Hide the tv?

I'm not a big tv watcher. And by big tv, I mean literally BIG tv. I certainly have my favorite shows, but the television doesn't ever take center stage, nor should it in most rooms. I've never had one in the bedroom or living room if I can help it. My new little house, Nook Cottage, is pretty tiny and one small tv set will do me. The living room is very small - room for a 75" sofa (coming soon!), a small Hepplewhite settee, coffee table, and something to put the tv set on. There's no room for side tables - so I've installed plug in sconces to light up the room.<br /><br />Do you like to hide your tv or just let it hang out there?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hvtvmounts.com/images/motion%20bnr_Flip%20Around_grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://www.hvtvmounts.com/images/motion%20bnr_Flip%20Around_grey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via Hudson Vision</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These flip around tv/art piece installations are interesting, but I seriously doubt that people really flip them back and forth all that often - maybe for company. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.southernliving.timeinc.net/sites/default/files/image/2007/01/hide-your-tv/hidden-tv-x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.southernliving.timeinc.net/sites/default/files/image/2007/01/hide-your-tv/hidden-tv-x.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/solutions/hide-your-tv-in-style" target="_blank">Southern Living</a></span>  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This set of built-ins with the tv hidden behind are very beautiful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/3e/66/0c3e667f298ef3b413e7712ebe920d2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/3e/66/0c3e667f298ef3b413e7712ebe920d2f.jpg" width="617" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Julia Blailock at Pink Ribbon House. Decorative Painting by Segreto </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not a big fan of doors that wouldn't normally be there hiding a tv. The cabinet doors above are beautiful, but they look out of place, just as much as a tv set would, I think. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/f6/20/d1f620bb8ba4a54495c5ed40285d8549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/f6/20/d1f620bb8ba4a54495c5ed40285d8549.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1185400_10151795864330240_75226314_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://sphotos-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1185400_10151795864330240_75226314_n.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Hiding" a tv amongst a bunch of other stuff is more to my liking. The bottom image is more successful because the dark cabinet balances the tv, which is mounted to the wall along with the rest of the artwork. The top picture with its white cabinet and tv sitting on top isn't bad, but it does nothing to obscure the big black box. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've got a LONG way to go with my organizing and decorating as you can see. It's hard to take a photo because the living room is very dark in the back of the house and it looks towards the dining room which has a big picture window overlooking a river. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Mn5c-xc786hP3skzWVugMZdvmkZaKcuS4JjmO1ih2vjMLQ-10JVtfS3Jd1JLUXAn8T9VmMHihCWlBuKVwEQAXRBDGvu4b19EBLvjNl-pAOF864J8Y9IrkQob5Dw6mzKFfhHg2ysWVA/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6Mn5c-xc786hP3skzWVugMZdvmkZaKcuS4JjmO1ih2vjMLQ-10JVtfS3Jd1JLUXAn8T9VmMHihCWlBuKVwEQAXRBDGvu4b19EBLvjNl-pAOF864J8Y9IrkQob5Dw6mzKFfhHg2ysWVA/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The top view is from the sitting position on my sofa (well, settee until the comfy new sofa comes!). You can get an idea how small the space is. I toyed with mounting the tv on the wall above some kind of console, but I had the baker's rack and it fit so nicely in that it made sense to use it. I've hidden the cable box in the basket on the shelf right below the tv. I still need to work on taming the wires. The bottom basket holds DVD's, though I don't actually have a DVD player...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi284bOmBK8xfDp5_UK3KOPcvL6d9DN6kUMQ1E8On3yggvCw6nfNOxsM-JPUV0t9ZTwy6a46lZNjBGcmjc7zEIx_V0qOCJc-XYCBcuBYR5w_K6yJFYwnzzRc6lctQPiEA6WEkLSQFHhG-E/s1600/IMG_4975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi284bOmBK8xfDp5_UK3KOPcvL6d9DN6kUMQ1E8On3yggvCw6nfNOxsM-JPUV0t9ZTwy6a46lZNjBGcmjc7zEIx_V0qOCJc-XYCBcuBYR5w_K6yJFYwnzzRc6lctQPiEA6WEkLSQFHhG-E/s1600/IMG_4975.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another angle. Obviously, I'm still working on accessorizing. I need to get glass shelves made so things sit properly. One came with the piece, which is the shelf the tv is on. You can see the horizontal stripes behind the tv, which is another shelf that's not in use to make room for the tv.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How do you handle your tv situation? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgEYfMTrFvN0Mc_drYB7LEiojs8sePPwu1_32_R0gIjv7EAhcuAfU0dRitwrbp3Lw6AjIxDUmlQ20jKq2hmU3JszVsdmt9KPVZvu89QkNbAofnXraD0nD4O1cq5JSg0oJ5vdt4Gx6M6w/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgEYfMTrFvN0Mc_drYB7LEiojs8sePPwu1_32_R0gIjv7EAhcuAfU0dRitwrbp3Lw6AjIxDUmlQ20jKq2hmU3JszVsdmt9KPVZvu89QkNbAofnXraD0nD4O1cq5JSg0oJ5vdt4Gx6M6w/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 114px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3889px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 114px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3889px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>

Hide the tv?

