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AT Survey: Best of the Home Makeover Shows?

makeovershows011209.jpgOver at House Beautiful, they did a roundup of 13 makeover shows. From HGTV, ABC, TLC, Fine Living and the Style Network, these run the gamut for us from very familiar to huh? never heard of it...and we're wondering which are worth checking out...

 
 

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Comments (108)

I'm for any show that utilizes real-world solutions - not cheap junk stapled together for the camera. And not faux outrage at 'dated' appliances, just because they are white. If they still work - use them.

posted by Modfan on January 12th 2009 at 1:39pm
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Myles of Style is quite possibly the WORST home makeover show of them all.

Her "style" (which she apparently has "myles" of) is tacky, cheap, and annoying.

posted by shlacking on January 12th 2009 at 1:41pm
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Jump below to vote for your favorite

These kinds of errors are so common on this site, and so irritating! I am curious about what people think of some of the lesser-known shows.

posted by visualingual on January 12th 2009 at 1:47pm
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I like devine design because of the quality of materials, furniture and design that is used. As a designer I am outraged by the number of shows that claim to be about 'interior design' when they are just cheap ugly decorating shows. Terrible!

posted by crzybckyf on January 12th 2009 at 1:50pm
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Divine Design is the only one worth checking out. Keneth Brown's was good too but is no longer being filmed.

posted by Seaside on January 12th 2009 at 1:52pm
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To me, they are all about the same. With that said, I vote for Divine Design because Chico is the man. Plain and simple.

posted by dryicezero on January 12th 2009 at 1:52pm
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I vote for Sarah Richardson, Canada's, Design, Inc. I like her other shows as well. Sarah's House (season 1 and 2). Unfortunately, HGTV U.S. only carried Season one of Design Inc. Luckily, this year Fine Living is broadcasting the second season. Here's hoping for season three, four and hopefully five!!

posted by jen64 on January 12th 2009 at 1:53pm
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My mom tries to get me to watch HGTV when I visit (I don't have cable at my house), but I'm mostly appalled. I used to like Extreme Home Makeover sometimes, but unless it's just my imagination, they've been cranking up the tragedy of the tragic parts, and slapping up more tacky wall art than discussing the design. I used to like Ty (and Amy Wynn) when he was on Trading Spaces, even if the rest of it was a car wreck. Since I don't get these channels anymore, my impression is that the car wreck factor is a big draw, or it's all just cheap "glam", like gluing macaroni to a board and spray-painting it is not just for kids anymore, if it's metallic. Maybe some of it's nice, I would watch some of it.

I think of old shows like Lynette Jennings or Interior Motives with Christopher Lowell - I don't think anyone was making a valance out of cardboard and duct tape on tv before him, and think no one could tell the difference. It's his fault.

posted by K T G on January 12th 2009 at 2:02pm
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I like Divine Design, Color Splash, and Design on a Dime.

posted by jenfu on January 12th 2009 at 2:13pm
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Mission: Organization, it's the only useful one.

posted by tloconnor on January 12th 2009 at 2:44pm
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You didn't list my favorite-- The Stagers. Now those people have taste and style--and a warehouse of art and furniture to pick from. The funny thing is that their staging jobs--which are for show only--usually look more lived in and inviting than the garbage the other shows come up with.

posted by djs on January 12th 2009 at 2:46pm
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What about "Clean House" on Style? I know they have a tendency to be a bit cheesy with the dialog but I think it's a great show in helping some truly needy people understand about hording and the benefit of a well designed home.

posted by lizzyfc on January 12th 2009 at 4:11pm
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what about find your style!?!?! karen mc aloon is my idol.
for serious. the best.

posted by beezus on January 12th 2009 at 4:16pm
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While, not a home makeover show per se, I tend to watch "Small Space, Big Style" because it focuses on small spaces (duh), and how real people solve the problems that come with living in tight urban apartments.

