Mariah Carey’s Design Lust for Michael Jackson’s Living Room Furniture

TMZ is reporting that songstress Mariah Carey is longing for several pieces of Michael Jackson’s home decor. The furniture in question is shown below:

Honestly, Michael Jackson had eccentric style tastes, and a penchant for over-the-top tacky consumption, but I thought that Mariah Carey had a more refined eye for style than MJ. Looks like I was wrong, or hopefully the TMZ report that : “ …Mariah has ordered Kenneth Bordewick, her interior designer, to bid on an ornate living room set owned by Michael at Julien’s Auctions….” is just a horrible rumor.   If not, here’s to hoping Mariah’s designer brings her to her design senses.  More on this design nightmare at TMZ.

Images copyright of respective owners.

Brizo Talo Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch Technology Winner

We have a winner of the Brizo Talo Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch Technology!

Congratulations to Patty Baker. She is now the proud (and we think quite happy) owner of the Brizo Talo Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch Technology.  Her winning entry, and her soon to be replaced kitchen faucet is shown below:

Builders Grade Blues!!!!!

Yes, I would love this innovative kitchen faucet!  My house is 17 years old and the kitchen certainly looks it.  Everything in the kitchen was builders grade (could not afford upgrades), including the faucet which is now full of green hard water spots and constantly leaks.  I always have a sponge  resting next to the faucet to catch some of the leaking water.

And most of all, I think it would help my teenage daughter, who is physically disabled, be more independent in the kitchen.  She has low muscle tone and most residential faucets are a bit difficult for her to manage.

I hope these pictures show you my problem. (Submitted by Patty)

Honorable Mention: ModernSauce AKA Lacy

Dear Decorating Diva and Gold Notes,

Drunk on youth and possibility I purchased an aging rancher a few years ago and have been slowly bringing it back to life room by room.  There is one room, however, that has yet to receive my renovation efforts and that is a kitchen that hasn’t been touched in about 40 years.  At the center of my dilapidated kitchen with its peeling floor tiles and broken cabinets sits my ugly faucet.  drip  It was probably installed in the 80′s and looks like it was the cheapest option available at the home center – a previous owner’s handiwork I’m sure.  True to its quality it is now covered in scratches, dings and an impenetrable layer of scum that no amount of scrubbing will remove.  drip  I gave up trying to keep parts of it polished because whatever small shine I was able to hone from its damaged finish seemed only to further emphasize the imperfections that vastly overwhelmed the rest of the surface.  drip  It also leaks continuously and despite my near desperate attempts to stop the wasting of water seems to eat replacement O-rings.  The leak will range from a steady and torturous drip to a thin yet defiant stream depending on whether you can find the ‘sweet spot’ with the overly loose handle.  Good luck finding that ever-changing spot because my temperamental faucet changes the ‘off’ position on its own accord.  Sigh…  drip

You can see that a new faucet is really a necessity for me but my desire for the Talo goes a little deeper. Inspired by all of my renovation projects and my work as a textile designer I decided to begin writing a blog last year.  I love to explore design, interiors and art that I find inspiring (and not so inspiring) as well as document my own personal projects – particularly my inevitable kitchen remodel.  Even though my passion is high design I rarely get to experience some of these luxuries that I enjoy writing about every day.  I still remember the first time I sat in a Barcelona chair (so low!) or saw a Rembrandt in person (so dark!).  These memories are singular incidents that are strung together like pearls in my life through design. While I cherish each of those instances I know that affording these types of luxuries are out of my reach and that my new kitchen will be more likely a lesson in frugal engineering.  I will have to pack as many thoughtful and stylish decisions as possible on my minuscule budget.  While I refuse to purchase the 2010 equivalent of my current faucet I won’t be able to do much better.  My dream would be the pleasure of using such a well-designed luxury fixture (and it is indeed a luxury) every single day in my home and use it to take care of my friends and family.  And not just any stylish fixture mind you – a fixture that can keep up with this modern woman who tweets, blogs and shops with the touch of a finger!  I can assure you that winning this contest will ease a huge burden off of my upcoming project and will go to a home where it will be truly appreciated for its craftsmanship.  Because I want it.  BAAAAD!  In the meantime… drip