I'm not a big tv watcher. And by big tv, I mean literally BIG tv. I certainly have my favorite shows, but the television doesn't eve...

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"Rough Cut" on American Public Television

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RD6UP15oFjs" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/images/abouttommymac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/images/abouttommymac.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From WGBH (my former employer) the birthplace of <i>This Old House </i>and <i>New Yankee Workshop </i>comes <a href="http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/rough-cut-woodworking/" target="_blank">Rough Cut</a> with Tommy Mac. The show, which features wood working projects, is hosted by the very attractive "Tommy Mac" aka Thomas J. MacDonald a fine furniture maker who spent two years honing his furniture making skills at the acclaimed North Bennett Street School in Boston's North End. If you <a href="http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/content/galleries/t-mac-furniture" target="_blank">take a look at his website gallery </a>of his work, it's quite spectacular. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Rough Cut</i> Season 4 premiers Saturday, October 5th on PBS stations nationwide  - check your local listings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Rough Cut-Woodworking with Tommy Mac</em><span> is produced by WGBH Boston and distributed by American Public Television. Tommy MacDonald is host. Executive producer/director is Laurie Donnelly(yay Laurie!)  for WGBH Lifestyle Productions. </span></div>

"Rough Cut" on American Public Television

From WGBH (my former employer) the birthplace of This Old House and New Yankee Workshop comes Rough Cut with Tommy Mac. The show, which fea...

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Million Dollar Decorator returns: Letting the f-bomb's fly

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFln0QxyQC2GQCYY866e9FMIqDomK0INw5FY6oXoLGXxrrVafIFNh40bmkpJVSItWQd97vU_anWHFLKdvlPf4uhhlWYOF9g8hC1N49Lhl9hz7_WjsDQRM_ikIEEMjXi5G3njU68C-Pbxv/s1600/MDD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFln0QxyQC2GQCYY866e9FMIqDomK0INw5FY6oXoLGXxrrVafIFNh40bmkpJVSItWQd97vU_anWHFLKdvlPf4uhhlWYOF9g8hC1N49Lhl9hz7_WjsDQRM_ikIEEMjXi5G3njU68C-Pbxv/s1600/MDD.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Sadly, the gentlest design soul in the land, Nathan Turner, is not returning to Season 2 of <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-decorators/season-1/photos/portfolios/mary-mcdonald" target="_blank">Million Dollar Decorators</a>. We do have Kathryn Ireland, Mary McDonald, Jeffrey Alan Marks (with his trusted-to-be-shirtless sidekick Ross Cassidy) and Martyn Lawrence Bullard - talented designers all. But Nathan brought out the soul of season 1 and if their preview is any indication, S2 is likely to be drama drama all the time. Typical Bravo reality b.s. I liked S1 a lot - while there were big egos and drama, there was some real decorating, insight into dealing with clients, and how genuinely friendly the LA design scene can seem. This clip looks like they've thrown that concept "under the bus" (to employ an overused reality show saying) and possibly each other. We'll see. Last year we interviewed <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2010/12/kathryn-m-ireland-visits-skirted.html" target="_blank">Kathryn here</a> and <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2011/11/martyn-lawrence-bullard-charming-as.html" target="_blank">Martyn here</a> on <b>The Skirted Roundtable</b>, and I interviewed <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2011/07/million-dollar-decorators-chatting-with.html" target="_blank">Nathan here</a> on my blog. We're still hoping to snag Mary McDonald!<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Apologies for the ad on the following video. Please feel free to check your email for the next 15 seconds!)</span><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="225" scrolling="no" src="http://www.bravotv.com/video/embed/?/_vid19251887" width="400"></iframe><br /><br />In other returning tv news, did you catch the return of The West Wing? Okay, it's not a return, per se, but nearly the entire cast got together and made a video in support of a candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court and her fight to get voters to realize that beyond the Dem and Rep sides of the ballots, thirteen states have a section for non-partisan elections, such as the Michigan Supreme Court election.  Not many local election candidates can muster the power of the presidency (albeit a fantasy one) to help get out the word, but this one has a sister in very high places. If you were a West Wing fan and still mourn the loss of great scripted television, here's a morsel of what we're missing:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v52FLMOPSig" width="853"></iframe><br /><br />Have a nice weekend!<br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Million Dollar Decorator returns: Letting the f-bomb's fly

Sadly, the gentlest design soul in the land, Nathan Turner, is not returning to Season 2 of Million Dollar Decorators . We do have Kathryn I...

