Since I’ve been about as productive as a sack of potatoes, I don’t have new and exciting things to share. Unfortunately, the dining room trim did not magically install itself and weeds did not pull themselves just because I willed them to go away. New paintings didn’t appear on my drying shelves and blog posts did not manifest while I was binge-watching Wolf Hall. But, I have made a good dent in my watch lists and fell down a Tudor-era rabbit hole in the process! Since I know many of you love the same things I do, I thought I would recommend a show I’ve been enjoying – Restoration Home, available on Amazon Prime.
I started watching it because of another show – Old World Homes on Max/Magnolia. I watched the first episode and was completely charmed by the stories of how historic homes were saved and reclaimed as residences for modern families. I was all settled in, ready to watch a full season of the show only to discover that only two episodes were made! They were released in 2022, so I wasn’t starting the show mid-season. Two episodes was it and I was thoroughly disappointed. I mean, I dove into the depths of the internet trying to find more episodes and came up empty. So, that sent me on a quest to find something similar which led me to Restoration Home. It’s a British show that features a historic home in each episode that has been purchased by hopeful new owners. The building is usually dilapidated, uninhabitable, and presents massive renovation challenges.
While there are a plethora of renovation shows to watch, here is why I like this one. Number one, it focuses on historic buildings and houses that need to be saved. As a lover of old homes and history, I find so much joy in seeing a sad, neglected building brought back to life. Number two, in addition to sharing the nuts, bolts, and budgets of the renovations, they research and share the story of the house and its place in English history. For some of the homes, it’s a fascinating unfolding that explains the quirky architectural features of the house as well as what makes it unique and worthy of preserving. Number three, a wide variety of budgets, approaches, and design styles are represented. They’ll feature DIYers on a tight budget who will slowly plod along, meeting obstacles with resourcefulness and grit. They’ll feature professionals who are working multiple jobs and juggling their finances to keep the renovation moving forward. But they’ll also feature renovations done with million-dollar budgets, all hired out to professionals. I like this mixed-bag approach since many people who renovate houses don’t have unlimited budgets and make significant sacrifices in order to save an old home.
I also like British shows because, in large part, everyone just shows up looking like regular human beings. American shows are filled with unrealistically white teeth, fake lashes, hair extensions, Boxtox-filled faces, and surgically altered bodies. I get weary of it, especially when I’m trying to just be inspired or educated. But you don’t typically find that in British shows and I find it so refreshing. Jeff has started to make fun of how frequently I say, “Thank you, so-and-so, for having a real face.”
Anyway, I find these restoration stories to be fascinating and inspiring. The show casts a very real light on how expensive and emotionally taxing renovation is, especially when it needs to be sensitively carried out by specialist artisans and adhering to strict regulations applying to listed buildings in the UK. They share the frustrations of delays and some of the ridiculous demands of the planning permission agents. Field stone is okay but slate isn’t. Stone from a quarry six miles away isn’t local enough. It’ll take us two years to review your plans and then we’ll let you know. You can almost hear the wheels of bureaucracy moaning. But, I also love that these homes are being restored properly with age-old techniques appropriate for the era and style of the building. They aren’t just making a house habitable, they are preserving its story. Even though I see that the process can be immensely frustrating at times, I appreciate the attention to detail and that some beautiful 300+-year-old house isn’t going to be clad in aluminum siding or topped with an asphalt-shingled roof.
Old is embraced, celebrated, and preserved.
And, of course, I love watching the architecture and imagining what renovation decisions I would make. How would I decorate a Tudor-era dining room? Would I spend $40k on a replica Georgian staircase? How would I make an antiquated and awkward layout work for a modern family?
It also makes me think about all of the homes that were captured in the Kitchin sketchbooks I bought a few years ago. Which one of those homes has been saved and which has been lost? There was actually an episode where they shared a sketch of a mill and I was holding my breath to see if it was by Kitchin. The sketch was a very similar style, but it was by a different artist.
Several of these homes have portions of them that date back to the Tudor era, so that led me to research that period of history further and, while I’ve been sick, watch shows and documentaries about that era. I can tell you this, it makes me thankful to be alive in our current time!
