As a huge fan of interior design, I love hearing about new products for the home. Some are certainly more interesting than others and this one is a doozey. Interesting? Sure. Ridiculous? DEFINITLY!

So, with Valentine’s Day around the corner, I give you the ultimate “romantic” household item: The TwoDaLoo.

“The TwoDaLoo is billed as the world’s first toilet two people can use … at the exact same time. It brings couples closer together and conserves our water supply all with one flush. The TwoDaLoo features two side-by-side toilet seats with a modest privacy wall in between. An upgraded version includes a seven inch LCD television and iPod docking station.”

Riiiiigghhhht.

Paul, sweetie. I’ll save you the $1400! I’ll take a box of candy instead.

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Above the changing table, we hung a virtual zoo of colorful critters for the baby to look. Kermit the frog will also be looking on and coaching Paul as he changes diapers. It’s not easy being green—or changing diapers.

Between the windows, we’ve added a print from Ed Emberley’s drawing animals, from the book we both had as children.

We secured magnetic metal strips from Ikea on another wall to hang the wee beastie’s own artwork when the time comes. For now, we can hang colorful cards and printed art for the little fella to look upon and appreciate.

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After the painting was complete, we set to work buying and building furniture and accessories. Some we purchased, and other items were provided by generous friends and family.

Now, everything is set up and ready for the wee beastie’s arrival, right down to the diapers in changing station drawer. Here are some shots of the room at this point, although we don’t have all the artwork up yet.

The crib. Right inside the door for easy access and observation at ungodly hours during the night.

The bed as seen from the doorway. This will be Randye’s resting area as she continually tends to the baby’s needs and so she won’t have to make the long walk up and down the hallway. Please note the Eames rocker to the right for relaxing and nursing. Randye’s “push present” from Paul.

The bed and changing table as seen from the Eames rocker. No doubt, the table is where Paul will spend much time. He has been told on numerous occasions that administering doodies and diapers will be his domain. The changing table also used to be white, but we painted it to match the twin bed frame. To the left of the changing table is a diaper champ.

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You’ll see from the pictures that there are a number of different colored pieces, however that’s nothing a coat of paint can’t fix.

(The view from the door to the room.)

(The crib, which is right near the door so we can look in and sigh with contentment because the little critter has finally gone to sleep.)

(The twin bed, sans mattress at the moment, for Randye to sleep on between nightly feedings, and later, for the wee beastie. The dresser will be converted to a changing table/nightstand.)

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These two images are the room’s inspiration.

Who’da thunk Martha Stewart would utilize the Eames rocker (that I covet) so well?

As a (graphic and interior) designer, I love the use of typography as a design element in this contest-winning mood board. Using letters could be a nice playful touch in the nursery, no? Using my (usually-trustworthy) large-format inkjet printer, I certainly could create some inexpensive letter art out of the wee beastie’s name .

Now, if we could only decide on the wee beastie’s name as easily as we came up with a decorating scheme .

*This entire post is created with my proverbial tongue firmly implanted in my proverbial cheek.

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On Saturday, a friend and I removed six yew shrubs from the front yard. It took two men six-and-a-half hours in the rain on Saturday. It was a good ol’ fashioned shrub diggin’, by gar!

First, we cut away all the branches. Then we sawed off the large branch trunks that extended from the roots. Finally we dug and hacked away at the ground and the roots themselves. If it wasn’t for my reciprocating saw, which we used to slice through the roots directly underneath the root foundation, we’d probably still be out there.

While that was going on outside, errands were run and more house chores were completed than are humanly possible in one day by my wife. I’m convinced that Randye conjured up a house elf.

On Sunday, we were back at it, minus my friend who went home to nurse his aching back. We started with hanging a large painting in the dining room and installing the hardware for new curtains that we recently purchased. (Any day I can use my drill is a good day.)

Then it was out for some rock hunting in the drizzling rain. (The stone wall grows, but slowly.)

Upon our return, it was more gardening. I secured a few trees with long stakes, planted some Korean boxwood cuttings and I sowed seed for some wintergreen in front of our growing stone wall. After staking off a barrier around the area where the wintergreen will be growing, I came in to find beautiful red curtains hanging in our living room and dining room. And if I do say so myself, it makes the two rooms look so much homier.

Here are some photos from the weekend.

