Design on a Dime: Redo your dining room for under $25,000...

The husband and I know a lovely couple Miss M., and Mr. G.,...soon to be married...and they are lucky enough to have just purchased a beautiful home in West Hollywood...as any straight couple should, they consulted their gay's for some decorating ideas.  After hours of scouring through Pinterest I was able to find some fabulous dining room set ups that I think you would love to have in your own home.

Now I have deducted that Miss M.  has a taste for French Provincial and with their new large and square dining room it will fit fabulously!

As always we are going to try and keep this under budget, now with $30,000.00 I hope we can do it, with a room that so many of us have such fond memories in, I would hate to scrimp but; these are tough economic times so bear with me.

Now, I will be using our favorite mail order furniture store Horchow, and I will sneak in a few new gems from a new place I discovered called One Kings Lane...This will be really fun!

LETS GO!

2 Lido Host Chair...$1,799.00ea.
Natural Dining Table...$2,199.00
4 Maya Armchairs...$999.00 for 2
Viola Mirrored Bar...$5,929.00
2 Gianna Console...$1,279.00ea.
Golden Chandelier...$1875.00
Slate Leiden Curtains...$89.00ea.
6' Barley Twist Rod...$167.00
2 Drapery Rod Rings...$68.00/set
Belvedere Chest...$1,199.00
Dinner service for 8...$664.90
Antique Baroque Flatware...$339.90
Cheers Glassware...$155.40
Azure Cotton Napkins...$114.00
Orchid Napkin Rings...$645.00
8' X 11' Panthea Rug...$649.00
4 Aero Sea Glass Pillow...$556.00
Glass Bottles w/stoppers...$295.00
Perched Birds Table Jar...$575.00
Turquoise Decor. Accents...$86.90
Golden Geometric Tray...$425.00
Swarovski Photo Frame...$270.00

Four Songbird Prints...$425.00
Antique French Floor Mirror...$550.00
Demetrius Mirror...$1,050.00
Four Silver Bird Panels...$1,795.00
Julius Center Piece...$219.00

GRAND TOTAL: $24,633.10
Somehow we came in under $366.90 Maybe I should get another vase?

Since this room is inspired by French Provincial design, I wanted to have a lot of light an airy pieces, such as the bird prints, centered with bright and colorful accents scattered throughout the room...large furniture helps fill up a large room, but by adding mirrors you keep the room from feeling overstuffed or claustrophobic.  The real room I thought of when I designed this is directly visible from the front door, so I wanted a statement chandelier which instantly sets the mood and overflows with class and sophistication, your guests know exactly who their host is from this chandelier. The table has lots of textures and is plush and inviting from the head of the table to the guest chairs and their cushions. The Side tables around the rest of the room serve as additional storage for serving platters china etc...they also allow you to always have a place for fresh flowers to be scattered around, adding to the French theme and filling your home with even more color and the best parts, fresh scents!

Now, I added this fabulous Viola Mirrored bar...it's fantastic!  the front doors slide into the sides so you can pack it with booze then hide the fact that your an alcoholic and yet still be classy while doing it.  These fabulous glass bottles with stoppers are decorative and functional for brandy's decanting etc.

All in all this room is now full of luxurious, comfortable and fashionable pieces, sure to intrigue your guest, and delight the senses almost as much as the fabulous food you will soon be serving...Hopefully!

Now, I wonder if I could do a room almost just like this for under $2,000.00? HAHAHA I know...that's funny, but who wants to see me try?

As Always, if you would like to create this fabulous room or one like it don't forget to visit our friends at Horchow and One Kings Lane!

Watch Your drink,

The Stepford Husband

Los Angeles House Hunting

Anyone that has ever moved will tell you, it's not packing up your current house and making sure everything is safely tucked away in a moving truck, it's actually finding a new place.

The Husband and I, are lucky enough to be moving back to the fabulous city of Los Angeles with all it's celebrities which cause lines on streets in shopping centers and even at your favorite restaurant, it's extravagant and sometimes overpriced restaurants and entertainment hot spots, and yes even the amazing residents which give tourist the world over a horrid taste in their mouth...it's not us its you and the fact you have no idea what a cross walk is...

Now, finding the perfect home in Los Angeles isn't so much about finding the style you want but you must also do complex calculations such as location: Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Adjacent, West Hollywood, Century City, Hollywood Hills, Brentwood...the list can go on but if it did I would be lying because I wouldn't live in them. Next Grocery Stores, then Starbucks, Liquor Stores, if you go beyond Olympic a cab will cost you at least $20...this is all a very complex system.

So with some light hunting I found this little gem!  I hope it's still available when the time comes.

It's absolutely perfect as it's very large, has space for an office for both the Husband and I, large bedrooms, large living room which is perfect because I can set up different entertainment areas, a formal dining room which is fab because when it comes time to clean up, your guest don't see the dishes being cleared.  It has a absolutely charming dining nook, and the kitchen is quite large...the drawers might need some sanding and new tacks but that's something I am willing to deal with.

Cross you fingers for us everyone!

