The Making of a Home Renovation Show

2010-11-08T21:36:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that we are finished with our home renovation pilot. Going against proper tv world etiquette, I am going to show you the entire 10 min pilot. It's called "Bottom Line Design", and it's the brainchild of my co-host in the show, Carolina Fernandez.

Whether it gets picked up or not is any one's call. While we are very proud of it, there is still a slim chance of getting the green light. So while THIS show is under review, I am forging on and shooting other ideas! I am so excited to start shooting a series of 6 minute mini episodes of "Kelsey On The House".
See my website www.kelseyonthehouse.com. Again, you will be along for the ride every step of the way.
Our first shoot, is going to be with the Editor In Chief of Gotham/Hamptons magazine (and fashion guru seen all over tv) Samantha Yanks. I am going to have her show me the latest fashion trends all around NYC, then I will build something inspired by, or using materials from, that fashion item.
Episode two will be with a celebrity, episode four will have a different theme, and so-on. More details on that project as they develop...

I Am Not an Actor, But I Play One On TV

2010-08-17T10:30:00.006-04:00

I am not an actor, I am a carpenter. For some in the television home renovation world the opposite holds true; actors with 'some' carpentry experience playing carpenters on television. Drives me nuts.
Lately, networks, agents, PR folks and others have been asking for my "bio and headshot" which I should (but don't) have. So, since I am a carpenter, I decided to do what I do best; build one. I actually built 5 of them, using mostly leftover mahogany and 1/4" plywood.
I wanted it to look like an antique relic of some sort...with stickers like you'd see on an old steamer trunk.
Here is the result:

.."old" stickers...

I bought the cheapest 3-ring
binders I could find, dis-assembled
them, then installed the ring mechanism
on a piece of solid mahogany..

..more stickers....

I created a bio with lots of project photos and had 5 sets printed, laminated and hole punched...

Here is what I started with...new mahogany and 1/4" luan plywood. After some 'aging' with stain, paint, nicks and dings, my new wood became old..

Hopefully this gives you some inspiration to create a resume or bio that represents who you are, and what you are good at!

Show Preview

2010-08-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

Well kids, we are in the home stretch. I finally have a little something to show you...this is a :60 "promo" for a home renovation show we finished, and soon will be partnering and pitching.
The show is called 'Bottom Line Design", and it combines the worlds of finance and home renovation.
Enjoy!

Grouting and Editing

2010-08-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

Today I am grouting, and grouting, and grouting. Grouting is great, because it declares the near end to your tile project. Later this week the shower glass enclosure will be installed, and the shower stall will be just about complete, and I will be sharing the link to the project details at DIYlife.com soon.
In the meantime, our show pilot is trudging along, we are in the final stages of editing and will soon be done. THAT is the easy part. Getting it actually sold to a network is where the real work begins.

"Real Estate Renovations That Work"

2010-06-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a fantastically written article. It is laid out so nicely...check it out. Ok, yes I admit it, there are some quotes from me in it, but my few words of wisdom are NOT what makes this article great, writer Julie Knapp knows her stuff. Check it out!
"Real Estate Renovations That Work"

Latest AOL Article...

2010-06-26T10:58:00.000-04:00

Check out my latest AOL DIYlife.com article...it made the AOL homepage last week!
"Dad Inspired Me to DIY"

My Balls In the Air...

2010-06-26T10:51:00.000-04:00

In the business of making a home renovation show, or any show for that matter, there are many. many failures before you hit it. This is why you need to have a lot of balls in the air, multiple projects going on, continue building your contact list...calls, emails, thinking outside the box, everything to give yourself the best shot. That is my philosophy, and it seems to be working! The folks at AOL just told me they were interested in me creating 10, three minute home renovation videos for them.
I met with Paige Rien, designer from the popular HGTV show "Hidden Potential". It turns out we have a lot in common, and have come with some VERY cool ideas for shows. Between our creativity and contacts, stay tuned for some good stuff.
Meanwhile, Tuesday is the last day of shooting for the pilot of another show that I am SO psyched about. I really feel this has some staying power. Super smart Carolina Fernandez rocks the camera, and the end result of the bathroom renovation is amazing! I will post some production still pics soon. After we're done with the final edit, and it's cleared with the rest of the team I will post it here.
Anyway, the point is I am trying to make is, multi-tasking is paramount, in the making of a home renovation show.

