Reality shows

Like everyone else, I watch my share of reality tv. I watch THE APPRENTICEand the new WICKEDLY PERFECT. Always interesting. It's not a surprise thatthey are popular - afterall, shows like THIS OLD HOUSE, which has been aroundfor 25 years, has always been popular. They are, in effect, reality tv aswell. HGTV is hugely popular - with its' many shows focusing on high-endand low-end design. Unfortunately, while they are similar to "reality", whatthey are not is "realistic". I have watched and enjoyed my share of theseprograms and have some very definite opinions about their quality. Theseprograms fall into two broad categories: "best practices" and "low cost,quick turnaround." While one can pick up some great design ideas from theshows, none truly portrays the reality of a design and/or renovation project.Here's why:

- Most give few details on how much time or money these projects consume.

- There's little information about the decision-making process, particularly before work begins.

-Major renovations involve disruption and a measure of lost privacy, even without the presence of television crews.

Clearly, good television doesn't mix well with all the little detailsof the design process. That shouldn't mislead viewers into thinking thatmakeovers and reconstruction are quick, hassle-free and cheap -- for example,that whole rooms can be redesigned in a couple of days for less than $1000.

TLC's "Trading Spaces," and "Design on a Dime" and "Sensible Chic" onHGTV, are all entertaining and have a certain "wow" factor when the workis revealed to the homeowners. What they're not telling viewers is that thebudget numbers they present exclude labor costs and gloss over just how muchlabor it takes to accomplish these projects in record time. There's alsono mention of the compromises made in lumber and materials quality necessaryto keep within that $1000-per-room budget. There aren't many craftsmen ordesigners willing to be associated with mediocre materials in private practice!

"This Old House" is at the other end of the scale in the "best practices"category -- and best practice doesn't come cheap. The home depicted in the2003 series "Concord Cottage," in which an outbuilding was converted to livingquarters, cost nearly $500 per square foot to complete.

One of my favorites is "Designers Challenge," which showcases three differentprofessional designers' plans based on the specific needs and wants of realhomeowners with real, stated budgets. The designers each develop presentationsafter interviewing the owners; the homeowners select a designer after hearingthe presentations. While uncommon for residential designers to do such pre-contractpresentations, it is fascinating to see their different perspectives, tounderstand there's frequently more than one good solution to a design quandary.This show also leaves time and cost details unclear, but will often alludeto the months it took to complete or that the owners went over budget toget what they wanted.

Great ideas can be gleaned from most of the design programs on television.While viewing these shows, however, it's important to keep in mind thoseproject aspects that are left out of the dialogue.
©2005 Linda Merrill, Chameleon Interiors