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What do you think of the first show with the two sisters, who have the husband and wife team redecorate their home?

Personally, I think the design was horrible, but the two sisters seemed to like it. I wonder if this is an example of their decorating style. If it is, the first show will be the last one I'll ever watch.

This is the worse decorating style I have ever seen. What ever happened to traditional.

This couple is pushing the bounderies of what interior design can mean and be. The problem with traditional design is that it offers no new solutions for the way people live. A casual and comfortable lifestyle is looked upon as an attainable luxury. Not having to fuss, to give yourself more leisure time is now considered more decadent than Martha Stewart gold leafing anything that isn't nailed down. Even Ralph Lauren has introduced "loft" style chic into his ads with exposed brick walls and steel staircases. I'm sure traditional will be back w in 5 years, just wearing a slightly different hat.

Princie, I agree with you. I won't bother watching their show again. Just not my style.

I've only seen the beach house show and bits and pieces from commercials, so my opinion has room for change:
The Novogratz design style seems to be "opposite of traditional". I understand that, and some of their ideas are fun, but the fun little touches were being overwhelmed by over-the-top funkiness. The pink beach house kinda looked like a design for an 8-year-old's Barbie dream home, especially the bedroom. (I almost threw something at the tv when they put a new hardwood floor in the bedroom and painted it pink!)

I'm ok with their style, it kind of reminds me of punk steamers in candy land, tho.

I think these shows "work" because anything is better than what the HO had before.

I saw the preview of the three bedroom condo which they intentionally did over the top. While there were a few interesting elements, i felt sorry for the people who have to live in that jumbled space after the cameras leave. Everything was so busy and just screamed, there is NO space in the house to go to to have a quiet moment or do anything restful.
I thought the episode in which they did a wall hanging with the shrunken art of the kids was a great idea and everything else has been excessive and makes spaces look unlivable.

There is no one single show that can or will appeal to everyone. I think that just about every design related show on HGTV has something positive to offer someone watching.I understand why Candace and Sarah are so popular, but they both do "pretty" which is easy to like and understand. Antonio, Emily and the Novogratz's offer something different which because of its non coventional nature will appeal to less people. I feel design can be like music. You may not like Punk or Rap (I hate experimental jazz) but something else might come out of those styles down the road which does appeal to you, but which needed its more abrasive anticedent to help it form.

I think i'd watch more of the new shows if i could figure out when they're on. Or pay better attention to the loud commercials for them. :-/

the latest show, the design of an urban loft, was unquestionably one of the worst designs i've ever seen on hgtv. it was jumbled, ridiculous (check out the terrace), and in bad taste. the novogratz' designs have gone from bad to horrendous.
i WILL continue to watch, because their style is SO bad it's funny!

Were they desperate to get a new show on? These people are so chaotic, as is the show. I coudn't believe that the guy threw up (and it looked liked that) the poster or wallpaper of the Asian girlie art above the bed and left it creased and wrinkled! Then he said it didn't matter! I'd love to hear what Vern would say to that! I was left trying to figure out if this show was a joke. Wow. This show does not seem professional.

No offence people, there is nothing wrong with what they do, it's just different from what YOU think is tasteful. Design is an art form and art isn't always pretty. I read on another post that the writer was " offended" by the designs. Isn't that a little overwrought? If you don't like what they do, change the channel. Or better yet, write to Scripps and ask them to make HGTV House Hunters 24/7.

They aren't my personal taste and the one client I talked to about their show was absolutely horrified - however, Charles is right. It's just a different way of doing things and they will appeal to that percentage of people who like this look. The majority of design shows can be watched with an eye to the one thing you can take away from it, perhaps slightly modified, and use in your own space. As he said in another post, the client's reaction is the bottom line and what matters. Although I have my doubts that all the client reactions on HGTV are as enthusiastic as the edited version shows us, in real design life that's the only thing the design professional worries about...a happy client is very good for future business and aside from the paycheck, the reason most of us do this job.

