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Post by dagwood on Jan 25, 2024 20:43:31 GMT
Home Town: The last two episodes have been a great improvement over the first one this season. Last week, an artist from Seattle with a heathy budget (750k) wanted an “unusual” home with plenty of room for his art collection, and while both houses had good qualities and I kinda liked what Erin wanted to do with the home that wasn’t picked, the home that he ended up with turned out spectacular. This week, Erin and Ben tackled a renovation at their old alma mater, Jones College. Two of their friends have come back to Laurel to work at the college, and the school wanted to do a renovation of The Old President’s Home (one of the oldest buildings on campus that has been converted into faculty housing) to make it more palatable for them as well as future faculty that might live there. The school set the reno budget to 150k. The building was formerly where home economic classes used to be taught, and the goal was to make it look more like a home and less “institutional.” It also needed to have public access to a bathroom. Erin and Ben got lot of professionals that attended Jones in the past to work on the house, and even hired an architecture student as well. The couple also wanted a music room, so they tore down walls between a pantry, laundry room, and two smaller rooms to create that. The dining room was already huge, so Ben built two tables that could lock together that could either sit 12 or 24 people, and it had a sizable den (so students/friends could gather) as well. The kitchen had a beautiful farmhouse feel with a huge sink. The backsplash in the kitchen was gorgeous; it was an interesting scalloped shape with veining throughout that looked like marble. The new laundry room was in the back of the house with an additional pantry. In addition, they also renovated one of the bedrooms into a nursery. Overall, it was a great renovation. I really enjoyed the one at their alma mater. Her story about painting the lake with Ben there and she was so nervous because she had a huge crush just got me in the feels. The more I watch them, the more I really like them. I hope all the fame doesn't go to their heads like it does some.
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Post by Kao on Jan 25, 2024 23:47:31 GMT
Discover+ has this thing where they will put old shows that aired a long time ago from their vault on their "Featured" section to get a new audience and I stumbled across The White Room Challenge which is a fan favorite challenge from Design Star that they decided to make a one season show about, and it's absolutely delightful. In each episode four designers are given a theme, budget, and a carpenter to help with the design (but they can't give you design help or instruct them in any way, they are there to follow the contestant's instructions). A lot of the time they are working with unconventional materials to make the rooms work (one episode had the designers creating a room for a Sweet Sixteen party using materials from an Army Navy Surplus store) and the results are often stunning! I highly recommend it if you want to watch something about interior design that is also creative and fun.
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Post by waywyrd on Jan 31, 2024 13:23:32 GMT
Anybody watching Battle on the Mountain? I'm not super familiar with any of the mentors, but I do like the team that has won the first two challenges. This season seems a little extra with the scripted drama, but I'll keep watching.
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Post by Kao on Jan 31, 2024 14:33:29 GMT
No, I saw the previews and was like "This is a little bit too rustic for me" lol.
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Post by Bearcata on Jan 31, 2024 17:34:50 GMT
Anybody watching Battle on the Mountain? I'm not super familiar with any of the mentors, but I do like the team that has won the first two challenges. This season seems a little extra with the scripted drama, but I'll keep watching. I watched the first two episodes and I am starting to really dislike these types of competition shows. I would hate to be the buyer ... no way is there any type of quality control. In fact I am starting to actively dislike this show.
Episode one was the kitchen. HATED the winner. HATED the design. In my humble opinion that winning kitchen was in the words of many a House Hunter, a total gut job.
The one kitchen with that awful spiral stair case, needed some massive structural engineering and they are not going to do it. I did like their kitchen best.
Episode two the master suites. The awful loft in the master bedroom. Just NO. The one micro closet if you are overweight you cannot fit in was terrible (Team Wolf). Kim Myles team doing a bathroom expansion in a peaked room master bedroom and one hanging rod for a closet AAAAAH! Kim's team needed several weeks and a dormer on either side of that master bedroom to make it livable on top of that no closet or drawer space to put your clothes, really. Just NO.
