I really love that this is not just your standard redecorating show. Homes are restored to be what they were originally supposed to be. All sorts of architectural styles are presented, and even when the style isn't one I would typically care for, it is always interesting to learn about the different styles and the elements that define them. I'm an architecture junkie, but I think anyone who enjoys home remodeling and decor shows would enjoy this. I find the host to be really likeable and he comes across as a really nice, laid-back guy.
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GMGoodwrenchGirl9 September 2019
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I'm obsessed with this series! What sets this apart from all the rest is its genuine focus on preserving rather than a modern renovation that doesn't stand the test of time.
It's so refreshing to watch a preservation show where you actually learn a lot about different architectural styles. Brett has a great eye for sensing what the house had and more often than not, he's exactly right. In one episode, he guessed where a sconce once may have been and with a hammer, he found it in just one try!
I love that this show now airs on both DIY and HGTV. The renovations are fun to watch and the more viewers get introduced to traditional design, the better. -
reba-7050831 May 2021O how i wish i could find this on TV . So many of the 'house shows' are about the hosts personalities . Brett's show is about the personality of the homes. Please bring Restored back to the lineup.
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This is NOT your same-old house renovation show. Brett carefully returns homes to as near original glory, while preserving but disguising modern necessities to fit the period. As an owner of a 106 year old home myself, I've learned SO much from this show and it has both broadened my thinking and also allowed me to key in to exactly the approach I want to take.
Another thing this show has made me realize is that EVERY era of home can be beautiful, you just have to be true to the home's original function and be consistent with finishes and style choices throughout. I've also learned that I can like linoleum, and that it is NOT the same thing as vinyl flooring ;)
The only thing I would change about the show would be for him to go to other parts of the country, as he stays mostly in Redlands and always in Southern California. I want to hire him! Brett come to the Midwest!! But for real though, I would thoroughly enjoy seeing how his approach might vary for areas that experience freeze/thaw, snow load, and otherwise more precipitation.
Brett's vision: A+ Interior designers: A+ Cabinet makers: A+ Master carpenter: A+ Landscapers: A+ -
greg-beaulieu19 March 2021I like this show and I like Brett Waterman, but the show does have a few things that could be improved for me. But first, the good things: Brett is a wealth of knowledge and skill, and obviously has great love for the types of houses he chooses to work on. The people he works with all seem to be wonderful craftspeople, suppliers and artisans, and the results he achieves are always very well done. Some of the turnarounds shown are simply remarkable transformations. And sometimes you get a real winner, such as his recent resto of the 1960s California bungalow that was simply outstanding. Shout out to Sara Zofko, his usual designer, for her fine work on this.
What I don't like quite so much are some of the changes that seem imposed upon the homeowners for the sake of originality and design integrity. We aren't living in the 1900s and with some of these restorations I find myself wondering how long the result shown lasts after the cameras leave and the owners need to live in it day to day. The budgets are usually large, yet the results sometimes don't seem to reflect that level of investment because of the costs of finding the right vintage tile for a fireplace, dull linoleum for the kitchen floor, or reproduction (and to my eye, not always attractive) period light fixtures. Spending $150K on restoration to end up with a house with 2 small bedrooms and no place to watch TV doesn't always seem the wisest investment to me, but I guess that is what the owners asked for. I also find the repetition of scenes before and after commercial breaks, especially the predictable one near the end before revealing the kitchen, pretty tiresome. But a good show overall. -
Everyone this is a great show that strips away all the bad renovations made to architecturally splendid Homes.
Historical Societies should be standing behind Brett who is so passionate about his craft - and no he isn't trying to renovate totally up to date features but creating an environment that fosters the originality of the Homes - making them suit the owners requirements.
What an adventure exploring the California landscape and the place in history these homes hold. Brett showcases all the facets that comprise these dwellings and introduces us to some historically significant Gems of American Greatness.
Love the show - hopefully many more seasons of exploration with brett remain to be seen!!!!!. -
Jamal-Nazreddin22 January 2020You know that in every episode that Brett will insert 'pony walls', pocket doors, a mud room and an island bench in the kitchen.