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Originally posted by doodles64:
They aren't my personal taste and the one client I talked to about their show was absolutely horrified - however, Charles is right. It's just a different way of doing things and they will appeal to that percentage of people who like this look. The majority of design shows can be watched with an eye to the one thing you can take away from it, perhaps slightly modified, and use in your own space. As he said in another post, the client's reaction is the bottom line and what matters. Although I have my doubts that all the client reactions on HGTV are as enthusiastic as the edited version shows us, in real design life that's the only thing the design professional worries about...a happy client is very good for future business and aside from the paycheck, the reason most of us do this job.

If I'm ever out west we have to have lunch!

I am so happy to see a new design show that even the Novogratz show is fun to watch. I watch it. I think I read or heard them say that they are self taught. I believe it! I keep waiting for their designs to get better but they get worse. The beautiful penthouse on last weeks show looked like a thrift store showroom by the time they finished with it. The beach condo was an absolute disater. Who would do a master bedroom in bright yellow?????? The clients always look so happy but if they did my house, I would cry!!! LOL I'm looking forward to the next episode to see how they ruin the next house.

Eh it's just early 80s-90s punk design. It's not really new or that interesting to me, nor my style. I probably won't be watching it because I horribly disagree with their taste in what to do to things made from lumber. But then I can't say I agree with some of Candice's Lighting choices either.

Just watched the Home by Novogratz episode of their opportunity to decorate a school music room and the bedrooms of the children whose mother nominated the school for this project. The schoolroom got pillows that were not washable. Not too practical for the money. The boy's bedroom bunkbeds had unfinished wood. People in the Design Star competition have been docked for such actions. I am not too impressed with this show. I always feel as though the Novogratz's take short cuts and are too busy or tired to do a thorough job and listen to the clients needs

Would much rather watch a show like this where eclectic items are incorporated and the style isn't so predictable. Much more interesting than a show like Donna Does Dallas or whatever it's called. Really tacky and too much. Had to change the channel when they said bling for the twentieth time.

The Novogratz's work does have value as an extreme example of youthful design.Every decade has a group of designers who are on the edge. Usually what happens is we reevaluate their work after the trend is "out" and are very critical of the style. But bits and pieces are retooled and reused. The current example is the popular faux wood grain motif which is showing up on vey high end fabrics and wall coverings. It was originally part of the "natural" design language of the 70's that was highly criticized in the 80's. The 80's was filled with 1950's candy colored references that were then critisized in the 90's. But for all that vehement backlash, elements from the 70's and 80's are showing up in design today and being touted as "Fresh!". BTW IMHO "Fresh" is the new "to die for" and I can't wait until it is retired.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Charles D,

I'm not real crazy over their show but I can usually find one SMALL thing I like.

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I coudn't believe that the guy threw up (and it looked liked that) the poster or wallpaper of the Asian girlie art above the bed and left it creased and wrinkled! Then he said it didn't matter! . . . I was left trying to figure out if this show was a joke. Wow. This show does not seem professional.

I found the comment about the creased posters also dismissive. In the same episode, the stripes on the stairs also bled through the tape.

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Originally posted by seriously???:
Were they desperate to get a new show on? These people are so chaotic, as is the show. I coudn't believe that the guy threw up (and it looked liked that) the poster or wallpaper of the Asian girlie art above the bed and left it creased and wrinkled! Then he said it didn't matter! I'd love to hear what Vern would say to that! I was left trying to figure out if this show was a joke. Wow. This show does not seem professional.

