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I was setting up my HGTV DVR for the next week, just in case there were any shows not already part of my series recordings that would be missed (which was a good thing because Sarah's Summer House from I think 2009 is on Friday and I would've missed it because the title is different than my series recording) and I came across Season 2 of Donna Decorates Dallas. It starts Saturday at 5:30pm ET. Get your sunglasses everyone or be prepared to be blinded by the bling! lol

Get out your cudgel sticks, everyone. Your favorite pinata is back.

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Originally posted by aychihuahua:
Get out your cudgel sticks, everyone. Your favorite pinata is back.

Just when I thought it was safe to go back into the water......
Seriously, between DDD and Junk Gypsies I'm completely irritated at the design style view people are getting of Texas, as well as the hard working design professionals in our great state. GUess every state has to have its characterization that is nowhere near reality, much less the norm but it's time to lay off of Texas. Or at least show that there are a lot of people who have good taste and wouldn't be caught dead with either Donna or one of the Gypsies in their hone.

Now Doodles,I've always pictured you with dyed blonde Donna Mills hair, leopard print stretch pants and 6 inch black patent leather Versace pumps with the Medusa head ankle straps. I mean, your from Texas right?

Don't worry according to BRAVO everyone in N.J. is in the Mafia.

I tried to watch this with an open mind, even though I knew this was not my taste. I heard the home owner say that he wanted a dark and moody vibe so I don't know how that translated to tangerine bedding. Is it my imagination or did she take the "bling" to a whole new level? While I appreciate that she tried to personalize the space, it just came out smaltzy and gave me a headache.

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Originally posted by Charles D:
Now Doodles,I've always pictured you with dyed blonde Donna Mills hair, leopard print stretch pants and 6 inch black patent leather Versace pumps with the Medusa head ankle straps. I mean, your from Texas right?

Please, nobody dresses like that in MY trailer park.

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Originally posted by doodles64:
Seriously, between DDD and Junk Gypsies I'm completely irritated at the design style view people are getting of Texas, as well as the hard working design professionals in our great state. GUess every state has to have its characterization that is nowhere near reality, much less the norm but it's time to lay off of Texas.

At least yours is a "design" show -- here in Georgia, our new claim to fame it "Honey Boo Boo"!

Laughing so hard here! Just caught back up with this thread - Charles you crack me up. You forgot the Cowboy hat. T.V does tend to skew our perceptions - I dated a guy who was originally from NJ and even after 25 years in California he still sounded like Mafia so I know what you mean.
Gail, I've heard about that show and have to agree, Texas does have the better end of the stupid stick when it comes to t.v. shows.

you all are so funny,this gal hasn't laughed like this for a long time,

only watched this show a few times and oh yes she's very electric,dazziling and sooo flambouyont LOL

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Originally posted by santa_fe:

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Originally posted by Charles D:
Now Doodles,I've always pictured you with dyed blonde Donna Mills hair, leopard print stretch pants and 6 inch black patent leather Versace pumps with the Medusa head ankle straps. I mean, your from Texas right?

Please, nobody dresses like that in MY trailer park.

Grrl, put your cowboy hat on and get out in the world. It's time you did the two step and got yourself a 64 ounce steak!

Well I watched last night. It was a very entertaining 1/2 show. :-) I did like the homeowners and the wife definitely wanted blingy, which actually I think Donna toned down the bling on this one except for that attrocious football helmet. It appeared the wife loved the look but the husband didn't quite know what to say. :-)

Donna must be doing well though that she expanded her store. The bed she put in her store though was humengous! The whole bedroom store set up looked like it belonged in a castle.

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Grrl, put your cowboy hat on and get out in the world. It's time you did the two step and got yourself a 64 ounce steak!

64-ounce CHICKEN FRIED steak. Here in the park, we favor gimme caps.

