You know those great big houses the team from the ABC series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" builds for deserving families?
Well, sometimes those big houses turn out to be just too darned big.
That's what happened in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Eric Hebert. You can see Eric standing in front of the 3,678-square-foot home built for him and his late sister’s 11-year-old twins, whom he is raising.
According to an article in the Bonner County Daily Bee, Eric works all day and spends most evenings taking the kids to basketball and soccer practice. Keeping up the big house is just too much for him, he said.
Plus, Eric said, heating the big house was costing him hundreds of dollars a month in electric bills, and that was on top of the home's gas bills.
And so, hoping not to seem ungrateful to the neighbors who helped build the home for him, he put it up for sale. The house has been appraised at $552,244, but he's listed it and the acre of land it sits on for $529,000.
Here are other "Extreme Makeover" homes that have been put on the market:
Pennsauken, N.J. — The utility bills for this home were said to be from $700 to $1,200 a month, and property taxes were more than $6,000 annually.
Atlanta — The ad for this palatial "Extreme" home says if you buy it, you can own a part of history.
Fans of Mike Holmes, star of "Holmes on Homes," will be happy to hear that Mike made an appearance today at a community meeting in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans and announced he and his team were there to build a home for the Brad Pitt-founded Make It Right Foundation.
Holmes is famous for his disdain for bad contractors (and who doesn't feel that?) and a story in Canada's National Post said Mike's "indignation over shoddy workmanship went into high torque when he watched the hurricane crumple houses in New Orleans in August, 2005."
Mike referenced the Three Pigs and said: "If you see houses blow down in an area that's windy, build a house that will withstand high winds. I thought everyone knew that."
And he concluded: "How can we build a home that will withstand a hurricane? The truth is, we can."
Before Mike starts disparaging craftspeople from the late 1800s for the way they built the houses in the neighborhood where he spoke today, I'd like to point out that those homes were not so much destroyed by wind but by flooding up the attics when the levees failed. If he can build homes that will withstand 8 to 10 feet of floodwater, more power to him.
I hope Mike takes time while he's in New Orleans to watch an excellent Imax movie called "Hurricane on the Bayou." That movie shows so beautifully that the miles of bayous, now disappearing at the rate of one acre every 38 minutes, are historically what have slowed the impact of storms that hit New Orleans, a city founded hundreds of years ago. There are complex and long-term factors why that wetland protection has disappeared and turned into open waters, and it will take national willpower to reverse those factors.
While I'm more aware than most people about the dangers of hiring unqualified, dishonest, nefarious or neglectful people to fix up your home, I trust that Mike won't turn his experiences in New Orleans into just another rant against contractors.
While it might be comforting to have a group of bogeymen contractors to focus our anger on, the threats to homes in New Orleans -- crumbling levees, disappearing bayous, climate change -- are much more complex than that.
Did I not watch "Sex and the City" reruns for the past four years?
Did I not come to feel in some TV-induced mania that I knew Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte? Did I not notice who they were and how they would decorate their homes?
So how in the world did attorney Miranda Hobbes' home come to look like this in the new movie? Miranda is tightly wound, a control freak and quite sophisticated. How could she live in a place like this?
An article in the San Francisco Chronicle says this decor is a window into Miranda's personality, a personality which, I suppose, is really confused.
However, the Miranda I "know" would use her decor to hide such a personality, or to influence her personality toward a more put-together state of mind.
What do you think? Does this room look like the Miranda you know?
I guess the apartment where Carrie Bradshaw researched and wrote her columns in the "Sex and the City" television show probably did need a makeover.
Several years had passed from Carrie's life on the small screen to her promotion to the big screen, and we all need to evolve. Carrie's guests needed to stop sitting on the floor around her coffee table, right?
But I'm not sure the new apartment (see "after" photo above) is quite right for her. The apartment is attractive, no doubt about that. But it seems too streamlined for Carrie, too coordinated, too balanced. That's not our Carrie! And it doesn't look comfortable. And that big TV. What's that all about?
Sunday evening, after watching the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team blow up a house with a radon issue, I began thinking about the whole concept of the show.
When the series began in 2003, I thought the idea was to give houses a makeover. But as I would learn, it's really about annihilating the old house, as violently as possible it seems, and then putting up something completely new.
No matter what the problem — mold, radon, lead paint — the solution is the same: raze the house.
I can't help but be happy for the folks who got a new home, but I wonder if the show gives the wrong message to the rest of us. What if we have mold, radon or lead paint? Should we dissolve in tears in front of a video camera in hopes the "EM: HE" people will save us?
Or should we find a way to fix what's wrong, to prevent radon from getting into the house, to solve the moisture and ventilation problems causing mold? I believe so.
