Reality shows can actually complicate our jobs as designers and renovators.
Some of their kitchen renovation shows feature fantastic storylines, ridiculously low construction costs, and poor building advice. I’ve watched numerous episodes of the kitchen renovation shows below and rated them from 1 to 5 stars. Overall, the kitchen remodeling TV shows on HGTV are the least authentic, and in some cases more than misleading. Is your favorite kitchen show on our list?
Kitchen remodeling TV shows are rated from 1 to 5 stars.
Flip or flop 2 stars
Tarek and Christina El Moussa, two unsurprisingly photogenic California real estate speculators, buy homes to resell. This show’s remodeling costs are ridiculously low, even by Pennsylvania standards. Christina’s “singing brother” makes the show difficult to watch.
This old house 5 star
The show that started it all. While all construction information is correct, the show is not intended as a low-cost renovation. Instead, the show has evolved over time into a showcase for new construction techniques and provides an interesting backstory on remodeling and design. For that reason, I prefer the early episodes, which were more about hands-on renovations and starred the genre’s forefather, Bob Villa.
Rehab Addict 2 stars
Nicole Curtis is an attractive former Hooters waitress with little building or design experience beyond what she’s gained through her show. Nichole hosts Rehab Addict, a show about historic home restoration. As far as I can tell, the show doesn’t give bad advice. Historic houses can be so fascinating. It’s a pity that this show isn’t more engaging and the designs aren’t more professional.
Property brothers 3 stars
Twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott and prospective homebuyers go through a formulaic process of pretending to choose homes and designs. In reality, all homes and designs are selected before homeowners are found, and while everything about this show is staged, the renovations and designs are creative and tasteful. Unexpected issues also pop up in each episode that a true pro would know about in advance.
Fixer upper 1 star
Chip and Joanna Gaines renovate central Texas with a total lack of realism. The show is as much a fantasy as the walls that Chip crashes through, which never have any rivets. Finding space aliens would be easier than finding walls without frames. If you know anything about remodeling or design, it’s painful to watch this broadcast.
Kitchen crasher 4 stars
Although Alison Victoria’s show is entirely staged, at least it doesn’t appear to be misleading. I suspect Alison is only in the renovated kitchen when the cameras are rolling. While the design ideas are simplistic and uninspired, they’re not bad either, which is refreshing. This show could actually be a lot better with a little more input from some true design professionals.
Home time 5 stars
Dean Johnson has seen a number of female co-hosts over the years, but since 1986 the show has retained its realism and simple, direct explanations of how construction and renovation work is being carried out.
Cousins from the kitchen 1 star
HGTV cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri are contractors who specialize in kitchen renovations. The show is correct and not misleading. However, these two contractors know absolutely nothing about kitchen design, and apparently neither does any of the show’s consultants. Almost every kitchen they design violates basic rules for well-designed kitchens.
I hope the above reviews have given everyone some food for thought. Please continue to enjoy these shows but remember this is entertainment not reality…
…and of course…
Bon appetit!
Paul
