Extreme Unrealistic Reality Show: Home Edition
Submitted By: buildingprocess on 6/25/2006 at 01:45:26 AMTags:
It’s no secret that reality television runs rampant on practically every channel. Now that trend has made its way into home and garden shows, such as Design on a Dime, Sensible Chic, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
But, just like most reality shows, these programs are anything but realistic; the footage is magically edited for a better storyline and to give the viewers the instant gratification of seeing the finished product. As a result, some viewers are misinformed as to the amount of time and effort it actually takes to accomplish these monumental tasks.
For example, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builds a home in seven days. So why is your contractor taking six months? Well, take into account that the show has a crew of hundreds, they aren’t working on any other projects at the time, they’re working 24 hours a day, and many of the houses are pre-fabricated. Even then, it’s always a stretch to get the house done before the family comes home. Plus, they don’t show you how they’ve been preparing for weeks prior to get the right permits, scout the area, and work out all of the logistics.
Besides misleading the public as to the amount of time major home renovations can take, many shows take on these big projects with a miniscule budget. Programs that promise to show you how to overhaul a room for under $2,000 or $500 don’t include the cost of professional labor. Sure you can reupholster a chair for $70, but do you know how to reupholster a chair yourself? Can you sew your own drapes? Do you have time to scour countless flea markets and thrift shops until you find a credenza for $100? These shows have several designers and contractors to perform the makeovers. Those professionals are hired to make sure that they can turn the inexpensive materials they find into aesthetically-pleasing designs, regardless of whether those designs are particularly functional or safe. Furniture made of spray-painted particle board may look okay, but it’s probably not sturdy enough to be an adequate substitute for an Ethan Allen end table.
Another misconception that home improvement shows tend to perpetuate is that anyone can do a major remodel on their own; that a weekend warrior can tackle a kitchen remodel without the help of skilled laborers. It simply isn’t true. There’s a reason professionals are referred to as “skilled”. Even a team of professionals can take weeks to finish even a modest kitchen remodel because there is so much that goes into it, such as design, budgeting, selecting materials, hiring contractors, ordering products, scheduling, demolition, and construction.
It is important to note that these programs have not had a strictly negative effect on viewers. They have helped the audience to step outside the box and learn about how important color is to design. People aren’t painting their walls beige anymore. They are learning about the importance of focal points in a room. They are learning about flow and functionality and how they might achieve that. Those are good things. Just remember: good design doesn’t just happen in 26-minute increments; it takes careful planning, patience, and expectations to get good results.
But, just like most reality shows, these programs are anything but realistic; the footage is magically edited for a better storyline and to give the viewers the instant gratification of seeing the finished product. As a result, some viewers are misinformed as to the amount of time and effort it actually takes to accomplish these monumental tasks.
For example, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition builds a home in seven days. So why is your contractor taking six months? Well, take into account that the show has a crew of hundreds, they aren’t working on any other projects at the time, they’re working 24 hours a day, and many of the houses are pre-fabricated. Even then, it’s always a stretch to get the house done before the family comes home. Plus, they don’t show you how they’ve been preparing for weeks prior to get the right permits, scout the area, and work out all of the logistics.
Besides misleading the public as to the amount of time major home renovations can take, many shows take on these big projects with a miniscule budget. Programs that promise to show you how to overhaul a room for under $2,000 or $500 don’t include the cost of professional labor. Sure you can reupholster a chair for $70, but do you know how to reupholster a chair yourself? Can you sew your own drapes? Do you have time to scour countless flea markets and thrift shops until you find a credenza for $100? These shows have several designers and contractors to perform the makeovers. Those professionals are hired to make sure that they can turn the inexpensive materials they find into aesthetically-pleasing designs, regardless of whether those designs are particularly functional or safe. Furniture made of spray-painted particle board may look okay, but it’s probably not sturdy enough to be an adequate substitute for an Ethan Allen end table.
Another misconception that home improvement shows tend to perpetuate is that anyone can do a major remodel on their own; that a weekend warrior can tackle a kitchen remodel without the help of skilled laborers. It simply isn’t true. There’s a reason professionals are referred to as “skilled”. Even a team of professionals can take weeks to finish even a modest kitchen remodel because there is so much that goes into it, such as design, budgeting, selecting materials, hiring contractors, ordering products, scheduling, demolition, and construction.
It is important to note that these programs have not had a strictly negative effect on viewers. They have helped the audience to step outside the box and learn about how important color is to design. People aren’t painting their walls beige anymore. They are learning about the importance of focal points in a room. They are learning about flow and functionality and how they might achieve that. Those are good things. Just remember: good design doesn’t just happen in 26-minute increments; it takes careful planning, patience, and expectations to get good results.