So, if you’re looking for some good, worthwhile TV-watching, check out Restoration Home.
Have you seen ‘ Saving the Manor’?, it is British, the owners are restoring a former residence of Henry VII. Unfortunately, there is only 1 year thus far. This is not a castle, but, a very large house with many outbuildings added over hundreds of years. Do not feel unproductive whilst unwell, anything gained, including catching up on reading, or television is beneficial. Kim
I follow several channels on YouTube that feature people restoring old buildings. I’m selective about my choices because I don’t care for manufactured drama or too pretty renos that are not sensitive to the history and provenance of the buildings.
I’ll check out Saving the Manor because it seems like the kind of thing I would enjoy – thanks for the suggestion.
Wolf Hall was a great book – I haven’t watched the film version but it is on my list.
Oops, I meant to say Restoration Home – but Saving the Manor sounds interesting too.
Check their YouTube channel- my tiny estate.
I already subscribe to their channel. I love their stuff.
I’ve just finished watching the series so thank you for telling me they have a channel!
We loved watching Stone House Revival, a guy renovated the PA stone homes around Bucks County, and keeling them livable for modern families. You may be able to find those shows. Unfortunately the network was bought by Magnolia and they stopped making the show. Sounds like they’ve stopped making most shows. Guess the Chip and Joanna money train is drying up.
I also recommend “Stone House Revival.” Not only is there a lot of history involved, but the people doing the work are master craftsmen. Jeff Devlin is the “star” of the show and is as real as they get. Can’t promise that some of the people who are having him restore their historic homes don’t go to extremes to look glamorous, but Jeff and his workers are real. And having lived in Pennsylvania yourself you might even have seen some of these homes. Another excellent show is “Restoration” with Brett Waterman. He works on historic houses in Southern California, everything from an adobe hacienda to Victorians, Craftsman and Mid-century moderns. I especially like his visits to places like tilemakers, woodworkers and metal workers.
I love your comments on British shows as I have had this conversation with friends so often! We all love British TV and how ‘real’ the people look, dress, and how their homes are ‘normal’ looking – not like modern American TV at all. I’ll def check out Restoration Home, it sounds like something I’d love. I hope you’re feeling better soon, Marian. Until then, try to enjoy the rest.
Thanks for the tip! I adore shows like this, and British TV. I will definitely check it out. You should look up The Beau Chateau on YouTube. It’s about a young couple who inherit a Chateau outside of Paris, and have been renovating it. It’s fascinating and I’m addicted! They also use it as a wedding venue.
I will definitely check out Restoration Home. Thanks for the recommendation. Brings to mind a funny meme I saw recently. ‘There’s only so high you can turn up the volume before you have to admit you can’t understand the actors in a British tv series’. I find the rewind to be helpful. But if it gets too difficult there’s always close captioning. ha!
I love every single British thing on Britbox.
Thanks for the recommendation. That looks like something I would enjoy!
On a completely different note, I don’t want to come across as a complainer or someone who is overly critical, but I have had a hard time reading your blog posts since you updated and changed the font. I have been reading a lot less frequently, because the letters are so close together and run into each other. Does anyone have a suggestion for another format for reading the posts, short of copying/pasting it into a word document and changing the font? I have debated about posting this, but I enjoy your content, and maybe I am overlooking something obvious.
Thanks.
Terry, I’m sorry you’re having trouble! We actually made the font larger in the hopes of making it easier to read, not harder. What kind of device are you reading on? If you’re reading on a computer/laptop, you can increase the size of the browser so the font is larger. If you’re reading on a tablet or smart phone, you can pinch the screen and expand your fingers to enlarge the area you’re reading or the image you want to take a closer look at. I hope that helps!
Thanks. I am on a laptop. It’s not really the size of the font, it’s the spacing, or maybe the style of the font itself. I will experiment.
I agree. The the font and the spacing between the lines do make it harder to read. Everything kind of blends together and I find myself working harder than usual to pick out each word.
I love home reno programs and will check out Restoration Home. Have you watched “Escape to the Chateau”. Love that one.