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Television Review: Market Warriors on PBS S1E1

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbqHRyqXg8wZ8LGwoC7_ywGAwchZ-jcL0HGMVz30wFZvK0_Lk3X_yzJcx8PdrJNwrRjqF-aokYrRbY4SeTZlbW0jOGQ1IOKeiXCI4num1NrlybuFv0lxkib6J2KXeUEQmN_tpO1u2GMoa/s1600/Market+Warriors_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbqHRyqXg8wZ8LGwoC7_ywGAwchZ-jcL0HGMVz30wFZvK0_Lk3X_yzJcx8PdrJNwrRjqF-aokYrRbY4SeTZlbW0jOGQ1IOKeiXCI4num1NrlybuFv0lxkib6J2KXeUEQmN_tpO1u2GMoa/s1600/Market+Warriors_med.jpg" /></a></div><br />The cast of Market Warriors (l-r):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flamingoeventz.com/">John Bruno</a> says “virtually everything in our home is a flea market, thrift shop, yard sale, or antique shop find!” He is an industry veteran, having been an antiques and collectibles dealer for more than 40 years as well as an appraiser for more than 25 years. Along with his wife, he runs Flamingo Eventz, one of the largest antiques show promotion organizations in the Northeast.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.millergaffney.com/">Miller Gaffney</a> has years of wide-ranging experience in the art world, having worked with leading auction houses, galleries, and museums. A graduate of the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Miller is a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America. She founded her company, Miller Gaffney Art Advisory, in 2006.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.richterdesign.net/">Bob Richter</a> grew up surrounded by his family’s interior design business, he was inspired from an early age by old movies, attic treasures, and his grandmother’s design and business skills. In New York City he began working for an antiques dealer while pursuing degrees at New York University. Bob soon became a regular at local flea markets, where people soon noticed his eye for design. Interior design jobs followed, and today he runs his own successful interior design company.<br /><br /><a href="http://bruneauantiques.com/">Kevin Bruneau</a> has been in the antiques business for more than two decades and is fluent in the world of buying and selling investment-quality antiques and collectibles in both brick-and-mortar shops and the online marketplace. Kevin is the proprietor of Bruneau Antiques specializing in upscale antiques and Asian arts. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAht_OHhiHqTzz449ZdczsHJL6yQNnLU7kHdaqbBeik_LrD80RRmqvHJuQQDVkxTqmBsJcYG_wObVyTYnD1omcCMQYgC4Pm81kxqnUcoJbVcuqEaG115Ci1wCGAHQYkeDUCAYQed3cjSoV/s1600/16market1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAht_OHhiHqTzz449ZdczsHJL6yQNnLU7kHdaqbBeik_LrD80RRmqvHJuQQDVkxTqmBsJcYG_wObVyTYnD1omcCMQYgC4Pm81kxqnUcoJbVcuqEaG115Ci1wCGAHQYkeDUCAYQed3cjSoV/s1600/16market1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cast of Pickers: (l-r) Miller Gaffney, John Bruno, Bob Richter, and Kevin Bruneau</span> </div><br /> The first episode (of 20) of the new PBS series<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/market-warriors/"> Market Warriors</a> aired tonight. Produced by WGBH Boston (full disclosure: my old employer), by the same folks who do <i>Antiques Roadshow (ARS)</i>, Market Warriors (MW) tries to capture the thrill of the hunt. The four "pickers" are pitted against one another and go shopping at a different flea market each week. In the first segment, they were tasked to find a mid-century modern piece (difficult in rural Pennsylvania, apparently) within their meager budgets, and then all had to agree that the pieces were period authentic. In the second segment, they had a "price off" challenge where they had to estimate the price of a piece of art glass. The winner (in this case Miller Gaffney) was given an extra $100 towards her shopping budget. The pickers then have the run of the show to select 1 or 2 pieces that they feel will bring the most profit at auction. The final segment brings the cast out to an auction house in LA where they watch their items go on the block. They are allowed to remove one of their items from sale if they wish, depending on whether they've had second thoughts as to the auction value (vs. flea market purchase price). Simple math shows who made the best deals. <br /><br />In addition to the four treasure hunters is the addition of a voice over "narrator" by comedian Fred Willard. When I first read this I thought it seemed a surprising pairing, but he might be the best part of the show. Apparently an avid collector of sports memorabilia, he provides a low-key, wry and knowledgeable running commentary on the proceedings, including pointing out where the pickers made mistakes when selecting and negotiating prices.<br /><br />On the plus side, I think there will be a lot of lessons to be learned about the values of items and the very small margins between purchases and sales. Anyone who's watched ARS has been surprised when items are super pricey, or on the contrary, when they don't seem to fetch much. Additionally, the appraisers have often veered between giving a "retail price" or "insurance value" or "auction price" leaving the viewers sometimes in the dark about which is which. In the case of MW, we see a whole lot of junk to be picked through, and then what it fetches at a real auction. I've been regularly attending the <a href="http://www.sandwichauction.com/">Sandwich Auction House</a> auctions here on Cape Cod for the last year and it's been an eye opener to see how little things go for at auction. The LA auction house on MW was quite comparable. And finally, on the plus side, is Fred Willard. <br /><br />On the down side, I'm not totally sure I can take 20 episodes of these particular four cast members. While they all appear to have experience in antiques, art and interiors, they seemed very out of their elements in a flea market setting. Surprisingly, Bruno and Richter made decisions based on their emotional responses to certain items (which were pretty ugly, to be honest). Gaffney spent a lot of time researching comparable prices for the items she was considering, but showed her hand to the dealer she was working with and clearly overpaid for her auction item, having been swayed by the Tiffany brand.  Bruneau seemed the only cast member who made careful selections and was willing to walk away when he couldn't get the price he not only wanted, but knew he needed to make a profit.<br /><br />I'll obviously have to see more episodes as you can never really judge a series by the first episode. But, I am thinking that I would have preferred different group of pickers each week, or maybe every two weeks. Then the winners of each of those groups would move on to a final round. Obviously, it would be harder to produce, but could have been more interesting to view. We'll see.<br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!</div><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Television Review: Market Warriors on PBS S1E1

