House Hunters Renovation - General Discussion

[biakbiak]

3 hours ago, juliet73 said:

The friend commenting that it looked like it was done by a professional was rude considering that is the husband's job.

To be fair to the sister who said that she was saying it specifically when she was looking at the tile in the shower and the wife had previously said that he was teaching himself to tile on this bathroom.

[laredhead]

I also liked the West Hills episode.  They said they went over budget by about $30,000 which made it a $100,000 renovation.  If the husband had not been as handy and owned a custom cabinet business, that renovation would have cost the average person probably $35,000+ more.  

I liked the colors that the designer chose, but the wife wanted lighter and brighter and since she is a designer herself, I wondered why they even consulted with an outside designer.  I have heard some of my friends talk about making horrible decorating choices when they were pregnant so maybe that had something to do with it, or the producers just wanted to add some "drama" and the designer wanted some national exposure.  

I liked the couple very much and thought they worked together well.  The dog was cute too.  

[drafan]

Family renovating a condo , wife with a Dutch (?) accent???  Anyone else skeeved out by the two kids sharing a Murphy Bed ? ....boy is 12, girl is 10. He will be a teenager soon......creepy.

[ByaNose]

23 hours ago, drafan said:

Family renovating a condo , wife with a Dutch (?) accent???  Anyone else skeeved out by the two kids sharing a Murphy Bed ? ....boy is 12, girl is 10. He will be a teenager soon......creepy.

Never understood why people with 2 kids of opposite sex want a 2 bedroom condo/house?! Of course, it's cheaper but how long can they share a bedroom? Maybe, you could get by with twin beds but even that's not going to last long? This couple was even dumber. They bought 1 one bedroom condo and put in a built in Murphy Bed where the kitchen/dinning table had been. WTF????

Edited August 1, 2017 by ByaNose

[sheetmoss]

Smart West Hills couple - by doing the design, he/they get to keep the $25k design fee gift.

[sheetmoss]

Franklin TN wife....Southern(vocal)Fry!

Those 2  uncomplimentary in size kitchen windows would drive me crazy. 

        IMO, I think it would have been better to eliminate the smaller.

[laredhead]

I wonder why the Franklin, TN couple didn't turn the second floor into the master suite instead of making it a bonus area?  They spent all that money on the bathroom in that area and that seemed a bit unnecessary to me for a bonus space.  I wonder if they will continue to rent the garage apartment?  If not, that could have become the bonus space.  I'm not a fan of the black sink, but I did like the green paint in the dining room.  Another colorless kitchen, unless you consider the antique gold finish on the hardware a color.  

[biakbiak]

1 hour ago, laredhead said:

couple didn't turn the second floor into the master suite instead of making it a bonus area?

It appeared to be their family room as the main living space downstairs was formal with no TV and was long and narrow so not a great space for a tv, casual lounging couch. I was actually surprised they made it even more multipurpose by adding a guest bed.

The "wine bar" annoyed me. It was basically just extended counter space with a wine fridge and an unnecessary gold sink. I mean other than the gold sink there was nothing wrong with it but they kept harping on it being a wine bar.

I actually liked the black sink. 

[ByaNose]

10 hours ago, biakbiak said:

It appeared to be their family room as the main living space downstairs was formal with no TV and was long and narrow so not a great space for a tv, casual lounging couch. I was actually surprised they made it even more multipurpose by adding a guest bed.

The "wine bar" annoyed me. It was basically just extended counter space with a wine fridge and an unnecessary gold sink. I mean other than the gold sink there was nothing wrong with it but they kept harping on it being a wine bar.

I actually liked the black sink. 

I still can't decide if I like the black sink or not. I've seen them only television. Everyone I know (me included) are years back with the stainless steel sink. LOL!!! I don't see myself bying it but I wouldn't think ill of someone else going for it.

[chessiegal]

Maybe it depends on the material the sink is made of, but our kids bought a house with a black sink, and it was impossible to keep it clean. Thy finally replaced it with SS.

[juliet73]

I have a black sink.  It's a matte finish so it doesn't show spots, etc and if it has stains on it, I can't see them.

 I wanted a black sink because I have black countertops.  My appliances are white (as well as my cabinets) so I didn't want to do a SS sink and a white sink would have looked bad.  

[Christine]

When the Franklin TN couple was in the 3rd house and they were told they couldn't see the rental apartment, I immediately thought that's the house they picked and the rental apartment is full of all their stuff.

