Hello, my name is
Jenee Darden and I'm addicted to Home & Garden Television.
Granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, double vanity sinks, curbside appeal, hardwood floors. Whew, I'm getting excited!
I took my first hit of
HGTV about six months ago. It was a cold Sunday night. I was channel surfing while chatting on the phone with my sorority sister Jo. You always remember the ones who got you high the first time. I couldn't find anything good to watch.
Channel 5--nothing. Channel 130- "How Do I Look" re-run.
Hmm, what's on TLC?
Awww come on. I've seen this "What Not to Wear" episode twice already.
I settled for watching the last half of "Cold Case." Usually I don't watch mystery shows if I missed the beginning, but I was desperate for some entertainment.
Then Jo said, "You gotta see this. Turn to the Home and Garden channel."
"The Home and Garden channel?," I asked. "I'm not turning to the Home and Garden channel. Only old ladies watch the Home and Garden channel."
"Just turn to it. You gotta see this guy decorate this house. He's crazy," she said.
I reluctantly did a search for this
HGTV channel to find the dial number because Jo and I don't live in the same city. I pressed 7-4 on my remote control and a young Canadian dude popped on
my TV screen, wearing an outfit that looked like something from the "The Breakfast Club." His name is Matthew
Finlason and he's a home
stager. I couldn't turn away as he arranged lamps on glass table tops to bring attention to the living area's large window. Matthew moved so fast the camera could hardly keep up with him. His method of decorating is frantic and free-spirited. Yet he follows the rules of how to stage a home to draw buyers. I was hooked on this show called "The
Stagers."
It gets worse. I kept the dial on 74. Next up was "Property Virgins"(love ya Sandra
Rinomato!), then "House Hunters," "My First Place" and "House Hunters International." Why was I slightly obsessed with watching people buy homes?
"Pick number two, number two!," I yelled to the young couple shopping for a home in Ann Arbor. If only they could hear me.
"No they're going to pick number three," Jo said.
"It makes more sense for them to pick number two Jo, " I argued. "They get more bang for their buck because the bedrooms in the second house are bigger."
The couple made their pick. Jo was right.
Hours passed and by the time "My Big Amazing Renovation," came on, it was 1:00 AM. Jo and I called it a night. But this
HGTV channel felt good. So good that I tried "Color Splash" the next
day. No one can make a room pop with a lime green accent wall like David
Bromstad. Don't worry, I didn't start sniffing paint.
A few days later I was happy to see black decorators. I love watching my fly
sista,
Kim Myles show off her endless talent on "Myles of Style." Lauren Lake is another fly
sista bringing flavor to her show "Spice Up My Kitchen."
I thought I could ween myself once the winter/spring TV season started in January. So I tried talking myself out of pressing 74 on my TV remote.
I can watch other channels. There are good shows on TV that don't involve installing
cherry- wood cabinetry. Right?
It was just my luck
HGTV then debuted "Dear Genevieve" and I got a bigger buzz. YES! I mean, Lord help me.
It took me a while to recognize my addiction. I knew I had a problem when I watched
"My First Place" one night and recognized someone from college buying a home in Denver. I've watched
HGTV so much that I'm starting to see people I know. That's not good.
I've done some soul searching on my
HGTV craze. Want to know why I really love this channel? I'm a dreamer. When I see people shopping and decorating their homes I think about how one day that will be me. One day I will make enough money to buy that 4-bedroom house with the two-car garage, wrap-around porch and plush backyard where my roses and greens will grow. One day I'll write articles for O Magazine from my home office. My clothes will hang in a spacious walk-in closet with custom shelving built for my shoes and hats. I'll take bubble baths on rainy days in a jet tub that rests under a skylight. And I'll relax to the sound of raindrops dancing against the window.
One day I'll have a husband and we'll spend summers in our London flat or Costa
Rica beach house.
Maybe one day someone will yell at their television and tell me to pick house number two.
One day.
Photos from HGTV.com
I used to be an HGTV fanatic too. It started for me when I bought my first home. I tried (but mostly failed) to implement some of the ideas I saw on the screen. It did inspire my interest in home decor. I like the London flat and Costa Rican summer home dreams. However, I think my fantasy primary home is more like Mariah Carey's NYC penthouse featured on MTV Cribs.
ReplyDeleteWow I'm going to have to check out this HGTV.I love shows that give you ideas on how to decorate. Don't let your addiction keep you from writing in Cocoa Fly.
ReplyDeleteTo Erika: I remember that Cribs. Didn't Mariah have a huge swimming pool in her penthouse? I do remember her walk-in closet.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous: You should check out HGTV. If you don't have cable you can look at some stuff on their website. Don't worry I won't let my addiction stop me from writing Cocoa Fly. I only watch it at night.
I don't remember the pool, but the walk-in closet (which resembled a clothing boutique) and the genie room (with 360 degree view of Manhattan skyline) is what sold me.
ReplyDeleteIf you bought her place today it may come with Nick Cannon :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a house hunter and buy me fan!
ReplyDeleteI can understand your dilemma with HGTV. Without cable, I'm able to control the urge. But, I love the before and afters. Oh how I long for the 4 bedroom, walk in closet, kitchen with an island, jacuzzi, gazebo, outdoor bbq, wrap around porch, and the little nook in the bay window upstairs that you can sit in and read a book while it's raining outside. One day, one day.
ReplyDeletegreat
ReplyDelete