I have heard the judges talk about the cabins being rustic and that some of the drywall took away from that. OK. These cabins all run around $600,000 with the intent I am sure of doing a crappy $100,000 renovation and pricing it out at $1,000,000 to sell.
These ski mountain cabins are not Maine Cabin Master specials. I want drywall, I want modern, I want space, I want views, I don't give two figs about rustic splintered wood paneling. The judges are smoking too much weed.
The series, the stupid judging, the horrible esthetics of some of the renovations make me want to vomit. Just YUCK!
If you watch mentor Kim Wolfe's show Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? and see her modern esthetic and use of materials you would understand my contempt for this series.
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Post by nennie on Jan 31, 2024 20:03:02 GMT
I don't like Battle on the Mountain. These type of shows aren't my thing.
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Post by Bearcata on Jan 31, 2024 20:43:38 GMT
I don't like Battle on the Mountain. These type of shows aren't my thing. When they first started them I liked them but the builds were on smaller houses that and it seemed reasonable to make the renovations they needed to make but they have gotten ridiculous.
When the houses got bigger and bigger that's what did it for me. Last years Colorado build was just so tasteless for me and insulting to so much of the population that simply cannot afford those house prices.
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Post by Bearcata on Jan 31, 2024 20:45:48 GMT
Rock the Block is rearing to return as the HGTV favorite just wrapped filming on its fifth season, set to premiere in March 2024. In anticipation of the show’s return to TV, host Ty Pennington is getting candid about the process of putting the latest chapter together on social media, opening up on Instagram. According to a new photo and caption shared by Pennington, the process was anything but easy. Seeing four teams competing to renovate waterside homes in Treasure Island, Florida, Pennington will be joined onscreen for by Renovation Island‘s Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, Bargain Block‘s Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, Unsellable Houses‘ Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis, and Fix My Flip‘s Page Turner and Mitch Glew for Rock the Block‘s fifth season.
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Post by Bearcata on Jan 31, 2024 20:53:10 GMT
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 1, 2024 0:57:45 GMT
I saw that news article about Tarek earlier and thought the same thing: he's just pimping his new book out. Whatever, Tarek.
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Post by Eastcoastmom on Feb 1, 2024 1:24:18 GMT
Anyone watching Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? The married couple work with homeowners in San Antonio. I've only seen a few episodes, but the budgets they quote seem to be on the high side for the projects they undertake. 🤷
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Post by nennie on Feb 1, 2024 2:28:20 GMT
Anyone watching Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? The married couple work with homeowners in San Antonio. I've only seen a few episodes, but the budgets they quote seem to be on the high side for the projects they undertake. 🤷 I watch parts of this show and their estimates do seem high. They like all the other designers have parts I like and parts I don't. I always wonder why she is the one doing all the driving and not him.
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Post by Kao on Feb 1, 2024 14:43:39 GMT
Oh my goodness. That Mountain show sounds like a hot mess, glad I passed on it. I think I'll check out "Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?" instead.
Glad to hear "Rock the Block" is coming back, but I hope they aren't renovating McMansions like last time, because that was offputting.
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 1, 2024 15:45:18 GMT
Oh my goodness. That Mountain show sounds like a hot mess, glad I passed on it. I think I'll check out "Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?" instead. Glad to hear "Rock the Block" is coming back, but I hope they aren't renovating McMansions like last time, because that was offputting. I don't particularly like the Kim Wolf the host of WTHDIBTH and their budgets are very high, but the reveals are nice.
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 7, 2024 13:05:32 GMT
Battle on the Mountain - I thought ALL the living room redos were lacking, to be honest. And some of the workmanship is just embarrassing. I don't know why I'm watching this show.
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 8, 2024 4:37:34 GMT
Battle on the Mountain - I thought ALL the living room redos were lacking, to be honest. And some of the workmanship is just embarrassing. I don't know why I'm watching this show. I watched ... it was horrible.
I am fast forwarding a lot.
