Did you catch this weekend’s episode of Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas?

 

 

Image: Oprah Winfrey Network & IDH

  

 

It’s the new OWN TV series (Oprah Winfrey Network) starring Swedish Interior Designers Simon Davies and Tomas Cederlund and their little Interior Design Hounds:

 

Jack Russell Terriers Percy & Pooter.

 

If the Home Takeover TV show is new to you, check out my original post on the series here.

 

Simon & Tomas solve design crimes while zooming around America in a bright red Smart Car.  This week the Dynamic Design Duo arrives in Lonoke, Arkansas for a little taste of Southern hospitality.

 

Meet Wanda & Don:

 

 

Image: Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas

 

 

Wanda: If I had to name my style it would be “50’s & Christmas,” and I’m proud of it.

 

Don: I have nothing against Christmas, but this is over the top…Just busy, busy, BUSY!

 

Wanda: I love the Christmas theme and I just love red & green!

 

And love it she does:  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

 

The decorations stay up year round, inside & out:

 

Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas

 Image: Oprah Winfrey Network, OWN TV

 

 

Wanda, the Queen of the Concord Grapettes Chapter of the American Red Hat Society also loves:

 

• Twinkle lights
• Anything sparkly
• And plenty of bling!

 

Did I mention Wanda’s known as the “Crazy Cola Lady?”  At last count, the collector had over 6000 Coca-Cola items on display in her Arkansas home!

 

Designer Dogs, Percy & Pooter 

Image: Simon Davies & Tomas Cederlund

 

And the Interior Designers’ take on the Holiday House?

 

Simon:  Good Lord! If that doesn’t make your eyes boggle!

 

Tomas:  This woman has absolutely Nooooooooo stop button.

 

At one point during the Holiday Home tour, Wanda’s home decorating renders Tomas speechless. 

 

As animated as Tomas appears on the television show, I imagine that is not an easy task to accomplish.

 

And the Dogs Percy & Pooter’s thoughts on the over-the-top collector?

 

 

 Jack Russell Terrier.  Image: The Daily Mail

 

Those Jack Russells are the most perceptive breed of Interior Design Hound, don’t you agree?

 

The Coca-Cola Collector and her husband have been sweethearts since attending the 9^th grade prom. 

 

While the couple who have been married for over 47 years  have had fun collecting, Don clearly has no stop button of his own when it comes to Wanda.

 

 Crazy Cola Lady Sign.  Image: The Cooks

 

The reason I find the Home Takeover TV show so refreshing is that Simon & Tomas do not try to “makeover” the homeowners.

 

The Interior Designers respect their quirky TV clients.  While Simon & Tomas have loads of fun on Home Takeover, they never make fun of their clients.

 

Simon & Tomas always put the client’s wants & needs first, while still managing to create a functional & useable space that fits the client’s lifestyle. 

 

While their makeovers might not be the color or style that you (or I) would have in our home; they’re a perfect design solution for the families featured in each Home Takeover episode.

 

Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas

 Image: Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN TV)

 

So, how do the Interior Designers begin to tackle designing for the collector’s red & green home?

 

Rememebr these Words of Design Wisdom from Thomas:

Sometimes you have to do structural changes to actually make it work.  Changing paint, cushions and curtains is not always going to do the trick.

 

Amen, Tomas.  If you don’t have a good floorplan, it’s like putting lipstick on a pig.

 

So, Simon & Tomas decided two walls would have to come-tumbling-down in order to create an open kitchen & dining area that would actually function.  (Two walls that were covered in dizzy headache-inducing, striped wallpaper.)

 

The Home Takeover team managed the major demolition & remodel in a mere 4 days. 

 

WARNING: Do Not try this at home.  This was accomplished with the amazing Kyle, his army of contractors and a little television magic.

 

Countertop & Backsplash: Cesarstone

 Kitchen Makeover Image: OWN TV

 

You can watch the big revel and see the before & after footage of the remodeled kitchen here.

 

As I mentioned last week, Simon & Tomas are two Interior Design Hounds that are not afraid of getting their hands dirty.

 

This week they created plates for a feature wall painted in wide stripes a la Dorothy Draper:

 

Décor a la Spray Can.  Image: OWN TV

 

My favorite lines from this episode:

 

Tomas: Why are all the houses so narrow?  (Said while cruisin’ the back roads of Arkansas in their hip Smart Car.)

 

Simon: I think they’re those things that come off a trailer.

 

Must-See-TV outtakes:

 

• European-Fried Catfish…gourmand with a blow torch. You’ll can find the recipe & watch the chefs in action here.

 

• Simon & Tomas’s Civil War: the Design Calvary has arrived to save the day!  Grab your rifle & watch it here.

 

 Coca-Cola Fun Room: Home Takeover

  

If you missed last week’s television premiere of Home Takeover with Simon & Tomas, the Oprah Winfrey Network has put the entire episode online!

 

I think you’ll find it entertaining.

  

You can watch the FULL episode here.

 

  

As an Interior Design Hound, I find the adorable Jack Russell Terriers Percy & Pooter almost as entertaining as Simon & Tomas.

 

  

Later, I’ve got to let the Dog out,