Members of the National Paint & Coatings Assn. had similar thoughts recently. In reaction to a May 4 show that focused on the dangers of lead paint, the association president, J. Andrew Doyle, wrote a letter to the show that said, in part:
"The misconceptions conveyed during the show were so glaring that they surely warrant a broadcast and web site correction prior to airing your next episode, so as to avert putting millions of viewers at risk.
"First, the show gave the impression that any home containing lead paint would require total removal of lead paint from all surfaces before the home could be safe. This absolutely is not true in the majority of cases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that intact lead-based paint is not a hazard, when preventive maintenance such as paint stabilization or repainting is properly done. In such cases, lead cannot 'seep through 20 layers of paint' as show host Ty Pennington claimed!"
Plus, the show's team made a big deal of scooping up several feet of soil, which, according to Doyle, is not a typically required precaution.
I contacted "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to get a reaction to this letter, but did not get a reply. The whole issue got pushed to the back of my mind until Sunday, when I saw the house with radon gas being blown up (the show was a repeat).
So I'm wondering: Is "Extreme Makeover" too extreme? Would it not be in our best interest to understand some of the alternatives to a tear-down? Wouldn't it be responsible for this show to at least mention some alternatives?
With the economy and home prices still in the toilet, most of us are not moving anytime soon. I'd like to think we can fix the things that are wrong with our homes to make them safer.
Because here's the big news: No matter what the problem with your home, chances are that the "Extreme Makeover" team is not coming to the rescue.
What do you think? Is the show too extreme? Or does it get a pass because it's "just" entertainment?
As much as I regret missing "60 Minutes," I will do so this evening in order to catch the two-hour season finale of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which begins at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. CST) on ABC.
This show is the culmination of a 50-state tour by the Extreme crew, and storm-torn southern Louisiana seems a fitting locale for that.
In this episode, a tornado-ravaged house is rebuilt for an extended family and a flooded church is rebuilt for a congregation. Read the full press release.
Here's what I'll be looking for:
• Some sense of how very hard it is to rebuild down there with the shortage of skilled workers and materials, rising crime rates and the rain, heat and humidity. I mean, you can't just run down to the corner hardware store for some extra nails because the store is boarded up and abandoned and the owners relocated to Houston or wherever.
• A sense of historic preservation. Most "Extreme Makeover" homes are simply mowed down. And if a house is totally ruined, that's fine. But with buildings from the 1700s and 1800s in southern Louisiana, too much of that would be a national tragedy.
• Ever more blatant product placement. Have you noticed how the long, lingering shots of store names and manufacturer logos have become more pronounced on this show over the years? Someday, this might be how all TV is done: You pick the products being advertised, and then build the script around those.
• And finally, the emotional payday with tears and cheers. You can't help but feel for people whose lives are changed with a new home. (I'd love to write a book about what happens to these homeowners when the cameras have left. Here's an Extreme Makeover home for sale in Atlanta.)
If you watch the show tonight, come back here and share your impressions.
To the list of extremely difficult jobs in this country, I'd like to add the task of deciding who gets a new home on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," starring Ty Pennington (pictured here). According to the network, thousands of applications are received each week.
Also among the tougher tasks one might take on in life: filling out the extremely long "Extreme Makeover" application form. Not only do you need to submit photos of the family and a compelling video of your home-related needs and desires, you also have to answer a long list of extremely personal questions. Among them:
— Does anyone in the household have a MySpace or Facebook page, blog or website of any kind? If yes, please list all the addresses.
— Do you receive state aid for foster care, disability, adoption subsidy or any other benefits of this kind? If yes, how much and for whom?
— In the event you are selected, will you be able to provide W-2s and/or your tax returns for the last three years?
— Are you current with your mortgage payments? If not, why?
— IMPORTANT: Have ANY members of your household ever been convicted of or been charged with a crime? (It could be as simple as a driving violation or as serious as armed robbery.) Be honest. We will find out sooner or later through our comprehensive background checks. If yes, please describe (include dates).
— Have you been or are you involved in a lawsuit? If so, list date of judgment or settlement and the amount.
— Do you have any debt other than your home mortgage? If yes, please describe.
— Are you friendly with your neighbors?
And there are many, many more. That neighbors item would be important. Imagine living near the ruckus involved in such a makeover operation, with no direct benefits coming to you as a neighbor.
If you're into some full disclosure and want to apply, here's the full application form in PDF.
I guess my friend and co-author Kitty Bartholomew is a visionary. For many years, long before it was eco-hip, she was finding new uses for old things that have served their purpose well and that deserve more than a slow ride to the landfill.
