Dear Genevieve: Keep Up the Good Work!
If you haven’t checked out HGTV’s new show, Dear Genevieve, what are you waiting for? It’s one of the network’s newest makeover shows, and it’s hosted by a designer you may recognize. I first fell for Genevieve Gorder when she was an unpretentious, bouncy, barefooted designer on Trading Spaces whose work was almost always wow-worthy. As the host and designer of Dear Genevieve, she’s slightly more composed but just as passionate. From what I’ve seen so far, Genevieve carries her own show with grace and exuberance and offers up plenty of good design and creative ideas to boot.
If you’ve missed Dear Genevieve, here’s a look back and a sneak peek of the episode premiering tonight at 8:30 p.m. On the show’s premiere, Genevieve went above and beyond for a family of six, even taking them to get their first family photos in more than a decade for wall art that’s truly memorable. Genevieve created several storage solutions and activity zones and left this deserving family with a stylish, functional space. Check it out!
Before: A Space Plan That Wasn't Working
After: Fabulous for the Entire Family
Before: Boxed-In and Mismatched Basement
- After: Colorful, Current and Personalized
Like what you see? Get in on it! Upload your problem room(s) here and Genevieve just might knock on your door! Be specific about your design dilemma, and be sure to show off your family’s personality in your video.
I’m soooo lost!!! How do I decorate my 5 yr old home that was already outdated when built by a man with no taste…lol! Our cabinets are very golden solid oak plain ugly box style. Trim throughout the house is walnut stained. All fixtures are cheap and ugly brass popular in the 80’s styles. Our ceilings are terribly ugly dobbed texture. How do I update without outpricing in my neighborhood?
Dear Geneveieve,I’m having a terrible time trying to put my livingroom together.I Have an Teal color sofa,with silver tiles on the floor,with a metal fireplace that goes all the way up the center of the wall the two side walls are brown.I’m at a loss i dont know what kind of curtins or what color to paint the rest of the walls. I realley need your help. PLEASE ANSWER ME WITH YOUR ADVICE THANK YOU HELP!
Love your style. I am looking for the wide grey and white striped rug you used in a living room on one of your early shows. I can’t find it. Who was your source. Thanks for the inspiration
Dear Genevieve,
Great show !! Your work is lovely !! I just go through watching the episode that dealt with changing the country kitchen to a modern functional kitchen!!! I especially liked the backsplash, which was done in an herringbone pattern in an off-white color. The grout was done in a dark color for contrast. Unfortunately, I did not quite get the proper name for that type of backsplash tile (the brand, etc.). Please let me know. Thank you and keep up the good work !!!
Dear Lori and Diane and anyone searching for products featured on HGTV,
One way to search is to go to the show page.http://www.hgtv.com/dear-genevieve/show/index.html and search for an episode. You can scroll through the recent and upcoming episodes in the Episode Guide in the center, lower portion of the screen. Or, if you know the date you saw the show, you can search for an episode in the Find An Episode module at the bottom of the screen. Click the episode, then click ‘Get Episode Info’ to see Product and Resources. If we have information on a product, we’ll share it with you! (You can also go to: http://marketplace.hgtv.com/ and browse till your hearts’ content!)Great questions! Keep ‘em coming!
Dear Genevieve I love your new show and all the other shows I have seen you on. tonight when I was watching you said Cleo in Michigan It is Clio with long I we talk with proper English and how it is spelt. If there is 2 vowels the first one is long in most cases. Sorry.
Dear Genevieve I love watching your show but I have a little problem. My house is a small around 1000 square feet. I have always heard that painting your walls white will make a room look bigger. Now when I watch the shows they are using color on small rooms. My walls are white but my furniture has color and I have to a lot of furniture in my living room. My son says I am afraid of color I need your help. Also I was wondering who pays for what you due in there homes. Keep up the good work.
Kathy
Dear Genevieve
why dont you ever remodel mobile homes
or modular homes. Not every one lives in
stick built homes.
Thank you
Sue
WHY AN APPLE COMPUTER WHEN HGTV SOFTWARE ONLY WORKS WITH WINDOWS..WHAT SOFTWARE ARE YOU USING?
Dear Genevieve.
