Your tenacity and hard work really paid off bigtime. What an amazing difference between the before and afters.
I’ll be around until tomorrow afternoon (3 March) when I will truly fly the coop. Until then, HGTV, you can contact me on my private line if my name just happens to pop up on the Dream Home winner’s screen. Or, otherwise, leave a message, and I’ll do my best to get back with you in Knoxville to make the “ambush” arrangements. If it turns out to be Marie Miller, or one of our deserving fellow bloggers, they can leave a brief note here in the blog to tip us off. We promise not to say a word to anyone else about it….
Kate, your room is just beautiful! Great job…what I want to know is, when did you sleep?
Speaking of laughter – here’s something we all can relate to and maybe this will brighten your day in spite of the economy:
Actual ‘Letter to the Editor’ from the February 5th edition of the Wichita Falls, Texas Times Record News…
Dear IRS,
I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay taxes owed April 15, but all is
not lost. I have paid these taxes:
accounts receivable tax, building permit tax, CDL tax, cigarette tax, corporate income tax, dog licence tax, federal income tax, unemployment tax, gasoline tax, hunting
licence tax, fishing licence tax, waterfowl stamp tax, inheritance tax, inventory tax, liquor tax, luxury tax,medicare tax, city, school and county property tax (up 33 percent last 4 years), real estate tax, social security tax,road usage tax, toll road tax, state and city sales tax, recreational vehicle tax, state franchise tax, state unemployment tax, telephone federal excise tax, telephone, federal state and local surcharge tax, telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, telephone state and local tax, utility tax, vehicle licence registration tax, capitol gains tax, lease severance tax, oil and gas assessment tax, Colorado, property tax, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and New Mexico sales tax, and many more that I can’t recall but I have run out of space and money. When you do not receive my check April 15, just know that it is an honest mistake. Please treat me the same way you treated Congressmen Charles Rangle, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and ex-Congressman Tom Dashelle and, of course, your boss Timothy Geithner. No penalties and no interest. P.S. I will make at least a
partial payment as soon as I get my stimulus check.
Ed Barnett
Wichita Falls
LOL!!!
That’s a good one Katherine, thank you for sharing that with us (the letter to the editor, that is). It made me laugh.
Have a great evening!
Great job,Kate…I also liked your statement;”if you can read,you can do anything.” My husband and I have completed MANY home improvement projects throughout the years,and learned alot of skills along the way. You can save so much $$$ by doing projects yourself, and it’s so self satisfying. I love to garden and decorate my yards with birdhouses,frog-princes,winery signs and unusual finds. HGTV is such a treasure of ideas. Ingrid from Sonoma
ps…where’s our friend Gail ???
Katherine, what a very funny tax post. We should have had that one a few weeks ago. I’m so glad that you’re able to see the joviality in your situation. My job, as well, will be laying off some much needed people — I work in a hospital!
Hmmmmm……DBCoop, this is the second time you’ve mentioned Marie Miller as the winner and she also gave out our special clue: “I’ll never give up on my dream!” Are you guys trying to tell us something?
Say it ain’t so, Joe!
I am not going to start worrying about taxes on a house that I have less than a 1/1000000 chance of winning. I like my dreams to be worry free and I will take things as they come if I (hopefully) win.
Dear Coop: Such a wonderful play on words…”Fly the Coop!!” I love it, and it truly means to flee; take to one’s heels; cut and run! It’s nice that you have such a great distraction right now…your travels..NICE!! However, for we less distracted ones, sticking close to home with every day routines, the next two weeks will be nerve-racking to say the least..waiting to find out who will win the “Home of MY Dreams!!” Anyway, be safe on your travels & don’t forget your journal!! I want some very detailed stories about your visit to Thailand!! C’est la vie mon cheri!!!
Kate, you did a spectacular job on the redo of your bedroom. So close to the original, but with budget costs in mind. I just loved that former red chest turned into a beautiful white embossed treasure. You must have super, super energy. Having to conceal a tread-mill in the corner of the bedroom? Who uses that? Well, maybe your husband, and I hope he gets well soon.