Exterior

Entry

Living Room

Living Room From Entry

Art Deco Retro Kitchen

Formal Dining

Break Fast Nook...looking into Kitchen

Den/Office

Master Bath

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband

Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin"

I get so tired of the media ripping on celebrities for "copying"each other in Madonna's new  video for "Give Me all your Luvin" at one point in the video you can clearly see a group of football players pulling off a Burberry Trench coat...seams very similar to a scene in Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance Video" so, who is copying whom?

Also later on in Madonna's video you can clearly see a reference to Marilyn Monroe...granted this is nothing new, as Madonna has been doing this for the last 30 years or so...so it's really not surprise...what do you think of this new Madonna song and video...it's catchy, but honestly, I expect more/better from her, but then again considering what she's been putting out over the last 10 years maybe I shouldn't!

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband

Joan Rivers Stoned on Louis XIII

78 and still living it up, one of my favorite comedians, Joan Rivers is getting high on a brand of Organic California Reefer or Hash or whatever it's called named Louis XIII...after getting a weed prescription for cateracts or it might have been consistently narrow stools...I'm not sure!  She proceeds to get so high with her friend and then with a case of munchies they are so high they can't drive and Melissa has to come get them!

Hallarious!

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband

Joan Rivers Vs. the Drunk Whore Chelsea Handler

Joan Rivers and Chelsea Handler are in a feud over Chelsea's apparent disrespect towards Joan...I think this is absolutely fabulous!!!  I love Vodka as many of you may know, but I love Joan Rivers more and if they were in celebrity death match, Joan would win!

Don't forget to catch Joan and Melissa: Joan knows best Thursday's on WE Channel!

Listen to Joan's side of the story during her interview on Howard Stern!

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband

Who's Bigger? Which GOP Candidate is Packing and who's Lacking?

The Husband and I have been watching the GOP Debates for quite some time now and we are curious, Who's Bigger?

Rick Perry:
We believe, based off his general character, mannerisms and stance, Rick Perry clearly is average, and I think he's OK with that.

Rick Santorum:
I personally think, and until I am proved wrong, my pinky is bigger than Santorum's Prick.  Why do I say this you may ask?  Have you seen his wife's face? No woman with a constant frown like her's is satisfied in the bedroom...just saying.

Mit Romney:
I think it's pretty safe to say that with 5 children and one very happy looking wife...It could be the millions of dollars her husband is worth too...but I think Mit Romney is probably packing.  Is he the Biggest?  I'm not sure.

Newt Gingrich:
It would be nice of me to say he is average...I think I passed the point of nice when I opened Adobe Illustrator...but let's be honest he probably hasn't seen it in years...did you know that for every 30 pounds of weight you loose you gain an inch?  Maybe if he doesn't become president he can be the next spokesman for Weight Watchers...have you seen what they've done for Jennifer Hudson? Maybe, the better question is, what did they do with the rest of Jennifer Hudson?

Ron Paul: 
He's a crotchety old man that pronounces words a little funny and he has some very big age spotted hands and just in general doesn't seam to give a damn...I would say that he might win this cock fight.

Now, if Herman Cain was still in the race it's probably a good assumption that he would have been the winner of this race, I mean how many mistresses and sexual harassment claims were brought up against him?  I always wondered how he came up with the 9,9,9 plan...

My results are assumed and until the mistresses start speaking out and "accidentally" sending their photo's to TMZ or other such news organization I don't think we will ever know.

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband 

St. Regis Monarch Resort....Stepford Tested, Husband Approved

So The Husband had a work social event last week in Dana Point/Laguna ...aka...where 75% of the gays retreat to during the summer holiday weekends such as the 4th of July!

When you drive up you are greeted by nearly two story gates that even Julius Caesar would envy, you proceed down the driveway, gently passing the St. Regis Residences...yes, I said residences...I am sure with a healthy checkbook you too could live here!

When you reach the valet a very cordial woman will greet you at your car and will direct you as to which line you will drive up to based on the make of your car example, BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover, Porsche etc.  I am sure they have a self park section in case this intimidates you.

Next the valet will help you with you luggage if you so desire...then, you walk into an amazing 20' tall lobby with a 5' tall massive floral arrangement on top of a gorgeous stone table...watch out for the tufted stools their amazing ceiling fresco's will distract you and I would hate for you to trip over these!!!

After your check in I would take the offer from your Butler to direct you to your room as you will get lost.  This place has three pools, multiple ballrooms, six ocean-view five star restaurants, the award winning Spa Gaucin, and an amazing Golf Course!

Once in your Room, you will flip out!  It doesn't matter what room you get in this hotel...you will have an amazing view from your private balcony...personally I would get more of a courtyard suite...since we live  on the beach it can be quite windy...by getting a courtyard suite you can avoid some of the evening chill that comes with the ocean.

Overall, The Husband and I have stayed in a lot of hotels, I would say that this is the nicest, the second nicest would be The London in West Hollywood. So I highly recommend that you make your way down to beautiful Dana Point to the St. Regis Monarch Resort ASAP!

Watch Your Drink,

The Stepford Husband