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Post by Kao on Feb 16, 2024 22:35:30 GMT
Home Town: There wasn’t a new episode this week, which was weird. I think the first episode was a fluke because every episode afterwards has been great; the last two episodes even moreso.
Episode 4: Everything Can Be Restored The client in this episode was a woman who had made some bad life choices, and the end result was losing everything…including her children. She connected with a lady who has been featured on a previous episode of Home Town who runs a non-profit to help people going through hard times, and with her help she was completely able to turn her life around, get gainful employment, and get custody of her children again. I loved this episode because I believe in redemption and it never being too late to course correct, as long as one puts in the time and effort to be a better person and is sincere. She was able to get a $150k loan for a house, and after looking around found a cute older one for 30k. Ben and Erin worked their usual magic and created a beautiful home for her and her sons with a big front porch and a lovely laundry room. The highlight was the renovation of the upstairs space into a suite for her son that was two rooms; a huge bedroom area and a separate music room complete with soundproofing. A lot of volunteered time and donated objects (including a keyboard for the son) went into this Reno, and Ben created a beautiful wooden case for the keyboard that made the son’s eyes light up when he saw it. The family was genuinely happy when they saw their beautiful new home, and overall this episode was very heartwarming.
Episode 5: From Show Goats to Show Stopper: A longtime Laurel couple purchased a historic building downtown, and while the downstairs housed their businesses, the upper level was 5000ft of open space that they wanted to convert into a loft residence. Their house sold immediately when they put it on the market, so the couple was staying at her dad’s show goat farm temporarily while the reno was happening. The space was like a giant ballroom with 16ft ceilings, huge windows, and a stage area in the middle (which the owners wanted to keep as a music room) so Ben and Erin had their hands full with this reno to make it look warm and livable.
The floors were in amazing shape, so they simply refinished them. A nice chunk of the 350k budget went towards utilities (HVAC, lighting, etc) and creating different sections in the space. They wanted a big kitchen for meals with visiting family members, so Erin designed a 16 foot island and a huge kitchen in the main area, and there was a nice space between the windows in the middle of the room for a fireplace. A huge pantry, walk-in closet, and laundry room completed the main area. They converted the former pool hall area into the master bedroom, and the old kitchen into a beautiful, luxurious looking master bath with a double shower, and Erin saved money by using porcelain tiles that looked like Carrera marble. Double sinks with a golden inlay pattern completed the look. Everything had to be bigger because of the scale of the rooms, and Ben (with the help of an upholsterer) made 2 beautiful 8 foot sofas for the living area. A new skylight let in much needed light, along with a giant blown glass light fixture (made locally) for the kitchen area. A beautiful sepia toned mural was installed on the back wall of the stage, and crown moldings and a huge chandelier completed the look. The end result was very classy, elegant, and homey as opposed to industrial. If you’re a fan of alternative living spaces I highly recommend this episode!