The wall paper was put up with the creases to look like handbills for rock bands that get slapped up onto telephone poles or construction site plywood walls.The size of the paper and the quality of the graphics are intentionally meant to look "garage band". If you didn't get that reference these designers are just not for you

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Originally posted by Charles D:

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Originally posted by doodles64:
They aren't my personal taste and the one client I talked to about their show was absolutely horrified - however, Charles is right. It's just a different way of doing things and they will appeal to that percentage of people who like this look. The majority of design shows can be watched with an eye to the one thing you can take away from it, perhaps slightly modified, and use in your own space. As he said in another post, the client's reaction is the bottom line and what matters. Although I have my doubts that all the client reactions on HGTV are as enthusiastic as the edited version shows us, in real design life that's the only thing the design professional worries about...a happy client is very good for future business and aside from the paycheck, the reason most of us do this job.

If I'm ever out west we have to have lunch!

How did I miss this? You're on!

I just watched the show with the black and white floor. That was absolutly the right thing to do. It brought demention stability to the space.

What I like about the Novogratzs is that they are New York-ish, artsy, out of the box thinkers. They literally drip with creativity. My guess is that they could do traditional with their eyes closed and their hands tied behind their backs. It is easy to "do" a "style" that is established. It is hard, really hard, to create something different and new. I think the show is inspiring, even though the final looks for the spaces might not be accepted by many people.

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My guess is that they could do traditional with their eyes closed and their hands tied behind their backs.

Cocok this quote reminds me of a story about a million years ago when I worked in NYC in a big office. A co-worker had a calendar and another man & I were discussing it. I said the art on it looked like it had been done by kindergartners and my friend went into a lengthy explanation of the training and talent and experience etc etc that went into making those drawings. Anyway the owner of the calendar came into the room at this point and I told him about the discussion and what I had thought and he said "yeah, that's right see here on the back it says done by kindergartners etc. etc"

Or to quote Rodgers and Hammerstein in Oklahoma in their song about Poor Jud. The Novogratzs may be able "to do traditional with their eyes closed and their hands tied behind their backs" but because they never showed it. . . we have no way of knowing it!

Not everything that is different is either cutting edge or good. I think their work is appalling although I quite like their own home. I don't like him so may be prejudiced. I thought the duct tape poorly put on the beds was a travesty esp when you consider how easy it would have been to paint the stripes!

I think after another viewing or two I could do a Novogratz room with my hands tied behind my back and my eyes closed. Funny how such originality looks all the same after an episode or two isn't it?

I have no problem with modern, avant garde design. That being said, I just can't wrap my head around the Novogratz's design decisions. They choose pieces seemingly at random without a whole lot of thought as to how it will all look together, & what they end up with is a mish-mash of "trendy" stuff - a lot of which they pay WAY too much for. I just watched the episode where they design a guys' apartment - painting the walls baby blue & hanging giant pictures of a warthog, bear & a deer..& the giant letters spelling out "LUNCH". Every episode I watch they seem to NEED to spell something out on the wall because it's the trendy thing to do. They paid $1200 dollars for a couch that looks like 1970s office furniture - something sane people wouldn't take for free. The biggest problem I have with the show is the complete lack of harmony in every space they are given. Nothing goes together. Why HGTV? Why? I'm all for encouraging people to broaden their horizons in terms of design, but I feel like the Novogratz's just have no idea what they're doing. I'm watching this show with my Dad, who has literally built houses from the ground up - design & all, & he is so horrified by what they do that he feels the they make "eclectic" an ugly word...when it can be an amazing thing when done right. I'm glad to read we're not the only ones who feel this way. We watch HGTV all the time & enjoy pretty much every show but just can't get behind this one.

The Novogratz's are just the latest in a line of trendy reality-based celebrity shows featuring large telegenic families (see Jon&Kate+8 and The Duggars). Their first show, Nine By Design, was on Bravo for awhile; now its latest version is on HGTV. Thankfully, we don't see much of their brood on this show.

According to their official bios, they have about 15 years as fixer-uppers, buying homes for cheap, remodeling them and flipping them. If they have any formal design credentials, it is not mentioned. All well and good.