I have a small room ( for lack of a better word) that is the source of much frustration and confusion. It’s a small room that is really more of a large hallway or thorough-fare. Every wall has at least one door-way or stairwell entrance if not two. This leaves very little wall space and makes it very difficult to arrange furniture. The most disheartening thing is that it is the FIRST “room” you see upon entering my house from any door. This is certainly not the first impression I want to give and not the first thing I want to see when I come home each day. I’ve tried to evolve this space into something attractive and meaningful over the past 5 years but still just shake my head in dismay over this space. As a side note, I have two small children who use this room to play and dance. I dream of a room which is welcoming and beautiful as well as practical in such a high traffic area.
HELP me put this ongoing evolution to rest!
Dear Genevieve, I was watching your show today, It was about remoldeling your Kichen. We bought our house nearly 8 years ago. We were going to build, but decided to buy because of family illness. We needed to have our home sooner than it would take to build. There wasd a house that I had loved so my wonderful husband call the owners and ask if they would and they did. It looked like a beach house. I told Alan this might be the only beach house I would have. The only thing is the Kitchen is not what I really wanted. I thought I could live with it, but I love to cook and love to have friends over. Please can you help. This house was suppose to be my dream home. When I am trying to bake at Christmas it .is a nightmare. Please help
desperate for help! have polio in both arms, use of half of right arm. husband left me to raised 3 kids alone, with no income or job. have been able to maintain my home. trying to fix all broken stuff in house. my oldest son trying to help but no time. have been waiting over 2 years to fix. living squeezed in front guest room. have most all replacement stuff, just need mucho, much help! my bedroom, bath, closet, livingroom, and floors are in reconstructive mode. please help me, christina in monroe, louisianna
Dear Genevieve, I have watched your show several times now and you have said you want us to fall in love with our homes again.
Our home was constructed by my husband and his brothers in 1967-68. It was our dream house for many years. At the time we had two children, a boy and a girl, three bedrooms and one fairly large bathroom.
Everything was just great for four years. then came another little girl, two years later another little girl. Did I mention the bedrooms are 12×12, 8×11, and 8×11. yes way to small. the whole house is 28×42. about 1200 sq. ft.
Now the children are grown and have little one of their own, and when they all gather here for Holidays the walls really close in.
Normal daily living is still a bit crowded because the house is cut up with doorways and closed spaces. It would be so nice if the space were opened up and we could see from the kitchen to dining to living room. It needs to be brought into the 21st century and out of the 60’s. Even my furniture is arranged pretty much the same because of the shape and sizes of the rooms.
I have been ill off and on for the past nine years, so I don’t get out much and the house is getting to seen even smaller.
I DO NOT even like my house any more much love it, and my husband worked so hard building it for us. I feel just terrible that I’m not loving it any more. I mean he started with a hole in the ground, laid every block, every board and every shingle on the roof. He worked nights on the house after working in the factory all day. and every weekend that it didn’t rain or snow.
There is a lot more to this saga that I won’t go into now. But I really would like your help. Sincerely, Janet
I have a Big Design issue. I live in a home that was built in the 1920’s. The walls are made of lath and paster. the previous owner put a really bad texture on the walls to hide some cracks and chips. I really want to remove the walls a resheet rock but my concern is that there may be lead based paint on the walls. I have a 2 year old son and I don’t want to do anything that may make his sick. what would you do?
Dear Genevieve,
My name is Charlie and I am a ten year old boy from CT. My Mom and I love your new show. About 6 and half years ago my Mom bought the house that she grew up in. She still doesn’t feel like it is her own home. One of the things that she really doesn’t like is the kitchen. We both feel the kitchen is to small, no storage, and the main reason is because we have to open the refrigerator door to open the cabinet door, to get a pot to cook with. I also feel that our house is a little unorganized for one dog, three cats, two people, and an occasional third person. Please, please, come help us out!
Thank you, Charlie
Hi Genevieve,
You are a doll. I especially love your personality and style. I would love help with my kitchen and dining area. When we bought our house 26 years ago, we loved everything but the kitchen. We have redecorated and remodeled a lot of the house. The outside of our house is so adorable! The kitchen, however, is a rather daunting project so we have not tackled it – yet! NOW, we are ready. By hook or by crook, we are doing it soon! I have been storing up ideas for all these 26 years and I’m ready to go. (I am secretly hoping to get it done before my brother and family of 10 come to stay with us!)
I have no sob story to tell you. I just want my kitchen redone. We have a financial plan for it and do not expect someone else to pay.
I have family over for most of the holidays now that my folks are getting up there in years, so I need a more efficient and beautiful space! I want to serve others and enjoy doing it.