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 17, 2024 3:17:53 GMT
Home Town: There wasn’t a new episode this week, which was weird. I think the first episode was a fluke because every episode afterwards has been great; the last two episodes even moreso. Episode 4: Everything Can Be Restored The client in this episode was a woman who had made some bad life choices, and the end result was losing everything…including her children. She connected with a lady who has been featured on a previous episode of Home Town who runs a non-profit to help people going through hard times, and with her help she was completely able to turn her life around, get gainful employment, and get custody of her children again. I loved this episode because I believe in redemption and it never being too late to course correct, as long as one puts in the time and effort to be a better person and is sincere. She was able to get a $150k loan for a house, and after looking around found a cute older one for 30k. Ben and Erin worked their usual magic and created a beautiful home for her and her sons with a big front porch and a lovely laundry room. The highlight was the renovation of the upstairs space into a suite for her son that was two rooms; a huge bedroom area and a separate music room complete with soundproofing. A lot of volunteered time and donated objects (including a keyboard for the son) went into this Reno, and Ben created a beautiful wooden case for the keyboard that made the son’s eyes light up when he saw it. The family was genuinely happy when they saw their beautiful new home, and overall this episode was very heartwarming. Episode 5: From Show Goats to Show Stopper: A longtime Laurel couple purchased a historic building downtown, and while the downstairs housed their businesses, the upper level was 5000ft of open space that they wanted to convert into a loft residence. Their house sold immediately when they put it on the market, so the couple was staying at her dad’s show goat farm temporarily while the reno was happening. The space was like a giant ballroom with 16ft ceilings, huge windows, and a stage area in the middle (which the owners wanted to keep as a music room) so Ben and Erin had their hands full with this reno to make it look warm and livable. The floors were in amazing shape, so they simply refinished them. A nice chunk of the 350k budget went towards utilities (HVAC, lighting, etc) and creating different sections in the space. They wanted a big kitchen for meals with visiting family members, so Erin designed a 16 foot island and a huge kitchen in the main area, and there was a nice space between the windows in the middle of the room for a fireplace. A huge pantry, walk-in closet, and laundry room completed the main area. They converted the former pool hall area into the master bedroom, and the old kitchen into a beautiful, luxurious looking master bath with a double shower, and Erin saved money by using porcelain tiles that looked like Carrera marble. Double sinks with a golden inlay pattern completed the look. Everything had to be bigger because of the scale of the rooms, and Ben (with the help of an upholsterer) made 2 beautiful 8 foot sofas for the living area. A new skylight let in much needed light, along with a giant blown glass light fixture (made locally) for the kitchen area. A beautiful sepia toned mural was installed on the back wall of the stage, and crown moldings and a huge chandelier completed the look. The end result was very classy, elegant, and homey as opposed to industrial. If you’re a fan of alternative living spaces I highly recommend this episode! I watched the Goats one. Didn't the couple say they had 4 children? In that 5000 sq ft space there were only two bedrooms, the master suite and a guest bedroom. Were there supposed to be other bedrooms????
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Post by Kao on Feb 17, 2024 4:09:09 GMT
I wondered the same thing, but when they showed the family gathering at the end the "kids" were adults. I think they were empty nesters who just liked a lot of space. I agree with you though; with 5000 sq feet you should have more than 2 bedrooms, but I've seen NYC lofts with like 3000+ sq ft with only one bedroom, so it's not unheard of. Personally, I would want at least 3 nice size bedrooms with a space that size.
I fell in love with those inlay sinks in the bathroom and wondered where Erin found them. For such a small town they have access to some really nice things.
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 17, 2024 15:45:06 GMT
I wondered the same thing, but when they showed the family gathering at the end the "kids" were adults. I think they were empty nesters who just liked a lot of space. I agree with you though; with 5000 sq feet you should have more than 2 bedrooms, but I've seen NYC lofts with like 3000+ sq ft with only one bedroom, so it's not unheard of. Personally, I would want at least 3 nice size bedrooms with a space that size. I fell in love with those inlay sinks in the bathroom and wondered where Erin found them. For such a small town they have access to some really nice things.I would have had a guest suite put in so the kids and their families could stay and to make it three bedrooms.
As a designer and being on HGTV I am sure Erin gets lots of designer only catalogs and access to designer websites and such.
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 20, 2024 13:52:57 GMT
Battle on the Mountain - At this point I'm honestly just watching to laugh at it. What was with the awful paint colors for the bonus rooms? Like, dead salmon and baby poo brown. They must have gotten that mess on the discount mistint paint rack at Home Depot. I won't even discuss the stupid loft bed that could only be accessed by climbing a rock wall setup. Fortunately next week is the finale.
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 20, 2024 17:27:11 GMT
Battle on the Mountain - At this point I'm honestly just watching to laugh at it. What was with the awful paint colors for the bonus rooms? Like, dead salmon and baby poo brown. They must have gotten that mess on the discount mistint paint rack at Home Depot. I won't even discuss the stupid loft bed that could only be accessed by climbing a rock wall setup. Fortunately next week is the finale. I quit after the master bedrooms. You have a stronger stomach for this train wreck than I do.
Baby Poo paint?