The cast of Market Warriors (l-r): John Bruno says “virtually everything in our home is a flea market, thrift shop, yard sale, or antique ...

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HGTV Green Home 2010 in Plymouth, MA - First Floor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4715138932_fedffb712c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4715138932_fedffb712c_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Last week, I had the opportunity to take a designers' tour of the <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/green-home/index.html">2010 HGTV Green Home</a> in Plymouth, MA. <a href="http://www.shawinc.com/">Shaw Industries</a>, who provides the majority of the floor and surface materials for the home, along with local Shaw distributor <a href="http://www.idealfloor.com/">Ideal Floor</a> of Cape Cod, hosted a lovely breakfast for local designers and media folks, followed by the house tour.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (click on images for full size view)</span><br /><br />The white shingle house is approximately 2,100 square feet which fits with the green concept. The wrap-around porch with the deep overhang offers protection from the sun's heat, which keeps the inside cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4714496937_56d93da139_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4714496937_56d93da139_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4714498755_3571d73c60_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4714498755_3571d73c60_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>HGTV House Planner Jack Thomasson told us that their mission is to have their homes fit into their specific environments. In this case, Jack said the house is "A classic Cape Cod design, with a twist". <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4714515449_29c996e040_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4714515449_29c996e040_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The open floor plan of the first floor features the living room, dining area and kitchen.  The living room is filled with bright pattern and colors, with lots of textural pieces and original art from local artists.  The  room featured bead board coffered ceilings and a stone fireplace. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4714516787_e241341045_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4714516787_e241341045_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The geographic coffee table is by Audry Sterk Home Collection, available at <a href="http://www.nantucketlooms.com/">Nantucket Looms</a>.  I like the sprightly red sofa (a theme color of the home), although not so much the pillows. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4715159086_3e5b7f6176_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4715159086_3e5b7f6176_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />The dining area is situated next to the living room area.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4715145106_7ee0e17f8a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4715145106_7ee0e17f8a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This vintage wire basket fixture was purchased at <a href="http://www.foundforthehome.com/">Found</a> in Houston.  I believe that the designers prefer to select pieces that come from stores local to the home, however, designer Linda Woodrum told me that this piece was so perfect that she felt she needed to use it regardless. Totally the right choice - how fabulous is this?? I have been dreaming of how I can make one and where I would put it! The dining room table is by <a href="http://westbarnstabletables.com/dining.html">West Barnstable Tables</a>.  Simple wicker chairs and creamy white stoneware pieces finish off the space. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4715142858_562e7d05c9_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4715142858_562e7d05c9_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />The kitchen runs along the backside of the room - and I must admit - <span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't love it</span>. For a relatively small space, there is too much going on. I would have preferred something a little simpler and less over-styled. However, the individual elements are gorgeous.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4715157056_cde2973b57_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4715157056_cde2973b57_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4715146186_c5c5f07655_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4715146186_c5c5f07655_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The blue mini-subway tile back splash is Shaw's Glass Essential Block. The farmhouse sink is surrounded by Shaker style cabinetry painted in Sherwin William's Extra White. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4715146678_f7ae606cea_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4715146678_f7ae606cea_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Interior designer <a href="http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=navclient-ff#hl=en&source=hp&q=linda+woodrum+interior+design&aq=1&aqi=g3g-s1g6&aql=&oq=linda+woo&gs_rfai=C-6gs_DsgTKrlEaPuzASug4X9DQAAAKoEBU_QsojU&fp=45835207582d5ee7">Linda Woodrum</a> of Hilton Head, has designed nearly all of the HGTV Green and Dream homes for the last fifteen years. A pretty good gig! She was very open and generous with information, answering whatever questions the crowd of decorators had to ask. She acknowledged that it was a bit nerve wracking to have other designers viewing her space while she's there. Because, of course, we all have our own opinions! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4715142050_e18e3d769e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4715142050_e18e3d769e_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Clearly, the ruby red Caesarstone natural quartz center island counter top is the showstopper of the place. Just gorgeous! The fabulous rusty vintage wire urns are from <a href="http://www.dovetalesantiquesandhome.com/home.html">Dovetales</a> in Plymouth. <br /><br />My favorite space in the house is this fabulous laundry/mud room tucked down a hall from the main room. Nearly everyone who walked in oohed and aahed over the red washer and dryer, set off against the medium dark blue gray (Sherwin William's Cityscape) bead board woodwork. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4714502281_367c1a713b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4714502281_367c1a713b_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Storage shelves filled with New Hampshire Hancock baskets are on the opposing wall. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4715143676_3a96178d81_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4715143676_3a96178d81_b.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I hope you enjoyed my photo tour of the 2010 HGTV Green Home's first floor. One lucky person will be winning this home - and everything in it. As a matter of fact, we were specifically asked not to sit on anything because they like to hand it over completely "new". <br /><br /><a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/06/hgtv-green-home-2010-in-plymouth-ma_27.html">Click here</a> to read my post on the second floor and what I would have done differently. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(photography by Linda Merrill for ::Surroundings::)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

HGTV Green Home 2010 in Plymouth, MA - First Floor

Last week, I had the opportunity to take a designers' tour of the 2010 HGTV Green Home in Plymouth, MA. Shaw Industries , who provides ...

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"Man Shops Globe" on the Sundance Channel

The nice folks at the Sundance Channel have sent me screeners of a great looking new series called <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/man-shops-globe/">Man Shops Globe</a>, hosted by Keith Johnson, buyer-at-large for <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/">Anthropologie</a>. Unfortunately, I haven't had a second to watch the show yet, but from what I've seen of the materials and events surrounding the premiere, the show looks to be an interesting addition to the genre.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="412" id="flashObj" width="486"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1745093298?isVid=1&publisherID=1659762906" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=40760926001&playerID=1745093298&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1745093298?isVid=1&publisherID=1659762906" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=40760926001&playerID=1745093298&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />A little about the show from the press release: “Man Shops Globe” follows Johnson as he scours the globe for unique found objects, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India. Dedicating six months each year to travel and research, Keith uncovers unique and one-of-a-kind pieces of art, including decorative objects, furniture, textiles and crafts, which serve as inspiration for commissioned works that are produced and sold in Anthropologie stores. <br /><br />The series premieres TONIGHT! Wednesday, October 7 at 10:00pm ET/PT on <a href="http://www.sundancechannel.com/man-shops-globe/">Sundance Channel</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript">tweetmeme_url = 'http://yoururl.com'; tweetmeme_service = 'bit.ly'; </script><br /><br /><script src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

"Man Shops Globe" on the Sundance Channel

The nice folks at the Sundance Channel have sent me screeners of a great looking new series called Man Shops Globe , hosted by Keith Johnson...

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