HGTV: I can’t for life of me remember the name of that show, but as Susan said, it was about a very expensive room and then HGTV”s decorators tried to replicate it. Most of the time they were spot on, but even if they weren’t , I watched that program over and over again. Also loved the show where the Brit gave a couple some bucks and sent them to buy items in a flea-market and then had to sell them at an auction and see if they made any money. Those were FUN programs.
OK, now that I’ve distracted all of my beloved bloggers, Good Luck to ALL of you. Pleasant Dreams
Marie: Gotta give you kudos for cracking me up with the “Tongue Thai’d Translator”. Love that quick wit!
Blessings to all who are going through hard times right now, especially Katherine, I hope your Mom is doing better.
What an awesome bedroom makeover, so close to the original. Great job!
Hey, how about if one of us wins, we put a code phrase up….the only one I can come up with is “dogs barking, can’t fly without umbrella”. lol…from Jumping Jack Flash, such a great movie if you need a laugh!
Oh, and a shout-out to Cynthia in Mass! Hope you’re not too snowed in! My whole family lives up there, mostly Lakeveille/Middleboro (closer to New Bedford and the Cape). I do miss it (I’m in GA now), but not when those Nor’easters come screamin up the coast!
Wow – I’m flattered by all the good cheer and nice comments.
This bedroom has really brightened my spirits. I did paint the real-wood furntiure, but it was inexpensive “unpainted” furniture that we bought 8 years ago, and I painstakingly stained and varnished. So it’s on it’s second life now. Not bad for what we paid for it. I’d easily drop $500 for a pair of fabulous shoes, but I can’t see spending a fortune for things like car tires and dressers. I also have added some mirrors above the side tables for some sparkle. They really bounce the light. And I’m still waiting for my husband to fully recover so we can get cracking on the hardwood floor. I watched Oprah last week and was enlightened by the Container Store’s Elfa closet line – so guess who’s getting 2 new closet organizers? That’s right – and the insides of those closets will be lime green. Can’t wait to see that. I’m spackling in there right now… I don’t think anything in this house has been painted since 1947 when it was built. Honestly. I just removed a mirror from the inside closet door, and it had a “Bamberger & Co, 1947″ stamp on it. The door was never painted behind the mirror, so it it clear, my closet is only on it’s second coat of paint in what – 62 years? It was time.
I am not the NJ gal blogger… this is my first time on the blog, but since I knew Mary was posting my interview, I wanted to check it out. So ladies – get those how-to books, smile pretty at Home Depot and make your dream rooms…..
I think it’s pretty ridiculous that if HGTV is going to “give” a dream home to someone, that the winner must pay all of the taxes. It would be nice if they contributed partially for the taxes. This truly is a gift for the rich. Oh…how I wish I were rich!
Wow, Mega fan did a great job recreating the master bedroom. Thats what is great about HGTV you can see the desingers expertise and creativety, then learn from and apply it to your own requirements. Everytime I watch a film clip I see something new. I love the hidden hampers in the laundry room and walk in closet.
Tomorrow is the day… I for one will be watching my phone and mailbox like a hawk hoping to post the simple phrase here on the board…Knowing that I really don’t have a shot at winning , but hoping anyways… the dreams live on for a few more days… I shall start letting the dreams die on the 5th, and by the 11th, if I still have heard nothing, I will give them up.
That way, I will truly be happy for the winner. Here is to us, the dreamers….
Did everyone see the “super fan takes the tour” video? Somehow I missed it before. It’s a couple blogs down from this one.
Well, I guess Gail is in Tennessee to watch the drawing of the winner. Must be why we haven’t received a new video.
Hope she comes back and tells us all about it.
Hey Kate
How R u?
Did you say “I’m still waiting for my husband to fully recover so we can get cracking on the hardwood floor.
Hope your husband gets better soon but ya gotta go easy on the hardwood floor now. don’t wanna hurt his back girl. LOL
gosh my mind is in the gutter!!!
Great JOB on the room.
WOW Kate, GREAT JOB. YOU NAILED IT. Well in just a few hours, HGTV
I was going to say before my fingers hit the enter button, Just a few hours left before HGTV will know the winner. I’ve started using some of the ideas to my home. It’s nothing like Kate’s but I like it. I’ll put the rooms on rate my space later the summer. good luck to all.