For the record, Trading Spaces is a scourge upon the earth.

posted by aidaan on January 12th 2009 at 7:50pm
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Divine Design. Vern Yip's deserving design is good too as is Color Splash. Agreed that Myles of Style is generally pretty horrible. However, disagree with shlacking's comment. I'm a designer too and not everyone can be designer or hire one and since taste is personal I choose not to be insulted. Rather, glad that at least some design is trickling down to the masses and inspiring people to DIY.

posted by jessadavis on January 12th 2009 at 7:51pm
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My new favorite show is "Renovation Realities" on the DIY Network. After watching a few of those episodes, I'm thinking, "If those people are doing THOSE big ass projects DIY, I have no excuse not to try to tackle the easier projects of building a retaining wall and deck in my backyard."

This show is incredibly instructive, although some of the power tool accidents are hard to watch.

I also enjoy Design Divine and Kenneth Brown's Redesign.

I tend to dislike those design shows that involve doing a makeover in under 24 or 48 hours, or under 500 or 1000 dollars. The end results often look cheap and/or tacky.

posted by david on January 12th 2009 at 7:55pm
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yes beezus! i too loved find your style but its not anymore :( it wasnt cheapo decorating... karen mcaloon actually did teach homeowners how to put rooms together, buy pieces that worked, arrange furniture, hang art, use lighting etc....

since thats not an option i choose divine design. her rooms always look great to me.

posted by eribear12 on January 12th 2009 at 7:57pm
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I personally love Sell This House! on A&E. Technically it's a staging show, not a design show, but here's why I like it:
1. Roger is bold with his color choices (I love color too) and is always coming up with great ideas for using color to enhance architectural details or make certain details (like ugly carpet) fade into the background.
2. The furniture arrangement is actually really useful to watch. Watching someone move furniture around a room (especially when you get to compare/contrast the same furniture in the same space) is helpful. It's amazing what moving around the pieces you already have can do.
3. It's cheap. They rarely spend more than $500 and usually don't do any carpentry work or other building. Although most of us aren't going to make faux-bookcases out of cardboard boxes, so many of the tips they have are applicable to everyone.

I think Candace Olson is okay - but to me her stuff looked over-designed. It looks more like a catalog than a home and it also looks REALLY expensive.

posted by caw261 on January 12th 2009 at 7:57pm
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Divine Design is far better than any other. I've never seen a room I didn't like from Candice. I would trade my husband to have her come to my house. ;)

posted by TheGlassOnion on January 12th 2009 at 7:58pm
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i really enjoy thom filica's dress my next - though it doesn't air here in Toronto any more...

glad to see some canadian productions made the list (design inc. & divine design). for those of you who enjoy design inc. hopefully you'll get to catch her (somewhat) spin-off sarah's house - it's pretty great.

also love another relatively new canadian show - pure design. has a focus on being 'green' by repurposing, refinishing, and buying sustainable products/items. can see some great pics on hgtv's canadian website.

posted by kiwi on January 12th 2009 at 8:04pm
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Design Remix, with Karen McAloon, although she's gone on to Find Your Style. I loved the premise of using what you have plus the magic of paint.

posted by tbb123 on January 12th 2009 at 8:06pm
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another vote for design inc. and sarah's house!

posted by happybaker on January 12th 2009 at 8:12pm
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COLOR SPLASH!

myles of style is booooring

posted by RalphEMole on January 12th 2009 at 8:21pm
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Color Splash, the ideas are within reach. Divine Design when I really want to dream big! And yes, Chico is the man.

posted by wasabi on January 12th 2009 at 8:24pm
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I think all the shows have cheesy dialogue. In terms of the design solutions: Divine Design, reDesign, Design on a Dime, Deserving Design. I like Find York Style, Dress My Nest, and neat -- my favorite of the organizating space shows.

posted by JonathanB on January 12th 2009 at 8:26pm
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I second Sarah's House, which isn't in the list, and also the person who suggested the home staging shows.

Neither are tacky like Trading Spaces (ugh) and other superspeed/supercheap decor shows.

Extreme Home Makeover has good bits when they're not being melodramatic, but please, enough with the theme rooms! I don't care what reaction they fake for the camera, no 17-year-old wants a primary-coloured theme room.

posted by LJ Bartley on January 12th 2009 at 8:35pm
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I really love Color Splash, especially because it's all SF Bay area homes.

posted by thinlizzie on January 12th 2009 at 8:37pm
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Basically all the Canadian ones are the best. Candice can do no wrong.

posted by duckumu on January 12th 2009 at 8:42pm
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I vote for Candice, but we must acknowledge that she obviously has the budget and the time to do all that.

