I can't find a thread on this series. Did anyone watch it? What did you think of it? For me: Changing the configuration of the house shouldn't have been allowed. When people buy a shotgun don't they want the classic front to back layout? It would have given the brothers more of a challenge too. I thought the decor they both did was awful -- way too much stuff for a small house. And the amount of money they spent! Yikes!
shareI kind of like it but agree that they put too much stuff into every room. I know it's probably done to advertise for the products the stagers use. It's hard to appreciate what they've done to the rooms due to all of the clutter and colors going on. I also wonder if it was a smart thing to divide a shotgun house into two homes.
shareThe shotgun was originally two houses, but they were divided lengthwise, making two long, very narrow spaces. The brothers changed the division to horizontal, making two houses—front and back—with shorter but broader layouts
I'd also like to have seen real New Orleaneans as guest judges. For example, I really wanted to see John Besh judging the kitchens.
I'd like to be a pessimist, but this is a luxury I cannot afford.—Joseph of Cordoba
Yes, they made it easier for themselves by dividing the house to have larger, squarer rooms. They should have had to deal with the traditional long, narrow shotgun layout -- to be New Orleans authentic.
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I live here in New Orleans, and the word gaudy is a good one to define genuine NOLA culture.
Yes, their houses were "loud". But they were totally authentic and looked completely true to this city's architecture and culture.
But what did you think of them changing the layout?
shareI agree with you, given the presumed location of the house. I personally don't like the shotgun concept, but many people do and in that area (I would guess Faubourg Marigny or NOLA East) people who buy are looking for the original concept.
shareThese cretins should never be allowed anywhere near classic or vintage homes. They literally LOVE to wipe out original features and slather on the cookie cutter.
shareYou are so correct. Remember the show where Jonathan wanted to rip out the classic parquet floor because some pieces were loose and he insisted sanding would be impossible? The young woman buyer stood her ground (floor!) and they were able to sand it slowly and carefully, repair the loose sections and it turned out great. Jonathan just wants to do what is quick and easy.
shareYou clearly know nothing about interior design if you think what they do is cookie cutter.
I'm not an artist either but I know the difference between Thomas Kinkade and Claud Monet. The brother's designs are the very epitome of cookie cutter. They regularly tear out original hardwoods and replace them with new hardwood rather than preserving and restoring the floors. That fact alone loses your argument for you but it's hardly the only one. We could discuss the century old wainscoting or the clawfoot tub they threw on the trash heap. (They could at least donate some of their castoffs)
shareOne thing they do that I think is so unwise is to remove the hallway wall to "make the living room bigger." In Canada! There's a reason homes were built that way in cold climates. No matter how much you weather strip the door there will be a draft and your heat will be seeping out. Obviously there will be a blast of cold air every time someone comes in.
shareThey DO donate all usable castoffs.
That fact alone loses your argument.
No offense but tearing out the old and updating with new is NOT called cookie cutter. Every house they do is custom to that client which is the opposite of cookie cutter. The client is getting what they want, so blaming the brothers for not keeping old fixtures isn't exactly their fault. I think the big issue with saving floors is that they can be difficult to match. These older homes have a multitude of different floors in them. It is actually cheaper and easier to tear it all out and start fresh so the same floors carry throughout.
I hated what they did to the shotgun. They should have been required by the city to keep the original layout of the two residences. By changing it they destroyed the unique New Orleans style of the interiors. The street front exterior looked fine, however. Because the city made them keep the historic facade.
(Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.)
Exactly!
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