While Mrs. C is a pleasing, slightly ditzy personality with a decent design eye, Mr. C comes across as a curmudgeon, despite the dimples. (Don't they resemble each other? Spooky.)

Their breezy, letting it all hang out style with its kaleidoscopic colors is not for the faint of heart. I call it disposable decorating for child-centric households. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Just watched another Home by Novogratz. They go to Ree Drummond's ranch to decorate the Drummond girls' room. I tell you, again, I am disappointed by the Novogratz. Their designs wouldn't pass very many rounds in Design Star without getting voted off. They always look amateurish and slightly undone. I love Ree Drumond and she was great to host this couple and their daughters, but seriously, there was no cohesiveness to the room when it was finished. What is supposedly thinking outside the box usually comes across as thrown together. These two seem so clueless. Why not put some more runners up from design star on instead? At least, then we'd know the designer would be someone with talent. Sorry, I am just not a fan of this couple. They must have a heck of an agent to get this gig on HGTV.

I do not like them at all.They are too hipsterish and not very talented. They paint stairs, put words on walls and do many other formulaic things on every show. It's always the same things!

I agree that the Novogratz's are lacking in any design talent. I watched last years shows and was very disappointed in their design style. The couple seem to be unkept & dirty looking. Their children are obnoxious. Maybe they are trying for the avant-garde vibe. But, I feel they truly miss the mark in all aspects of their endeavors. I was surprised to see the show back on the air. I am not watching this season. Where's Antonio & Chewie when you need them!! Loved The Antonio Treatment.

They're not great, but they are different. Given that Ashley Furniture is the most successful furniture chin in the country, I don't mind a crazy breath of fresh air now and then. I'm not hiring them to decorate my house, but I'd rather watch them than,Jamie ( let me go out and have a cocktail while my crew does all my work for me) Drurie, or Dina ( Jersey Mafia Princess) Manzo, or Emily (Snaggletooth) Henderson.

Their personalities are bland but their work is out the box

Can't imagine hiring this seriously attention deficit impaired couple. Impulse, quickly thrown together of whatever odd thing strikes their fancy without any regard to function or practicality. It's all hype, no substance.

I am beyond curious to know if they ever tackled places like unique NY restaurants.
It seems this might be their bailiwick.

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Originally posted by Charles D:
They're not great, but they are different. Given that Ashley Furniture is the most successful furniture chin in the country, I don't mind a crazy breath of fresh air now and then. I'm not hiring them to decorate my house, but I'd rather watch them than,Jamie ( let me go out and have a cocktail while my crew does all my work for me) Drurie, or Dina ( Jersey Mafia Princess) Manzo, or Emily (Snaggletooth) Henderson.

Just came across your post since I rarely read this site anymore. Calling Emily Snaggletooth is uncalled for and rude. Do you have nicknames for all your clients and friends with less than perfect physical features? (I happen to think she looks just fine.)

Wow - this is surprising -- I LOVE the Novogratz's show!

I think what they do is fun and and eclectic and not the same ol' same ol'. It's very urban and hip -- so applying their style to my suburban home and lifestyle probably will never work.

But it is definitely fun to watch!

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Originally posted by Goosie:

quote:

Originally posted by Charles D:
They're not great, but they are different. Given that Ashley Furniture is the most successful furniture chin in the country, I don't mind a crazy breath of fresh air now and then. I'm not hiring them to decorate my house, but I'd rather watch them than,Jamie ( let me go out and have a cocktail while my crew does all my work for me) Drurie, or Dina ( Jersey Mafia Princess) Manzo, or Emily (Snaggletooth) Henderson.

Just came across your post since I rarely read this site anymore. Calling Emily Snaggletooth is uncalled for and rude. Do you have nicknames for all your clients and friends with less than perfect physical features? (I happen to think she looks just fine.)

Calling names is childish and rude.Is Charlie a designer? LOL! That's a good one.

The last episode of the Novagratz was horrible but they had a couple of good ones this season. They are hit and miss.