72 replies to this topic

[xingcat]

Anybody else catch this insanely weird show?

It's exactly the same premise as "Four Weddings," where four strangers all judge each other. Except on this show, the competition isn't about weddings, it's about each others' houses. They're judged on originality, livability, and...something else, I can't recall...plus an overall score.

The show could be deadly boring, but the first episode had the most ridiculously perfect set of four people to talk to one another, and I loved it. Two artists, one real estate agent and a stay-at-home mom. The artists were complete whackjobs, the real estate agent was kind of a guy's guy, and the mom was a bit nice and a little too buttoned-up, so they bounced off one another very well. Everybody got along, even though they had almost nothing in common, and the houses were totally different.

The two artists' houses were on the extreme end of things, and the more "normal" folks had houses that people on "House Hunters" would drool over. I thought the winner was unexpected and I totally agreed with the win, based on the criteria.

I expect that contestants will eventually game the system a bit like they do on "Four Weddings," and it'll be tough for the casting agents to find such great mixes of different people, but for the premiere episode, I don't think they could have done any better.

[Maddingcrowd]

I love watching how houses are decorated, but I thought this show was terrible. I can see judging wedding dresses against each other and even venues, but four houses that are totally different? Doesn't work for me. I hated the anti-American Miscka who kept complaining about the first lady's house being too normal. Probably the vast majority of homes in that price range are going to look more or less like Jen's house.

They also will have to look long and hard to continue to find eccentric houses like the ones on tonight's episode. And since originality is one of the criteria,anyone with an oddball house featuring dead body parts in jars has in in.
I would like it better if the houses were more similar as it would fit better with the four weddings theme. For example, in four weddings you don't see three strapless white dresses and one purple long sleeved gown with owls all over it and say which is more original?

[Puds38]

I watched, and I don't think this will work in the long run. It definitely was a polarizing first episode. I didn't like any of those homes. The real estate home looked like a show room. It was all beige, boring furniture. The stay at home mom probably thought she was being eclectic, but all I saw was clutter and waaaaay too many knick knacks. Wacky artist guy did indeed have a macabre sort of Willy Wonka house, and artist chick had a ski lodge by way of Transylvania. Truth be told they are just variations of McMansions. The winner? ::shrug:: I guess I can see that person won, but i doubt I'll be watching this regularly.

[stretchess]

Why didn't they show kitchens? Kitchens, to me, are the most important part of the house. The layout makes such an impact, as well as things like counter space, stove type, fridges, cabinets, pantries etc. Plus, kitchens are often the social hub of the home, so I would think this would be an important part to show.

[maggiethebeagle]

I thought that the stay at home mom looked like Parker Posey's character from Best in Show. I kept expecting a Weimaraner to pop up and her to say "We are so lucky. We are so lucky to have been raised amongst catalogs."

It was definitely a different premise. I loved that two sided copper sink in Transylvania mom's house.

Edited by maggiethebeagle, Jul 4, 2012 @ 8:28 AM.

[myluckeestar]

Artist guy's house was Hogwart's meets Willy Wonka.

LOVED the dig that soccer mom took at artist lady's polyester throw!

[xingcat]

LOVED the dig that soccer mom took at artist lady's polyester throw!
I thought that the stay at home mom looked like Parker Posey's character from Best in Show. I kept expecting a Weimaraner to pop up and her to say "We are so lucky. We are so lucky to have been raised amongst catalogs."

THIS is what I mean about the casting. Could you think of two more diametrically-opposed people than the Transylvanian artiste and the soccer mom? Both were really snarky, but they were kind of delightful in the way they were still just this side of polite when they talked to one another.

It's exactly the right tone. I'm not sure that it's going to keep up (there are only so many acceptably weirdo people to hang with and bizarre houses to see), but I did like the mixture in this first episode.

[iwatchthemall]

I can see judging wedding dresses against each other and even venues, but four houses that are totally different? Doesn't work for me

.

I think this show would fair better if it was a "bang for your buck" type of situation.

[dreamcoat11]

I told myself I wasn't going to watch this show, but then it came on after another show I was watching and I couldn't look away. I find the concept pretty lame - I think it works well enough for weddings, but houses seems like a stretch.

I really didn't like the two "artists" in the first episode. Just too pretentious. And how creepy that the guy had phallic symbols everywhere. Ick.

[Pj3422]

I liked it. Stay-at-home-mom's pitch-perfect imitation of the European lady had me laughing. My favorite was the European lady's house -- dump the yokes, gargoyles and other medieval trappings, and I'd be very comfy there. Loved the headboard in the guest room. I'd also like a day-long guided tour of the Willy Wonka house. Living in a place like that would give me a permanent migraine, but I'd love to hear some of the stories behind what he collected and why he added certain items to the :::ahem::: decor.

