NEW TO VIEW IN 2011

Hello! Hello! Hello! Hope everyone has enJOYed the first week of the new year! How have you spent yours so far? Have you made resolutions for change? Are you starting a new career venture? Any big travel plans on your agenda? Now that the decorations have been put away and the family has packed up and all gone home, have you had any time to check out some new shows airing on HGTV? I had spent  some time on New Years Day checking out the new shows... which by now have aired this week...



I really liked three of the new shows: Cash and Cari, Selling New York and especially Candice Olson's new show - Candice Tells All. What I liked most about Candice's new show was the more realistic approach it had to showing more of the behind the scenes effort it takes to putting together her signature look. She has several assistants aiding her in executing her vision. The assistance do everything from sourcing accessories and furnishings to textiles for window panels and custom pillows. And you thought she did it all? With as many projects as she has happening simultaneously, plus keeping her high level of standards - you just can't do it alone.

The first episode of Candice Tells All reviewed the principle of indestructible design, which included using sturdy and durable materials. And like Candice says, "You may not have the fireplace, but you do have the wall that you can make a focal point with a statement color or a statement wallpaper."

These ladies sell the VIEW...

NYC hot properties is all about the view...

A new season of Selling New York has also begun. Although it isn't necessarily a new show, but new situations and dramatic lux interiors are always an inspiration ~ especially when set in such a spectacular gem of a city like New York... The lofty listings are always an inspiration!

For the complete other end of the spectrum (those of us not living in lux but in the thrill of the thrift) there is a new show called Cash & Cari. I enjoyed watching Cari's hunting and gathering of treasures from trash... (chic version of American Pickers) I also especially enjoyed seeing how Cari's crew collected, cleaned-up and repaired the finds for Cari to resell - in a barn, for her Estate Sales. I wish South Florida had something like that... For now I guess I'll stick to thrifting =)

From Emily's blog post today: "... while I don't have an exact date, expect end of February early March for the series to start airing."

 

Some other programs in the works and expected to air later on in the year are Secrets From A Stylist and HGTV'd. For HGTV'd, a HGTV designer will travel across America in a red 18-wheeler, surprising fans with jaw-dropping makeovers and over-the top home transformations. Since Saturday, January 1, 2011, potential candidates have been going to HGTV.com to upload room photos & videos (same format as RMS) showing the rooms in their homes in desperate in need of a makeover - and warning - some of those spaces have been FRIGHTENING!!! A lucky homeowner will be chosen for the series and will receive an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime fantasy makeover, along with the chance to appear on HGTV - WITH - a celebrity designer!!

Sabrina Soto

Genevieve Gorder

The makeovers will be created by HGTV stars such as David Bromstad (Color Splash), John Gidding (Curb Appeal: The Block), Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve), Sabrina Soto (Get It Sold and Real Estate Intervention) and Vern Yip (HGTV Design Star). Each week will feature a designer driving up in a specially outfitted HGTV’d truck - ready to transform outdated family rooms, dull basements and boring backyards - into astonishing, one-of-a-kind spaces.

Vern Yip

John Gidding

David Bromstad



The series is expected to premiere in summer 2011.

Looks like a great new year of design inspirations and network newness. Speaking of the new year, newness, and HGTV ... I have some exciting news to share with you shortly ... and it will also explain last weeks absence from posting to the blog =)

A KITCHEN TRANSFORMATION

This morning, we had an appointment we made through the Miami Home Design Show with a company called Granite Transformations. Although we've seen their commercials before, and had wanted to inquire about their product, we just weren't ready for the project of the "dreaded kitchen makeover". Although the market is soft (especially down here in South Florida), we've been wanting to modernize our builder-install washed out white kitchen, and this seemed like a duable means to manage.

Throughout the years we've been living in our town-home, it's been "ok", but the sandy colored mica counter-tops have seen better days (especially with my coffee and Jeff's red wine). At the home show, we set-up the consultation with Granite Transformations. Their product profile reads as:

"A fusion of granites provides a countertop that fits on top of your existing without having to remove or dispose of your existing countertop. Our stone is heat, stain, and scratch resistant, and unlike ordinary stone, never needs to be sealed. A maintenance free surface to last a lifetime!"

Advertising had led me to believe their product was more like bath fitters, but this is not the case. I also thought they were only local to South Florida... again: not the case. This company is a sub-company of a global establishment, designing for locations such as for Versace in Italy, to homes in Australia & Canada, to even retailers like Diesel, and tile installations from artful mosaics in bathrooms, and even the exterior of a condo building right here in Miami Beach. But more on their work at another posting...