Good Stuff....

2010-06-06T18:27:00.000-04:00

Another day of shooting...the pilot is really coming together and I am super excited to shoot the last segment of the finished bathroom renovation next week. A lot of great people involved including co-hostess extraordinaire Carolina Fernandez, videographer/director and so much more Matt Abourezk of www.talkingboxdmg.com, and super publicist Donnetta "Go Getta" Campbell of CPublicity.
Productions stills coming soon....
In other news...
I am meeting with the uber cool Paige Rien of HGTV's "Hidden Potential" (http://www.paigerien.com/) in the next week or so to discuss possibly working together, how fantastic would that be? She is a real pro, and has a great presence on camera.
More details, as they become available...in the making of a home renovation show!

Irons In the Fire

2010-05-29T11:50:00.000-04:00

Though it's be going a bit longer than we thought, the final shoots for our home renovation pilot are almost here. Some final editing, and it will be done!
At the same time, I will be shooting a pilot/sizzle with designer Courtney Cachet this weekend for a completely different project/show idea. Lots of irons in the fire, but in this business the failure rate is way higher than the success rate, so the odds are against me. This is why you have to keep at it, more projects, connections, face-time etc. Keep going, keep going! All steps, in the making of a home renovation show...

How To Mix Concrete and Patch Your Driveway

2010-05-25T07:14:00.000-04:00

Another AOL project for you...this time I will show you how to mix concrete and patch your driveway. Not the most glamorous, but important nonetheless! Note picture/step 12... Click here to see!

Great Products and DIYLife!

2010-05-14T09:37:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about doing renovations on widely seen platforms such as AOL and HGTV, is that companies start to take interest in working with you. Over the years I have found products that I have used and loved, and now have the opportunity to work with them and show viewers/readers how great they are. One such company is Schluter. They have created some of the most innovative bathroom waterproofing systems ever imagined. I have used their products privately for many years and the results have been amazing. Check out their site, and get all the details: www.schluter.com

In other news, my latest DIY Warrior project has been published on AOL's DIYlife.com, How To Install A Replacement Window, and it came out pretty sweet!
More to come, and one step closer...in the making of a home renovation show...

How to Install a Replacement Window

2010-05-09T17:26:00.001-04:00

Well the very first project in my new relationship with AOL's DIYlife.com was shot, "How to Install A Replacement Window". Here, you see me and my 4 chins tipping in the new window. I think they ended up using about 15 pictures, and the editor is doing her thang right now on the piece. It should be up soon! Though this project was still pictures, we will be shooting video how-to projects soon.
Next week's project: How to tile a shower ...stay tuned!

DIYlife.com

2010-05-03T08:31:00.000-04:00

While we are waiting to shoot the final series of scenes in our little renovation pilot, I just got word that I will be an expert renovation contributor on AOL's DIYlife.com. I will be writing weekly how-to article with in-depth instructions, and a ton of photos showing just how I did it. In addition, I will be doing how-to video in the very near future with DIYlife.com as well. The first projects I will take you through will be tiling a shower, how to install a replacement window, how to paint your kitchen cabinets, and many more projects. Again, a ton of high quality pics taken during the course of each project will be posted with each article, to help in the explanation of the projects. So next time you log on to AOL, don't be surprised if you see me on the home page!

My Parents on HGTV

2010-04-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

In all my efforts toward the making of a home renovation show, I failed to mention that my parents beat me to it! A couple of years ago, my parents' kitchen and master bedroom was featured on an HGTV kitchen and bath show. My mom gladly gave the tour on camera, and described how my dad (who did NOT want to be on tv) did a lot of the work himself.
http://www.greatroom.com/Shows/KDE-1113.htm

A Couple More Outdoor Shower Inspirations...