I love when a dilapidated historical home is saved and brought back to life! You just don’t find those architectural features in new homes. Thank you for telling us about Restoration Home. I hope they’ll make more episodes.
We built a “turn of the century” Queen Anne Victorian home. It was started December 2001, and we moved in July 3, 2003. Everything was not finished, but we were tired of waiting. My husband installed TP holders, towel holders, etc. We have a “round” turret on one side of the front of the house, with curved windows. We live in the country, but a couple bought a historic home in town that had burned. They needed curved windows, so they came to see ours. It’s a 2 story home, and most of the staircase burned. They found a staircase from a house about 50 miles away which was torn down to build a parking lot. It was within inches of the size they needed, so it was installed. Their house was on a Christmas tour several years ago, and a small “burned” place on the wood floor upstairs was all that remained from the fire.
I’d like to recommend Man with a Hammer, aka Greg Penn, if you aren’t already following him on Instagram. He is renovating an old home called The Admiral’s House. He goes through all his ideas, plan and how he carries them out. Start at the beginning! He shares the history of the house. He sense of decor is breathtaking and he tries to keep everything true to the period. He just came out with a book available on Amazon.
Thank you for this recommendation. I do hope you feel better soon. British (and French) television is far superior to the drivel produced here in the States. We, too, appreciate the “real” factor. My husband commented about this frequently when I first made him a convert, but now we take it for granted. If it is “the beautiful people” you want, look at Italian shows!
I just finished the first episode of Restoration Home!!! What a great program.
I also recommend any of the great shows with George Clark. He’s been on British tv for years.
I’ve watched all the various series hosted by English architect George Clarke, also on Prime. Am currently watching Cheap Irish Homes.
I couldn’t agree with you any more than I do right this moment, Marian. I love those shows so much – there are many lovely ones on YouTube, too. And Hollywood needs to stop with the face treatments. Are they not aware that they all look the same, and look ALIEN???? I will never ever understand it. I am all about old houses being cared for and people allowing themselves the true blessing of growing older, with grace, style and diginity. Hope these restful binges are allowing you to get back your mojo. Be kind to yourself. ♥
Thank you everyone and especially Marian for all the suggestions!!
I really enjoy Farmhouse Fixer and the extra series Camp Revamp with the same people. Lovely New England properties. Kristina the designer does great work.
The Escape to the Chateau couple have also written 3 books, and Angel has a homewares line. You might recognise the husband as he was on US tv a bit.
I’m in the UK and like some of the US shows, but the shiny white teeth can be a little off putting on some!
Caroline Quentin, the host of Restoration Home, has written a gardening book too, Drawn to the Garden.
What you see a bit more in Restoration Home, and in Grand Designs, is more of the familial impact, that I don’t see on US shows. I’ve seen several episodes where the guy is obsessed and his wife/girlfriend ends up leaving. Maybe because more of the UK shows cover a longer period?
Loved Escape to the Chateau on Peacock… it’s the restoration of a castle but so fun and interesting!!! You’ll love Dick, Angel and their sweet children!!
Feel better. Marian!!
I binge watched all 3 seasons of Restoration Home while I was laid up after a car accident. I was truly impressed with some of the projects people took on. The homeowners were inspiring-I believe this is the series where a young man took on the restoration of a church and conversion to a home. I rember holding my breath while he was up on the roof doing repairs. What was most impressive was that many of the homeowners were novices and took on projects that would be overwhelming for many.
I love Restoration Home! I discovered it a few years ago on YouTube. There’s a fascinating episode of a family restoring a property made with brick. The historian shows how you can see the brick makers’ signature on the brick and estimated that part of the structure was built in Tudor times. I love how the British continue practicing their heritage building methods, too.
I laughed out loud at your comment aout being as ‘productive as a sack of potatoes.’ LOL sooo funny – been there!!
Check out Knockderry Castle on Instagram. An American couple bought a run-down 19th century house overlooking a loch in Scotland. They are trying to sensatively restore it to its former grandeur while dealing with damage, neglect and outdated systems. They appear to be hiring craftmen who are experienced with the materials and methods that went into the original construction and persons qualified to restore what was a very grand interior in its day.