The Awesome Always: COME ON IN

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of Home and Garden Television these days. In fact, if the network just wanted to go ahead and rename itself Real Estate and Garden Television, I wouldn't bat an eye (at least it would be fair advertising). Most of the shows are about buying houses. Or selling houses. Or buying or selling houses for the first time. Or competing with other real estate agents to buy or sell houses. Or buying and selling houses overseas. Or domestically. Or for all I know, on Mars. I suppose in these lean times, this makes financial sense: what could be cheaper than running a few agents (who need the face time anyway) through a house, throwing out a few verbal bombs (criticism is always cheap), and calling it a show? Nothing, except that a) NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BUY HOUSES RIGHT NOW, and b) this is incredibly BORING. So boring. Watching real estate agents for hours on end is about as exciting as watching paint dry, which frankly, I'd prefer, since this really is supposed to be a channel about designing and decorating.

Going for the Gold (and Blue) on HGTV show Curb Appeal.

Anywho, I inadvertently clicked over to HGTV the other day anyway, and couldn't stop watching Curb Appeal: The Block. Nothing earth-shattering, but it's an entertaining show, and a lot of us spend so much time focusing on our ikat pillows with fringe that we forget to attend to the landscaping. Curb Appeal does great doors and entrances - and the only other thing you need is a great foyer to bridge the gap between public and private space. The foyer or entrance hall is the prologue to your home's story, since it introduces the guest to the mood and style of your house. A great entrance way makes you want to keep walking - to see what's inside.

Meg Braff