[mich9]

I loved it, and totally agreed with who won. Although, if I was househunting I would probably pick the SAHM's house. I liked the outside the best and the house itself looked the most like my style.

I thought the real estate guy's house was absolutely awful. Beige, beige, beige. Zero style or originality. The faux Italian elements and MDF woodwork screamed the Tuscan trend from 10 years ago.

The soccer mom's house was beautiful, but her style was just too much. I don't think she actually has her own style. Every pattern and element in her house was something all over design blogs and available at Home Goods. It looks like she just copies whatever the trends are and uses them all at once: trellis patterns, wallpaper in bedroom, white ceramic animals, antlers, etc.

The artist's was quirky... and insteresting. No words really. I loved his cozy kitchen and wish they showed that more.

Mischka's house was very grand, and a little too dark for me. But overall I thought it had the best combination of originality and livability.

Edited by mich9, Jul 5, 2012 @ 6:09 PM.

[Shermie]

I thought the winner was unexpected and I totally agreed with the win, based on the criteria.

Whereas I thought the win was totally obvious and I didn't agree with it. Mischka surely was a madeup persona for TV; no one can be that obnoxiously pretentious in real life, complete with Eurotrash accent and anti-American digs (why do you live there then?) and still function. And really, "I lahv orrgahnic ahnd nahturalll" says the woman with cheap straw flowers, plastic plums and a polyester throw. I did like some elements of her house, but thought the copper tub was fug, and why was it plopped in the middle of the bedroom. Her house would have been much nicer with more "nahtural" light.

Stay at home mom kept yammering on about how she loves colour, but all I saw was a lot of neutrals. And some very ordinary wallpaper and a blurred blue painting that gave Elvira the vapours for some reason.

Crazy art guy's house looked more like a Ripley's museum and it would be fun to spend a day there looking at all the oddities. But live there? No.

I liked realtor's house the most. Yes, it was cookie cutter Tuscan, but I like Tuscan and the view was fantastic. His patio was to die for. I would replace his schlumpy hippopotamus furniture, but I liked the house.

Not sure where this can go. Like Four Weddings, some participants are going to grade based on what they like personally rather than how the wedding (or house) reflects the person or meets their needs.

[deadpanlady]

I wanted Real Estate Guy to quit shouting "HEY!" already.

[Sugarwater]

I've never seen Four Weddings, but Four Houses was almost exactly like BBC America's Come Dine with Me minus the cooking. I love Come Dine with Me, so I'm hoping I'll continue to enjoy Four Houses. I'll keep watching.

Edited by Sugarwater, Jul 9, 2012 @ 6:43 PM.

[deadpanlady]

As pretentious as Morticia struck me at first, I did agree with her when she was a little impatient with the other two contestants' "Eew, gross!! What is that?!!" in Ricky's Science Room. Sure, it's odd (for you), but it's about the experience of the home and all the elements in it. I'll keep watching, too.

[Sourire]

I think a different format would work better. The scoring is just so arbitrary and subjective. If they had lets say 4 colonial style houses, 4 modern, or 4 adobe, etc it would make more sense to compare them, but then the mix of people (and the reactions) would not be as interesting. I like seeing the comments and thoughts during the tour and would be fine without any type of scoring.

Episode 2: I can't be the only one who wanted to smack Matt, right? Did he have a single positive thing to say about any of the other three houses? Plus (in my opinion) he has no room to talk, as his house is not only tacky, but a real estate nightmare. Talk about "nicest" house in the neighborhood syndrome. Who builds an over-the-top Italian-esque house like that in the middle of a very suburban older residential section of Merrick (which I also might add is not the Hamptons)?!

[BuddhaBelly]

I thought Monty's house was the best.

[Cheezwiz]

I'm with everyone else who is dubious about how long this show will last, but I've been enjoying the looky-loo aspect.

Episode 2 absolutely cracked me up. Something about the combo of those different personalities was really funny. With the exception of Matt - who didn't have positive comments for anyone's home - they all seemed really good natured and eager to have fun. I was was laughing out loud when they were playing around with the scalp-massager they found in the closet, and when Monty was startled by Matt's crazy toilet.

For styles on this one:

French Carribean themed house - I don't really care for ranch style homes, but his use of colour was striking, and looked consistent throughout the house. He had enough pops of colour to be noticeable, but it wasn't busy or overwhelming, & everything seemed to flow nicely.

White House - again, not my style, interior or exterior (I found the exterior bland and featureless), but she definitely put her imprint on the look of the inside. I did like her glamorous bedroom - looked like something from a 1930's movie.