Loft bed access by rock wall? What did the judges say???
Sarah Richardson bought a ski chalet in Vancouver BC for the ski season and to rent out. That is how you renovate a house not this mess of a show.
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Post by dagwood on Feb 20, 2024 19:35:28 GMT
Home Town: There wasn’t a new episode this week, which was weird. I think the first episode was a fluke because every episode afterwards has been great; the last two episodes even moreso. I assumed it was because of the super bowl.
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 20, 2024 20:50:14 GMT
Loft bed access by rock wall? What did the judges say??? The judges didn't like it. One asked how you'd change the sheets - put them in your teeth and crawl up the wall? I can't imagine waking up in the morning and being forced to make my way down to the floor using some rock climbing holds. That was an accident waiting to happen. I think there's a new flipping show tonight based in Hawaii, I'll probably check it out. Can't be any worse than this mess.
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 20, 2024 22:49:18 GMT
Loft bed access by rock wall? What did the judges say??? The judges didn't like it. One asked how you'd change the sheets - put them in your teeth and crawl up the wall? I can't imagine waking up in the morning and being forced to make my way down to the floor using some rock climbing holds. That was an accident waiting to happen. I think there's a new flipping show tonight based in Hawaii, I'll probably check it out. Can't be any worse than this mess. Seriously what if you have to use the bathroom at night? Keep a bucket up there just in case. What about bringing the bucket down?
This is a disaster for older folks, for kids, for anyone drinking or doing drugs.
Which idiot team thought this would be a good idea?
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 21, 2024 12:50:55 GMT
The judges didn't like it. One asked how you'd change the sheets - put them in your teeth and crawl up the wall? I can't imagine waking up in the morning and being forced to make my way down to the floor using some rock climbing holds. That was an accident waiting to happen. I think there's a new flipping show tonight based in Hawaii, I'll probably check it out. Can't be any worse than this mess. Seriously what if you have to use the bathroom at night? Keep a bucket up there just in case. What about bringing the bucket down?
This is a disaster for older folks, for kids, for anyone drinking or doing drugs.
Which idiot team thought this would be a good idea?
It was the husbands, the only team that I thought were doing okay-ish this season. Until now.
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Post by Kao on Feb 21, 2024 15:09:23 GMT
The judges didn't like it. One asked how you'd change the sheets - put them in your teeth and crawl up the wall? I can't imagine waking up in the morning and being forced to make my way down to the floor using some rock climbing holds. That was an accident waiting to happen. I think there's a new flipping show tonight based in Hawaii, I'll probably check it out. Can't be any worse than this mess. Seriously what if you have to use the bathroom at night? Keep a bucket up there just in case. What about bringing the bucket down?
This is a disaster for older folks, for kids, for anyone drinking or doing drugs.
Which idiot team thought this would be a good idea?
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Post by Bearcata on Feb 21, 2024 15:56:54 GMT
Seriously what if you have to use the bathroom at night? Keep a bucket up there just in case. What about bringing the bucket down?
This is a disaster for older folks, for kids, for anyone drinking or doing drugs.
Which idiot team thought this would be a good idea?
It was the husbands, the only team that I thought were doing okay-ish this season. Until now. These are the same people who put a sleeping loft in the in the master bedroom?
I would be curious to see what the real estate agents say about that in the final episode?
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Post by waywyrd on Feb 23, 2024 12:49:45 GMT
Renovation Aloha - this wasn't bad. Home prices are insane like California, but the views are stunning (at least that first home was). The couple doing the flipping is likeable enough and it was nice to see some color used for a change. I'll keep watching.
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Post by nennie on Feb 23, 2024 13:49:50 GMT
Renovation Aloha - this wasn't bad. Home prices are insane like California, but the views are stunning (at least that first home was). The couple doing the flipping is likeable enough and it was nice to see some color used for a change. I'll keep watching. I thought they did a pretty good job with what they had to work with. I can't believe the prices in Hawaii. I personally would have torn the house down and built a new one.
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