Sarah Portlock/CHB
We weren’t sure if we were being Punk’d today when an email from Cobble Hillbilly/The Real Housewives of New York City star Simon Van Kempen arrived in the CHB Inbox. The dispatch from Van Kempen not only turned out to be real but it led to a neighborly invite to their recently renovated townhouse to check out their recent improvements and to take in tonight’s episode of RHNYC.
As you’ll see in the show, the color scheme chosen for their home may not suit everyone. However, we found it to be welcoming and chic. Read more about reno on Simon’s blog.
In the episode we also caught a glimpse of Brooklyn Beep Marty Markowitz at the couple’s house warming party. Alex told us that there was much more footage shot of him at the party but it ended up on the cutting room floor. Note to Bravo: send it our way, we’d love to post it! Our pals from Brownstoner were there as well check out their report.
As for Alex and Simon, they’re regular Cobble Hillbillies, they don’t come across in person as the dramarama twins the heavily edited-for-television reality show suggests. (No, we’re not having an Angie Tempura meets Zac Ephron moment.)
Check out photos of the reno after the jump.
Photos by Sarah Portlock for CHB
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- CHB photo by Sarah Portlock
No offense to these people, but what is this blog’s fascination with them? Seriously, it’s getting tired.
What is your fascination with the fascination? I find them quite fascinating.
The house looks great….wow what a big difference.
The Van Kempens are lovely people who I would hang out with anytime.
I just don’t like the red/black flocked looking living room. Did they not think of their children when they thought of the color schemes?? I think after all Simon doesn’t have very good taste when it came to their abode. Sometimes you look a little bit to much and see nothing when you are doing your house. It looks like they were having a crack dream. At least they can paint over and buy another couch.
Ugh, horrible photos – natural light and larger resolution please!
OMG…. puke puke puke. these people have absolutely no taste at all! gross!
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!
This looks like the jacked up house in the movie. To each their own; enjoy!
Vampire vomit.
The one thing I REALLY HATE about the Van Kempen’s reno is the window treatment in the livingroom. That fabric from they purchased from Zarin’s on the show is beyond hideous. Otherwise it looks pretty good.
yuck.
what an ugly house.
the fabric from Jill didn’t do any favors.
Jill is hideous.
The placement of that fabulous artwork above the couch is just amazing! Is this a home or a museum? I can’t tell!
Oh no they di’nt put that brown couch in the living room!
Does anyone have doubts about Simon being straight?! Who else could live in that house but a gay man?
That lone picture, hung too high, smack dab in the middle of the curtains says it all. No way. Did that idiot Brad bulldoze you into that fabric? If so he is, as I thought, losing more money for Zarin’s in a week than he makes in a year. Designer, my behind. I am one and you don’t force your own ideas on others. If you picked it, Simon, where does Alex go when the boys come over? Did you get Max’s number from Kelly? You couldn’t STOP listening to Brad describe him to Alex at the Zarin’s party could you? Turned your head no less than five times. And Bravo to the lady who said non kid friendly – that’s ok, they’re vampire children – you can tell by the transparent skin and blue veins. Most unhealthy looking kids I’ve never seen. Like they’ve never seen daylight?
The draperies are hideous early 70′s. Oh, SVK didn’t get a V due to no more kids, he got it due to no more worry of STDS.