I want to break out a wall, put in new everything and figure out some really out-of-the-box way of seating lots of people in our space. How about a fold out table??? I need someone clever and you might just be the gal. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Joani
Dear Genevieve,
My husband works really really hard so that I am able to stay home with our 2 children. He is an amazing person and deserves to have something given back to him. We have an unfinished basement that he really wants to turn into a media room or as he calls it…MAN CAVE. The only problem is that he works from home quite a bit and needs a quiet office space to go to. He now is willing to give up his nam cave to have an office instead. It would be amazing to give him both but it is a small space. Please help me suprise my husband with something as amazing as he his. Thank you so much for your time. Stephanie
Dear Genevieve,
I have been watching your show just wondering if the tears that swell up are enough to have you be able to help my daughter and I. I am a single mom who works 6 days a week and my little girl is in after school programs for a grand day of school and play for 10 hours monday through friday and on sundays she has a baby sitter or is with the grand parents all day.I am not complaining that I have a job in today’s world. Everyone is struggling! I am just unhappy as the years pass and my child gets bigger that I have no play area in the basement for her and her friends. I have a large basesment that needs a huge make over so that my little girl and her friends can play, relax and maybe have sleep overs as she gets older. I would love to entertain and have a space for me to work as well, it is dark, dusty and unsafe for play or work but with help and direction I know that this room could add peace of mind, value and fun for little girls life and me. I can’t thank you enough for listening and maybe one day soon we will have the pleasure of meeting you. I thank you for your time and hard work.
Deborah Smith
Michigan
On one of your recent shows you memtion an easier way to remove wallpaper. I know that it was warm water with another ingredient which i can’t remember. I would appreciate you letting me know. I am about to do 3 rooms in my house and if i can make it easier i would love that.
Thank you.
dear genevieve i’m a big fan and would love you to come and knock on my front door as my house is vanilla white walls and biege carpet and tiles if you don,t come to our front door i will still what you show just to see the great things to do god bless maureen
My husband needs help with his garage. He just is over whelmed with amount of tools and trying to find a place for it all. We have not been able to agree on what, and how to fix up the garage. Also, we have no extra money but lots of shelving and plenty of items that can be recycled to work.
Please can you help us?
Thank You
Diane Youngblood
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
I just watched your episode on a 1970’s kitchen makeover. The home was built/designed by an architect, beautiful conteporary style wood home with lots of angles. After taking down items in kitchen, you found the writing “this house is ugly”, I thought the house was great! You drew all over the cabinets, which prevented them from being recycled/reused. Also, you said never to use floresent lighting. Obviously, you don’t care about the environment, and saving energy. Get with the program and think your remodels a little better.
I would like to be on the show .I own my house on south beach.Need of desperate help.
help help help
Dear Genevieve,
I want to let you know you rock. I appreciate your listening skills too. I have watched your show and tried to do the tips you have recommended, but no success. We have a mountain home that is very unique. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by to see all my designing problems which are too long to list. Keep up the great work!
Lorie
Dear Genevieve, I too think you are a spirit with a vision. I wish I could be soo lucky. I am just another — what if ??? I own my small 2-story home with my daughter away at college, I would like to surprise her and sweep through my house and have her a grad party – But – I can’t seem to get that WOW. This note is a call for your greatness and the heart you place in the home. I am a believer that good things happen to good people and I am crossing my fingers. I am ready for smiles. I am a breast cancer survivor and I am ready to perk up my home now with some color. Please come to my small community and help my home with your personality and tricks. Thank you in advance, I will continue watching your show. Marsha
Dear Genevive I live in Marlton NJ.My kitchen is horendis.I recently lost my husband so no way can I afford to restore my kitchen to civiality. But I also have the problem of being crippled with RA. I’m only 52. I can’t seem to work withot a cut or a burn to show for it. My chair just is offscale with the counters and stove. Is there any quick, cheap ideas you could give me. LOVE your show, I’ve been a fan of your work since TRADING SPACES. You Go Girl!
I watched your show on May 2, 2009 of the couple who needed a kitchen “face-lift”. It turned out beautifully. I need the same thing and as I am not going to be working this summer, I have decided to tackle my kitchen cabinets, too. They are basically wonderful, but have a white “pickled” finish that is wearing off around the handles and also got a little scorched from a oven fire. So I need advice on the painting technique you showed in your show on May 2. You mentioned using a primer and I get that part, but I do not know what type of finish paint I should use. Would you use an oil based enamel or is a latex sufficient and is there even another choice I do not know about.
Thanks for your help.