 

Former friend had a black sink and it showed water spots and was a tee-total mess.  Whenever I did dishes at her house, my hands would feel grungy.   They've since remodeled their kitchen.

I'd not have one of those unless things have changed over the years.

[chessiegal]

Our kids' black sink got white stains on it that no amount of scrubbing could get them out. After a year of use it looked like a hot mess.

[MoreCoffeePlease]

I'm way behind on these.  Back to Lake Balboa:

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I had to laugh the way they talked about needing more room in the bathroom so they could do their hair. Really?

Especially since it didn't look like she really does much to hers, and he doesn't either!  I thought he was pretty good-looking, but I'd like him to clean up just a tad.

Not much more to say about the eyebrows.  I get the trend, but when someone looks at you and all they can think about and look at are your brows, to me that is not a good thing. 

 

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I really wish these designers would stop trying to make brass hardware/accessories happen.

Totally,  I will never like the brass.  It is just being different for the sake of being different.

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With the addition of the island, they should have kept the sink in the corner - it would have been a more cohesive layout.

I would have to re-watch, but I did think that there was something "off" about the placement of the sink.  It wasn't centered in its area or something to that effect.  I'm also very sensitive to clearance space around the fridge. The space planning could have been better, but I did like the black cabinets, and even the 1st cabinets that the designer showed them.

[twinks]

Just watched Kelly and Cameron in Valley Glen CA. They were very likeable. I didn't care for the tile over the stove or the leather cabinet pulls. I thought they did a great job on the bathroom.

[ByaNose]

I liked Kelly & Cameron & their cute red headed son. Too cute. Cameron looked young & Kelly looked like a teenager. I'm trying to figure out how they could afford a $500,000 home. Of course, that just me being nosey. The kitchen turned out nice but while I like the blue cabinets I would have gone for white since the kitchen was so small. I do think the blue was too dark for that small space. I.do.not..leather.pulls. For the cabinets.at.all. I also didn't care for the tile behind the stove. It didn't fo with anything in the kitchen. I did like the Dutch door and that's what I would have painted blue. I wish they asked for my opinions. LOL!!! Overall, it's a cute house. They had a amazingly good looking realtor & designer. Only, in California could you find such people who also happen to look like models. 

Edited August 13, 2017 by ByaNose

[QuinnM]

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I liked Kelly & Cameron & their cute red headed son. Too cute. Cameron looked young & Kelly looked like a teenager.

Well they both were ditzy enough to be teenagers.  My eyes almost bled from the vocal fry.  When they started demolishing the room they had planned to use for a temporary kitchen I knew they were not so bright.  So again, where do two people with hardly two brain cells between them qualify for $500K?

[drafan]

9 hours ago, ByaNose said:

I liked Kelly & Cameron & their cute red headed son.

....named McCartney. OMG.  Such fake hipsters. His hair was so amazing that I was fearful they dyed it that color using a vat of carrot juice. They will probably name the next kid Lennon.

I guess Cameron was a "full-time" musician??? Didn't catch what she did.

Edited August 13, 2017 by drafan

[Empress1]

2 hours ago, drafan said:

....named McCartney. OMG.  Such fake hipsters. His hair was so amazing that I was fearful they dyed it that color using a vat of carrot juice. They will probably have Lennon next.

I guess Cameron was a "full-time" musician??? Didn't catch what she did.

She worked in marketing. She didn't say more than that; I got the impression that she was home a chunk of the time because he talked about how he wanted a home studio to be closer to them. I don't like the name McCartney at all, but he was very cute with his bright red hair. 

I thought the blue cabinets were too dark for the small kitchen but I liked the butcher block. I also thought they'd go over budget more than $8K. The bathroom looked much better though, save for the thick grout on the subway tile. I liked the floating vanity.

[Bastet]

12 hours ago, ByaNose said:

I'm trying to figure out how they could afford a $500,000 home.

I didn't watch it, but that's pretty cheap for Los Angeles.  Valley Glen is one of those North Hollywood/Van Nuys neighborhoods that didn't want to be known as North Hollywood or Van Nuys; it's a modest valley suburb, but $500,000 is still significantly below the median home price.  If she's in marketing and he's able to make a living as a musician - middle class; not flush by any means, but not struggling - that's exactly the price of home in exactly the kind of neighborhood a young couple who is being smart with their money would buy their first house. 

[Mittengirl]

Susan, the woman buying in Palm Springs, looked really familiar.  Has she been on the show before?

[sheetmoss]

1 hour ago, Mittengirl said:

Susan, the woman buying in Palm Springs, looked really familiar.  Has she been on the show before?

