Restaurant Impossible- Reveal day!

Wow!! I really don’t know what other words to say! This was the most amazing experience, and it just kept getting better.

Thursday morning we got to the restaurant around 10. The crew had stayed and worked until 4 am. They got the new carpet in and built a new counter/bar area. There was still SO much that needed done at that point, we really did wonder if it would get done on time. We watched Robert yell at Tom and Taniya because the paint on the walls looked terrible and insisted that a third coat be put on ( even though they were all done painting). We spent a good bit of time ironing curtains and hanging them.

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There really was a lot of sitting around and waiting, and then all of a sudden there was a ton of things to do at once. They had covered the dining room floor with glue-down carpet squares the night before, and then covered it with big sheets of purple paper so people could walk on it. Around 3:00 on Thursday (3 hours before reveal time) they took all the paper off and realized that big chunks of the paper had stuck and dried to the glue and there was purple stripes all over the carpet! So then it was craziness as we all grabbed cleaner and rags and tried to scrape it up!

The final results really turned out nice. Taniya wanted to keep a little bit of a "country" feel to it, but with some modern touches and that’s what it feels like. With a $10,000 budget there were a lot of things that could have been done that weren’t, they definitely pick and choose. The purple trim on the outside of the building wasn’t painted, the restrooms were left the same, and a separate dining room was not touched, but the main dining room is definitely completely transformed. If you look closely you can see all the flowered panels that we wall papered!

We got to watch them film the outside scenes of the reveal, and then we were able to get in to eat around 10:30. Robert was walking around talking to customers and being filmed the whole time and I finally had him sign the plates Caitlin had painted. We had fried bacon as an appetizer, and Sirloin steak that was really good. Michele used to do all the cooking, but a big part of the show was having three new chefs competing for a job there. Michele came over and seemed so happy ( and relieved to have it all done!) They said editing will take a couple months, so it should air in August or September. 

I have learned so much and have had such a good time!  This was such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I was able to be a part of it :)

Restaurant Impossible

Claytopia pieces will add to the decor of the new restaurant

What a crazy first day we had!! We got to Corry and checked into the beautiful bed and breakfast, Victoria On Main. After that we headed over to Michele's around noon. We signed release forms, got wristbands and got to work! Taniya gave us a crash course in wall papering and we wall papered 10 panels that will go on the walls in the restaurant. We are now experts at it and will be offering it as a service at Claytopia....lol..JUST KIDDING!

The whole set was relaxed and fun, at least outside the building. From what we heard there was a lot going on inside that was a little more stressful. Tears were already flowing and we heard that a certain chef might have flung a can of corn! We'll have to wait and see when the show airs.

Speaking of everyone's favorite chef, we did see him on set, and we got to watch him film a few scenes, but the atmosphere when he's around must be similar to the atmosphere around royalty! He did come over and give us a hard time for laughing :) and he kept calling Suzanne "Jane" and "Samantha" and finally just "Blondie"! I don't know if anyone's gotten his picture or autograph, I think most of us are too intimidated to ask!

On the other hand, Taniya and Nicole and Tom are SO friendly and really fun to be around! Taniya is so patient with all my design questions and Nicole ( who I personally think works the hardest out of everyone keeping everything on track!) has been really encouraging and sincerely impressed with our wallpapering skills! This show is definitely for real. These designers are hands-on, getting dirty and working hard. We've watched Taniya film a couple scenes and she quickly powders her nose and gets down to business. The girls are constantly on the computer checking the layout and design plans ( and I'm peaking over their shoulders!)

Tom Bury owns the construction company D9 and they are a great group of guys who just get in there and go to work. They take the time to show the volunteers what to do and then they get right back to work. We have been really impressed watching them work. Around 10:00 last night while we were all working in the bar, Tom turned on the new episode of Restaurant Impossible and we all stood around watching Tom and Taniya watching themselves on tv- love it!!



Michele's staff has been working around the clock! Folding these napkins and silverware was taking forever, and someone from Robert's staff had to come out and show them the "right" way to do it! (according to Robert)

Today we'll be working from 10-6. I really can't say a whole lot about what changes will be made, but I will say that the restaurant was completely stripped down and the new look will be lighter, brighter, and a welcome change from what it was a few days ago.