Old leather belts are a case in point. Consider how much service a nice leather belt has given, with countless wearings and outings until one day the belt is either worn at the buckle or too wide or narrow for current styles or simply the wrong color.
Next, consider a wooden chair that has lost its cane or leather seat to wear and old age. While the chair and the belt might ride in the same trash truck to their final resting place, it takes a creative mind to say, hey, why don't you two get together and make something new?
And so I bring you Kitty's belt chair, pictured here.
What you need is a wooden chair with or without a seat. You lay out the belts on top horizontally and vertically, then weave them together and buckle them on the bottom. The nice part about old belts is that the buckle area wears out, not the back, and this is the part that will end up on your chair seat. The smaller the chair, the easier it will be to find belts long enough.
You can find belts really cheap at yard sales and thrift shops. Plus, if you have the unpleasant task of clearing out the house of a loved one who has passed away, and you find a collection of belts, making a belt chair for your home is a way of keeping a connection with that person and his or her life.
Also, hanging on the back of this chair is a quilt made of used men's suits. Did you know that quilting is the latest craze? Combine quilting with reuse of quality fabrics and the hipness level goes off the charts. Happy Earth Day!
Yesterday we saw another segment of Kim Myles' new HGTV show "Myles of Style" and I'm wondering: Do you like it now?
So far here, we've had more negative than positive comments.
Carmen wrote: "I think the show stunk with lack of know-how and class." (Read full comment)
Keri wrote about the first episode: "Off white, silver, red, mint green, teal blue. Blech! I hope the next episode is a little better or perhaps I'm just too conservative." (Read full comment)
RLS wrote: "Maybe she 'choked' the first time out. The final product was really bizarre. I wish her better luck next time." (Read full comment)
And today, Jennifer wrote: "If I see another tacky color scheme with cheap-looking painting stripes I may just have to read several design magazines to get that bad taste out of my mouth!" (Read full comment)
You may have read the story about this Glassell Park kitchen remodel. You may have checked out details of the budget.
Now, here's the whole story in pictures, set to music. Enjoy.
And if you're doing a remodel, or will be soon, please take lots of photos so I can set them to music and we can share them with the world. E-mail me and let's discuss.
When HGTV's Angelo Surmelis (sir-meh-LEASE) was a little boy, he took to moving the furniture around in his family's Chicago apartment. At first they protested, but then they realized he had some pretty good design ideas.
So it was probably no surprise that Angelo grew up to be a professional designer with his own Los Angeles design firm, Swell Space. But who knew he would become a TV star?
He helped launch two design shows in 2003, TLC's "Clean Sweep" and Lifetime's "Merge," before signing on to be the head designer of HGTV's "24 Hour Design." And in June, he launches another HGTV show, "Rate My Space with Angelo Surmelis," based on the popular website.
I caught up with Angelo recently and asked him:
1. What's the biggest misconception people have about working with a professional designer?
That we will impose our style. Most of the designers I know aren't interested in creating the same rooms over and over again. We really want to give you the best possible space for you and your lifestyle.
2. You've described yourself as a neat freak, and far different from the clutterers you met while starring on TLC's "Clean Sweep." But is it possible to be too neat?
It is! I think too far in either direction (compulsively neat or cluttered) is the same problem just manifested in different ways. You have to live comfortably and in a real way in your home. Having a basic organizational plan and system in place gives you a realistic foundation to live comfortably. I am working on being less "neat freak" like.
3. How have you introduced "green" concepts and materials into your own design business, Swell Space?
I do it in manageable ways so that clients (in my show or private business) don't feel overwhelmed. The "green" conversation and general awareness has made it easier to talk about the products available. I introduce clients to the green options in almost every aspect of design that feels appropriate for our overall design plan and budget...from construction materials to wallpaper and paint. I am so excited about all the new green, gorgeous products that seem to be popping up every week. Also, finding ways to reuse materials during demo and construction is an easier conversation to have sometimes since it can mean saving some money.
4. You do design work all over the country. How are people in Los Angeles and Southern California different from people in other parts of the country? Or are they?
They aren't. People all over the country (and world) have the same needs and wants...to have a beautifully designed, comfortable, well functioning home. The slight difference, we're a bit more eager to try new things (materials, design concepts) in Los Angeles.
5. Describe what we can expect to see in your new show, "Rate My Space with Angelo Surmelis" this summer.
The viewers' having a voice about design. The most exciting thing is that on this show we get to see what HGTV viewers across the country have tried, how they have been inspired by other designs and they get to have an exchange with the homeowner's they have inspired. It's what the essence of design is all about for me, inspiration and how each of us interpret it.
