Seeking Home Renovation Inspiration? Check Out TV and Web Sites

Planning a pricey home renovation or a modest room re-do? HGTV, Fine Living TV and the DIY Network along with their companion websites are great sources of inspiration.

Both HGTV and HGTV.com present a full range of home and garden projects, from simple crafts to big-budget remodels. Many HGTV shows feature design, but focus on different aspects. Designers' Challenge (weekdays at 3 p.m. central time) is a 30-minute capsule of a major room remodel. Homeowners and viewers see plans from three local-area designers, one of whom is selected by the homeowner to oversee the renovation. The drama comes not so much from the selection process, but from the real-life delays and budget over-runs that are common in construction projects. The show begins with the proposals, depicts the project's highs and lows, and ends with a spectacular reveal of the finished room. Designers' Challenge offers viewers a glimpse of how "the other half" renovates and can provide either inspiration or a cautionary tale, depending on how smoothly the project proceeds.

Designed to Sell (weeknights at 6 p.m. CT) offers solutions for homeowners mired in this sticky housing market, and is 30 minutes of instant redecorating gratification. The show focuses on cosmetic updates that include painting, de-cluttering, furnishing and accessorizing to highlight a home's features and give rooms a face-lift. Budget-minded, the show provides homeowners $2,000 worth of materials and an abundance of free, skilled labor, although homeowners pitch in for much of the grunt work. Even if the improvements don't result in an immediate offer, the results are impressive.

Design on a Dime (weekdays at 2:30 CT), as its name implies, demonstrates what you can accomplish with a meager budget and a great sense of style. Three young designers/artists work with $1,000 to transform one room in one day. Designers do the work themselves and room décor is inspired by and themed to reflect the homeowners' interests, which have included Asian, Indian, urban, retro and Hollywood influences. They are masters at refurbishing flea market finds and redesigning to personalize a space and complement existing furniture and art.

The DIY Network also offers a line-up of home improvement shows, emphasizing do-it-yourself building and fixing rather than decorating. For instance, Sweat Equity (program time varies), hosted by licensed contractor Amy Matthews, depicts homeowners tackling renovation projects with the help of Matthew's expertise. The show packs lots of tips into its 30 minutes and demonstrates what novice home-improvers can accomplish when they roll up their sleeves. DIY.com supports the shows by providing practical how-to tips and step-by-step directions for many projects. If you need to fix a leaky faucet, this website is a great place to begin.

On the flip side of Design on a Dime is reDesign with Kenneth Brown on Fine Living TV. Designer/host Brown oversees a major renovation without ever getting his hands dirty. As with Designers' Challenge, the results are fabulous, and probably come with a price tag to match. reDesign (times vary; check website for schedule) offers viewers inspiration for their own projects and highlights cutting-edge design, thanks to Brown's attention to detail and good taste. In contrast to the other websites, Fineliving.com includes specific information on furniture, accessories and other home décor products, with links to directly purchase the stuff. More of a lifestyle website, it also offers recipes and cooking tips, and is the new home for Emeril Lagasse.

Sources:

www.diynetwork.com

www.fineliving.com

www.hgtv.com