Home is Where the "Happy Haht" Is

I've been watching a lot of HGTV lately, mostly because I'm obsessed with the full screen 16:9 format of their HD. A lot of their programs are quasi-reality based, in that they feature a person or couple who feels that they need the help of a professional decorator. The decorator goes to work and by the end of the show they usually put together a room that's about as personal as a Westin hotel room.

I think that when most people move into a new place that they are pretty ambitious when it comes to personalizing their space. They envison clean, modern paint jobs, high end furniture, and stainless steel accents. After the paint has dried from the walls, they generally fall into their old pack rat habit. Shortly thereafter the place is cluttered with books, the walls are full of half-assed framed photos, and they end up eating all of their meals on the couch since the kitchen table is buckling from the weight of clean/dirty clothes. Spaces that people actually have the gall to live in? That's what I call home!

A lot of my friends have had multiple addresses since starting their careers. However, no matter how many time Queen Dee moves, I know that I can find a DNC collage, a personalized advertisement for WMD, and a picture of us taken to commemerate her first Puffton party. Nay is always kind of in transition, but that doesn't prevent her from proudly displaying her photos of Billy and Ella in a prominent place. I love that the Troll keeps everything in exactly the same place I would. I'm insanely jealous of Attorney Lee's book collection and I've spent more nights than I care to recall curled up under Mama T's Red Sox blanket.

I could go on, since I'm always impressed with the way that people take pride in where they live. Whether one travels to an inner-city housing project or a multi-million dollar estate, their guests are treated to a personal glimpse of the way people live their lives. It's pretty fascinating if you think about it.

HGTV never follows up with any of the homeowners who appear on their show but I definitely think they should. I think that more people would be happy if they knew that the people who lived in these freshly re-done home with their shiny appliances and expensive kitchen countertops still had a sink full of dirty dishes and smudge marks all over the fridge. As for those half-assed framed photos that would likely make their way back to the staircase wall? They're completely charming - don't change them HGTV.