HGTV: Our Top 5 Favorite Home & Garden Television Shows
It’s true – we’ve spent hours over the last couple of weeks upping our game in the home décor and design department. Of course, we couldn’t do that without logging in some good hours with HGTV (Home and Garden Television). After spending some quality time with the network, an expert contractor (Grand Cru Projects Ltd Founder, Greg Tunner), and a bowl of popcorn, we wanted to pass what we’ve learned on to our readers. Which shows/experts taught us the most (and made us laugh the hardest), you ask? Take a look below at our top five picks.
We’re not going to lie – watching Mike Holmes correct the often-astronomical mistakes made by inadequate contractors posing as experts is wildly entertaining. But the real reason that Holmes on Homes takes the top spot on our list of HGTV favorites is because even while in the thick of disaster, Holmes teaches the un-handiest of handy men (or women) a thing or two about home renovation. For this reason, we’re willing to take off our Louboutins, put on a hard hat, and overlook the overalls that go alongside his on-screen persona.
*Our Expert: "I've been a Holmes on Homes fan since it first aired. Finally, a program that shows that hiring a contractor is not as simple as picking the lowest price. The information Holmes on Homes provides is invaluable. The honest and frank discussions about the findings and issues Mike has with homeowners are the same discussions I have on the other side of the country on a daily basis (only I hear the unedited and much more emotional versions that you can't put on television)." - Greg Tunner, Grand Cru Projects
Watching top realtors concoct strategic marketing plans to move New York City’s most attractive real estate investments is a great way to spend the afternoon. Pair that with a glass of vino, and you might even feel like you’re shopping! Multimillion dollar views, modern furnishings, sought after artwork and extravagant clients put this show close to the top of our ‘ones to watch’ list.
This show is just cool – seriously. Cutting-edge deck builder Paul Lafrance walks in on a more often than not dilapidated yard, maps out a brand new concept, snaps his fingers, and magic happens. At least, it feels that way! By the end of just one Decked Out episode, the once upon a dirt heap is transformed by Lafrance and his crew into a modern-day oasis; infinity pools, fire pits, elaborate deck designs, crazy arbors… Did we miss anything?
*Our Expert: "The perfect landscape is the one that you want to use and enjoy as much as possible. A good landscape is one that gets used for its intended purpose while looking pretty at the same time; Paul does this well. If you like to barbeque and entertain, then a well-constructed bbq counter, the right grill, and enough sitting and standing room on your deck or patio for family and friends are most important. If you like to relax on your back patio on a warm afternoon, then where you sit and what you see and hear become most important."
It’s nice to see that we’re not the only ones who have unrealistic expectations about what we want to pay for where we want to live. Host Sandra Rinomato takes first time homebuyers straight into the world of house hunting, where she shows them a series of homes that either meet their expectations, or hits them with the reality of their budget.
*Our Expert:: "Anyone will make a good decision when they weigh out the right information. The more shows like this, the better. HGTV has done a great job of providing the average homeowner (or first time buyer) with some basic knowledge to address pretty much any issue in or around their homes."
If Project Runway were to book a slot on HGTV, it would be Design Star. A group of aspiring interior decorators compete against each other in a series of tasks that include (but are not limited to) DIY projects, staging spaces, television appearances, experimenting with paint, and collaborating with their already successful interior design mentors. This show makes our list because it sparks the creative mind. Watch it, and you’ll find yourself looking at sand paper and paint swatches by day’s end!