Also love Kenneth Brown, and sometimes Design on a Dime does something I can use.

posted by beyd on January 12th 2009 at 9:15pm
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Kenneth Brown come back! ReDesign was the best.

posted by callmecath on January 12th 2009 at 9:16pm
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"Sarah's House" is wonderful, and I still really like "Small Space Big Style".

For low-cost cheerful portable solutions, an old Canadian show called "Home to Go" is still my favorite. I also love "neat", which seems to have been dropped, alas.

posted by jrochest on January 12th 2009 at 9:21pm
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Colin and Justin win my vote hands down!

posted by teacupnosaucer on January 12th 2009 at 9:23pm
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Colour Splash!!

much more exciting and entertaining than some of the other shows out there.

posted by tooyoung on January 12th 2009 at 9:24pm
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Sarah's House/Design Inc are my favorites. Sarah's assistant Tommy needs his own show too!

posted by jessrobe on January 12th 2009 at 9:26pm
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I like "This Old House" but I suppose it's not a "design" show.

posted by jems on January 12th 2009 at 9:35pm
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Most, if not all, of HGTV Canadian design shows (ie Sarah's House) can be found online if you google HGTV Canada. We don't have a TV but I still get to indulge in watching my favourite design shows.

posted by gem on January 12th 2009 at 9:43pm
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I have to admit my favorite is "My Parents' House"...good design, but probably more for the comedic banter than anything else! every time i see it, i am convinced i will submit my parents' cheesy, mirror-tiled, orange-carpeted "wreck" room to that show!

posted by ichelemay on January 12th 2009 at 10:06pm
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Candice (Divine Design) rocks. All the rest are a distant second...

posted by quiltmaster on January 12th 2009 at 10:22pm
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I miss the Debbie Travis' show (not her painted finish show, but the surprise makeover one) and the Peter Fallico show... Design To Go??

(Lord, can't remember ANYTHING tonight! And didn't even GO to Happy Hour!!)

Also used to really love This Small Space.

I do like Design Inc but since Sarah got "famous" she scares me a little.

But Candace is the Queen, hands down.

posted by patrick (the other one) on January 12th 2009 at 10:24pm
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I vote for Design Inc. It's Canadian and I really like Sarah Richardson's style.

posted by revolution9 on January 12th 2009 at 10:34pm
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I voted for Sarah Richardson, but I agree with patrick (the other one) about Debbie Travis. I wish she was still on.

posted by mattab on January 12th 2009 at 10:49pm
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Candace seems to be the only one on HGTV with any taste...
I voted for Thom, I like his quirky designs!

posted by Lilli K. on January 12th 2009 at 10:52pm
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I haven't seen most of the listed shows above, but I second the vote for "Clean House". I think the designer (Mark Brunetz?) is actually really good for the job. Not particularly innovative or anything, but not super cheap and trendy either.

posted by bmb on January 12th 2009 at 10:54pm
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Of the options listed Divine Design has my vote. Otherwise, I third/fourth Find Your Style! It's the only show I make a point of turning on the tele for. I love that Karen isn't judgemental and explains the pros/cons of various design decisions.

prettypractical.blogspot.com

posted by prettypractical on January 12th 2009 at 10:59pm
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I hope HGTV and TLC sees this poll! That show staple where-in they give a "designer" $1000.00 to "transform" spaces is AWFUL!!! Invariably you get three matching mirrors on a wall (or three matching vases or three matching SOMETHING), painted stripes on walls, little miniscule "display boxes" on huge walls, tiny little votives all over, poorly recovered/slipcovered furniture and painted chest of drawers. Divine Design is about the only show on HGTV that gives Design an ounce of respect. Just like Food Network they seek to make PERSONALITIES instead of GOOD PROGRAMS. UNWATCHABLE!

posted by parttimedesign on January 12th 2009 at 11:05pm
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Of the list above, I like Divine Design and Design, Inc. the best. I am not crazy about design shows on t.v. (thank goodness for the internet) though I see HGTV as having tremendous unrealized potential. I guess they are trying to be "accessible" and "relevant" to very broad audiences, but in doing this, I think they fail to convey good and useful information about design. I think their audences are far more sophisticated than they think....

posted by KWorld on January 12th 2009 at 11:22pm
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I like the designs on Divine Design, but Candice can get a little grating. Something in her on-air persona rubs me the wrong way. I've been known to Tivo it and then skip sections where she's trying to be funny.