See, we don't need Donna, just a whisper of her name and these boards light up! Instead of giving her a show HGTV just needs to drop blind items now and then like "What trashy blonde Texan will be bringing "bling" to a town near you?"

lol..Charles you are priceless!! Love your posts I must admit that I watched the episode. I am still obsessed with everything interior design so I couldn't help myself. There was a bedding store that Donna took the home owner to and I imagine it was pretty expensive but I thought all the choices displayed were hideous. I personally found them to be old fashioned and I didn't even think such things still existed. But what do I know? I buy my sheets from Target and my duvet from West Elm.

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Originally posted by Charles D:
See, we don't need Donna, just a whisper of her name and these boards light up! Instead of giving her a show HGTV just needs to drop blind items now and then like "What trashy blonde Texan will be bringing "bling" to a town near you?"

You do have a very good point, Charles!

The thought just crossed my mind - a design "competition" featuring Donna, The Novogratz (sp?), Antonio and Vern Yip. Donna would be blinging CHewie's dog collar and Vern's apples, The Novogratzs would be plastering words on the walls and clashing carpet squares on the floors, Antonio would bring his chain saw and Vern would stamp his itty bitty feet and tell them all to "get out of here".

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Originally posted by LolaLalaBean:
lol..Charles you are priceless!! Love your posts I must admit that I watched the episode. I am still obsessed with everything interior design so I couldn't help myself. There was a bedding store that Donna took the home owner to and I imagine it was pretty expensive but I thought all the choices displayed were hideous. I personally found them to be old fashioned and I didn't even think such things still existed. But what do I know? I buy my sheets from Target and my duvet from West Elm.

I get my sheets from Linen Source, but I love Target sheets, and their shower curtains are always really cool.

I love her show and I love bling!

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Originally posted by BabyDollBundy:
I love her show and I love bling!

Oh, dear.

Oooh Charles, they have an Outlet section of their website too! Thanks for the new source

I just noticed that DDD was back for a 2nd season, although it's on at a strange time. I guess this is the final season, however I did say that last season!

I just want to know how she gets away with calling herself a designer without a license and without any training? What she does should be considered criminal or at least vandalism.

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Originally posted by DallasCat:
I just noticed that DDD was back for a 2nd season, although it's on at a strange time. I guess this is the final season, however I did say that last season!

I just want to know how she gets away with calling herself a designer without a license and without any training? What she does should be considered criminal or at least vandalism.

Good to see you back, Cat - you've been missed. Yeah, interesting isn't it that HGTV will allow her on touting herself as an Interior Designer if she doesn't have the creds - it's illegal.

Cat and Doodles--

Can't speak for anyone else here, but I'm sure I have some support in our deputizing you two to make a citizens' arrest:

"Donna--drop the glue gun. And back away from the rhinestone studs..."

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Originally posted by bonactor:
Cat and Doodles--

Can't speak for anyone else here, but I'm sure I have some support in our deputizing you two to make a citizens' arrest:

"Donna--drop the glue gun. And back away from the rhinestone studs..."

And, while you're at it, Taser her a few times for good measure, for her crime against humanity.

BTW, I see no reference anywhere on Donna's website, nor in newspaper articles about her, that claim she is an interior designer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aychihuahua,

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I thought about that too, AY, but the above posted did say this was years ago - and I do remember when all this was "popular" but like most things got overdone.
There is a line between a piece or two and really junking it up like Donna does. I've been known to go to Hemispheres for some items for clients (I know you're familiar with them, AY, and their 1800's bawdy house look) but it's one or two pieces that are combined with other things to create a different look, rather than the "Bawdy House Meets Faux Tuscan, Cram Everything In and Then Add A Feather or More Crystals" look that I've seen in 90% of Donna's design.

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Originally posted by Charles D:

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Originally posted by BabyDollBundy:
I love her show and I love bling!

Oh, dear.

Charlie,I could say the same thing about you loving Tommy boy and shopping at Target.