The Human Footprint will be on the National Geographic Channel on Sunday at 9 p.m.
The subtitle is: Everything you eat. Everything you drink. Everything you use. Your entire life's consumption in one place at one time.
The website includes these 10 ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Here's my status and my goals. Post your own report below:
1. Make your home energy efficient
My status: We use nearly all compact fluorescent lights and LEDs. Our refrigerator is Energy Star. Our home is less than 2,000 square feet. But our insulation sucks. My goals: We need new windows and will get the most energy-efficient windows we can afford.
2. Drive less.
My status: I drive about 10,000 miles a year and work mostly from home. My goals: To run more errands in one outing.
3. Buy the highest gas mileage car for your needs.
My status: My 2007 Rabbit only gets about 25 mph. I shoulda got a Prius. My goals: When it's time to replace this car, I'll get something radically energy-efficient.
4. Buy energy-efficient appliances.
My status: We have an Energy Star refrigerator, but we could have gotten one even more efficient. Our washer and dryer are not Energy Star. At the time we bought them, we were thinking only of price. My goals: Anytime I buy an appliance in the future, my goal is to buy the most efficient appliance possible. I want a tankless water heater, but my husband wants a tank water heater. He will probably win this one.
5. Recycle.
My status: We recycle all paper, aluminum and plastic. My goals: To reject goods I might buy, on account of the excess packaging, like vegetables at Trader Joes.
6. Replace your light bulbs with CFLs.
My status: Done My goals: Get more LED lights.
7. Buy local food.
My status: Not doing so good on this one. My goals: To get to the local organic garden each Friday to buy vegetables.
8. Eat less red meat.
My status: Done. Been vegetarian for many years. My goals: Keep eating like I'm eating. Awesome.
9. Lower your water heater temperature from 140 degrees F to 120 degrees F.
My status: Have to look into this. My goals: To get a solar water heater system.
10. Buy carbon offsets for the rest and make yourself “carbon neutral.”
My status: I'm not convinced this is legitimate. My goals: To find out more about this.
Click below to take the survey and let us know your own status and goals.
Want a makeover from HGTV "Design Star" winner Kim Myles, who charmed viewers with her personality and imaginative spin on design? Now, Kim's eager to roll up her sleeves and bring her brand of affordable sophistication to fans across the country. If you could use a luxurious room makeover and live in the Los Angeles area, apply to be on Kim's new show at www.pietown.tv.
'Designed to Sell'
Need help sprucing up a house before you sell it? The producers of HGTV's "Designed to Sell" series are looking for homeowners and Realtors in the Los Angeles area who have a house for sale that could benefit from some cosmetic changes. If your house is chosen, the show will provide $2,000 worth of materials and a team of real estate, design, and home-improvement experts to help turn your tired home into an Open House showpiece. Apply online at www.pietown.tv.
'Trading Spaces'
Do you have a rival who you’d like to trade spaces with in the hopes of resolving your issues? Do you have a problem that you want to try to resolve through patience, power tools and fun? "Trading Spaces" and returning host Paige Davis are looking for homeowners with rooms that need a redo and relationships in need of serious repair. The format is: two rooms, two days, $1,000 dollars per room, and all your favorite designers. To apply or to nominate someone you know, e-mail: tradingspacescasting@gmail.com.
'Broken Homes'
Is your home in a bad state of repair? Are you suffering from the results of a bad building contractor? Has your house been damaged by an accident like fire or flooding? Did you take on a big home improvement projects that failed? Or do you have infestation, subsidence or bad electrics which should have been picked up by a home inspection? If the answer is yes to any of the above and you would be interested in appearing in an upcoming TLC show, apply here.
'Moving Up'
Casting is now underway for a new season of "Moving Up" with Doug Wilson. Need Doug's eye for design? Planning to move soon and need some professional advice? To be on the next season of "Moving Up," apply here.
'Property Ladder'
Are you a real estate flipper or rehabber who's flipped fewer than three properties? Do you want to learn how to slash your budget and up your profit? Looking to make your flip a success? Go to www.propertyladder.tv for information on how to take part in the next season of "Property Ladder" with Kirsten Kemp.
If you don't have a hot date for Saturday night, you can still get a little dating action with the premier of "Date My House" on the Learning Channel.
It's hosted by Bob Guiney of "The Bachelor" fame, with help from Los Angeles interior designer Nadia Geller.
I just watched a sneak preview of the first show, and here's what happens:
A couple are having a tough time selling their '50s Southern California tract house. It's been on the market for six months and there are no offers. And they are desperate to sell and move to a bigger house so they can have another baby.