2010-04-23T16:42:00.000-04:00

HGTV Creative Edge with Brian

2010-04-14T08:24:00.000-04:00

While things are cooking cutting together our pilot for HGTV, there has been some other news, regarding "The Creative Edge with Brian" (see last paragraph in: "In the Beginning..").
HGTV has informed us, that they want to change the name to "HGTV Creative Edge with Brian"; swapping out 'The" with "HGTV". I am thrilled about this, because it directly puts the HGTV branding in the same sentence as my name - by their choice. I have to think things are brewing on that front, but we'll see. Here is how the graphics look now:

I still look like a ding-a-ling, but at least the HGTV logo is there by my side :)

Just Plain Silly...

2010-04-09T21:53:00.002-04:00

Another morning of fun in front of the camera...

S'alllll coming together...

Pitching A Show: Hits, Misses, and Homeruns

2010-04-08T21:53:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow: more shooting....so much fun, literally the best EVER. Just quick little interviews alone and together (Carolina and I). I am thinking of seeing if they (Matt) can shoot us on a green screen, so we can put something cool behind us in later in post...instead of the usual stuff you see on home renovation shows. In case you don't know, a green screen is literally just that, a green backdrop that you are able to make "disappear" in post production; thereby allowing you to put anything you want in the background. I was thinking about running an old scene from "Eight Is Enough", but I don't think anyone would go for that.
Anyway, it is really starting to come together, but alas, I can't ever get too attached to a project like this, because the numbers are just plain against us. HGTV and other networks get pitched shows alllllll day long and only a handful of them get the greenlight to go into production. Mostly the pitches are on paper, so we do have a little edge that we are actually filming something. It's so weird, you could have the greatest show in the world, but if just one important set of eyes doesn't like it, you're done. Out, game over. So as proud as I am of what we are doing, I have no idea what the outcome will be (nor am I trying to think too much about it). That being said, the pilot is kickin' some ass if I do say so myself!
In the meantime, the projects around my own house are starting to finally get some attention. I have to replace tile in the hallway, rip down a big section of old siding and re-shingle, tile the bathroom shower, build a new door for the outdoor shower, and repaint a fence. It really never ends, but I LOVE it!

Editing: Putting It All Together

2010-03-31T15:48:00.000-04:00

So the editing has begun on our little show concept...chopping, slicing, dicing...finding the good stuff. While it's fun filming, it's equally as fun putting it all together!
We do have a few more things to shoot, but the bulk of it is done.
Here you see the opening section being built in Final Cut...

Here is the main title graphic being put together in After Effects...
Later, there will be a sound mix, color correction, and we should have something...stay tuned...

The Outdoor Shower

2010-03-25T16:13:00.000-04:00

Make no mistake, one of my favorite things in the world, is an outdoor shower. I love them so much, that I built one at my own house. Not only is it fantastic to come home from the beach and rinse off, but to take a shower early in the morning or at dusk is the best. How about a shower while it's raining? I can tell you from experience it's amazing. Here is a fairly simple outdoor shower...privacy, hot & cold, built out of cedar:

Meetings, Lunches, TV Shows Oh My!

2010-03-23T22:22:00.000-04:00

Today I had a great sushi lunch with the Director of Program Development at CableReady (and all around super-cool chick) Liz Tobias. CableReady is a cable television development, distribution and representation company. I think we are going to work together, which is fantastic news, as CableReady can seriously help in the crucial development and pitch of a home renovation show to HGTV. We threw some show ideas around in between tuna rolls, and we have some great plans. She is also going to take a look at the finished project I am currently shooting, and decide if it's something they are interested in, and would like to represent and pitch. A good day towards the making of a home renovation show.

Another Day of Shooting

2010-03-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

Well another great day of shooting our little show pilot....beautiful weather, great people...
One more small step in the making of a home renovation show. We have a great new addition to the team, director/producer/videographer Matt Abourezk, and hair/makeup artist Kathleen Richards.
Here are a few production stills:

my view....

