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CruiseDiva

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Posts posted by CruiseDiva

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    I happened to run across a couple articles the other day that gave me a good laugh and though y'all might enjoy them.

    First is "I Hate the Open-Plan Kitchen—and Amazingly, I’m No Longer the Only One" at http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/open-plan-kitchens-are-bad/

    And then there is this one that could have been written with Fixer Upper in mind, "Say Goodbye to These 10 Home Design Trends That Are So 2015" at http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/say-goodbye-to-these-10-home-design-trends-that-are-so-2015/. The 'trends' include many of JoJo's signature items like open shelving in the kitchen and her ubiquitous writing on the walls. Too funny! 

    • Love 2

    S04.E19: After You've Gone

    in Nashville [V]

    2 hours ago, missyb said:

    This is exactly what I thought.  That song was awful and she terrible singing it.

    The song was awful and so far astray from her country roots. But typical of very young pop singer who wants to  be  so "sexy" and desirable. Mostly they look ridiculous .

    That "performance" was supposed to "showcase" her "talent"? She sounded so off-key and whiny that I had to mute my TV.

    Maybe that's why she's using her famous mother's last name. It could be that the only way to get a deal is for Maddie to ride on Rayna's fame and name recognition? That sounds more likely to me than her singing that horrible song and trying to act "sexy" while wailing and strutting like a novice streetwalker.

    • Love 9

    S04.E15: When There's A Fire In Your Heart

    in Nashville [V]

    · Edited by CruiseDiva

    I'm thinking that will turn out to be a compilation of Cash's sexual experiences plus what Maddie experienced with Colt.  I don't think that song is just about Maddie.

     

    ETA: I loved Juliette's song, though.

    I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Maddie's "song"--it hurt my ears. Not only were the lyrics raunchy, but her vocals were strange. Was she trying to be sexy? She just sounded off-key to me.

     

    And what was up with the club having a doorman to check IDs, but no bouncer to toss the guy groping a female entertainer?

    • Love 2

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

     

    I thought everything looked great except for the huge pendant lights over the island bar. They were beautiful but seemed way too big to me.

    JoJo often uses pendant lights that are overly large and out of proportion for the space. The dining room table was also so long that it looks like chairs wouldn't fit at either end of it. And it was really cheesy looking--as were other staged items such as the bedside tables with spindly metals legs.

     

    I hate it when garages are turned into living spaces. The Texas climate is tough on automobile finishes. Hopefully, the homeowners will add at least a carport in the future.

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    Once again, I was totally shocked that Joanna was working late and the kids paid her a visit. Apparently, it's the visits by the kids that keep her going. <sarcasm> Basically, it's my drinking game when I watch Fixer Upper. I've already drank two bottles of wine. I could have a drinking problem but for now I'm blaming Joanna. LOL!!!

    The children are cute, but I just want to grab those girls and wash their hair or at least brush it. Joanna's hair is always beautiful and shiny so she obviously cares about her appearance and Chip paid a small fortune for cosmetic dental work, but their daughters look like they dressed in the dark.

     

    JMHO.

    • Love 3

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    · Edited by CruiseDiva

    I liked the 5 bedroom bungalow the other night.  Joanna did a beautiful job designing it.  I only didn't like the dining room.  It seemed like the couple wanted entertaining space but that separate dining room with the round table was so meh.

     

    I did notice the master didn't have an ensuite.  I guess because the house was really old.

    That round table looked like it would be uncomfortable to sit at. I could imagine bumping knees on all those boards extending from the pedestal base. Plus, it only seated four and there was no leaf to extend the size. That seemed like a major fail to me. The dining room looked just like what it was--a converted sun room.

     

    My first thought was that the two daughters attending Baylor would probably live there full time and the parents would only stay with them during occasional visits. It would make sense from an economic standpoint. Cheaper than renting an apartment for them for several years and it could be a decent investment to sell when they graduate. Plus, with five bedrooms the daughters could have roomies, which would help with the mortgage.

     

    I took at look at JoAnna's blog that has before-and-after floorplans of the project and there is a tiny ensuite bathroom adjacent to the master bedroom. Also interesting is that the 'after' floorplan shows a rectangular table in the dining room with ten chairs, so maybe the Clint table was just for show.

     

    Edited to add: In the before-and-after photos on the blog all the furniture in the 'before' photos is also in the 'after' photos. It's just been spruced up with pillows and such. I wonder, did they buy the house furnished? I don't remember from watching the show.

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    The whole "fireplace wrapped in wood" thing was not what I would choose -- but I have a major fire phobia. I think it's pretty unusual to see a fireplace faced in wood, though, and I have to imagine that at least partly that's due to danger.

    My fireplace 'surround' is all wood. The firebox opening and hearth are brick, though, so it's all okay--the wood is nearly a foot away from the actual firebox. I also have a major fire phobia and instead of a screen, the fireplace has glass doors.

