“
It’s a chance for the average person to walk into one of your rooms. It shows what decorators do, instead of the stupid TV shows that say you can do it for $5. ”
—
Vicente Wolf, on the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, NY Times
Amen, brother. When I arrived at interior design school (Disclaimer: I’m studying design history) I was pleasantly surprised to hear the anti-HGTV sentiment from quite a few folks (students and teachers). I thought that everyone at school would have a big Craftacular DIY boner for HGTV, especially because at orientation, they trotted out a former student who now has a show on the network (or something). My problem with the network is those CHINTZY shows give mass audiences the idea that they can make their homes look like what they’re seeing on TV for “under $1000”. Personally, I’d much rather watch a show called Design On A Dimebag, where people attempt to decorate interiors while high. [ATTN HGTV: CALL ME. Lets make this show happen.]
The truth is, what gets done by professionals with budgets and assistants and contractors and electrical workers and expediters is not the same as what Bob & Mary Average in bumblefuck Indiana are going to try and recreate with a can of spray paint, some faux branches from Michaels, and a roll of peel and stick something or other. Hey honey, I‘ve got a quirky idea, lets hot glue some pieces of moss on the wall and call it interior design. Oh wait, that’s already ACTUALLY been done, and HGTV actually broadcast it .
No. Sometimes, you really do need to hire a professional. Not to mention, these shows are generally all filler, with about ten minutes of content, after you factor in all the “Here’s what we’re going to show you after the break” and “We’re going to install the floor now,” and then cut to it being finished. Or maybe they’ll give you a montage. These shows don’t teach anyone about design, or the importance of the details. But then again, you’re never going to learn fundamental, basic, timeless design by watching ten back-to-back half hour episodes of House Hunters. What you have to keep in mind is that HGTV is just that….TV. You’re not a designer, or even a decorator, just because you watch it.
FYI – None of this applies to David Bromstad. He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants, wherever he wants… That man is a gift.
Amen, brother. When I arrived at interior design school (Disclaimer: I’m studying design history) I was pleasantly surprised to hear the anti-HGTV sentiment from quite a few folks (students and teachers). I thought that everyone at school would have a big Craftacular DIY boner for HGTV, especially because at orientation, they trotted out a former student who now has a show on the network (or something). My problem with the network is those CHINTZY shows give mass audiences the idea that they can make their homes look like what they’re seeing on TV for “under $1000”. Personally, I’d much rather watch a show called Design On A Dimebag, where people attempt to decorate interiors while high. [ATTN HGTV: CALL ME. Lets make this show happen.]
The truth is, what gets done by professionals with budgets and assistants and contractors and electrical workers and expediters is not the same as what Bob & Mary Average in bumblefuck Indiana are going to try and recreate with a can of spray paint, some faux branches from Michaels, and a roll of peel and stick something or other. Hey honey, I‘ve got a quirky idea, lets hot glue some pieces of moss on the wall and call it interior design. Oh wait, that’s already ACTUALLY been done, and HGTV actually broadcast it .
No. Sometimes, you really do need to hire a professional. Not to mention, these shows are generally all filler, with about ten minutes of content, after you factor in all the “Here’s what we’re going to show you after the break” and “We’re going to install the floor now,” and then cut to it being finished. Or maybe they’ll give you a montage. These shows don’t teach anyone about design, or the importance of the details. But then again, you’re never going to learn fundamental, basic, timeless design by watching ten back-to-back half hour episodes of House Hunters. What you have to keep in mind is that HGTV is just that….TV. You’re not a designer, or even a decorator, just because you watch it.
FYI – None of this applies to David Bromstad. He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, however he wants, wherever he wants… That man is a gift.