I've only seen Genevieve once, I think it's new, but I like her tone and warmth a lot. It's not design, but I love "National Open House" where they tour houses/apartments in different price ranges in 3 different cities. Likewise, House Hunters is my staple flip something on to watch.

posted by KatieD on January 12th 2009 at 11:26pm
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Several of those shows on the poll have been off the air for awhile. Get Colour! has been gone for about two years. It was an interesting way to interpret the color wheel within your style, but the host and handyman bickered quite a bit. Dear Genevieve is too new. Not sure when it started but I've already missed two episodes. Monday @ 8pm? Like the struggle btw Chuck and Sarah Connor Chronicles isn't hard enough...

One great show that's been gone awhile was Home to Go with Peter Fallico. A Canuck show about making temporary changes to your rental. Great practical advice right down to a styrofoam mantle. They made the most of some dank, dark squats. Amazing.

Most of the shows have issues and most of the ones featuring professional designers are gone. Divine Design is great, but I don't dig her style. A Candice Olson room is very distinctive, right down to the tech. Like 'em but don't want to live in any of 'em. Thom Fillicia's a pro and he does wonders, but the actual items put into the places come from retailers we all know. West Elm, Brocade Home, Urban Outfitters... Maybe it's me but it seemed the last season featured a lot of rooms done all from a sponsoring retailer. Who does that?

Myles of Style is hit or miss. Generally I enjoy the vibe of her rooms. Color Splash is fabulous! David Bromstad is all about a wow factor and you gotta love what he does.

The most interesting show was Karen McAloon's defunct Find Your Style. She taught the audience by practice. "Your rug is too small." Solution: the homeowners bought the same rug in a bigger size. Karen taught people how to lay the foundation and then put on the next layer and the next. Bam! She gave it the ol' pizzazz.

There was a poll on HGTV to bring that show back. They had some nerve cancelling it. Those people are worse than SciFi Channel. Hook you and then replace the good shows with endless airings of House Hunters and Designed to Sell. Sell to who?

posted by Lady J on January 12th 2009 at 11:29pm
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design on a dime

posted by Kat G on January 12th 2009 at 11:41pm
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I'll throw out a nod for Color Splash.

posted by slantedview on January 12th 2009 at 11:51pm
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None of the above.

I don't like the HGTV shows very much, that I can recall... I tend to watch DIY more. I finished watching the series where they redid a bathroom in Arts and Crafts, and it was really good. Historic preservationists like period design! ;)

posted by puck on January 12th 2009 at 11:55pm
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divine design is all well & good, but i won't see a budget like that in my lifetime. it's not difficult to make a place look fabulous when your budget is limitless! but candice olson is freakishly tall, and it amuses me so. i love it when they have some soliloquy opening when she's walking the length of a room talking about what's she going to do to it and she has to walk really weird because she'd naturally cross the room in 2 seconds with her grasshopper legs but she needs to draw out the walk-and-talk. it's like this exaggerated walking-in-place-cowboy-shuffle walk. but i do love me some chico. dear lord, i'm got some sort of syntax disease this evening, don't i?

ps - hildi on trading spaces, though, is tops. at least from a omg-she-didn't!/jerry-springeresque standpoint. remember the hay bale wallpaper room? the artificial flower wall in the bathroom? that woman is CRAZY.

posted by littlebunnyfoofoo on January 13th 2009 at 12:13am
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none of them. i only watch for the hum, eye candy...can you say chad lopez.

posted by miaedu on January 13th 2009 at 12:17am
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kiwi - I totally agree about Pure Design. I think Samantha Pynn is great. Go Canada!

posted by Tara77 on January 13th 2009 at 12:19am
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I didn't vote because I haven't seen them all. But I do loooooove Sarah Richardson. When faced with a design dilemma of my own, I ask myself "What would Sarah do?"

