The Design Collective Group, Inc.
  • Welcome Home
  • Who .
    • Contact Us.
  • In My Humble Opinion
  • What .
  • When .
  • Where .
  • Why .
  • How .
  • Portfolio .
    • Living Spaces
    • Kitchen Spaces
    • Bedroom Spaces
    • Bathroom Spaces
    • Club Design
    • Office Design
    • Other Spaces
    • Recents Spaces
  • Get This Guide
  • Providence Project
  • Condo Project
  • S+J-PSP
  • La Quinta Project
  • R+J - Rancho Mirage
  • An Artful Home Project
  • Testimonials + Awards
  • Client Access
  • mitchscott
  • Project Portfolio
  • thompsonhardesty
  • Alta-PSP
  • Phillips
  • Bella Cara Way Residence
  • SilverSands
  • johnstevecabana
  • DunnCapitalFinal
  • NickCash-PSP
  • 3D Renderings
  • Makie Residence
  • Sun City Palm Desert
  • 67 Canejo Circle Residence
  • Citrus Renovation
  • WardGade
  • M Bathroom @ Citrus Country Club
  • TrilogyCMCDesignConcepts
  • PCA-Interior Finishes
  • Ledesma Residence
  • DKJ-MonteSereno
  • AM-PSP
  • Olivier MBath
  • Ritchie Great Room
  • DKJ-PSP
  • DKJ-DEN
  • ORPS-PreliminaryConcepts
  • ORPS-La Palma Revisions v1.5a
  • NC Amado v3
  • Hermosa PSP

Reality Design TV : It just doesn't happen that way.

8/18/2013

5 Comments

 
Picture
A client asked if we can do designs like seen on the home shows on HG-TV and such. .  . you know in 24 hours? 

We knew the answer to this one:  "In real life, great design, design that is effective, practical and functional doesn't happen in 24 hours. But we sometimes wish it could happen that way when the ideas begin to freely flow."



The reality is that these are "design reality shows" not unlike the many reality programs that appear on TV.  For good design to develop, time is necessary.  

Time to meet the client.  Time to establish the project criteria.  And, most importantly,  thoughtful time to assemble the solutions and samples, draw the drawings and put it all together to meet both the client's expectations and budget.  That kind of detail and process comes doesn't happen even if you have a full production crew standing behind ready to run to the local big box stores to grab a package of hot glue. 

The client continued, "So how do they do all that work for such little money?"  

We knew the answer to that, too.  We read an article in MoneySense Magazine who did some investigations on what was the true cost of a certain realty design project. 

"In a recent episode of Income Property, host Scott McGillivray meets newlyweds Jerry and Amee. For $55,000, he transforms their 1,200-sq-ft basement into a fully furnished three-bedroom income suite, complete with a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. But is the price realistic?

We asked two contractors to price out the Reno below, and even without interior design fees, we found it would cost about twice as much. When asked about the discrepancy, McGillivray’s executive assistant Deidre Budgell said the show’s figures don’t account for contractor’s overhead, profit or the cost of furniture."   

•  The Real Cost of the $55,000 TV Reno Design was over $100,000. 

So while many find the design shows to be entertaining, like all reality shows, they don't reflect reality.   But sometimes... we wish it would happen that like in 24 hours and yup... for $55,000.

Good Design Just Doesn't Happen That Way. 

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE 

5 Comments
Janice
8/18/2013 05:45:01 am

This was a great article. It was something I had already figured out. Having been thru a remodel, 24 hours would not be realistic and the fact they didn't include a profit for the contractor is deceptive in my book. Good post. I'll be looking elsewhere for the TV entertainment.

Reply
Barb Feinberg
8/18/2013 05:57:27 am

I knew it !! I knew it !! Reality shows are all the same. What does this do to people? It gives them a frame of reference that isn't truthful at all. How sad and how awful it must be with you when you have to explain it is not going to "happen" over night.

Reply
Robert Johnson
8/18/2013 06:52:33 am

As a contractor, I am glad you posted this. I have such a difficult time explaining that what they see in a 30 minute show cannot be compressed from a month or more of work. And they never really show the quality of the work once it is done. My clients would want something that would actually hold up. --Bob

Reply
Sandy
8/18/2013 06:58:04 am

In my previous life, I worked on a set of one of the shows. it was great fun and you are right, what you see and what it takes to film doesn't really reflect what occurs in real life. One of the things we would do is to finish the set to the point of filming it and then take a few things away to 'sequence" the room.

And those 3-D pictures? We'd do them after the shot and cut and past them back into the story line. Sorry to share it but those shows are much more about the entertainment factor and hot glue than what happens in real life.

Reply
Jonny
8/18/2013 10:43:59 am

its too bad you designers have to battle this mis-perception. If you could do projects in 24 hours and for little or no dollars, you'd be busy 24/7. Good job with this post.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Michael A. Thomas, FASID interior designer in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ
    ................................................. • Michael A. Thomas, CAPS, FASID is a passionate interior designer that constantly examines the impact design has on the human experience.
    Michael is an award winning interior designer based in Palm Desert, CA. He is a  Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers and a member of the ASID College of Fellows.  

    As a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, he creates smart looking spaces that are safe and secure and create homes for a lifetime.

    And with thirty plus years in the profession, he has honed his humor, elevated his passion for design and sharpened his wit to not take anything too seriously except his design work. 
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    June 2024
    November 2022
    May 2022
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    June 2019
    September 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2007

    Categories

    All
    Aging In Place
    Baby Boomers
    Case Study 101
    Design Trends
    Frank Lloyd Wright
    Interior Design
    Kitchen
    Remodeling
    Taliesin West

    RSS Feed

©1996 ~ 2025 The Design Collective Group, Inc. • All Rights Reserved •
​Voice: 760 - 322 - 3784  
 All Photos, Images + Text Are Copyrighted + Cannot Be Used Without First Obtaining Permission.  -- 2025.
  • Welcome Home
  • Who .
    • Contact Us.
  • In My Humble Opinion
  • What .
  • When .
  • Where .
  • Why .
  • How .
  • Portfolio .
    • Living Spaces
    • Kitchen Spaces
    • Bedroom Spaces
    • Bathroom Spaces
    • Club Design
    • Office Design
    • Other Spaces
    • Recents Spaces
  • Get This Guide
  • Providence Project
  • Condo Project
  • S+J-PSP
  • La Quinta Project
  • R+J - Rancho Mirage
  • An Artful Home Project
  • Testimonials + Awards
  • Client Access
  • mitchscott
  • Project Portfolio
  • thompsonhardesty
  • Alta-PSP
  • Phillips
  • Bella Cara Way Residence
  • SilverSands
  • johnstevecabana
  • DunnCapitalFinal
  • NickCash-PSP
  • 3D Renderings
  • Makie Residence
  • Sun City Palm Desert
  • 67 Canejo Circle Residence
  • Citrus Renovation
  • WardGade
  • M Bathroom @ Citrus Country Club
  • TrilogyCMCDesignConcepts
  • PCA-Interior Finishes
  • Ledesma Residence
  • DKJ-MonteSereno
  • AM-PSP
  • Olivier MBath
  • Ritchie Great Room
  • DKJ-PSP
  • DKJ-DEN
  • ORPS-PreliminaryConcepts
  • ORPS-La Palma Revisions v1.5a
  • NC Amado v3
  • Hermosa PSP