For our kitchen transformation, we wanted to work with our existing cabinets, but still tie into all the dark (black, grey, brown) decor in our home... while keeping resale value in mind. I don't care for the business of granite, nor does my husband... and although I wanted a dark counter, I didn't want black (and Jeff agreed) because it would look too contrasting with the more traditional styled door front of our cabinets. They did have a more off-black-charcoal gray that fulfilled our request - but with two finishes: a more matt and sold or one with a dusting of sparkle.

At first, I was so sure I didn't want any sparkle, but it actually did add dimension and compliment the silver and mirror accents in our home. Our consultant, Eric Jaramillo, than pulled out another sample with larger actual flecks. Thinking it might be too much for all that counter surface, it would compliment the breakfast bar area by making look more special,  and add a transitional focal point to the kitchen / living area.

Since we set the appointment through the home show, we were also offered a special discount for a full height back splash. We were both reluctant at first to even consider their backsplash selection (because we didn't care for what we saw at the show). We thought we might have gotten a better deal doing the backsplash ourselves, and also find a better selection to choose from on our own. But then Eric mentioned how many more samples they had choose from, brought in a suitcase full of sample books, and let the showing begin...

I've always liked the look of the glass mosaic tile, but it seems many others are catching on to the trend. The other style backsplash I've really been drawn to is a style Candice Olson features in her kitchen makeovers: subway tile. He pulled out a sample book and when he opened it and I was IN LOVE. It's a smokey grey petite subway-styled tile. Since our kitchen walls are already a cinderblock grey (from RL Paints) it would work with our color flow, but add depth from its' shimmer & shine.

This was without a doubt THE 'one'. And I thought, "oh no... I probably selected the highest priced one."  Jeff and I were both pleased to discover, it was the same price as the basic looking tile we had seen at the show. It's going to create a subtle banding effect, without looking too busy, overpowering, graphic, or trendy... which are the elements you do not want to install when thinking of adding resale value.

This mini-makeover is just the little update this eight-year-old kitchen needs, without breaking the bank or outdoing the Jones's. Our new neighbor just installed new 18"x18" tile throughout downstairs, but still has the builder white kitchen. I asked Eric what the trend in sales has been - are more people transforming their kitchens with this product to sell? or to stay and live in their homes? He said a little more than half are modernizing their mica counters to live in now, to be updated when the market turns around, and all at minimal expense and time to install.

Although some of the tile is imported from Italy, their North American Corporate Headquarters is located here in Miramar, Florida and they manufacture all of their Trend Stone and Trend Glass products in Sebring, Florida. They are just checking the availability of stock for the back splash (called KARMA). Then another partner will come out to measure again and make a template of our existing countertops. After they prefabricate our counter AND backsplash templates, they'll come back and complete the install in ONE DAY. We also got a transferable ten-year-warranty for additional value added at the time of resale, along with an included under-mount 60/40 artisan sink as a part of the design show promo. And as an extra added bonus to us, we were given an additional 5% discount as a courtesy because of a mishap that happened with a prior schedule date.

Pleasant, professional, and knowledgeable customer service from Territory Sales Manager Eric Jaramillo, merged with affordability, durability, and a stylish global product from Granite Transformations (who also features an entire line of recycled product, which Carter Oosterhouse installed and featured on HGTV's Red Hot & Green show) makes this a true value add to our home. 

Eric said he's excited about this particular project because the selections made, he hasn't seen together before. He's looking forward to coming back to see the end result, and take photos to include as client examples to show other potential clients... speaking of which, since he had complimented our home of the furnishings, colors, and photography, I gave him a few contact cards to pass out to his clients if anyone is in need of a redesign consultation.

Stay tuned for this kitchen transformation... and in the meantime... I'm now headed out to do some hunting and gathering for the best redesign client in the world: my mother. Around this time last year, I had redesigned my mother's Florida townhome from being stuck in the 80's to come into the millennium. This year, she's ready to renew her tired covered patio. So this years transformation for mom project is a Spring patio spruce up!

lynda's mom & dad

Have you ever used this product before?

What do you think of it?

A Decade of (HGTV) Design

Designed by Sarah Richardson

I feel for those having HGTV dropped from their programming schedule today. HGTV programming has come a LONG way over the past decade. With the new programming starting today this was just poor timing...

Kenneth W. Lowe (then a radio executive with The E.W. Scripps Company and subsequently CEO of Scripps Networks Interactive) envisioned HGTV in 1992. With modest financial support from the E.W. Scripps board he purchased Cinetel, a small video-production company in Knoxville, TN, as the base and production hub of the new network.