posted by tam-tbag on January 13th 2009 at 12:36am
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my vote goes for Design Inc. (& Sarah's House) although Home to Go/Stay is a close second as well

posted by mcheerio on January 13th 2009 at 12:54am
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I think the only one worth watching is Divine Design - however, even Candice is starting to get a little boring as she only uses her own products: her fabric line, her wallpaper line, her furniture line (if I see that chaise one more time...), and of course all her countertops are from Caesarstone as she is their spokesmodel...

posted by calihoya on January 13th 2009 at 1:29am
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I used to love Design Guys---the one with two Canadian guys.
I love modern, sleek, cool tone design than colorful feminine design.
The show ended long ago...I am still in search for a show like that.

posted by tomomo on January 13th 2009 at 1:31am
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Home to Go with Peter Fallico was the best show HGTV ever aired - of course they got rid of it.

Love Candice Olson, though. Her style isn't my style, but I've liked pretty much each and every project I've seen on her show. Which means it has to be fundamentally pretty good.

Design on a Dime is pure hit and miss (mostly miss). Most of the time I think to myself they could make better use of their "thousand dollar budget" on Craigslist . . .

posted by sunspot42 on January 13th 2009 at 1:51am
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I agree that Peter Fallico on HGTV Canada was the most helpful design host ever. He specialized in rentals and small, starter spaces... Bring him back!

I also enjoyed watching British design shows on BBC Canada on my mom's satellite over the holiday. The shows were very euro-styled.

posted by Kelaine on January 13th 2009 at 3:01am
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Candice (Divine Design) is my favorite, hands down. I not only love nearly everything she does, I also enjoy watching them have fun doing it.

While her budget and time constraints are greater than most shows, I'm still able to get a lot of ideas which I can scale to my own budget.

posted by alisonK on January 13th 2009 at 3:20am
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^Time allotments, not time constraints!

posted by alisonK on January 13th 2009 at 3:21am
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HGTV's Design on a Dime is the best one out there.

posted by Joan in SB on January 13th 2009 at 4:00am
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oops! I like DOD for the ideas and they have to get creative on a budget. That said I cancelled my cable because there's nothing on tv. ever. i hate hate hate house hunter type crap and i'm a realtor. i guess i don't want to see my job on TV! thanks everyone for the reminders of peter fallico and karen macaloon. and thanks gem for letting us know you can watch some online! and of course small space big style is how i found AT :) too bad there aren't new episodes.

posted by Joan in SB on January 13th 2009 at 4:09am
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Divine Design, Design, Inc., Generation Renovation (not on anymore), Small Space Big Style, Debbie Travis, ReDesign. The rest of the shows on HGTV are crap. If I have to see another episode of House Hunters or My House is Worth What? (or one of the million variations of either show)..... I used to be an HGTV addict, now I just DVR the 3 or 4 shows I like.

posted by Jmack1 on January 13th 2009 at 8:02am
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Wow, I thought I was the only Divine Design fan, I had no idea it was so popular! I feel like it's one of the only shows that is about interior design in the real world, and not design/decorating just for the sake of a TV show.

posted by natalie.c on January 13th 2009 at 8:40am
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Design Guys were so great! I miss them.

Am I the only one that feels that Myles of Style is not her design, but she is merely a host. Why, why America did you vote for her?

Also, I watch some of these make-over shows and watch them paint and I cringe! They drop paint and get it on the ceilings, and generally do a 1/2 as*ed job. I would not want most of them in my home giving me a cheap makeover.

posted by jlg on January 13th 2009 at 8:42am
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I don't think we get ANY of these on Lifestyle in Australia!

My favourite is the British Changing Rooms. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is fantastic, and I adore some of the designs! (Especially Oliver Heath's.) A little overreliant on MDF, but what're you going to do with two days and 750 quid?