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Originally posted by Mîz M:
Not very flattering when money is involved. Lots of designers do similar styles, yet put their own, individual touch on it. Not Donna, she sees what other designers are doing, and copies to a tee. Not a lot of skill involved in checking out the competition, following behind them, buying the same things, and trying to work the same neighborhoods. And touting it as so innovative! So original!

Just my perspective, as someone close to the situation.

Texas is big enough for more than one Donna-style decorator.

Carol Hicks Bolton Fredericksburg,Texas.The original queen of putting feathers on furniture at least ten years ago. Even a guy from jersey knows that.

I had hoped that after all the criticism from last year, DDD would realize that she needed to practice some restraint when decorating someone's home. Nope, it looks like she had another tune-up on her face and she's back doing the same tasteless crap.

One of my contractors was working at her client's house when the camera crew showed up. No one told him that it was DDD's show. He was working for another contractor. Anyway, he confirmed the stiletto heals, the tons of jewelry, and the plastered face that doesn't move when she talks. It doesn't even move if she laughs.

She's now calling her bow-teek a design store. Since she isn't a designer and she didn't design any of the Chinese crappage in her shop, she is intentionally misleading the public. I keep thinking about visiting her shop as a disappointed consumer who was looking for something from his century. It's just not worth the gas to drive all the way out to the far flung suburbs.

I retired in January and in the last five or six years, even in Dallas, the trend has been toward cleaner lines, natural materials, and fewer, but more elegant pieces. If I never see another piece of resin frou-frou, I will die happy.

Cat

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DallasCat,

Hey DallasCat, my new attitude towards shows like this is that the station is called HGTV, and that the H.and the G. could concievably stand for anything. There certainly isn't specific mention of tasteful edification anywhere, so think of Donna as the TMZ to say, Anderson Cooper.

After all, T.V. is loaded with low brow cr*p, what's one more wasted half hour?

Interesting DallasCat, and I can only imagine how frustrating this show is for those of you in the field in this area.

I always wondered at why her clients (friends) want their homes to look identical. Every single room is full of new furniture and new accessories, and they all look the same. Add to that the same scrolling/faux paint, gilded everything, and all the other "bling", and I can't distinguish the homes from each other. Nothing personal to the homeowner is used, it's all Donna's personal taste. Donna decorates for Donna, not for the homeowner.

I stopped watching Design Star (and HGTV) a few years ago, but wasn't there a woman who won, but never got her own show? Strange that a non-winner got a show instead.

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Originally posted by Charles D:
Carol Hicks Bolton Fredericksburg,Texas.The original queen of putting feathers on furniture at least ten years ago. Even a guy from jersey knows that.

Charles D, you must be thinking of another Carol Hicks Bolton. Or her evil twin sister. Seriously. I visited her Fredericksburg shop, then known as Homestead and Friends, many, many times in the past 12 years or more. Her style is NOT Donna Moss or feathers on furniture. Never has been.

It is a remarkable assemblage of antiques, furniture, art, curiosities, and beautiful vintage items from around the world-- the real deal, not the RH knock-offs. You would have drooled over the back area with the parterre herb gardens and French fountains, slightly crumbling, of course, and other garden statuary.

Her new shop is even better than the old. Here's a blog that says it better than I can: http://www.curiousdetails.com/...ton-antiquities.html

Sorry Aychi, just did a Google Image search and typed in Carol Hicks Bolton to make sure senility hadn't set in. What came up were dozens of images of faux Victorian upholstered furniture covered in a multitude of florals, ticking, toiles, ect. with an excessive amounts of bullion, tassels, and yes, feathers.

I believe the furniture is manufactured by E.J. Victor and it is most certainly the type of over blown, over embellished furniture Donna Moss would love. Whether this is indicative of C.H.B.'s usual style I can't say. I can say that this line of furniture has been around for at least ten years which was really my point.

Two Carol Hicks Boltons? Maybe.

