This is a programme not to be missed if you are a would be interior designer. No MDF here thank goodness, but rooms revamped in a stylish and polished way. Dr Anne ....whatever her name is .....unfortunately does have a rather acerbic manner and there are occasions when she and her television ... Read review
Advantages: Stylish and tasteful - no MDF Disadvantages: Currently awaiting new series
This is a programme not to be missed if you are a would be interior designer. No MDF here thank goodness, but rooms revamped in a stylish and polished way. Dr Anne ....whatever her name is .....unfortunately does have a rather acerbic manner and there are occasions when she and her television clients do not hit it off at all, but this only serves to make the programme 100% more enjoyable and interesting.
I became quite addicted to ... ...series recently, but I believe a new series is planned.
The show is based on an American concept whereby people who are having difficulty selling their homes are visited by a property/style design expert who points out the things that are deterring potential buyers and sets about remedying the situation. Apparently this is a very real business in America and it is indeed catching on now in the UK directly as a result of the programme. more
This is a programme not to be missed if you are a would be interior designer. No MDF here thank goodness, but rooms revamped in a stylish and polished way. Dr Anne ....whatever her name is .....unfortunately does have a rather acerbic manner and there are occasions when she and her television clients do not hit it off at all, but this only serves to make the programme 100% more enjoyable and interesting.
I became quite addicted to this programme, and was sorry when it ended its current series recently, but I believe a new series is planned.
The show is based on an American concept whereby people who are having difficulty selling their homes are visited by a property/style design expert who points out the things that are deterring potential buyers and sets about remedying the situation. Apparently this is a very real business in America and it is indeed catching on now in the UK directly as a result of the programme.
The programme is interesting from several different aspects, it is funny to watch the arguments over taste, it is interesting to see people's homes prior to the make-over and it is fascinating to see the changes and improvements made. Moreover, the changes are a distinct improvement, not silly foppish MDF coverups as in Changing Rooms and the like.
The general tip from the house doctor is to keep backgrounds to rooms fairly neutral so they appeal to different types of people who will then be able to visualise themselves living there. Keep clutter to a minimum (although hardly any of the rooms turn out to be dull and minimalistic) and ensure the house is sweet smelling and tidy.
At the beginning of the programme potential buyers are filmed going through the property and their comments recorded. These same people then visit the property again after the make up and their new comments recorded -again a different angle to make over programmes.
The House doctor's taste is nearly always impeccable. Quite often she just moves a piece of furniture to a different situation with quite amazing results. She often incorporates into the programmes ideas that anyone could copy (and I sometimes do).
I'm surprised this programme hasn't been given more cover in Ciao as I know a lot of you are interested in interior design magazines etc., I would really recommend you watch it next time it is on.
By the way for all the female readers... the male presenter is quite dishy.
Advantages: Teaches you how to sell your home. Disadvantages: The upheaval it involves.
Do you look around your home and see the clutter that makes the difference between a house and a home ? Do you collect rubbish ? I believe that to a certain extent we all do, and things that we consider as necessary to our lives is really not always what other people consider necessary to theirs.
I have recently upped and moved house and I have to admit to being pulled in by this program on the television that helps people sell houses.
THE CONCEPT.
... ...house almost a blank canvas, so that people can imagine themselves living in it. My house was well overcrowded with "things", to the extent that shelves were overflowing, kitchen cupboards full of useless bits and bobs that I was keeping for a rainy day. The piano corner of the lounge was swamped with musical books, the telephone area was littered with pieces of paper that you write numbers down on. The wardrobes were overflowing, and generally my ...
thingywhatsit 01.06.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Channel 5 - House Doctor
Advantages: New fresh idea for makeover shows Disadvantages: none
I have heard this programme now has a cult following and is becoming very popular, and i can see why, it is compulsive viewing.
The basic idea is very different from other D.I.Y programmes such as changing rooms, house invaders etc, because it actually helps the people recieving the makeover to sell thier house/flat - with great results. So a couple in Manchester are wanting to move house but can't as thier current residence is still on the market ... ...for help from the house doctor -Californian real estate agent Anne Maurice- to help flog thier house.