"My Home Renovation Articles"

2010-03-18T22:01:00.000-04:00

While things are moving and grooving on the tv show tip, I have been writing home renovation articles in between work, and finishing up filming. Here is my page with my recent articles on Examiner.com.

"Do I Dare?"

2010-03-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

Ok, rule number one in show creation, don't let anyone see your stuff before it's finished, or out of context. Rule number two, no wearing baseball caps on camera.
Welllll, I have never been good about following rules. So without giving away too much (such as show concept, title etc) I am going to show you a 90 sec clip of rough footage from one of the shoots which is part of this sizzle reel for this new show we are pitching.
It won't really make sense, because it is only a portion of the reel, but whatev...
I am thinking about chopping out the part of me in the car, kind of annoying right?
So without further a du, I present (drumroll)....this, thing:

"Shoot Update"

2010-03-16T21:53:00.001-04:00

Well kids, the editing in the first sequence of the sizzle reel for this new show idea is moving along swimmingly. In a side note I can't believe I just said swimmingly...
There is something very odd and narcissistic about editing and producing video of myself. It's like I am two separate people - Brian "the host" and Brian "the editor".
Normally, I have an editor and producer cut together the sequences of a television show.
But I love doing it so much that I wanted to do it this time. And I realllly want it to be cut a certain way. After all this is just a 5 minute sizzle reel to help sell the dang thang. The only downside is that I have to look at my ugly mug on the screen for hours at a time.
It is a fine line when producing one of these types of reels; you don't want to put too much into it, because the chances are very good that it won't get sold. BUT you don't want to just slop something together either.
Here are some production stills from the very lean and mean shoot, day one:

"HGTV and Stuff"

2010-03-15T17:45:00.002-04:00

We had a great shoot on saturday morning, despite the hurricane-like conditions. The hour or-so footage we shot, will be whittled down to about :45 worth of finished material to be a part of 4 minute sizzle reel. Though I wore my baseball hat, I didn't shave, or wear any fancy boy clothes on camera for this shoot, I DO have very specific ideas of how I want this to look overall, so I am going to edit the whole thing and create all of the graphics myself. So if there is anyone to blame how it turns out - it'll be me! But I think it'll be pretty super fantastic.
In other HGTV news...
"The Creative Edge With Brian" seems to be getting revitalized over at HGTV. We heard from the various departments involved in selling our little mini-shows to sponsors. If you don't know, "The Creative Edge With Brian" are little :30 quick-tip mini-shows I created with the help of Seven C's Productions and Mindsmack. HGTV loved the idea and we got the green light last fall to produce, but it all seems to rely on the sales team actually selling them before we can can produce more. Anyway, there seems to be some movement..which is good news. The graphics need to be tweeked though. The graphics packages I made for the show didn't fit in with HGTV's new branding style. So they provided us with static graphic elements that they created...from there I animated them (which I am still in the process fo doing). Anyway, Below is an example of one that I did (using my original graphics, and the old title):

"Before and After...Fireplace Re-do Video"

2010-03-12T18:10:00.000-05:00

This is a chopped down version (just the 'project' portion) of the pilot "2 Hands: Life With Brian".
Adam Salazar rocked the production on this...

"Lights, Camera.....(line please, oh) ACTION!"

2010-03-12T17:52:00.000-05:00

The cameras roll tomorrow morning! We are shooting one part of a new show idea. Tomorrow's shoot will be at a home furnishing store in New Jersey, where Carolina Fernandez and I will be shopping for an antique that I will need to convert into a bathroom vanity. It is supposed to rain which is a bummer, but we should get some good footage. As soon as I can assemble some rough takes, I will post it here for your viewing pleasure. Well, I HOPE it will be a pleasure :)

"Mailbox Upgrade"

2010-03-11T21:19:00.005-05:00

In my neck of the woods, mailboxes take quite a beating over the winter. Spring is a great time to freshen up that old mailbox, and make a better first impression when guests pull up to your home. Here's an article I wrote that will hopefully inspire you to give your mailbox an upgrade!
(click to enlarge)

RESOURCES:

Mahogany - Rockler
Letters - RPM Hardware
Varnish - West Marine

"Nantucket Island Homes"

2010-03-10T21:17:00.001-05:00

We all have our "happy places". I have two: the lumber yard, and Nantucket Island. Both of which I have been going to since I was a very small Brian. I look forward to going to Nantucket every summer, and if I could swing it, that's where my little tv show would take place, 30 miles out to sea. But alas, we still need to make the show happen, right? More on that later.
For now, I want to share some Nantucket images, that explain my love for the island. The architecture and design of the homes and structures on the island are what I feel are the perfect balance of proportion, simplicity, and charm.