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Originally posted by Charles D:
Sorry Aychi, just did a Google Image search and typed in Carol Hicks Bolton to make sure senility hadn't set in. What came up were dozens of images of faux Victorian upholstered furniture covered in a multitude of florals, ticking, toiles, ect. with an excessive amounts of bullion, tassels, and yes, feathers.

I believe the furniture is manufactured by E.J. Victor and it is most certainly the type of over blown, over embellished furniture Donna Moss would love. Whether this is indicative of C.H.B.'s usual style I can't say. I can say that this line of furniture has been around for at least ten years which was really my point.

Two Carol Hicks Boltons? Maybe.

I had to look that up. Never heard of her furniture line, and while it is certainly not that atrocious, it does fly in the face of her usual chic and curated style, as seen in her shops.

I've seen many examples of the work she's done for others and even her own home, and nowhere do you see feathers and foo-foo. Maybe she was in a Victorian-excess mood when did that stuff. That's NOT what you see in her stores. Serious disconnect. Don't judge her by just her furniture line; her entire body of work speaks for itself.

I guess most of you here must like the contempary look!!!!!!!!Which not everyone likes!! I love Donna's show, her decorating, and her!! At least shes different from the rest who seems to do the same thing. I love her old world look! I just wish they would put her back at night and quit the reruns!!

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Originally posted by bellawella:
I guess most of you here must like the contempary look!!!!!!!!Which not everyone likes!! I love Donna's show, her decorating, and her!! At least shes different from the rest who seems to do the same thing. I love her old world look! I just wish they would put her back at night and quit the reruns!!

I like a wide of variety of styles, and some of the individual elements of Donna's rooms are attractive. My opinion is that she goes overboard, and her decorating is so over-the-top as to be a parody of gaudiness and bad taste.

Speaking only for myself, I've been frustrated with HGTV for a long time, and a show like this is one of the reasons. When I turn on HGTV or The Food Network, I want to learn something, while being entertained. I'm not turning them on to watch a very amateur cook make enchilda casserole (The Pioneer Woman), or a woman shop and merchandise rooms for her wealthy friends (Donna Decorates Dallas).

There are so many talented professionals in this world, who are true designers, who have an amazing talent. Who can teach, not just be shown shopping for clients and staging their rooms. What's wrong with wanting higher standards? I feel like these networks are simply live DIY blogs now. As I said, I personally like variety, and would love to see all kinds of decorating and design represented.

I always felt smarter after watching someone like Michael Payne. Watching Donna's show has the opposite effect for me, so I stopped. I was liking the "Before" rooms better than the "Afters". I do have a bias, as I live in Texas, and this "Old World/Texas Tuscan" look is wearing thin with me. I see it everywhere, and have for years. I used to sell it.

Just my thoughts.

.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mîz M,

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mîz M:

I do have a bias, as I live in Texas, and this "Old World/Texas Tuscan" look is wearing thin with me. I see it everywhere, and have for years. I used to sell it.

/QUOTE]

You said it!

Hi Jill!

you reminded me of Michael and all of the great shows that used to be on.......

hope all is well with you!

Annie

(((Annie))), hi!! Thanks, good to see you.

I met Michael in person, he is so warm, gracious, and sophisticated. It was a treat to get to talk to him!

I notice that DDD has been both lauded and criticised for many reasons, none of which reflect the danger DDD poses for viewers who may consider Donna and her daughter models for emulation. Having tuned in for the first time while awaiting a Property Brothers episode I was apalled to see her daughter climbing up behind her on a ladder wearing high heeled stilletto shoes after which the two were talking to each other in her SUV as she also carried on a three way conversation on her cell phone while driving with one hand. I'm less concerned with her decorating poor taste which might earn her the title of home wrecker than her ubiquitous negligence with respect to driving safety which might win her a roadrageous award.

HH, many members of this forum, especially those in design profession, commented on Donna's working apparel. Wearing high heels while climbing on ladders was noted, as well as those horrid rings and earrings that are just asking to get caught in and snagging fabric PAID FOR BY SOMEONE ELSE!!!!