He will also laugh like a drain and bear hug the wife. -
I really enjoy this show and was relieved it survived the transition from the DIY Network to Magnolia.
It's great to see a show that focuses on restoring historic homes, not tearing everything out, filling a dumpster with perfectly good materials, and putting in shiplap and grey and cream walls that will look horribly out of date in 10 years. Brett Waterman seems to genuinely love what he does, and if his performance seems hoky at times (and it does: oy, that hat!) you forgive it for his passion. Guaranteed he will discover some important piece of the house's history during demo (which for some reason the homeowner never found because...?); expensive original materials will be sourced; talented craftspeople will do their thing; homeowners will cry at the end, etc. It's also nice that most of the houses are in Southern California's Inland Empire (Redland, Riverside, etc.), an area who's historical richness gets little love these days.
My one gripe (as the owner of an old home myself) is that the budgets are always huge, which can make taking care of a historic home look out of reach to most people. These homeowners usually have renovation budgets of $100,000 and up (just watched an ep where the reno budget for a just-purchased home was $230,000, which given housing prices in SoCal boggles my mind.) It would be great if occasionally they did projects with a lower budget, or even mixed in subplots where they also deal with more homeowner-friendly historically-sensitive projects, like restoring one room or saving a wood floor, etc. But in the meantime, I will still happily watch historic preservation porn and daydream of what I could do with $200k. -
We've been a fan of this show since it started and really enjoy watching Brett Waterman restore classic homes to their original grandeur. The show is a great blend of home renovation and architectural history lesson. Brett does a great job of explaining the look and character he's trying to capture as he works through the renovation.
My only critique comes from the most recent season (2023). In previous seasons, the reno projects featured on the show were generally modest homes in quiet middle-class residential neighborhoods. This latest season seems to have taken the show in a new direction, as it almost exclusively features massive homes and huge restoration budgets. The effect for a viewer like myself is that the show suddenly feels out of touch and thus less interesting.
I hope the the show runners remember their audience and return to restoring homes that more of us could see ourselves living in in upcoming seasons. It's one of the aspects of the show that make it stand out from it's competitors, and frankly why I enjoy watching. -
danasixty26 March 2024What I liked about this show: 1) His commitment to restoring old homes to their former glory when so many are being bulldozed for some ugly new building, with their exteriors and interiors either being sent to the dump, or hopefully sold in reclaimed shops, 2) Using items from reclaimed shops to bring back design elements lost in past renovations, 4) The beautiful woodwork that is sometimes added.
What bothered me somewhat about the show: 1) Constantly using the same design ideas, like the apron sink and the ugly Fort Knox refrigerators, 2) Brett's seeming dislike for microwaves, hiding or removing them whenever possible, 3) When unstackable washers and dryers are stacked on top of one another so the control knobs are so high you'll need a step-stool to reach them.
What I very much disliked about the show: 1) His ridiculous love of the colour grey - his goal seems to be to paint and roof most houses he renovates some ugly shade of grey, obscuring their beauty, lines and details, turning them into ugly bunkers. 2) His complete and utter disregard for plants and trees, ripping out beautiful and in some cases, flowering items, to replace them with barren moonscapes with plants that won't survive long in California weather. We referred to the "landscaper" he worked with as Daisy Cutter. 3) The excessive stenciling. I hate stenciling - in 90% of cases, it cheapens the look of a room. -
Restoring old homes is wonderful, putting character back where it's been ripped out for trendy crap no one will want after a few years. And this guy does a good, if repetitive job of it. However, his methods in dealing with the living nature around these homes is the reason I won't watch the show anymore.
Ripping out ALL of the trees, flowers and bushes just so you can show off the work you did by replacing them with sparse landscaping is certainly not "restorative" to nature.
I understand taking out dead trees, removing overgrowth, etc, but I really dislike when they rip things out of the ground willy-nilly because it's "blocking the view of the house." Which is exactly what he said in the last episode I watched, before he ripped out every single tree, plant and bush from the front yard.