This is where Bob and Nadia come in. They stage the once-cluttered house in a whirlwind 24 hours, hold a speed-dating party for interested house hunters, then Bob decides on one lucky couple who will get to spend the night in the house and decide if it's for them.
Los Angeles resident Carter Oosterhouse is the “green face” of HGTV. He’s a former "Trading Spaces" star and the host of "Carter Can" (which introduces a green element into every episode). Carter is launching a new design show for the network called "Red, Hot & Green." Plus, Carter is hosting HGTV's Green Home Giveaway special on April 22.
Here are 5 Questions 4 Carter:
1. How did you get interested in green living?
When I was growing up in Michigan, my mom and dad were very big into nutrition and wellness. They really instilled the value of taking care of oneself. Naturally, this translated into a respect for the environment. My parents were “green” before it was the thing to do or even called that.
2. How have you gone green in your own home?
I've done simple things like weatherproofing, as well as using low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints. I've also turned the yard into a hardscape and brought in plants indigenous to the area.
3. Why are some people resistant to green building?
I think it’s hard for people to accept something that they don't completely understand. Since using green products is not something that's fully developed, people can be a little apprehensive about jumping on the bandwagon. I get it. Going all green at one time is a bit daunting and perhaps not very practical. My message on “Carter Can” to people is it’s OK to go one step at a time – do whatever works for them. It’s a lifestyle.
4. What's the first thing someone should do to go green at home?
The first thing that people should do is to seal up their home with weather stripping, use no or low VOC paints. Also they can save on energy costs simply by using CFL's and Energy Star appliances.
5. What is your new show, "Red, Hot & Green," going to be about?
Premiering in June on HGTV, “Red, Hot & Green” is bringing in amazing design that people will be attracted to, but green materials will be the foundation of our renovation. Our whole idea is not to scare people away, but show them that you don't have to sacrifice beautiful design when using green products.
For Kim Myles fans who were put off by what one commenter here called a “bizarre” color scheme during HGTV’s “Myles of Style” show on Sunday, tonight's presentation may have been her vindication.
The boutique hotel décor of the reveal was stunning with a richly hued wall of puddling drapes and a three-toned upholstered headboard. (Click photo to enlarge.)
It turns out Sunday’s show was a “sneak peek,” and tonight's was the real premiere. The homeowners, a couple named Buddy and Tamara, had filled their bedroom with enormous, chunky wood furniture that stuffed the room. The walls were peach-colored, and the whole thing just wasn’t working.
Kim’s idea was for a "permanent honeymoon hotel retreat." The walls were re-painted “cool khaki” and a new headboard was made from panels of plywood covered with brocade fabric in three luscious colors. Two sections of wall were painted metallic gold, and small shelves held a dozen red candles. “Metallics are your friends,” Kim said, “they’re going to bounce light around.”
And a final touch: Buddy covered two accent tables with sheets of glass tile. Amazing. I need to do that, or find ways to use glass tiles other than a backsplash because, frankly, how many backsplashes does one have in a house?
In the end, the whole room came off like a $500-a-night hotel room (not that I’ve ever stayed in one).
A few minor quibbles: What happened to the original furniture? It looked like it cost a few bucks. Did they sell it? Also, who’s going to light a few dozen candles on a regular basis, or ever? I have two wall hangings with three candles each, and I think I’ve lit all six about three times.
If you saw the sneak peek Sunday and the premier Thursday, did Kim vindicate herself?
Note to HGTV: I'd love if you'd include "before" photos on your website so we can more fully appreciate these transformations.
This was supposed to be a review of the new HGTV show "Myles of Style," hosted by Kim Myles, who won the Design Star 2 competition and was rewarded with her own show.
I say this was "supposed" to be a review because I missed the premiere Sunday night. It seems my satellite TV service is on Eastern Standard Time while I, of course, am on Pacific Standard Time. So I missed it.
I'm bummed about it because the show promised low-cost design ideas. And I'm into that.
Even though I haven't seen the show I already like it, mainly because the host does not look like a super model. Yippee!
Anyone catch the premiere?
UPDATE: Here's a review of the show and an interview with Kim Myles by Rick Ellis on All Your TV.
You'd hardly know there was a housing crisis by watching reality home shows. The properties on these shows are still getting bought, sold, flipped, updated and dated (as in TLC's new show "Date My House").
According to HGTV, nine of its top 10 series deal with buying and selling homes, including "House Hunters," "My First Place," "Hidden Potential," "Buy Me" and "Designed to Sell." This is a departure from the craft and garden shows that populated HGTV's early years.
And the property shows increasingly reflect market reality.
It's now a buyer's market, thus the focus on "dating" a house or sleeping on it, the theme of another new show. Remember back when houses got multiple offers within the first hour? Back then, you'd barely have time to shake a home's hand, much less spend a night with it.