Michele's is set to re-open tonight at 7. 180 reservations have been lined up and it sounds like there is no wiggle room for anyone else! I cannot imagine the stress Michele and her hard-working staff will be dealing with trying to pull it all together, but you can bet I'll be there to check it out!

Ok, so this was my big secret!! When Tom Bury found out I owned a paint your own pottery studio he asked if Claytopia may have some pieces they could use for the restaurant re-design ( sorry, I still can't say any more about what they are or what they're doing!)

Tom asked if it was possible for Taniya Nayak and Nicole from RI could come into the studio and look around! Well......YEAH!!  They were super nice and really excited to look around and wanted to stay and paint! I have admired Taniya's design work for a long time. You may also recognize her from HGTV's Design To Sell. I was beyond excited to meet her today AND I get to spend the next 2 days working with her.

Day 1 of Restaurant Impossible!

So my friend Suzanne and I headed out to Corry today to have lunch at Michele's restaurant! They were actually serving lunch until 2. Michele looked adorable and frazzled- what a life changing experience this is for her. We met the nicest mom and daughter from Corry and had lunch with them. They are big fans of the show and friends with Michele. The crew was running around measuring, and setting up, but our sweet waitress came out and served us just like it was any other day- very surreal! We did get filmed eating and had to sign release forms for being on camera, but we didn't speak.

I had a grilled chicken salad. It was fine, not anything great, but certainly not awful either. I'm anxious to see how Robert re-vamps her menu.

We were able to take a few pictures of the restaurant "before". Hopefully I'll be able to get a few "after" shots. I know they'll be pretty strict with cameras once we get in there and start working.

Speaking of Robert, he supposedly not in town until tomorrow, so we didn't see him yet!

THEN came MY life-changing moment!! I met Tom Bury ( the construction manager for the show). He was really friendly and very laid back and is looking forward to giving the restaurant a facelift. He asked me a few questions about myself and we got to talking........and the rest has to be top secret for right now!!

 Haha!! You'll have to check back tonight or tomorrow to find out what happened :) Don't worry, I'm not running off with him, this has to do with design folks!

Setting up our food tents!

Isn't this the Lexus Robert always drives around in?!

What fun we are having, I am so thankful for this opportunity!

Restaurant Impossible!

Dining room re-design

Michele's Restaurant, Corry, PA

I LOVE reading my old "house flipping" blog! We had such a good time doing that. Unfortunately, with the changes in the market, and with banks getting so picky with appraisals, we only did one more flip after this one.

Over the past few years, I've always kept my hand in decorating, helping clients re-design bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and I'm currently working on a game room/theater room and a little girls bedroom :)

I am SO excited to be starting my next big design project for a very deserving person! I have been asked to be a "Design Assistant" on the show "Restaurant Impossible" when it films here in Corry, Pa (about 40 min. from Erie).
The show on Food Network, takes a failing restaurant and revamps the menu, recharges the owner and staff, and gives the restaurant a $10,000 makeover. Chef Robert Irvine and Designer Taniya Nayak ( as well as Tom Bury, construction manager) will put their heads together and work some magic!



My husband and I went to Corry last week and met Michele and got to check out the restaurant. She is super-sweet and really excited (and nervous!). The restaurant has been around for a long time, but Michele and her husband have only owned it for 3 years. Because of the show's confidentiality policy, she really wasn't able to give us details yet, but she seems totally ready to jump in and get started.

I hope to keep everyone updated ( as the show allows). I know when we worked with Extreme Home they did not want us taking pictures, so I will do what I can! I do not know if I will be able to sleep tonight :)

Day 32- Open house!

What a great open house! Nice weather, the house was sparkling, and we had a lot of visitors. I'm guessing we had 15-20 people/groups come through. Many first-time home buyers. We haven't even posted interior pictures on the MLS yet, so that was really a good turn out. Now we just have to sit back and wait to see how it goes.

My friend and photographer, Jenn Dworek came to get some "after" shots that turned out amazing. You can check out her blog at http://www.jenniferdworek.blogspot.com/

Let those contracts start rolling in!