The rose covered cottages of 'Sconset. Simple lines, white trim with weathered cedar shingles...

Look at this beautiful greek revival...giant corner boards, built up facia, and complex door surrounds makes this one of my favs...not to mention the classic "Nantucket Grey" paint contrasting with the bright white trim...

This was Mr. Rogers home "The Crooked House" for so many years before his passing. This picture was taken just a few feet from the home we rented growing up...we often saw him walking to the beach, and even spotted Chef Brockett a few times!

Here is a great, and typical Nantucket home interior. Crisp white, banged up with blue and grey. The coffered bead-board ceiling in this photo inspired me to do the same in the office where I sit as I type this. The mix of antiques and new pieces give this room a true Nantucket feel...

I love this...mahogany newel posts, with bronze sailboat cleats...rope railing, copper ship's lantern, white paneled walls...just great.

And finally, my favorite part about Nantucket architecture, the "widow's walk". Perched atop many homes, are 'roof decks' that allow you to digest the whole island in a 360 degree view.

..my happy place :)

"Before and After..Kitchen Corner Quagmire"

2010-03-09T16:41:00.003-05:00

A lonely, unused corner of a kitchen, where a cast iron radiator used to live. What should I do? I could simply repair the walls, and put an antique hutch there....or I could build some simple shelves...or even a corner cupboard...

In the end, I decided to play off the walnut pieces and white trim in the rest of the kitchen, and build a walnut & white wall unit. Sort of a command center for the kitchen. I made it a little higher than standard counter height, so you could stand and check your email, or write a check...

I made the drawers with dovetail joinery, and used full-extension, soft closing concealed drawer slides...

This "door" is actually an ebay find. It was an old window that I converted into a door. I decided not to paint it, you can't duplicate that patina...

Not a bad transformation? Let's hope HGTV likes it, in the making of a home renovation show.

"Before and After...The Sunroom, er, I mean PLAYroom"

2010-03-08T17:32:00.001-05:00

So here is what I had to work with; a bedroom on the main floor which was dying to become a sunroom.

By taking out the unused door and putting in a set of double-hung windows, it set the scene for a cozy reading nook. I made everything from scratch out of mostly poplar and stock molding. To contrast the painted white trim, I laid distressed walnut wide plank engineered flooring, over radiant heat panels. The floor was a breeze to put in, it took me barely a day. The radiant panels however, took a while, and were fairly costly to have plumbed; but that even warmth underfoot was well worth it!

After I commissioned my mom to create the roman shades and pillows for the storage bench, the nook was complete. Though, like in most families with young children, my sunroom gradually changed into more of a playroom. But you know what? Even better!

"Before and After"

2010-03-07T16:57:00.002-05:00

Here is a wall that needed to come out, connecting the main living space to the kitchen.

Luckily it wasn't a load bearing wall, so it was fairly easy to do.

I created the columns out of MDF, and mitered the corners. The floors turned out to be different heights, so I had to create a transition. I the upper panels were created on my router with a cope and stick construction, and the lower panels I made recessed and applied stock molding in the recess.

HGTV and ME

2010-03-05T11:48:00.005-05:00

Life is funny. I reached out to Lindsey Weidhorn in HGTV show development, hoping to get answers to questions I have, in the making of a home renovation show. Guess what? Not only was she more than happy to oblige, but she wanted to interview me, on her blog! So while I am organizing her thoughts together, check out my answers to her questions in "10 Questions With..." on The Inside Stoop.

"New Shows: What is HGTV Looking For?"