I also quite like - the also British - Grand Designs. There's some cool stuff there. It's more focused on architecture than interiors, but damn, some of them are cool!

posted by ryttu3k on January 13th 2009 at 9:36am
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I, too, am a designer by profession (commercial, not residential) and I get so annoyed at many of the shows on now. People always ask me "so if you're a designer, don't you just LOVE _________?" I don't watch a lot of design shows. In fact, many of the shows are really annoying and don't portray actual interior design. The few shows I did like aren't on any more, I don't think. There was this one that I don't remember the name of, but they take stuff you already have and redesign your space. There was also this one really random one that came on A&E and it was called Blind Design. The desiger guy was actually blind and used his clients preferences for color through the other senses like smell or touch. It was quite interesting.

I always will DESPISE Trading Spaces. That's all I have to say about that. I used to like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but now, I don't. All they do is tear down (in some cases a perfectly fine) house to rebuild a new, ridiculously large one. Then, don't let one of the kids mention they like dolphins or racecars. Ty goes into a building frenzy trying to build lifesize papier mache dolphins or roll in real car tires or something silly like that. Then when they "move that bus", you can compare the new house with the others in the neighborhood, and it just looks strange.

I may be the only one, but I am in love with This Old House and it's lesser known spin off Ask This Old House.

posted by Aiekan on January 13th 2009 at 9:37am
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I have only seen Dear Genevieve once as well but loved the episode. I also like Clean House. Both shows are about improving people's lives and Clean House inspires me to purge and keep my own hording instinct under control.

posted by H.H. Hannah on January 13th 2009 at 9:54am
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Shoutout to Canadian design! I LOVE "Divine Design." The cheesy jokes and forced delivery are so quintessentially Canadian.

posted by emmabemma on January 13th 2009 at 9:56am
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Divine Design is wonderful, but I cannot afford what Candace Olson does. Design on a Dime comes much closer to matching my budget.

Especially in the current economic climate.

posted by Aldyth on January 13th 2009 at 10:00am
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I voted for Divine Design because its timeless, tasteful and rich without being too much.

I will say, however, that I like Myles of Style for her inexpensive way to pull of expensive ideas.

posted by blogazar on January 13th 2009 at 10:01am
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Since I was forced to choose one of many, I picked "Divine Design" however I also was a loyal fan of "Kenneth Brown's Redesign", and Sarah Richardson's "Design Inc." and "House". These shows seem to realistically present the issues of the design process and their projects are creative and high quality.

Even though it is not really a design show, I've been watching "This Old House" almost since its inception. TOH and "Holmes on Homes" (How Not to Build or Renovate) really teach the public how to build and renovate correctly whether you're doing the work yourself or keeping an eye on your contractor. I think these shows, especially Holmes, are an important reality check on overly ambitious and sometimes reckless design shows. Any show that operates on the premise that a room or space can be transformed in several hours gives the public completely unrealistic expectations, and risks influencing people to initiate home improvement projects well over their abilities to complete.

posted by John H on January 13th 2009 at 10:02am
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Mission Organization provides useful tips that I've actually used in my house. The products they recommend can often be expensive, but you can usually find cheaper alternatives.

posted by Leesh97 on January 13th 2009 at 10:10am
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Divine Design is awesome (though I wish they provided the budgets, which all seem high end), I've watched it since the beginning. Candace Olsen clearly listens to her clients. And the show's funny! Designs are classic, elegant, a bit mod, yet totally liveable. Yay for Canadian pragmatism! Too many design shows try to be trendy or cool and seem to discount that people actually have to live in the space. House Beautiful is another Canadian show that is good but lacks Olsen's charisma. Spice Up My Kitchen is another a good show (though their budgeting seems a bit wonky but at least they DO give you the dollar amounts!!). Also like Designed to Sell b/c you can really see the difference in the before/after and it's all for under $2000. Gotta love that.

In the past, I LOVED the Australian show, "The Block," a competition between couples to redesign decrepit apartments in a Bondi Beach building, after which each apt was auctioned off and the highest bid was the winning couple. Developed into a U.S. show that fizzled. The British show, Changing Rooms, was also fantastic. The American version was terrible--not sure if it's our poor American taste, but for some reason when they develop U.S. versions of foreign shows, the designs (and shows) are often awful.

I wish HGTV would stream more of their shows online a la Hulu.com (best web tv), since my computer is now my TV.

posted by wander_woman on January 13th 2009 at 10:54am
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I loved watching This Small Space and Home to Go way back when. I love, love, love SSBS (recorded every episode, I think). I like most anything Sarah Richardson does, Karen McAloon's Find Your Style, and I have seen all of the new Dear Genevieve shows and surprisingly love it. I also like Designed to Sell, but only the one with Lisa LaPorta/Clive Pearce.

