Remember the episode of The Simpsons where Homer eats the Guatemalan insanity peppers and receives spiritual guidance from a space coyote Johnny Cash? Did you know that a Jersey Shore beach condo can induce the same sort of mind-altering experience?
The parallels between Homer's spiritual jouney and Dave Barry's beach condo redesign are uncanny. Homer (Dave Barry) ingests the Guatemalan insanity peppers (yellow shag carpet tiles) and his whole world turns surreal (the Jersey Shore). He meets a beautiful butterfly (Cortney) and a talking turtle (Bob) who guide him along his way (the design process) and finally he wakes up in a golf course sand trap (the beach) and realizes his soulmate all along was Marge (that poster of Lyndon Johnson). See? When you piece together shockingly disparate and brightly colored elements in just the right way, it can actually make sense. Sort of like a ransom note. On to episode 4!
Aaah, Manhattan chic. This is what the Novogratzes are all about. But what in particular about the Murray Hill project can we apply to nursery design? Metallics. It's true, metallic elements aren't something we usually incorporate into nurseries. Silver and gold make us think of cold, evil things like James Bond villains and Home Depot bathroom fixtures.
But let's rethink metallics for a moment. Think of soft, innocent metals, like Jan Brady's braces or your favorite, well-worn pair of gold lamé hotpants. Warm and comfortable. So when you're adding accessories like picture frames, mirrors, bar carts, or Tom Dixon pendant lights (we'll take six, please!) to your baby's room, think about a nice, shiny metallic finish.
What did you think, readers? Any design epiphanies you'd like to share?
Thanks, Bob and Cortney. Keep it coming, Novos! Watch them Saturday nights on HGTV.
(Images: Carol Leggett PR)
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Any idea where he got those prints? My husband would flip over them.
I fell in love with that chair they put in the daughters room at the beach condo. It looks so comfy. Any ideas as to wear to purchase?
I know it was already there when they started the project but I wonder why they didn't change the position of the TV. It ruins the line and symmetry of the windows. Also, that room is so glaringly bright I don't know how you can see the TV in the daytime.
I don't think you can watch a tv in that room in the daytime, but they probably don't watch it much anyway.
To iamkelley: If you are talking about that red chair in the photo, you can find those Herman Miller rocking chairs a lot on etsy or ebay. Red might be a hard color to find though. Love this condo's redesign -- the colors are incredible and all of the elements of "Family" are awesome.
I LOVED the Manhattan penthouse. That was spectacular.
The Long Branch condo? ehhhhh, not so much. It was not at all relaxing. The eye is way too stimulated. But that's just me. When I go to the shore, I want to relax from the craziness of New Jersey, not to be more stressed by it. To each his own.
Does anyone know what that sparkly piece in the red room is??