Remember back in the 90’s, when we dreamed of living in the apartments of FRIENDS or FRAISER? Well that’s when HGTV began. The channel which originally started as the "Home, Lawn, and Garden Channel", was then launched during the month of December of 1994. The name was later shortened to be the recognizable logo of HGTV. It now reaches 94 million households in the United States with partner networks located in Canada, Japan, and elsewhere.

HGTV has undergone some serious program changes through the years, especially in the past decade. Remember Designing for the Sexes, where host and designer Michael Payne would try to ‘merge’ a couples design styles together? His show started in 1998, which was the year I first learned about HGTV. Every weekend, I’d sit in my apartment, on my HP PC, using then Prodigy dial-up as my internet access. When I wasn’t on the web, I’d be sitting at my drafting table, drawing up next weeks’ school project. And now, his then assistant, Lisa LaPorta co-hosts a staging show called Designed to Sell. What an incredible inspiration and tool for learning HGTV has been.

Debbie Travis, host of Face Lift

Some of the changes have been good. I didn’t particularly care for the Carol Duval Show or Room By Room, but I’d watch them anyway because I was eager to learn about decorating. One of the shows I do miss was Debbie Travis Facelift. She added character to her program and showed people how to make that drawing a reality. I also enjoyed watching how Chris Casson  Madden, although kinda snooty, would interview people and add wonderful visual descriptions to her Interiors By Design. Although I never got to meet her, I did get to work with her merchandise. From her I learned a valuable important design lesson: “Design is not just about how something looks but also how it feels.”

Candice Olson, host Divine Design

As HGTV became more popular, it started programming some more modern design programs like Candice Olson’s Divine Design, Kenneth Brown’s RE-Design and Karen Mcaloon’s Design Re-Mix and Find Your Style. As the ‘RE’ generation began to take off, HGTV picked up the pace with a little designers’ competition and added Designers Challenge. Design Star brought us David Bromstad’s Color Splash and Kim Myles Myles of Styles. But that competition was just the tip of the designing iceberg: in comes the ever interactive Rate My Space!

That sort of high-tech design competition needed a high energy and explosive personality of Angelo Surmelis. Although he started on HGTV with 24 Hour Design, he quickly gained even more popularity through host his show and NEW pod-casts of Rate My Space. What other programming do you watch where you could post YOUR OWN creations on the web, get overdue recognition or constructive critism, and be engaged with an extensive network of people, all from the comfort of your HOME office? (ok, ‘maybe’ facebook, but they don’t have a TV show - yet)

Angelo Surmelis, host of Rate My Space

Several other programs have been added and offer variety from several facets of design. HGTV still has its weekend warrior shows like Hammer Heads, its green programming with Carter Can and garden shows like Gardening By The Yard. And it’s kept in tune with the wonderful world of real estate with The Stagers, The Unsellables, Get It Sold, and the (way) over shown House Hunters. But I’m ready for something fresh in the New Year.

Antonio Ballatori, host Antonio Treatment

Although I’m devoted to Karen, Candice and Angelo, I’m going to be tuning into Antonio, Jamie, and Sarah. I’m proud to say I voted for Antonio and LOVE the take on him being the ‘Rebel of Re-Design’ with his show, The Antonio Treatment. Not for anyone particular reason, but I’m also looking forward to learning more about creating exterior spaces with Jamie Durri’s The Outdoor Room.




 

A new take on reality TV and design competition will be the new show the Design Interns. Having studied interior design (but not completing due time conficts with work), I'm sure this show will be making an emotional connection. I believe HGTV needed this new addition to keep on top of similar program on other networks (ie: Launch My Line, Tabathas's Salon Takeover, and Project Runway). It may add a little drama, but that's what makes it real (and I'm sure it will be an engaging topic on facebook)
 
But by far, the new show I'm most looking forward to is Sarah Richardson's program, Sarah's House. Not that I'm comparing her, but.... she does have a similar style to Cadice Olson: Modern Elegance. But her personality will be different...
 

Sarah Richardson, host Sarah's House

As you can see, I'm a fan of HGTV. Through the years of their programming, I have learned how to develop my style. The largest testimony of that developement can be seen HERE, where I have several posting of our home on RATE MY SPACE.  My inspiration for posting was due to their advertisement for Rate My Space, as well as one favorite post made by RMS'r sadiapz back in 2007. I'm looking forward to this year... I'm like a sponge, ready to absorb DIY tricks, new color combinations and learn new writing techniques.

Rate My Space Uploads by Lynda Quintero-Davids

Thanks for visiting Focal Point today. 

What are some of your fav HGTV programs?