What I don't like most about decorating shows is that I have seen it already. If I see another Ikea/West Elm/Pier 1 room, I'll scream.

I have been a huge fan of This Old House since I was a kid, and also Bob Vila's Home Again and Hometime. God...those 3 shows comprised most of my Saturday mornings as a teenager!

posted by colophon on January 13th 2009 at 10:56am
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Color Splash is still the best... but there are too many re-runs!

Hasn't Dear Genevieve only been on for two weeks or so? Regardless, my husband and I agreed after seeing 2 or 3 episodes that it's going to be our new favorite.

posted by jerseyfresh on January 13th 2009 at 11:05am
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I enjoy HGTV and watch some of the listed shows regularly, as my time permits.

I think the "design on the cheap" shows are interesting -- sometimes the results are really nice, and most people I know can't afford the high end stuff which might be inspirational but not practical. (I mean, I can see Architectural Digest magazine any time but I can't implement anything from there.) Even when they flop, you can usually see some improvement from the "before".

Last weekend I had Jackie Davis, a regular redesigner from "Decorating Cents" gave a program at my library. She's really nice in person, and we are thinking about maybe hiring her to do some consulting for updating the library building itself.

Of the on screen designers, the only ones I would allow to design for me are Vern Yip (but no candles, Vern!) or Candace Olsen. Maybe Sarah Richardson. Many of the others do good work but not my taste.

posted by SherryBinNH on January 13th 2009 at 11:35am
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Oh, I liked Freestyle, too. It was about showing people how to do better with what they have. Bringing out the random stuff, rearranging the furniture and creating a comfy home without being overwhelmed by options. It was a realistic, effective option for people who don't have much money or who have transitional lifestyles.

posted by Lady J on January 13th 2009 at 12:13pm
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it seems that all the better shows are filmed in Canada... hummm...
We love Debbie Travis and miss her shows, Candace has been repeating her light blue/dark wood color palate way too much these past few seasons (tasteful but unimaginative). I really enjoyed the original Changing Rooms on BBC America, FAR better than Trading Spaces. oh, and let's not forget 2 more gems How Not to Decorate and for gardening Home Front with Diarmuid Gavin.

posted by chris_94131 on January 13th 2009 at 12:38pm
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I used to watch Divine Design, but while her colour palettes are gorgeous, they are usually repeated (browns and blues anyone?). Love Sarah Richardson's Design Inc. Her rooms are always beautiful.

posted by atelier70design on January 13th 2009 at 12:52pm
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I also love Clean House - the results are always dramatic, the budget small, and it inspires me to declutter...

Divine Design does end up with a much higher quality product (though generally not to my taste at all), but it's hardly fair to compare a $20,000 budget project with a $1-2,000 project...

posted by lemonadefish on January 13th 2009 at 12:53pm
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Design on a Dime, Designed to sell, and Dear Genvieve, in that order.

posted by kuroneko on January 13th 2009 at 1:05pm
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Get over Nate Berkus already!

posted by nkr707 on January 13th 2009 at 1:23pm
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Design on a Dime!!!! There are 3 versions of the show for HGTV, how could that be left off the list?

posted by jenna714 on January 13th 2009 at 2:07pm
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Find Your Style! Love it.

posted by merry on January 13th 2009 at 2:32pm
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Sarah Richardson-anything is just fine by me. And it kills me that Find Your Style is no more. Great show, I'll really miss Karen McAloon.

posted by jendavid99 on January 13th 2009 at 3:12pm
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Design Inc. - Sarah Richardson is the real deal

posted by bewing on January 13th 2009 at 3:18pm
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Design, Inc. and Sarah's House

posted by capegirardeau on January 13th 2009 at 3:30pm
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Design Inc - Sarah Richardson is the best. I try to watch other shows on HGTV Canada. but they are all boring and talk to much instead of showing. Like Sarah does. I can't wait for season 3, 4 and maybe 5 of Sarah's House. It's the best now that there are no new seasons of Design Inc. The third was the last.