I was wondering who she was too - I can picture her younger if that's who I'm thinking of.

[ByaNose]

I also think Susan is somebody but for the life of me I can't figure out who. Was she on the show before? Was she on a prime time tv show? Was she on a soap? She's certainly full of energy & has lots of enthusiasm. She did a great job with the house even though I don't like mid century modern. The kitchen was a big improvement and the island is a great gathering place. I liked the mantel for the fireplace but is wood mid century modern? I thought she was going to tile it but looked plain with a painting hanging over the mantle. The only problem I have is she so close to the golf course. I know people who moved into houses that reside on a golf courses and they hated it. These people are golfers but they said they had more golf balls land in their yard, brake windows and hit their houses. I guess there are really some bad golfers out there. LOL!!!!

[QuinnM]

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She did a great job with the house even though I don't like mid century modern. The kitchen was a big improvement and the island is a great gathering place. I liked the mantel for the fireplace but is wood mid century modern? I thought she was going to tile it but looked plain with a painting hanging over the mantle. The only problem I have is she so close to the golf course.

I really did like the finished Reno.  And like you modern isn't my first choice but I could absolutely live in that house.  I thought she did a good job of managing the scope.  I can see that she likes the high end finishes.  So waiting on her master until she had the financing to do it the way she really wanted was a good thing.

The mantel was just too small.  The statement would be a massive piece of that wood.  It was just undersized to me.

The golf course location is a tricky one.  There are areas that get pummeled and areas where home owners actually have to buy golf balls.  It looked a little like she was off the beaten path.  No green nor tee in site.

[biakbiak]

8 minutes ago, QuinnM said:

The golf course location is a tricky one.  There are areas that get pummeled and areas where home owners actually have to buy golf balls.  It looked a little like she was off the beaten path.  No green nor tee in site.

Not to mention her dog being able to run around off leash but I guess there are some dog friendly courses. 

I also hated the mantel it needed some tile around it or not mantel/different mantel it just looked odd.

The table/island fit the space well and I was amazed how just switching out the patio furniture totally changed the feel of that space. 

[sheetmoss]

She's Susan Hunt - hosted Designing for the Sexes

Susan Hunt is a seasoned network correspondent, host and producer who has engaged and entertained audiences with her own spirit and style. She launched her diverse 20-year media career in her hometown of Buffalo, NY as host of PM Magazine. She has fronted many of cable’s most successful lifestyle series, most recently as co-host of HGTV’s Designing for the Sexes. Susan also hosted the science and technology series Beyond Tomorrow. Based in Sydney, Australia, she traveled the globe, writing and producing segments. An avid sportswoman, she has served as play-by-play announcer and reporter for ABC Sports, USA, ESPN, and the Travel Channel. She was Executive Producer and Host of the ESPN’s LPGA Magazine, the first women's sports magazine show on television.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhunt

Also 

PS- no sound

Edited August 20, 2017 by sheetmoss

[ByaNose]

2 hours ago, sheetmoss said:

She's Susan Hunt - hosted Designing for the Sexes

Susan Hunt is a seasoned network correspondent, host and producer who has engaged and entertained audiences with her own spirit and style. She launched her diverse 20-year media career in her hometown of Buffalo, NY as host of PM Magazine. She has fronted many of cable’s most successful lifestyle series, most recently as co-host of HGTV’s Designing for the Sexes. Susan also hosted the science and technology series Beyond Tomorrow. Based in Sydney, Australia, she traveled the globe, writing and producing segments. An avid sportswoman, she has served as play-by-play announcer and reporter for ABC Sports, USA, ESPN, and the Travel Channel. She was Executive Producer and Host of the ESPN’s LPGA Magazine, the first women's sports magazine show on television.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suhunt

Also 

PS- no sound

I used to love PM Magazine. We had it in Philadelphia but we had different host. It was a time before the glamorous Entertainment Tonight came on. Now, I see why she had such a camera presence. She was very clear on what she wanted and explained really well. She looks great with her blonde hair, too. Her budget didn't seem that big so I was surprised how great the house looked. 

[juliet73]

2 hours ago, ByaNose said:

I used to love PM Magazine. We had it in Philadelphia but we had different host. It was a time before the glamorous Entertainment Tonight came on. Now, I see why she had such a camera presence. She was very clear on what she wanted and explained really well. She looks great with her blonde hair, too. Her budget didn't seem that big so I was surprised how great the house looked. 