    • Love 2

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    I really liked that they saved PawPaw's table, although the 'rebuilding' removed some of its character.

     

    Also, who wants to sit on benches at an indoor dining table? Maybe it's just me, but benches are more appropriate for a picnic table outside where people would be dressed casually. If I'm wearing a dress for dinner at a friend's home I wouldn't want to hike it up to get seated on a bench and, if people are seated on either side of me, it would be uncomfortable to get up from a bench if, for instance, I had to go to the bathroom. I hope the homeowners were consulted about their seating preference before Jo went to the trouble and expense of having benches made.

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    · Edited by CruiseDiva

    Agree, they've basically let go / sidelined all (well, nearly all) the actual, professionally trained designers in favor of lifestyle programming.

    And that is a real shame. I tune in to HGTV for house porn, not silliness by a host or appearances by their 'kiddos'--I still cringe whenever I hear Jo say that when referring to children. Perhaps I am sensitive to that because my mother taught us that kids are goats, not children. Growing up we weren't allowed to use the word kid in reference to other children.

     

    I really wish HGTV would bring back the pro designers/decorators. I find myself watching the DIY network more frequently these days.

    • Love 2

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    "I haven't seen this episode yet, but something I've found myself thinking, while watching Flip or Flop: why is Fixer Upper a one-hour show when Flip or Flop is only a half hour?"

     

    Because audiences can only take so much of Christina screaming about bugs and complaining about odors?

    Now, now. We've all probably screamed when seeing gross bugs and complained about nasty odors. I know I have.

     

    I find it interesting that more of the reno is revealed in the half-hour Flip or Flop than in the hour-long Fixer Upper. Maybe if they cut out the Chipster's silliness and the (oh, how sweet! /sarc) appearances by the 'kiddos' there would be more time to show the complete reno. And they could cut out the phone-call-of-doom as well.

    • Love 7

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    · Edited by CruiseDiva

    Not everyone likes shabby chic and it doesn't look good in every house. My home is Federal style and is furnished with traditional and antique pieces. MyBFF's house is a 100-year old Victorian and she has furnished it with antiques. Another friend's house is cottage style and she has some shabby chic pieces that fit in nicely with her beach cottage theme.

    Bless her heart, Joanna is not a trained designer and has no eye for color or style, unless it is her own. I'm sure that when the staging is removed after the reveal and the homeowners' belongings are moved in that the Fixer Upper houses take on an entirely different personality. That's a follow-up show I'd like to see. Kind of like "Househunters Where Are They Now."

    • Love 2

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    · Edited by CruiseDiva

    When Chip stated that they wanted to give people the feeling of what it would be like to stay in their home, I was floored, not just because he thinks that people are so "star"-struck that they'd want to stay there to feel closer to them, but because he might be right. People follow JoJo's blog, I suppose their Facebook page, and who knows what else. Gotta give this couple credit for cashing in on their celebrity. They'll land on their feet, I'm sure. I can't imagine them crashing and burning like some other reality series stars. (Well, actually, I can, and it's funny to think of the possibilities.)

    Well, the "star struck" fan thing might be an actuality. I happened to look at the Facebook page for Flip or Flop and saw this comment: "So tired of same shows all the time. Only good one now is Fixer Upper. Love Chip and Joanna." Sadly, the Fixer Upper fans have left numerous similar posts on the Flip or Flop page. So rude, but that is apparently the Fixer Upper fan base.

     

    I was also stunned when I heard Chip say that staying in that B&B, VRBO, or whatever, would be like staying in their farmhouse. What an ego trip for the Gaines duo! Based on hearing that before the work started, I shuddered to think of how they would remove all the character from that lovely old Victorian in order to entice their fans to pay big bucks to stay there. Guess I was right.

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    She said on Twitter that you would have to rent the whole house not just a room. Not sure how that will work out in the long run.

    Seriously? That should be a real success. Definitely not your typical B&B. I wonder if she expects guests to cook their own breakfast.

     

    Any idea what the rental rate is?

    • Love 1

    All Episodes Talk: French Country in Texas?

    in Fixer Upper [V]

    I just knew when I saw that lovely late-1800s house that Joanna and Chip would totally ruin it, especially when she said she wanted transform it into her "farmhouse" style. She transformed it all right--from gracious to gaudy. I'm appalled that they removed the fancy scroll work on the porches, which totally stripped any character from them.

     

    One thing you don't want to do in a B&B is have a large cased opening between the dining room and kitchen. Guests really don't want to see you cooking and doing dishes. Plus, you don't want guests wandering into the kitchen--that could be a liability and not really sanitary.

     

    Those bedskirts that "pool" onto the floor around the beds are a major trip hazard. Adding a glass transom over the door of the downstairs bedroom was a poor choice. If the occupants of that room want to retire before other guests, the light from the living room will be a major annoyance. And no window coverings in a first floor bedroom?

    • Love 4
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