2010-03-04T11:19:00.001-05:00

I'm sitting here watching HGTV, and wondering - what's the next big thing? I have watched this network since the beginning, I know it inside and out...the hosts and their backgrounds, the shows, the production companies who make the shows, everything! So what do viewers want? Well, I certainly have some ideas. A LOT of ideas. The upper echelon at HGTV have told me personally that "..you are the perfect host for HGTV Brian, now bring us a show!" Ok, that's one hurdle in the making of a home renovation show.
Now, the show. (sigh). What makes a home renovation show succesful? Honestly I do not know. What do you think? What do you like in a show? I do know a general outline of what HGTV wants; here is what they told me:

New faces.
A great story.

2 years ago we pitched "2 Hands: Life with Brian". Though they loved it, it was just bad timing. Here is the promo I cut together for it:

I think I am going to go straight to the source, and get some insight, right? Let's see if we can get someone from show development at HGTV to do a quick Q & A here. Hopefully it will give you and me, an inside look as to what to expect from HGTV in the coming months, and what they are looking for in new shows. That should help, in the making of a home renovation show.

"Screw Up"

2010-03-01T22:58:00.003-05:00

Just call me butta' finga's...the tile didn't break though...

Lego Island

2010-03-01T22:41:00.001-05:00

Once my son gets a look at this - it's all over. I'll be glueing lego's for weeks.. -The Cool Hunter

"Office in a Box"

2010-02-28T19:05:00.001-05:00

Check out these amazing space saving work areas I came across..

How cool and functional would these be in an apartment..

See more here...

"My 2 Links"

2010-02-28T15:16:00.002-05:00

While I normally give you renovation links, today I am going to share two television links I follow, relating to getting a renovation show on the air.
HGTV is and has always been my main focus in the making of a home renovation show, and I have been lucky enough to build relationships with them over the past few years. This is a big help in selling them a tv show. On a recent meeting with them here in New York City, I met Lindsey Weidhorn, who is in show development. Super nice, as they all were. She has a great blog called "The Inside Stoop", which has some awesome insight in the movers and shakers of developing HGTV programming, plus some general cool stuff.
CableU is a fantastic resource, that tracks and reports unbiased trends in cable television. They have regular interviews with the top peeps in the industry. Knowing what the networks are looking for, helps in the making of a home renovation show.

"Renovators Unite! (ed House Wrecking)

2010-02-26T18:21:00.002-05:00

Over the years, I have built of a large arsenal of resources in home renovation, and I plan on sharing them all. There is one resource though, that I have loved since I was a little boy and the place has stood the test of time. United House Wrecking, in Stamford, CT. This is not a paid promotion kids, this is just my 2 cents of a GREAT place to find anything and everything for your home. My dad and I used to go to United House Wrecking back in the late 70's/early 80's, and back then they had a myriad of unique architectural items salvaged from homes being torn down. Today, they still have those unique items, but they have grown and offer many replica's and new items.

At any given time you'll find things like a full mahogany bar, a giant elephant, mantles, doors, windows, nautical items...anything you can imagine. Adding an architectural item to any style home gives it instant character. In my new kitchen that I just built, I found an old window that I converted in a a cabinet door. In my living room, I found another unique window that I built a whole unit around. So if you need a 'freshen up', try architectural salvage, and try places like United House Wrecking.

"The Tweeting of the Minds"

