Yep, it has recently been announced that Vanilla Ice of “Ice Ice Baby” fame (he was so cool when i was in the 3rd grade) is slated to have his own home improvement show on the DIY Network. Apparently, Vanilla has spent the last few years flipping houses, so now I guess he is a [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Misc. category.
HGTV Design Star: What Did I Do To Deserve This?
I’ve always believed that it is important to finish what you start, but HGTV Design Star is really challenging my convictions. Frankly, this show is hardly worth watching let alone writing about! This week’s challenge was based around musical instruments which made both me and my musician boyfriend cringe. Each designer picked an instrument to [...]
I’m Moving!!! And Here is a “Before” Shot
What is the best thing you can have happen to you when you run an home design blog? Moving! Why? Because it is the mother of all design projects. And guess, what? I’m moving! My boyfriend and I are signing the lease on a pre-war one-bedroom down the street from our current apartment. I know [...]
Design Star Episode 2 – Battle of the Sexes and a Battle with my Conscience
This week the challenge was a fashion-inspired battle of the sexes. Each designer got to pick a look ranging from a tailored suit to a wedding dress. Then the women and men were grouped together and each assigned an apartment to decorate. Each designer was responsible for making sure that their look was represented in [...]
Design Star Episode 1 – Thinking Inside the White Box
Well, well, well. The first episode of Design Star was entertaining enough. The first challenge was to decorate a bedroom for another designer in the cast. Designers were paired up and given about 10 minutes to get acquainted. The space they were working in was a small white box with white IKEA furniture. And the [...]
HGTV Design Star Begins This Weekend
This Sunday will be an important night for me and my tv. First of all, the new season for HGTV’s Design Star begins. And then more importantly, so does the new season of True Blood. Ha ha but seriously, I’ve decided to cover this season of Design Star here on 2nd Floor Living. I’ve never [...]
I’ve always wanted an ottoman of my own
Welp, I finished my ottoman class. It was a bit traumatic, but I am glad I did it. Now I have a cute little ottoman covered in a disgusting purple fabric. Thanks to the teacher and his assistant for making the ottoman look good and thanks to me for picking such a nasty fabric. Here’s [...]
Sarah’s House – A new TV addiction
I have mixed feelings about the designers on HGTV. Usually I just watch House Hunters or Property Virgins, but I recently caught part of a show that has made me a bit obsessive. It’s from HGTV Canada and its called Sarah’s House. The premise is simple – designer Sarah Richardson buys a fixer upper and [...]
Upholstery Class Update
Hi Everybody. I’ve been away working on a DIY project and then a do-over of said DIY project (more on that tomorrow), but I just wanted to let you know more about the upholstery class I am taking in case you are interested in signing up. The class is through The Furniture Joint which is [...]
Send it in!!! What is your best wall decorating find?
I’m putting together a gallery of great wall decorations, and I’m counting on you guys to help me! What’s the best thing on your walls? And where/how did you get it? Send in your name, a brief description of the object’s origin and a photo! Click here to go to the submission form!
Might I suggest for your viewing pleasure: Objectified
I was lucky to meet the director of Objectified, Gary Hustwit, days before the NYC premiere last year. I was unlucky that I met him during a turbulent flight throughout which I was afraid I would either puke on him or have some embarrassing panic attack. Somehow I managed to keep it together and he [...]
To Michael and Jo-Ann wherever (and whoever) you are….
For Thanksgiving, I went to my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. It was nice to see my family and get away from the city, and it was also nice to take advantage of the craft and DIY resources that are available there. Greensboro is no more crafty than the rest of the country, but the [...]
A Retro Thanksgiving – From the 1700′s to the 1980′s and beyond
I’ve been trying to think of the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the 2nd Floor Living virtual world, and what I keep coming back to is the history of this holiday. And I don’t just mean way back when with the Pilgrims but also Thanksgiving in more recent times. So here are some [...]
Easy ways to keep the cold out
One thing that all of my apartments (and I’ve lived in 5) have had in common is drafty windows. Yes, cheap drafty windows are very popular with landlords for some reason. And they also love to turn the heat on as high as it will go. It is like a game they play to see [...]
A Peek Into The Underworld of Homemade Halloween Costumes
Despite my lack of enthusiasm about Halloween, I had great expectations of posting a list of cheap creative Halloween costumes that would inspire everyone. But once I started doing some online research, I discovered how disturbing and disappointing homemade costumes can be. Perhaps this is a personality flaw, but I kind of love stupid stuff, [...]