I remember PM Magazine - in Chicago though.  I looked up Susan's Linkedin and this is listed as her current job:  

Field Producer

Pie Town Productions

2011 – Present (6 years)Greater Los Angeles Area

Having fronted many of Pie Town's earlier shows as Host, I returned to Pie Town in 2011 where I have held numerous positions within the HGTV House Hunters franchise including Senior Supervising Producer, Field Producer and Director. Currently I am Directing Tiny House Hunters, Prior to that I was Supervising Producer and Director on multiple episodes of House Hunters Renovation shot on location in Buffalo, NY.

[ByaNose]

I like the idea of the island that extended out. Most are just a standard rectangle with 3 or 4 stools in front. In theory, with hers you could have 3 on each side and have people still standing at the end. Even, the different stone colors didn't annoy me as much as it usually does. Maybe, because it was mid century modern I didn't feel,as invested. A lot of the homeowners annoy me with their design choices. So selfish of them. LOL!!!  

[Mittengirl]

Thank you for figuring out where we "know" Susan from!   I kept thinking either HGTV host or sports reporter, but neither quite seemed right.   Was Designing for the Sexes the one with Michael someone (an older gentlemen) and later Lisa Laporte?

 The landscaper that showed up briefly looked somewhat familiar, as well.

[ByaNose]

4 minutes ago, Mittengirl said:

Thank you for figuring out where we "know" Susan from!   I kept thinking either HGTV host or sports reporter, but neither quite seemed right.   Was Designing for the Sexes the one with Michael someone (an older gentlemen) and later Lisa Laporte?

 The landscaper that showed up briefly looked somewhat familiar, as well.

OMG! I forgot about Michael someone. He was always so nice & congenial. I think that's when I started watching HGTV pre High Definition. How did we survive? LOL!!!

[Mittengirl]

Remember when HGTV hosts were nice, calm and quiet professionals, not loud and obnoxious "personalities"?  When they were more interested in design, whether interior or exterior, rather than becoming rich and famous multimedia corporations (Hi, Joanna Gaines!)? 

Those were the days.

Edited August 20, 2017 by Mittengirl

[ByaNose]

I do miss Candice Olsen & Sarah Richardson. Granted, they had outside deals (they all do) but they weren't all over the place wacky. It's funny how HGTV chews up and then spits them out. They go through a wave of loving them and then cleaning house. I miss Selling New York. Remember the Kleiers? The daughters with the big jewelry & even bigger handbags. That was great real estate porn. 

[laredhead]

I loved the result of the Palm Springs house, but I'm a huge fan of MCM and have been before it became cool - again.  It was nice to listen to someone with TV announcing experience and not have to be subjected to vocal fry or other annoying voice mannerisms.

I liked the mantle and thought it fit in with the design.  The kitchen is beautiful and the design material and color choices were great with just a few pops of color.  The designer was a lot of fun too, and he probably has a lot of experience in designing MCM houses in Palm Springs where there are so many of them. 

I hope she appears on a future WATN so we can see the finished master bedroom and bath.

Designer on Designing for the Sexes was Michael Payne.

Edited August 21, 2017 by laredhead
Add content

[Thumper]

On 8/20/2017 at 6:51 PM, ByaNose said:

I do miss Candice Olsen & Sarah Richardson. Granted, they had outside deals (they all do) but they weren't all over the place wacky. It's funny how HGTV chews up and then spits them out. They go through a wave of loving them and then cleaning house. I miss Selling New York. Remember the Kleiers? The daughters with the big jewelry & even bigger handbags. That was great real estate porn. 

I liked "Selling New York" too!  Always got a kick out of them traipsing all over NYC in their stiletto heels!

[suebee12]

Just finished watching the family in Granada Hills, CA who did a huge renovation on their Spanish style house. It was beautiful when it was done but I learned something new on this particular episode. You not only "grow" your family, now you can "grow" your home! The husband said that he wanted to grow the kitchen in the house they chose.

I really liked the couple; they seemed to really like each other and even though she got her Spanish home, the husband did get the clean, sleek style he liked inside. All in all, I really enjoyed this episode and I learned we can grow houses!!!!

[QuinnM]

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I really liked the couple; they seemed to really like each other and even though she got her Spanish home, the husband did get the clean, sleek style he liked inside. All in all, I really enjoyed this episode and I learned we can grow houses!!!!

The wife was born and raised in Souther California and no vocal fry!  I could watch the whole episode!  That's how an educated woman speaks.  They talked about this house so realistically.  It was not a forever home.  It was long term parking.  