Basically she walks through the door into the home and takes a good look of the decoration/furnature inside the house and points out what could be deterring potential buyers. E.g The couple could have lime green, purple, orange and brown in the same room, they may like it but a lot of people are actually put off by these types of colours and cannot ...
java 10.02.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Channel 5 - House Doctor
Advantages: a classic televised cult Disadvantages: too short to see Dr Anne's magical wonders
During the mid 1990s programs like Changing Rooms and Home Front were very popular with the British national television viewers. In fact, I think Carol Smilie has become synomous with paint stripper and MDF. The great thing about House Doctor is that it is a worthwhile program, unlike other home makeover programs which do not give us any real ideas, but a lot of MDF, and is also very enjoyable.
Anne Maurice, the doctor herself, is shown around a ... ...She more often than not is not impressed with the current decor. If we were not convinced by her opinion, we are then treated to the opinions of prospective buyers, which also are more often than not quite bad. Anne then explains to the present owners that they must spend some money to make some money, which in turn is either scoffed at or accepted on face vaule. Either way, Dr Anne, gets her way and the owners fork out between £500-£2000 on making ...
r-rackham 19.06.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Channel 5 - House Doctor
Advantages: Interesting Concept Disadvantages: Having to wait for the new series
I just absolutely love watching the house doctor. I think that out of all the interior design programmes that are aired on television that this is got to be one of the best. For anybody who has not watched it before it is based on an American concept of staging your home for a sale.
The house doctor is Anne Maurice and she works her magic in homes that have not sold for one reason or another. Generally after she gives homes her treatment more often ... ...buyers who will view the property before and after. It is quite astounding to see the mess that some people will allow their house to be in whilst showing viewers around. One of the worst houses I saw was a bachelor pad where there were empty beer bottles and pizza boxes litter absolutely everywhere. The bathroom looked as if somebody had just showered in it moments before with dirty towels lying on the floor which the potential buyers had to step ...
MotherLove 08.04.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Channel 5 - House Doctor
Advantages: Points out scruffiness to oblivious homeowners Disadvantages: Unnecessary tarting up of already nice homes
My dad plans to put my house up for sale early next year.This is fine by me because I'll be at university and I'm actually releived that he is trying to escape Bradford.However..I do have a HUGE problem with his plans on how to sell the house.Everbody knows the obvious tricks......have a pot of coffee on the stove and fresh flowers everywhere but "Dr".Anne of House Doctor fame has my dad running about trying to gather the most obscure materials in ... ...fail,he tunes in to "Dr".Anne and her lazy American drawl,almost salivating at the gems she is about to disclose.
God knows where "Dr" Anne obtained her doctorate from, doubtless it was the University of how to draw attention to yourself by being rude, obnoxious and American on a third-rate and exceptionally crap daytime TV programme. If such a university existed, which I am sure it does somewhere in America, the un-lovely "Dr" Anne would surely ...
jessiespano 21.10.2001 (22.10.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Channel 5 - House Doctor
How good are the presen...
How good is the content?
How does it compare to ...
How good is the concept?
How do you rate the gue...
How do you rate the ove...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Channel 5 - House Doctor"
Advantages: Compulsive before and after home makeover show with great ideas for people planning to sell their home Disadvantages: Half hour format is too short for this type of programme.
Would you let a complete stranger into your home to criticise your wallpaper, shake her head at your cluttered shelves, and give you a good ticking off about all those unfinished DIY projects? Apparently dozens of people have already done that, if the ?HouseDoctor? programme is anything to go by. With a recent new series on Channel5, I thought it would be a good time to review this programme, which may sound like another ?home makeover? show but is actually quite compulsive viewing.
As Channel5's ?HouseDoctor?, former Californian estate agent and interior designer Ann Maurice has rapidly gained a huge cult following in the UK. Fans regularly tune in to the half hour shows to watch her quickly transform Britain's unsaleable properties into houses that everyone wants to buy. The HouseDoctor programme is currently in its fifth ...