2010-02-26T08:03:00.002-05:00

I have to say, writing this blog feels very narcissistic. I've never used the word "I" so much in my life. That being said, let's talk more about me.
The dialogue continues with my new cable television development/acquisition friends.
They want to meet again in a week or two to discuss more tv plans. With their permission I think I am going to snap some pictures during the meeting, so I can take you along for the ride. I know that is not the most exciting photojournalism in the world, but why not? Watch for a twitter update during the meeting too. While most people I think hate meetings, I LOVE meetings. I love standing up and talking at meetings; new people, new opportunities, all good stuff. Though I never quite get it right when it comes to what to wear to meetings; does someone my age really have to own shoes other than sneakers?
As I have mentioned in previous posts, the irony of this situation is that the more time and energy I put toward this tv endeavor, the less time there is left for me to actually spend in my shop doing what I love...home renovation.
In other the making of a home renovation show news we are going to be shooting soon. Shooting what? Well, it's what the guys in biz call a "sizzle reel". A sizzle reel is more a less a demo of a show idea, to help sell it or the personalities. I'll be shooting two, both to demonstrate the germ of a show idea as well as to demonstrate the rapport between myself and the two other amazing woman I will be teaming up with. One focus' on design, with celeb designer Courtney Cachet, and the other deals in the money side of renovation with financial guru and author Carolina Fernandez. As soon as I get even the roughest footage, I will post a short clip here. In the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, here is my latest on-camera demo. YES, I did use Tom Jones music in it. The man has hits ya' know. Oh, and I used the word "I" 16 times in this post :)

"Stair Slide"

2010-02-25T23:29:00.000-05:00

A dream come true. See more at dornob. This needs to be worked into a show (or my house), somehow....

"News and Pocket Screws"

2010-02-24T14:47:00.002-05:00

Well kids, things are kind of quiet for the moment. We've had many meetings in the past weeks, with lots of great people and great companies (including HGTV). It's an ebb and flow...a flurry of activity, then quiet - which is totally fine, that's all part of the process. During times like these, I try and be proactive and do things that are in my control, like noodling around on LinkedIn and building my contact list. I LOVE LinkedIn, it is such an important and useful tool. Today, for example, the vice president of a major tv network group accepted my friend request...fantastic! Sounds kind of nerdy I know, but as minute as it is, he now has my name somewhere on his computer, and maybe even filed away in his head. The more people that hear my name and my story that are involved with getting a show on the air, the better. As long as it's not annoying an intrusive - which I try not to be. It is a small step yes, but a step in the right direction nonetheless in the making of a home renovation show.

Now, for some information you can actually use. I just finished building some cabinets for our kitchen, mostly out of walnut to accent some of the other walnut pieces. For the past couple of years, I have been using pocket screws to create the faceframes. Pocket screw joinery is simple, and strong. It can be used in a variety of ways to hold two pieces of wood together creating a super tight fit. Here you can see me joining perpendicular pieces of the faceframe with pocket screws and a little bit of glue. Rockler has a great selection of pocket screw jigs and accessories from Kreg - one of the leaders in pocket screw technology.

H2O NO!

2010-02-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I had a GREAT meeting last week with a company that happens to be one town over from where I live. They produce, manage, and aquire cable tv shows - right up my ally.
Over a delicious lunch, we discussed how we could possibly work together. I have a great realtionship with HGTV, and it tuns out, so do they. Could this be the match I have been looking for? They would combine forces with a separate tv production company, to produce a home renovation show. So the relationships I have developed with tv production companies over the past couple of years would still be intact. These production companies have helped me out A LOT by shooting and editing and pitching my stuff for free, so it is essential I keep them along for the ride. Again, building, maintaining and servicing relationships is what it is all about.
Anyway, they liked my ideas, so more meetings to come...details as they become available.
In the meantime, I have noticed a TON of gutter problems lately - just driving around my town. Before you renovate the inside of your house, make sure the outside of your house is doing it's job.
Water, oh water…it keeps us alive, yet it’s the number one thing could take down your house. Too many times, important water defending items such as gutters, proper drainage and sump pumps are last on the “to-do” list of things that need repairing. Sure, it’s not as glamorous as say, a new media room in your basement. But, how glamorous is your media room (that you spend $20,000 on) going to look under water? You just tacked on another $5,000 in repairs to your $20,000 media room, along with a big headache. By spending $250 on new gutters and $750 on a perimeter drain around your foundation, you have just saved yourself thousands and thousands in repairs, and countless sleepless rainy nights wondering if your basement is dry. Leaky gutters, over time will systematically take down your house. Water leaks from the gutters, into windows and behind walls where it eventually turns into mold. The mold not only is an obvious health hazard, but breaks down the very structure of the sheetrock or wood it invades. The moral of the story is keep water out! Take the time to inspect your gutters, repair them and make sure water is being carried safely away from your foundation.

