Rock 'n' Remo

Whatever happened to Vanilla Ice? Look to the DIY Network, where the one-time star of rap (and Madonna's "Sex" book) has built a new career as a home remodeler and host of "The Vanilla Ice Project." One Dallas couple recently won a "Rock-Star Renovation" in DIY's "Ice My House" contest, which entitles them to a $30,000 room renovation overseen by Mr. "Ice, Ice Baby" himself.

If you want to see the results, the transformation will be documented for a special to kick off the second season of the show early next year. Which begs the question: If you had to choose a '90s rapper to remodel your place, who would get the job? Sir Mix-a-Lot had a one-track mind, and 2 Live Crew wasn't known for good taste. I guess I'd opt for MC Hammer. At least he sounds like he might know his way around a toolbox -- plus he could carry one in those parachute pants.

KIM PALMER

What's new in landscaping? "Floating islands" that provide habitat for birds and critters while cleaning up polluted water. Also called floating treatment wetlands, the islands mimic natural floating islands. Above the surface, native plants provide natural habitat; below the surface, the islands attract microbes that help break down water-borne pollutants and restore fishing habitat.

This week, Minnesota Landscape Architects will launch seven floating islands at Spring Lake in Minneapolis. The lake, which has been a Minneapolis Parks wildlife refuge for more than a century, is now "severely impaired," its shoreline ridden with invasive species.

The launch will take place at noon on Aug. 17, and will include a light lunch, live music and comments from experts on floating island technology. Spring Lake is located in the Lowry Hill neighborhood near Parade Stadium, between Interstate 394 and Kenwood Parkway. To register, visit www.asla-mn.org.

It was a rough week on Wall Street. If financial fretting is interfering with your sleep, maybe a fancy new bed would help. Hästens, Sweden's oldest manufacturer of beds, is offering a "Best Bed Giveaway" sweepstakes to build U.S. awareness of its brand and what it claims is the most comfortable bed on the planet. One winner will receive the Hästens Luxuria Queen Bed, handmade from all-natural materials and valued at $10,120. No purchase is necessary. The sweepstakes will run through Aug. 31, and the randomly selected winner will be announced Sept. 7. To enter, visit www.hastens.com.

HOME, $WEET HOME

"At Home With Town & Country" (Hearst Books, $60) features 30 homes published in the past decade in the magazine for which the book is named. The tasteful homes of the wealthy, both domestic and abroad, splay across the pages in varying degree of splendor.

The best part of this book is not the photos (some look fuzzy, and the color-correction is not very sharp). It's the writing that accompanies each piece, especially the "Design Forum" sections. They provide a lot of utility: how to understand proportion in a room and put together items that won't date themselves, how to build a dream kitchen, how to light for and pair art, how to build a second home from afar. (OK, that last one doesn't apply to many of us, but the points are still informative.) If you're not a fan of the magazine (where the print quality is markedly better), this book won't do much for you.

KIM YEAGER