In my opinion, the house-flipping shows (which are still popular) should reveal more reality, as in: How much did the house sell for after the upgrade? In the past, I've felt ripped off when, at the end of a flipping show, the house didn't sell. What's the point of the show if we don't see the outcome? Did they lose money? Or make money? Or was it a wash? What were commission and closing costs?
"Flip That House" will become more reflective of the economy, said Brant Pinvidic, TLC's senior vice president of programming. Not every "flipper" gets rich quick. The show will make sure every time at the end to clearly outline how each investor did, he said.
And I'm sure the design shows will be even more budget-minded with the down economy. I'll be interested to see Kim Myles's new show, "Myles of Style," which premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. on HGTV. (Could there a more difficult time for a new show to premiere?)
"Myles of Style" comes with the tagline: No budget? No problem. It's in the bag.
I'll try to catch it Sunday. And you do the same. Then, let's return here and compare notes.
"It's all about spending quality time and getting to know your investment before taking the big plunge. After all, you wouldn't get married after a speed date, would you?"
If this show also does well, I have some suggestions for more new shows:
If you live in Los Angeles or the surrounding areas, and you are what the producers refer to as a "cute, outgoing and fun female aged 21 to 40," you might be interested in this casting call, which I heard about from casting associate Lolly Arpaci:
Casting call for a hip home makeover show: Dress My Nest, season 3, on Style Network with designer Thom Filicia (of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame).
Are you living in a design catastrophe?
Are you completely clueless when it comes to home décor?
Is your place too embarrassing to invite people over?
Did your do-it-yourself projects make you wish you didn't?
If you answered "yes" to these questions and you are a cute, outgoing and fun female aged 21 to 40 in the Los Angeles area, and think you deserve an upscale room makeover worth $10,000 or more, then e-mail dressmynest2@yahoo.com and put Lolly in the subject line.
Attach a photo of yourself, and explain why you would make a great candidate.
P.S.: To check out the last season of Dress My Nest, click here.
Tonight on Discovery Channel, the Smash Lab team of maverick engineers attempts to construct an earthquake-proof house. Yeah, I'm interested. We lost some walls in the 1971 Sylmar quake, and some bookcases in the 1994 Northridge quake.
The idea comes from inside the hold of an aircraft, where a system is used to move cargo with almost zero friction. By building an artificial earthquake machine, the Discovery's Smash Lab team tests whether this anti-shake airplane technology can be used to isolate a house from an earthquake's tremors.
The show airs tonight at 10 p.m. Check out this YouTube video:
This could be hilarious. A new show, "Hollywood Residential," premieres on the Starz channel tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
It's a semi-scripted spoof (think "Curb Your Enthusiasm") that skewers all parties equally: home improvement shows, struggling actors-turned-contractors, celebrities wanting to get their houses worked on for free (trying to get something, anything for free). Guest stars, playing themselves, include Jamie Kennedy, Chris Kattan, Paula Abdul, Carmen Electra and Tom Arnold.
But a warning: This show is quite risqué, even raunchy, and only for mature audiences not easily offended by this sort of thing. A bit of dialogue:
Producer Cheryl Hines: "It's hard to find a contractor in L.A. . . . who doesn't steal your underwear."
"Contractor to the Stars" Tony King: "Did you say something about me stealing your underwear? You never said that was a problem before."
At the suggestion of a reader, I took a closer look at "Holmes on Homes," the home-fix-it program that revolves around beefy master builder Mike Holmes as he fixes bad workmanship done by other contractors. He's not riding a white horse, but he could be.
While there’s a lot to like about the "Discovery Home" show, I can’t get past what I see as its biggest weakness: the victim attitude of the long-suffering homeowners who were screwed over by prior contractors and the almost total lack of accountability on the homeowners’ parts for bringing those scoundrels into their homes in the first place.
Did they check references? Check for licenses? Visit past jobs? Who knows?
But first the positives. The guy is easy to look at, no doubt about it, with his bulging muscles set off by a sleeveless undershirt and overalls. (You can even purchase some of those overalls and a cheesecake calendar.) This hunk’s also got his softer side with an earring and a gold chain. And he’s Canadian, so when he says “out” it comes off as “oat.” You’ve got to love that.
And he’s really a good guy. He a rescuer, after all. And he gets sincerely angry when observing the messes prior workers have left. Shining his flashlight on the sins of others –- bad plumbing, dangerous electrical work, crumbling foundations -- he says things like “I want to kick someone’s [rear end] right now,” and “Oh, give me a break,” and “How do you do this to a family?”