(Before)

(Going)

(Gone)

(The morons who worked all day in the rain)

Here are the results of Randye’s interior decorating, drapery magic.

(The living room)

(The dining room)

©2010 Blog de Puree. All Rights Reserved.

In Afghanistan and Iraq, soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are living in virtual cities made from these shipping containers. Like apartment complexes, they are stacked up or laid out, fitted with HVAC units, electricity and furnished with a twin bed and a wall locker. These makeshift domiciles are often referred to as Legoland by the troops.

Major Strong decided to put some extra design effort into his small living space. After ensuring that his body armor, helmet, boots and primary weapon were immediately available—after all, he is a soldier—he constructed a lift for his bed to make more storage space underneath. He also constructed a small bookshelf, purchased an adjustable computer desk, and picked up some task lighting to offset the harsh fluorescent lights that come with the room. Over time, he also added some colorful Afghan textiles and several paintings from a local artist. Not bad for a man that is used to living in a 4,000-square-foot ranch house with his family in Oregon.

While conditions for our men and women overseas are still pretty Spartan, it’s nice to see that some of them can overcome the typical shortcomings of living out of a shipping container. You’ve got to love that good old “American know-how.” It’s also nice to read about them in publications where you normally wouldn’t, such as Dwell magazine. Kudos to that mag.

You can read more about Major Strong and his experiences in Afghanistan at his blog, Strong Ideas.

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Goil’s was excellent (well, except for all the white). His client and friends would have hours of good fun smashing into one another on the roller furniture, but it was also cool enough that it would transition all the way to college.

I also really liked Matt’s room for “Hollywood.” I think he nailed his client. She loved it — it was original and glam and who cares that he used black. (I wasn’t crazy for the wall color which read like silly putty but that could have been a TV thing.) Again, a room that has staying power.

Clarissa’s jungle was unique, but I think her swinging ropes were a bit derivitive of last week’s swing idea. Also, honey, lay off the pillows and cushions. This is not bordello-chic.

Elizabeth’s “soccer” room was a total bummer. She had such a strong showing last week.

Ryan’s room was made for the cat, not the girl. But at least he showed some originality and tried to do something creative with the cat walk.

And when I said Felicia’s room last week was done, done, and done, that certainly wasn’t a call to do it AGAIN. (I laughed out loud when they called it a hotel room!)

Glad John is gone, but hope Michael soon follows.

And I’m really beginning to think I am the only Adler-hater out there. He just rubs me the wrong way — sometimes he can be funny, but overall, he just tries too hard. Mazel Tov? French phrases for no reason?

IMHO: Trés ongepotchket!

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Now, I was a little disappointed that the lead judge would be Jonathan Adler (Hi! I make über-trendy, stupidly-expensive vases. Stripes! Lips! Boobies! Spank my lucky butt and call me a designer.) And the host Todd Oldham . . . yawn. But I adore Kelly Wearstler. She and Elle Decor editor-in-chief, Margaret Russell, are good choices for judges.

So, my initial thoughts on the premiere episode?

$50K at the Design Center is fair.

Design Centers are a-frickin’-mazing in their selection, uniqueness and astronomical cost. Frighteningly enough, it really doesn’t go that far in there. But it might have been more interesting to have gotten a sponsor à la Project Runway and Macy’s. More of a “you’ve got $10K to shop at Thomasville” concept. I think it would bring it down to a sense of reality for the average viewer to take away with. Oh, and just 2 days to design, shop for and complete a room? — eek — that really IS a challenge! So, hopefully as the season progresses, we’ll see some more strategic challenges that will push the designers creativity, not just their speed!

Overall, I also agreed with all the judges decisions, EXCEPT the 2nd best design. The designers saved themselves by BS’ing their way through the interview process. Yes, it WAS a beautiful and tasteful room, BUT, you can’t step 3 feet into the world of interior design without seeing that look done . . . and done . . . and done. Additionally, and most importantly, it had nothing to say whatsoever about the client’s design brief and the strange objects that belonged to him/her/it. ::shudder::

Ultimately, once the client moved their “things” in, it would be clear that a rich, kitschy person with no personal taste hired a ritzy designer to give them a chic and sophisticated room. And their objects? Well, they wouldn’t have looked like they were curated. Not at all. They would have looked like sore thumbs.

So sayeth ME all. – Randye

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