<p>I still use that hay design as my biggest ever nightmare of what someone could do to my house.</p>
<p>Remember that show - design for the sexes, something like that - where a couple who had opposite tastes worked with that male designer to come up with compromise?</p>
<p>I also liked the one with the three separate designs they could choose.</p>
<p>If I could I would kidnap Candace Olsen to redo my entire house. I love her fabric/color choices in nearly everything.</p>
<p>But I’m getting tired of all the competitions, cupcakes, designs, cakes, candy, next star of this or that.</p>
<p>I even miss that curb appeal show that helped people fix the front of their houses.</p>
<p>On “This Old House” I always cringed when they brought Rich the plumber in, as he blew up any & all budgets by trashing the existing heating system and suggesting they replace every pipe & fixture in the house. </p>
<p>I remember one renovation that went 2-3x over budget, as basicly the entire house was falling down. The homeowners would have been better off tearing down and starting new.</p>
<p>I agree with you guys on how HGTV has gone downhill, but I still really enjoy Curb Appeal - The Block. I wish John Giddings and Tammy would visit my street one of these days. They always do such a beautiful job. Even the smaller scale makeovers they do to the neighbors of the main project make such a huge difference. I wish I had their eye for landscape design.</p>
<p>I used to enjoy the “crashers” shows (Bath Crashers, Yard Crashers, House Crashers) on DIY Network but I’m getting bored with them, too. They’re basically just one big commercial for the products that get installed.</p>
<p>I haven’t been able to Find Curb Appeal either. It’s all rental and buying shows. And where have our favorite designers gone?! I guess they can all find work IRL as…designers.</p>
<p>Agree about the downhill slide of HGTV programming. Disappointed to hear about staging involved in my favorite, House Hunters, but not surprised. As much as I like House Hunters (and the Int’l version) there is too much of a good thing. Some Holmes was good- now far too much (and one begins to think Canadians build lousy houses with all of the problems he finds). I liked shows with different designs- such as the ones people had to choose from 3 designers for a room. The latest Design Stars have not grabbed my interest-too artsy and less practical. </p>
<p>Anyone else notice an across the board deterioration in so many cable channnels? The “Learning” Channel??? “Discovery” Gone are biographies and so many interesting real shows- substituting “reality” that is artificial and attention grabbing. I hate it when producers decide they are bored with a concept/formula and drop a show or change the format just to be different.</p>
<p>Love It or List It is terrible. The snarky comments on top of supposed professionals who don’t listen to their clients or understand real needs. How can that lady have a license??? Shows Canadians in a poor light.I only watch it when there’s nothing better on and to see houses. </p>
<p>At least the Property Brothers do a nice job- but what a horrible way to do real estate as is done in Canada based on that show and Property Virgins. Sitting outside while waiting for an agent to submit bids with others, needing to wait for a day to offer…</p>
<p>Too bad they dropped the American show that had first time buyers and actually showed the costs of closing et al. The re have been others I wish they coontinued. A dearth of good ideas or material?</p>
<p>I agree with Barons about crap. You want nice you have to pay for it. Also agree with Wis75 about Love It or List It. I hate that show because of the people they choose to be on it and how they direct them to be as difficult as possible. It’s unpleasant and a real turn-off.</p>
<p>OTOH consider that more than any other network HGTV portrays what real the Canada and the real US looks like–gay couples; mixed race couples; older people; younger people; blended families; rich, middle class, and relatively poor folks; urban and rural locations; women as tradespeople; men as designers; and gay and straight realtors and workers. It’s very accepting although they over-direct to create unnecessary drama.</p>
<p>Checked out Sarah Richardson on FB. Here’s what she just posted:</p>
<p>HELLO USA FANS! HERE’S THE NEWS YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR…Sarah’s House Season 4 will air September 15th from 2-5 and September 22nd from 3-5. Mark your calendars…the entire season will air in two days. Sorry for the long wait, and hope you can tune in!</p>
<p>Lately i have enjoyed looking at the photos on [Houzz</a> - Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration, Kitchen and Bathroom Design](<a href=“http://www.houzz.com%5DHouzz”>http://www.houzz.com) </p>
<p>It can be addicting, but gets my creative juices flowing.</p>
<p>I think what I found most annoying about the changes at HGTV, is that now that I’m retired, I would have time to sit and veg in front of the TV to watch many of my favorite shows, but they are no longer being shown. I know I shouldn’t be taking that personally but…</p>
<p>There is one cultural thing widely displayed on HGTV that I don’t get: what’s with so many young couples desperate to buy homes right before the wedding rather than renting for a year or so, saving more money, and then figuring where they want to live and what is best place for them? Is this only something you see on HGTV and not in the real world?</p>
<p>FMTTM–maybe they’ll change their format back if they get enough negative feed back. Or maybe these designers will be snapped up by other networks. Some of the shoes are so good, I would even watch them twice. says something about me, I guess.</p>
<p>tsdad…most of D1’s friends in their 20’s are buying houses before weddings, too. She got married last August and yep, she and her H bought a house last May before the wedding. Said it was cheaper than paying rent and, no, they didn’t borrow from either set of parents! :)</p>