I did like the finished product.  Like a lot of these it's not my style but it was done well and the finished product was worth every penny.  

[biakbiak]

I didn't like the vanity in the bathroom, I didn't think that wood color worked with the other finishes.

[Pickles]

Everyone is going with that big patterned tile in the bathroom now. I would get tired of that really fast. I didn't like the gray tile in the shower either, how it was placed at an angle. I also questioned whether the vanity went with the rest of the bathroom. I did like the couple. Their baby was darling.

[ByaNose]

The Granada Hills couple seemed so nice, funny & looked like they actually liked each other. LOL!!! How did they make it through casting? LOL!!! The house was beautiful. The outside of the house with the arches & spanish tile roofing reminded me of the house in the original Parent Trap. Yes, I'm dating myself. The kitchen looked so clean and (almost) put together. I really liked the master bath, too. I'm usually so over that Spanish tile that was used on the accent wall since it seems to be the same pattern used on every HGTV show but it looked great as an accent wall. That said, does HGTV get a discount on that tile pattern? It was pretty crazy that their was no actual fireplace. Like they said, they can see if they want it later or not. Overall, a beautiful home with a really nice couple. I do wish I was rich though. That's the only thing about this show. I get a little depressed afterwards. LOL!!!

[laredhead]

I liked the couple in the Granada Hills episode last night.  I guess every few weeks HGTV has decided to let us have a drama free, vocal fry free, snark free episode and I truly appreciate it.  Did they say what they did for a living?  I know she works from home, but what was her profession?  I would like to have them as neighbors.  

I'm not a fan of that busy patterned tile, but I thought it looked good as a feature wall behind the tub, and it fit with the style of the house.  

[suebee12]

2 hours ago, laredhead said:

Did they say what they did for a living?  I know she works from home, but what was her profession?  I would like to have them as neighbors.

Just checked the recording and he is a Communication's Director for a non-profit think tank and she is a literary agent.

[QuinnM]

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 really liked the master bath, too. I'm usually so over that Spanish tile that was used on the accent wall since it seems to be the same pattern used on every HGTV show but it looked great as an accent wall. That said, does HGTV get a discount on that tile pattern?

It's interesting since I see the cement tile trend only in LA.  But I agree at least it's not the southwest tile.

On another fun note.  Remember the kitchen with the leather cabinet pulls?  The brushed gold hardware?  I saw that hardware at Target yesterday.  So maybe Target is a trend.

[ByaNose]

1 minute ago, QuinnM said:

It's interesting since I see the cement tile trend only in LA.  But I agree at least it's not the southwest tile.

On another fun note.  Remember the kitchen with the leather cabinet pulls?  The brushed gold hardware?  I saw that hardware at Target yesterday.  So maybe Target is a trend.

I haven't seen the leather cabinet pull trend in person. I'll have to check it out when I'm at Lowes. It ain't my taste but I'm sure there's a market somewhere for them.

[chessiegal]

My stepdaughter added a bath to her house, and used the black and white cement tile for the floor. I'm sure she saw it on-line somewhere, because with 3 little ones and another on the way she doesn't have time to watch HGTV. In fact, they don't have cable, come to think of it.

ETA: She lives in St. Petersburg, FL.

Edited August 27, 2017 by chessiegal

[Peanutbuttercup]

Leather cabinet pulls = great chew toys for my dogs. At least on the lower level, it would never happen in my house. And on uppers, they just look weird to me. Like you forgot to get real cabinet hardware so decided to cut up some dog leashes and stapled them up there to make do until you could run to Home Depot.

[laredhead]

I went to an open house recently where the bathroom tile was one of those very busy cement tile patterns.  It was very disconcerting walking in there because it actually created an optical illusion which looked 3D. 

[Peanutbuttercup]

I forgot to say, I really loved the Palm Springs reno (except the wooden beam as a fireplace mantel) and thought the latest So Cal/valley couple reno was fine. I liked the couple a lot and appreciated that they seemed to like each other and not think the most amusing thing they could possibly do is to insult each other.

[chessiegal]

Watching the new Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation tonight. Maybe it's just me, but if I was going to be on tv, I would wash my hair before the cameras rolled.

[MoreCoffeePlease]

Enjoyed the Palm Springs reno as well. Loved the kitchen with the views, large island/table and bar.  One thing I did not like was having the straight run of upper cabinets all the way across, including over the cooktop.  I would not want to have a cabinet in my face while I was cooking.