If you are not comfortable on a ladder, spend the money to have someone else do it.

You (and your basement) will be thankful you did!

"What's New Is Old, and What's Old is...Old"

2010-02-22T08:52:00.003-05:00

One of the major things I have noticed in this process, is that I have been spending more time on the computer, than in the shop. I do have a fantastic publicist and a great agent, but in the end it is me that needs to keep up with social media, to research (which includes watching tv!), send out emails, create pitches, and promote myself etc. Oh, and did I mention I still need to earn a living and support a wife and 2 kids? I thrive on this, so it's all good; but I'd rather be in a cloud of swirling sawdust with a crisp #2 pencil, coffee and my trusty tape measure creating masterpieces in my shop.
So while I will update you on meetings, and other sorts of things where I have to wear something other than jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers, I will also show you some projects, big and small, I am working on in the shop, with tips and techniques.
So here we go...
This was a mahogany dresser I bought on ebay...later transformed into a bathroom vanity. I fabricated a new top out of 2" solid mahogany, routed out a hole for the sink, and used the same profile for the edge of the counter. The top drawer was removed to make room for the sink, however I permanently re-attached the drawer front. The second drawer is functional, but I had to modify it to make room for the drain pipe. A little stain for the top to match it to the original piece, and voila!

"In the Beginning, There was - well, Bupkus"

2010-02-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

A producer, a very SMART producer once told me "Brian, the hardest thing in the world to do, is to sell a tv show". Guess, what party people? He was DANG right. For the past two years, I have been trying to marry my two passions: carpentry and television. I love them both so much. If I am not watching tv, I am in my workshop building. So I began on this journey, and I am coming close to marrying my two passions. This blog will take you along for the ride, on this weird and wild journey of trying to make a home renovation television show.

It all started 2 years ago, while recording a voice-over (what I do for a living) for a producer working on a show on The Fine Living network. I told him about my idea for a show, and he thought it sounded fantastic. So a month later, with the help of my brother-in-law, we conceptualized, shot and edited a short 13 minute pilot called "2 HANDS: LIFE WITH BRIAN".

Check it out here: www.2hands.tv

We showed it to him, and he loved it! After some tweaks he brought it to HGTV, where it got the greenlight right to the top! They loved me as a host, and had a few show notes, but for the most part they were sold. I couldn't believe it, one try and I may have my own show! But alas, it was too good to be true. It was JUST then, that there were major changes in the network, and many positons changed, including the decision makers in my show. Bad timing they told me. But I learned a lot in the process, and developed some very good contacts at HGTV. So I persevered. I was (and still am) determined to make this happen.

Where I live, The DIY Network is not offered on our cable system, so HGTV is the channel I have followed since it's inception. Before HGTV, I was (and still am) an avid "This Old House" fan. My dad (who taught me everything I know about carpentry) and I watched it from the beginning back in 1979. So HGTV has been my real focus. Recently I noticed HGTV running :30 sponsored "quick tips". I thought about how I could make them better; I could make mini-shows. So after to talking to some contact at HGTV, I shot a few demo's with the help of Mindsmack - a super hip production company here in New York City that I have done voice-over's for. Guess what? Again, HGTV loved them! I was in; sort of through the back-door at HGTV. Normally you go through programming when trying to get on a network, I snuck in through the marketing and sales side of things.

So now what? Well not much, it's all in the hands of the sales department who need to actually sell "The Creative Edge with Brian". They tell me it could be tomorrow, or 2 years frm now. So, I am not holding my breath, but it certainly isn't BAD news in my quest, right?

While that is cooking, I am still working the machine, managing contacts, building relationships, pouring over social media outlets like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. I have created pages of show pitches, ideas, and inspirations. I go to and schedule many meetings, all of which I make sure are beneifical to BOTH parties. In the coming blogs, I will take you along on what I do, who I see and talk to, the ups and downs, the accomplishments and failures of "The Making (hopefully) of a Home Renovation Television Show"