Once he gets past his rage, he and his crew get to work repairing the house. He’s a savior.
Now you can also see the gorgeous home, which rose from the ground after the 2003 Grand Prix Fire, as seen on MSNBC with weatherman Fritz Coleman. Check this out:
Pie Town Productions is currently casting fun and energetic homeowners for an exciting new HGTV series, called Rate My Space.
Rate My Space is based on a popular online community for do-it-yourself home designers, on www.hgtv.com. It’s a website where people go to share photos of the rooms they’ve designed with their peers across the country. Based on a five-star rating system, users of the site assign a star rating for each room posted. While some people upload their pictures to show off their design prowess, others are looking for feedback on ways they can improve their design plan.
To be a candidate for the show you must have attempted a specific design style that you can put a name to (i.e. Traditional, Classic, Tuscan, Moroccan, Shabby Chic, etc) However, if you don’t know what your style is but have tried to implement a new look into your dcor, you are still eligible to apply.
Our designer has a significant makeover budget, plus a team of carpenters to advance the style direction that you are ALREADY heading in, NOT to change it to something else.
If selected for the show we will need approximately two weeks to do the makeover. During this time we will need access to your home for any construction, painting, and design work. During this two week period we ask that you put aside five to six days of your time for shooting purposes.
If you are interested, please contact us at the number and email listed below. We look forward to hearing from you!
Email pictures of yourself and the space to: ratemyspace@pietown.tv or call (818) 255-9158.
Be sure to include your name and contact information.
The producer says they have 26 episodes to book, and production begins in January. If your schedule is tough, they can book you as far in advance as Spring 2008.
So the Hollywood writers' strike is on and we've all to do our part,fill in the gap, step up to the plate, pull up our bootstraps and all the other clichés that pop up when there are no real writers on the job.
Some of us on the Pardon Our Dust Blog have come up with ideas for new home shows and I'd like to know:
Which of these potential shows would you be most likely to watch?
The contenders are (in order of submission):
• Contractors' Challenge: This show would be like Designers' Challenge, but with contractors. I mean, it's finding a contractor that is so difficult, right? During the show, the homeowners start out with some ideas for the remodel they'd like to do, or complete plans and get presentations from three contractors on how each company would go about creating that remodel. The homeowners choose the contractor they like best and who is most competent, and we follow along to see how the job goes. (KPR)
• Cheapskate Remodeling: In this show, homeowners try to do their remodels for the very least amount of money possible. They might have a "cheapskate coach" to help them find salvaged, discontinued, slightly damaged and free items from EBay, Craigslist, the Recycler and the side of the road to put together their remodel. Based on what I've discovered from reporting on remodeling for 17 years, I believe this show would be a monumental hit! (KPR)
• Dueling Properties: Take two comparable stale home or condo listings in the same, or similar, neighborhoods that just aren’t selling. Bring in two top-gun Realtors with a $5,000 budget and a contractor. Each implements their renovation advice to spruce up the property and make it more appealing. Follow the agents through dealing with the client, marketing, open houses, sales style, and negotiations. See who sells the home first. It's “Designed to Sell” meets “Top Agents.” (David Kean)
• Style Clone: Why just copy a designer room with cheap knock-offs. With the right shopping skills you can copy the look and the quality on a budget. Don’t just copy the fabulous Scalamandre chair fabric; buy the same fabric on EBay. Using Internet shopping and auctions, estate sales, resale furniture stores give someone a “real” high-end designer room at a fantastic price. (David Kean)
• Lifestyles of the Rich and Decorated: Remember Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous? Why can’t we have that type of show again? I want to see some super high-end, celebrity and top designer, Mario Buatta & Juan Pablo Molyneux-level designer rooms. (David Kean)
• Fright House of Interior Design: This is not really a series idea. I could be a fun charity event and 1-hr special. “Fright House of Interior Design”. Invite several of the country’s top interior designers to design the worst room using passé design trends of the past 5 decades. The rooms need to be bad, but they actually draw you in, like Jerry Springer. Funny, hideous and thought provoking. (David Kean)
• Flipper Flops: I've seen a lot of tasteless "upgrades" put into houses looking for a quick sell. how many faux Louis XIV dressers converted into bathroom vanities does this world need? How about something showing the tasteless, personality-void, cookie-cutter remodeling excesses of the last few years? Each episode could be dedicated to a particular aspect -- bathrooms, flooring, kitchens... (tarbubble)
TV and film writers may decide to strike, and if they do, I'd like to do my part by coming up with ideas for new home shows.
