Two awesome shows back-to-back tonight! Design Star and awesome HGTV new-comers the Novogratz!

So - I have a confession to make - I don't really watch much HGTV, but that's only because I don't really watch much TV.   I'm not a TV person, and it is really hard for me to commit to a tv-watching schedule. Luckily, we just got DVR, and two new shows have caught my fancy. One is this season of "Design Star" (I hadn't heard of the show until this season), and the first two episodes I loved, and the other is "Home by Novogratz." I know of the Novogratz via Six by Design and their awesome book, "Downtown Chic" - which I reviewed here.

So when I heard they had a new show airing on HGTV I figured I'd give it a shot, and I really like it so far. The duo's solutions are great for people who love to try DIY projects, shop at flea markets, and find it really important that their home reflects them, not the most recent issue of the top-of-the-line home and interiors glossy.

I have for you a sneak peak at what you'll catch on tonight's "Home by Novogratz," where the couple livens up a rather dull family beach condo into a colorful and whimsical get-away. What's really exciting about tonight is the Novogratz are also guest starring on "Design Star" and then their new episode airs directly after that! So be sure to have the tube on HGTV at 9 for "Design Star", and/or 10 for "Home by Novogratz"

These images below are from their first episode, where the Novogratz team created this awesome surfer-girl home for two sisters.

You can read more about the show on HGTV.

Glamorous and Green

Once I own a home I hope to make it as green as I possible can. Luckily, "greenifying" your home no longer means uglifying it, and technology is coming down in price everyday. I've noticed many progressive cities are getting more and more green restorations in historic homes, like this one in Toronto. Enjoy!

The owner didn't want to rip out the authentic stained glass windows, so she added extra glazing on the exterior to improve energy efficiency... so beautiful.

Furnishings are mostly vintage and/or antique and refurbished/reupholstered when necessary.

oh I do love that rug

Here are 5 green things the owners did to improve the space:

1. Complete Geothermal Retrofit
2. Replaced windows and doors for high efficiency versions
3. Added Insulation
4. Used Zero VOC paints
5. Furnished with antique and vintage furniture

Not too shabby huh?
via Pure Green Magazine

Spam E-Mail Wallpaper! Junk Mail Becomes Home Decor With Spamghetto.

You know those god-awful spam advertisements you receive in your inbox promising a greater sex life, a larger penis or wealth beyond your wildest dreams? Well, finally someone has taken those and put them to good design use.





Italy based design studio, ToDo, has brilliantly turned that e-mail spam into purchasable and customizable wallpaper or wall coverings under the name "Spamghetto".





The result is a print-on-demand, “green” FSC-certified, non-woven wall covering has won international recognition with a Silver Award at the 2010 European Design Awards.




The process is just as fascinating as the product itself: ToDo created a generative software that feeds on spam’s enticing claims, creating mesmerizing, subtly offbeat digital patterns in which one striking offer leads to the other in a compelling, unique design.



You can choose between various styles according to your taste, with thin or chunky strands forming different patterns.



If you want a custom version, provide them with your room's dimensions and using their generative software, they can produce a design that wraps and folds around all the objects that sit on the on the wall's surface.

Start designing your wallpaper at Spamghetto

Thanks to Design Taxi for bringing this cool item to my attention!

eBoy's Pixelated Art Available As Wall Murals & Wallpaper for Wallpaper Republic.

above: A close-up detail of the Los Angeles wall mural by eBoy

Looking for something vibrant, different and well, just plain wild to cover your walls? Then eBoy's special wall murals may be just the thing for that playroom or office.


above: A close-up detail of the Tokyo wall mural by eBoy

eBoy, the group of three graphic artists known for their pixelated illustrations and various collaborations [Coca Cola, and Adobe amongst other well-known brands] has designed cityscape wall murals of London, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Berlin, New York, Paris and Tokyo for Wallpaper Republic. Also available are their pixelated people in a wallpaper named "Peecol" and some graphic pixelated repeat pattern designs. Not for those who favor subtlety.

Baltimore:

Baltimore, details:


Berlin:

Berlin, detail:


London:

London, details:


Los Angeles:

Los Angeles, details:


New York:

New York, details:


Paris:

Paris, details:


Tokyo:

Tokyo, detail:


Peecol:

Peecol, detail:


The wall murals are available in 3 sizes and other wallpaper designs by eBoy are available as well. Buy them here.



About eBoy:
eBoy was founded in 1997 by Kai Vermehr, Steffen Sauerteig and Sven Smital with the acquisition of the eBoy.com domain. The basic idea driving eBoy was the embracement of the new possibilities of the emerging digital world. The decision to directly work on and for the screen led to the use of pixels. A modular based work system started to evolve and resulted in complex object rich artwork. eBoy is lucky to have worked with some of the finest clients and partners. Among them are Adidas, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Paul Smith, DKNY, Kidrobot, MTV, The New York Times, Wired Magazine and many, many more. eBoy currently is based in Berlin/Germany and in Vancouver/Canada.

Wallpaper Republic of Australia is yet another wonderful wallpaper company who collaborates with artists to create wall coverings that are not mass-produced. Like Rollout of Canada, they have many styles of artwork by artists from all over the world, which has been printed as wallpaper that can be purchased from their online store here.

Visit eBoy’s website to purchase toys and other merchandise or follow their Blog and Facebook