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Please bring back more decorating shows such as...GET COLOR
MY PARENTS HOUSE
DESIGN REMIX
DESIGN ON A DIME
Sensible chic

These 'classic'decoating shows that Engage, teach, and entertain the audience. Some real estate is great (house hunters, property virgins)but much more than that (la listings)is ostentatious and just too much impractical real estate.

I absolutely agree with you. How I miss the old shows. I was thinking the other day during one of HGTV's 5-6 hour marathon of the same show how nice it used to be to have variety. I used to be able to tune in at anytime of the day and find a great show to watch. I too really miss all the decorating shows. Now between all the real estate shows and the "life styles of the rich and famous" shows I hardly even recognize HGTV anymore. Will they ever listen to their viewers?

Add Decorating Cents and Room by Room to that list!

While we are at it, add Freestyle with Aaron Foster (not horrible twitchy Evan Farmer), Simply Quilts and Colour Confidential. Although Jane has a great new career in Progressive commercials. Hey, here's an idea -- run the shows again. I used to be so happy watching these shows (and the ones listed in previous posts) that I wish I'd known they were going away and I'd have recorded them all. HGTV sell us the series we like on DVD.

I was a fan of most of the shows listed back in the day, but for shows like Decorating Cents and Room by Room-- you may discover how dated they really are.
I discovered that when watching DIY network's That's So 80's show on Saturday night.

The premise of the show is to snark on popular then, now bad 80's decorating.
From time to time they'll use video clips from Room by Room,Decorating Cents, Joanna Liebler's Room For Change to emphasize the bad decorating. Since many of them were on trend, they're now hopelessly dated.
Ironically, those shows were on in the 90's.

That said, I still think those old shows are still a good primer for technique and process.

For those interested a new episode of Colour Confidential is coming back on 6:30am on October 9th

Although Jane has a great new career in Progressive commercials.
That's not Jane

Sorry, but Decorating Cents and especially RXR were among the dowdiest shows ever produced. Engaging hosts, but lacking any sense of style or sophistication. My DH called them "hick-y." What I learned from watching them was NOT what to do. Please do not resurrect them; let them rest in peace.

As for learning about design on TV way back when, the only show that gave me insights, basic information and a good belly laugh was Christopher Lowell, which was NOT an HGTV show. His Seven Steps method remains a useful primer for beginning decorators.

The best sources of design for me have always been and still remain books and magazines, the dead-tree versions and the snappy online ones.

I agree design trends have changed and most people are interested in a new take on decorating. That said the main complaint seems to be that HGTV has departed from decorating and gardening shows in favor of "Home Entertainment" shows featuring drama filled reality type formatting. It would be nice to see current decorating and gardening shows that show you how to achieve the results without a crew of contractors and tons of money.

Amen! To Susan2214. I agree with it all--programs are commpetitive & nerve-wracking. Bring back decorating with common folk & gardening. I hardly watch anymore.

Just to note
Matt and Shari are still on TV - PBS not HGTV they have a website mattandshari.com

I have heard Paul James is headed there as well.

quote:

Originally posted by sheetmoss:

I discovered that when watching DIY network's That's So 80's show on Saturday night.

The premise of the show is to snark on popular then, now bad 80's decorating.

That said, I still think those old shows are still a good primer for technique and process.

I watched that show and what a waste of time. It was snarky and rude.

I just caught an episode of a new show, Design Wars, that was on during the day. It's a remix of the old Designers' Challenge, but the designers actually do a mini design rather than a presentation to compete for the job. What I like is that the designers give a rationale for their choices, which is informative for the viewers. That is what I watch HGTV for, ideas and perspectives that I would not likely have. I look forward to more episodes.