Dreaming of a kitchen full of slow food, fast technology and sexy design,

Lacy

aka Madame Sunday of ModernSauce

Stop Dreaming! Your Dream Home Can Be Reality

Sunset magazine has just opened the call for submissions for its new “I Love My Remodel” sweepstakes. Submit before-and-after photos of a remodeling project and Sunset’s editors will select their favorite submissions from the Kitchen, Bath, Interior Paint, and Outdoor Spaces categories. Beginning May 17, we’ll post the editors’ picks to Sunset.com Dream Remodel  for the public to vote!

There’s the chance to win bi-weekly prizes, plus the grand prize, an Apple iPad. <—This is so exciting that I may even enter my home which is in desperate need of a remodel. I desperately want an iPad (who doesn’t?)   Just submit your entries here : Sunset.com Dream Remodel.

Win A Brizo Talo Faucet With SmartTouch Technology

WIN A DESIGNER FAUCET!

Does your kitchen have the ugliest, oldest, absolutely worst faucet in America?  Let us know why you deserve a new kitchen faucet and you could win a brand-new Brizo Talo Faucet with SmartTouch technology (retail value US $770) in the finish of your choice*.

Giveaway Instructions

Two quick, simple steps can enter you into the Brizo Faucet Giveaway.

1) Create an online photo album using Flickr, Picasa or the service of your choice with up to six pictures of your kitchen clearly showing your current faucet.

2) Send us an email at giveaway@thedecoratingdiva.com (Subject line: “Brizo Faucet Giveaway”) with a link to your photo album, your mailing address**, and a one or two paragraph note sharing why your kitchen faucet is the worst in America and why you, above everyone else, deserves this style-forward, technology-rich faucet from Brizo.

The deadline to enter is April 30, 2010 and the winner will be announced with the publication of Jamie’s column Details: The Faucet Edition on Friday, May 7, 2010 at both Gold Notes and The Decorating Diva.com.

*Installation is not included in the promotion.  Giveaway limited to USA and Canadian addresses.

**Mailing address used for shipping of faucet to winner. Email and mailing addresses will not be collected, sold or leased and will only be used for the Brizo Talo faucet giveaway.

Help Luna Velandry Fundraiser

Written by Marlow Rahn

Luna is a beautiful two-year old girl like any other you know, except she was born with a special heart. It  has one ventricle instead of two and is located on Luna’s right side of her chest instead of the left. This details just a part of her extremely rare and complicated anatomy.

…Fix Her Heart

Luna, her parents & 4 year old sister, Sienna, are preparing for Luna’s third surgery she needs to repair her heart. Her parents have insurance, but still face substantial out of pocket costs for her ongoing and vigilant care.

A fund has been set up to help Luna’s family focus on emotionally supporting their baby girl and not the financial stresses associated with her rare condition and care. You can donate to this cause by: Using the Paypal link on Luna and We on Facebook or sending a check directly to the:

Luna and We Fund- 5802, Citizens Bank, 134 Pleasant Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; or

Attending our fundraiser event and silent auction at Gymboree of Rye. Cost: $10 per child – includes 1 hour open play time and art project. Food will be available, plus there will be over 60 silent auction items, including restaurant certificates, scrapbooking items, massages and much much more.

FUNDRAISER EVENT

Sunday, April 18th
3-5 PM at Gymboree Play & Music
150 Lafayette Road
Rye, New Hampshire

Help Luna Velandry

For further information, please visit Luna and We on Facebook

The Decorating Diva, LLC on Meet the Media Chat (#MeetMdiaChat)

I’m delighted to be Laura Newman’s guest on Meet the Media Chat on Twitter.  Some details below:

• When: Friday, April 2nd,  1:00 – 1:30PM EST
• Where: Twitter  ( #MeetMdiaChat)
  
• Who:  Carmen Natschke of the design and architecture blog The Decorating Diva,LLC (twitter handle: @DecoratingDiva )
• Why: One of the most important things in PR is knowing the media and understanding their needs and interests.  #MeetMdiaChat will allow you to learn more about their content and ask specific questions you have about getting a story placed with them and other curiosities you may have.  (More information and details at Laura’s blog, Publicity Wit.)