Mediterranean McMansion- well this one was hideous inside and out. It was entertaining for its absolute tackiness. Sadly, there are many people who think this is the height of style.

Shingle-Gambrel style house - I'm more a fan of traditional style homes, so normally I'd go for this one, but something seemed to be missing. I loved the exterior & patio, but the interior seemed to lack personality or something. The wallpaper was unusual in the dining room, but the rest of the house had that "new build" look. Although very beautiful, it lacked charm or character, or something I couldn't put my finger on. I actually loved the mini-gambrel roofed pool-house, and would be happy living in that!

I guess I liked Monty's house the best, because his home seemed like it was on a more modest human scale.

Edited by Cheezwiz, Jul 10, 2012 @ 1:47 AM.

[ConnieV]

I've watched, but don't think I can take another one. Four catty people bragging on themselves while being snarky about the million-dollar-plus homes of the others for a chance to win $10,000 dollars is actually worse than the Gypsies.

[wideright]

Talk about "nicest" house in the neighborhood syndrome. Who builds an over-the-top Italian-esque house like that in the middle of a very suburban older residential section of Merrick (which I also might add is not the Hamptons)?!

That area on the water is being built up like gang busters. On some streets, it is the older original split levels or high ranches that look out of place. But I agree, that one in particular was just....special!

[livinggreen]

This show kind of reminds me of 'Moving Up' except that the bitchy comments are minimal.

[myluckeestar]

Can we get Monty his own show? I LOVED him! I guess I liked his house the best.

Matt needed a knuckle sandwich. Talk about a superiority complex. Gah. His house totally reflected his personality. Over grown little boy house.

The women were nice enough and their homes were just average. I did love the Hollywood bedroom.

I completely do not get the 10 grand prize. That's pocket change for people in multi-million dollar homes. It seems like the winner should donate it to a charity of their choice or something. *shrugs*

[maggiethebeagle]

Count me in on the Monty love. So glad he won! Fave moment...when the other three were looking over his house and he was out in the car reclining & reading....and his reaction to the robo-toilet. As soon as Matt gave the first house a 3 I figured he'd score the rest of the houses low as well. I wondered if it wasn't some flawed way of thinking he'd be stacking the deck in his favor?


Edit b/c what is the deal with the font crap and added programming language????

Edited by maggiethebeagle, Jul 10, 2012 @ 9:08 PM.

[Sugarwater]

I didn't like any of the houses in the Dallas episode and I couldn't decide if I liked Meredith or not. She was quite the snarky one wasn't she?

[clemens]

Has Meredith been on some other one-off cable reality show? Either I'd seen her before somewhere, or she strongly reminds me of someone I didn't place.

Edited by clemens, Jul 17, 2012 @ 8:09 PM.

[ChelleStL]

Clemens: I thought the same thing about Meredith. I finally realized she reminds me of Michelle Money who was a contestant three (i think it was three... could be four) seasons ago on The Bachelor. Is that who you're thinking of?

[livinggreen]

Someone correct me if i'm wrong: Three of the four houses were listed at $1,000,000 or more but the second house was listed at $176.000 ? If that's correct, why have a house worth less then $200,00 compete against million dollar houses?

[doublebungalow2]

I kinda got the idea that Britni got the best grades from the others because she never said anything catty when viewing the homes. I wonder if the others thought " she isn't snarking on the home they were seeing, so I bet she wasn't snarking on mine."

[Spudmuffin]

I kind of loved Meredith...she was just so unabashedly snarky ( and medicated, I suspect) that for me it was kind of fabulous. Plus she did have some nice things to say about the things she actually liked. Overall, I thought that all four houses were kind of bland. The vintage kooky house was poorly executed, but I see what she was going for.

[friendperidot]

Last night's show had more variety than the previous week. Didn't care for the winning house, too much empty space with the open floor plan. Didn't like the changes in flooring, would have had better flow if the flooring had been the same. I do understand the focus of those gorgeous windows, but the living room area wasn't finished - a huge tv & a huge couch, there may have been a small table or two. Did like the media room and her closet was bigger than my house, but overall not liveable, not original, bland. The artist's boat I did like, it could have had less and been more liveable, but I love color, bright colors & lots of color. I liked the repurposing of things. The artist herself was trying a bit too hard, jumping on beds, getting in hot tubs, but I thought her critiques of the other spaces was spot on. It tickled me that the winning woman "got" her boat. The Queen Ann was a gorgeous building, beautifully restored, but it didn't have to be all period all the the time - except for the kitchen. I thought it could have used some mixing of styles, and more comfort, wasn't liveable to me. The wine and slippers guy's house was boring and cliche, especially his "man cave". He also didn't "get it" that not everyone wants a tv & recliner in every room in the house or boat.