posted by KimmyBrien on January 13th 2009 at 3:51pm
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Candice rocks.

posted by wister5 on January 13th 2009 at 4:27pm
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Candace Olson is very talented unlike the rest of HGTV, but it's like she has ONE color palette and thats it. It's brown and blue. Thats it.

posted by Volvoguy on January 13th 2009 at 4:50pm
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WHAT HAPPENED TO MAXWELL'S
**SMALL SPACE, BIG STYLE**??

posted by ilovebc on January 13th 2009 at 5:18pm
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Designer Guys!!!
Canada's best.

posted by 2009sunshine on January 13th 2009 at 5:20pm
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Of the shows listed I'd go with Divine Design. However, I think one of my favorite shows is still Find Your Style. I wish Karen would come over to my place and give me a hand.

posted by tgfoo on January 13th 2009 at 5:27pm
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I confess to watching Constance Ramos' "Color Correction" just to see what hideous design she'll come up with next.

posted by nazrd on January 13th 2009 at 5:47pm
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I enjoy Color Splash. It's creative and they seem to have a lot of fun with their projects. It's also in San Francisco, so I get really excited when I recognize places.

posted by leskat on January 13th 2009 at 6:15pm
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FreeStyle! The only one that I record...and lots of people in their 30s with small homes and apartments.

posted by liseah on January 13th 2009 at 9:36pm
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Y'all like Pure Design? Really? I had such high hopes for it but I have to say I find it's a sham. Nearly everything they source comes from Elte (nice place to shop if you have deep pockets). They toot the eco and sustainability horn but in actual fact that usual means they threw down a cork floor or jute rug and bought some organic cotton bedding. I wish these shows would divulge how much they spent redecorating.

posted by snoopy on January 13th 2009 at 10:10pm
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I TiVo 2: Small Space/Big Style and Find your Style, both on HGTV.

posted by dragonflyfiberarts on January 13th 2009 at 11:24pm
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I think the linked article was totally bogus--Divine Design was a low budget show?--but I can agree with most folks above: Divine Design is gorgeous, and I thought Freestyle and Find Your Style were great concepts (liked Design Remix too).

One show I didn't see mentioned, but which made for interesting tv, if not the most skilled design, was Picture This (Fine Living, I think). The premise was, each half of a couple had tearsheets of a dream room, and they'd give the tearsheets to the other, and the other had to a) figure out what it was that their partner liked from the tearsheets (no explanations allowed) and b) execute it.

I only caught a couple of episodes, but I remember one in particular, where the husband wanted a Napa dining room and the wife wanted a Moroccan inspired guest room/study. Each did an amazing job. Less impressive was the episode where the husband took the tearsheet to the store and bought everything in the picture.

posted by renata on January 13th 2009 at 11:48pm
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Oh and Deserving Design does nice work but it's all the same rearrangement of Ikea as far as I can tell. Although the episode where the family had to basically tear their house down because of mold--that reveal was incredible television. The husband's reaction was amazing (Extreme Makeover being so overrehearsed as to be unbelievable).

posted by renata on January 13th 2009 at 11:49pm
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Two words - DAVID BROMSTEAD

OMG love him... Color Splash on HGTV is the best!!!

posted by heynumbatwo on January 14th 2009 at 1:29am
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Sarah's House - HGTV Canada

posted by flidais on January 14th 2009 at 2:13pm
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Design Inc. was the greatest.
Sarah's House is literally one of my favourite shows. 30 Rock and Oprah included! She and Tommy are hilarious.

Sarah's Cottage will start in the spring and will feature her own personal cottage in the Muskokas. That should be AMAZING! Can't wait.

patrick (the other one) said she's scary now - What ever do you mean?! I am in love with her!

posted by theserovingeyes on January 14th 2009 at 7:17pm
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sarah richardson's rooms have great color and look totally livable. candace olson's rooms are a bit over designed and flashy for my taste.

posted by modquad on January 14th 2009 at 10:31pm
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Love "Divine Design", but every room she does costs an absolute fortune! I think "Designed to Sell" is much more helpful for the average person.

posted by Torgny on January 19th 2009 at 4:58pm
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