With the expansion of cable television, one excellent choice is the Home & Garden Channel, which offers decorating, craft and gardening shows. Here are a few of my favorite half-hour programs.


Cash in the Attic
With expert help, homeowners rummage through their house for objects that might sell well at auction. There is a monetary goal to buy the family something they want (ex: hot tub, room remodeling, new appliances, vacation money). It’s always interesting to see how items sell at auction.

Design on a Dime
A design team tackles the challenge of adding style to a room for under $1,000. This great program offers cost-saving ideas to add interest and a wow-factor to rooms. At the end of the show, expenses are totaled to show how the money was spent.

Get Color!
Jane Lockhart has a unique way of presenting color options to home owners looking to liven their current living spaces. It’s fascinating to see how colors are presented and the different effects color can give rooms. If you are color-challenged, this is a must-see program.

If Walls Could Talk
Many times owners doing renovation of older homes discover the unexpected. Some finds include a hidden room with a beautiful wall mural, love letters secreted in an antique bench, a large amount of cash wedged into a piano. It’s fascinating to hear the history behind these discoveries.

Junk Brothers
Steve and Jim Kelley scavenge curbside throw-aways. Each brother brings back to the workshop one item and revamps the old into something completely different. Then they return the new items to the original owners. Transformations have included a kitchen table into a pool table, an oven range into a barbeque, a bicycle into a ceiling fan.

Landscapers’ Challenge
Three landscape designers present their plans to homeowners. The homeowner picks one designer to complete the project. Most of the program focuses on design presentations. I wish this program included more detail on the steps taken from the blueprint to the end result.

Mission Organization
Vanquish clutter and learn excellent organizational techniques through this program. Various home owners present one room that is in desperate need of attention. An organizing expert guides the family through the de-cluttering process.

Sensible Chic
Home owners select a designer look they want to duplicate in their homes ... on a budget. The design team tackles a room item by item to duplicate the designer look for a lot less money. It’s especially interesting when well-known designers appear on the show to offer their opinions on what works and doesn’t to duplicate their original designs.

Simply Quilts
Hostess Alex Anderson provides how-to information about various quilting techniques, quilt history and all things quilting. Guest quilters demonstrate their specialties. There are fun projects to view and interesting places to visit. I learned how to make perfect quilted circles from this program. Unfortunately, this wonderful show is now in repeats with no new episodes planned.

That’s Clever!
This show used to be titled “Crafters Coast to Coast”. Each show features several crafters from around the country. These aren’t your traditional crafts ... each talented person has a unique twist that makes this show fun to watch. Segments include wall art, jewelry, soft sculpture, stained glass, just to name some. I will never forget the woman who created purses from a rainbow assortment of duck tape.


Rose Bowl Parade

Every year I watch the Rose Bowl Parade on the H&G Channel. The first live showing of the parade is without commercials, and they always have fascinating facts about the flora used in the floats. They do an excellent job of presentation!


Summary

These shows are just a few of the many offerings from the Home & Garden Channel. Programming is heaviest in the home decorating area. If you are interested in design, crafting or gardening, this is definitely a television channel to explore.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com

Copyright 2006 Dawn L. Stewart

This is an entry in the Lean-n-mean Five.

Recommended: Yes

Average Program Rating: TV G -- general audiences