The Decorating Diva LLC in MSN.com Lifestyle for 2010 Design Trends

We were honored to be included, for a second year, as design experts on MSN.com’s lifestyle feature on design trends for 2010, “What’s Hot (And Not) in Home Trends for 2010” written by Christopher Solomon. 

This slide (9 of 14) shows The Decorating Diva.com’s “Outdoor Living Room Design Trend 2010”.  The gorgeous outdoor living room oasis (outdoor furniture and drapery) shown in the slide is from Home Infatuation. Doesn’t it make you long for the warm and sunny days of spring and summer, and all the fun of entertaining outdoors?

This slide (14 of 14) shows The Decorating Diva.com’s “Kitchen Design Trends” from our reports at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in 2009.

In December, we published our “Top 10 Design Trends for 2010” depicting the predominate design trends that we believe will be strong in 2010. Take a look, and let us know what you think about our forecasted design direction for this coming year.

The Decorating Diva LLC in NOLA.com’s “Ten trends for 2010”

We’re absolutely thrilled to be included as design trend experts in The Times-Picayune’s digital magazine, NOLA.com’s “Ten trends for 2010 highlight the new home looks for the New Year” written by Molly Reid.

In December, we published our “Top 10 Design Trends for 2010” depicting the predominate design trends that we believe will be strong in 2010. Take a look, and let us know what you think about our forecasted design direction for this coming year.

Design Happenings for November 17, 2009

Award winning kitchen designer, Susan Serra CKD (see our in-depth design interview with Susan ) will be in New York City presenting to the New York Chapter of The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) on the usage of Social Media tools (twitter, blogs, Facebook, etc) with respect to the design industry.   Reservation details (though RSVP was 11/12, still call as you may still be able to reserve a spot).  Susan’s blog: The Kitchen Designer

Lifestyle and Interiors Photo stylist, Annette Joseph will be making an appearance on NBC’s Today Show at 9AM EST  on behalf of Better Homes & Gardens magazine to share Thanksgiving table setting ideas. If you can’t watch it, make sure you TIVO it!  Annette’s blog: AJPhotoStylist

HOME MADE SIMPLE on TLC Oct 24th 2009

Samantha at TLC tells us that:

HOME MADE SIMPLE, the show with simple and easy solutions to everyday domestic challenges, returns on October 24 at 12 PM (ET/PT) for its sixth season. The series is based on the easy home-style principles featured on the popular homecare Web site HomeMadeSimple.com. Traveling around the country, our handyman, designer, and chef work together with families to devise simple solutions for easy living by sprucing up décor, tackling simple handyman projects, and creating quick and easy meals for the entire family.
Welcome back the mavens:

Patrick Brown, handyman
Patrick Brown loves to help people create the homes they love to live in. A handyman in every sense, he shows viewers common sense solutions to some common home problems. His favorite job, however, is showing people that they’re capable of doing more in their homes than they may think they can.

Wanda Colón, designer:
Wanda Colón is a designer known for bringing boundless energy and style to her projects. Her design principles focus on the individual, looking for opportunities to incorporate local art and found pieces into projects as a way to reveal the unique style of her clients. Her passion for design led to the launch of her own company, The Piper Decorative Artisans, a business that continues to thrive with work commissioned by celebrity clients.

Deborah Fewell, chef:
Deborah received an associate degree from the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu School (Pasadena Campus). She was later chosen for the highly competitive internship program at the Food Network in New York; Deborah went on to become personal chef to NBA great Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway of the New York Knicks and has been the personal chef to A-list celebrities Will and Jada Smith for the last four years. Deborah then returned to the Food Network, but this time as one of the eight competitors (chosen out of a pool of 10,000) for the televised prime time program The Next Food Network Star (Season 1). In this highly touted chef’s competition, Deborah was the first runner-up.