Here are new home shows I'd like to see:
• Contractors' Challenge: This show would be like Designers' Challenge, but with contractors. I mean, it's finding a contractor that is so difficult, right? During the show, the homeowners start out with some ideas for the remodel they'd like to do, or complete plans, and get presentations from three contractors on how each company would go about creating that remodel. The homeowners choose the contractor they like best and who is most competent, and we follow along to see how the job goes.
• Cheapskate Remodeling: In this show, homeowners try to do their remodels for the very least amount of money possible. They might have a "cheapskate coach" to help them find salvaged, discontinued, slightly damaged and free items from Ebay, Craigslist, the Recycler and the side of the road to put together their remodel. Based on what I've discovered from reporting on remodeling for 17 years, I believe this show would be a monumental hit!
Any more ideas? What new home show would you like to see?
HGTV's "Over Your Head" with host Eric Stromer is again looking for Southern California homeowners who've abandoned their remodeling projects and need expert help to finish the job!
Did you truly believe you could work magic with a hammer and a drill — but now your unfinished bathroom or patio looks like a war zone?
Don't throw in the wrench — your luck may be about to change, as "Over Your Head" is ready to start shooting new episodes.
If you, or someone you know, is in too deep, we'd like to hear from you.
You must be 18 or older to apply for the show. The show producers want to see digital photos of you (my advice: try to look cute), your project before you started and your project as it looks now. The trick, I think, is for you to be both enthusiastic and bubbly while at the same time beaten down and discouraged. And this has to be a mess you've gotten into yourself, not with a contractor's help.
Take Home Handyman (TLC), Dream House (HGTV), What's With That House? (HGTV), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC), Flipping Out (Bravo), Toolbelt Diva (DIY), House Hunters (HGTV), Bought and Sold (HGTV), Designed to Sell (HGTV), Freestyle (HGTV), How Clean Is Your House? (BBC America), This Old House (PBS and DIY), Curb Appeal (HGTV), Design Star (HGTV), Divine Design (HGTV), Flip This House (A&E), and Trading Spaces (TLC).
Do you agree?
My pet peeve: Most property flipping shows do not factor in the real estate agent's commission, or loan costs, or points, or carrying costs. So the final tally that shows their amazing profit is a bit bogus. Also, when a show is all about how much a house is worth, I'd like to see a follow-up segment to determine if the homeowners were in fact able to sell or refinance the house based on that value. And these shows that stage homes to sell? Sometimes I'll notice $20,000 in new furniture showing up in the house with no mention in the stated budget. Where did all those expensive pieces come from? A little more financial reality in these reality shows would be nice, thank you very much.
I quite enjoyed watching Jeff Lewis, the narcissistic host of Bravo's new home improvement show, Flipping Out. Sure, he's obsessive compulsive. And self-important. And a jerk. But I felt for the guy. He's going to therapy for goodness sake. He does scream therapy. He's trying! That's how I think. But I've lived in California my whole life.
• "This guy is a TWIT. . . . He seriously embodies EVERYTHING that is wrong with California. Me, me, me, blah, blah, blah."
• "This guy does not have one ounce of likeability. He is just rude . . . and inconsiderate."
• "He makes a mockery about everything that is good about real estate investing and house flipping. The very idea that he has some kind of a pagan 'prayer' spoken at a home is blasphemous!"
OK, so I don't get it. All this guy's habits sound normal to me. I've been to house blessings. I've had therapists. I encounter self-centered people all the time.
Watch the first episode online and tell me: If I find this guy tolerable, even sympathetic, have I lived in California too long?
Bravo's new show, Flipping Out, will fill in the gap. The show premieres Tuesday and "follows the antics of one of Los Angeles' most colorful real estate speculators, Jeff Lewis," the website says. "It takes a special kind of personality to handle flipping six multimillion-dollar houses at one time, but Lewis, an obsessive-compulsive successful businessman, pulls it off and turns a six-figure profit on every property."
He has a wacky team to help him, including an assistant/actress/rapper who does voiceovers, his former boyfriend, and a cadre of therapists and spiritual advisors. And remember: no giggling during the house blessing! Yup, only in L.A.
To get tuned up for the new show, take the flipping IQ test. Here's the first question:
Q: You just purchased a small one-bedroom Mid-century-modern house in Malibu for $900,000. Great location, but it needs some work to transform it into a luxury home for profit. You have $500,000 to spend. Where do you start with the renovations?
Take the test and watch the first episode to see how this guy "found a business that validates and celebrates" his OCD. Warning: It's easy to get sick of this guy who states that "you either live like me or want to live like me." Uh, not. But the show is addictive. And that's an L.A. kind of thing.
Comments? Thoughts? Send your reviews on other home shows to podblog@aol.com.
You know those great big houses the team from the ABC series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" builds for deserving families?