Suzanne
Dear Miss “G” I’ll make this short i’ve tryed to get other shows on HGTV to please give the names of the colors that you use on your projects. I no that other viewers think as i do. I have a liveing room/up the steps to the second floor/library/master bedroom to paint i saw some colors that were on target, but no names for the colors at the end of the show. You dont have to give the manufactors name if you cant thats ok. Thanks a fan.
Hi G: I would like to know how to remove sun film from my windows. I had them done about 13 years ago and now their starting to bubble in areas. I had an estimate for new sun film and it was expensive. Removing the old stuff was the expensive part.
Can you give me an idea of how to remove the old sun screen film. I know how to put on new stuff but don’t know how to remove old stuff.
PLEASE HELP !!!! Thanks for your help. I love your show…..watch it all the time…Ann
Dear Gen,
I have a mental block with my dining room. I love art and would like to use a large 5′x4′ painting in my dining room. It is on the contemporary side and my furnishings are very country. I have a farm table with Ethan Allen chairs that I bought in the 70s. My main problem is a 60″ wide plate rack that was built by my husband’s brother in law. All the wood finishes are natural and the chandelier is wrought iron. I don’t know what to do with the plate rack. It takes up a whole wall and the painting takes up a whole wall. Right now they are fighting each other. They are both art pieces on their own. Would painting the wood on the plate rack white help? And how would I dress it? Plates just don’t work. I need a fresh idea.
Thanks Donna
Dear Geniveve,
I am an 11 year old girl from NJ, and my mom and dad need some help on our office/living space. It needs some “pizazz”. The room is mostly white, with white leather couches and really ugly blinds. We have lived in this house for at least 6 years now. My parents want to do something with the office / living room, but do not know what to. Please warm up this drab room!!!!!
WE LOVE YOUR SHOW!!!
Brittany(11 year old)
HELLO Dear Genevieve I have never written to anyone on the internet before because until 4days ago we didn’t have a computer. My husband has been remodeling a 100 year home for the last 6 years for me and my son, Kurtis . I know he is tired of construction work. He has battled declining health ever since a heart attack 3 years ago. I watch HGTV like millions of others across the country and the odds are slim but we need your HELP!!! We have one room left to finish in our small but important home it is our master suite. If I could give my husband one thing after 12 years of marriage it would be YOUR Help! P.S. Genevieve , you could come to our hometown where some of Hannah Montana was filmed in Tennesse. Sincerely, A huge fan and her family….
Dear Genevieve. I have a huge design dilemma. It happens to be my living room. My living room is a large rectangle (13′6″W X 18′ long) and has a cathedral ceiling. The cathedral ceiling is only one side of the slope. The ceiling meets at the center of the house with the other slope being the kitchen and dining area. There is more…..the wall between the living room and the kitchen is open at the top, making it a 3/4 wall separating the area. To make matters worse, one wall has a fireplace and large window the other has double doors that lead into a study/den area. I have decided to install hardwood floors to give my home character and an upgrade but I can’t seem to see beyond the floors. How do you paint such a room and have it work with the study/den, hallway, and kitchen? How do I make this room a more functional space to watch TV and entertain friends and family?
Hello! Both my sister and myself recently moved out of my parent’s home in Michigan. They bought a fixer upper over 15 years ago, and because they had us it was never fixed. I currently live in AZ as a teacher and would want nothing more than to pay them back. This house is my childhood home but it’s falling apart and they don’t know what to do with it. Any room can be tackled the focal point when you walk in is the kitchen. Please please help US!
Dear Genevieve,
I am 12 years old and my dad says that it is time for me to move out of his space. I love being in the room across the hall from his, but I am moving downstairs. I would like to choose my own style and my dad says that he pays the bills, so he gets to choose. The room I will be moving into is a combo of bright canary yellow with makeup lights in a jack and Jill bathroom and disgusting army green carpet. It has too much personality and none of it is mine. Please help me and my dad settle this peacefully!!!!!!!!!!
HELP-I HAVE TO LIVE HERE FOR 6 MORE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been listing to your show from the start. I love your ideas ! I’am a handicapped person who really needs help with her kitchen. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I’am totaly blind, but I live life at the top. I love to cook, but it is very hard to do so with my layout. Any chance of you comming to Southern California? I really need your help !! Looking forward to hearing from you and hope to receive your help. Sincerely Kandy
Dear Mrs G; HI my name is mariah and im writting you to let you know that your disign is so great. My mom dosn't change the channel just to watch all of you guys. You see i'm 17 and my sister is 14 my little bro is 4 my aunt is 49 she is speacal but she loves to clean.My mom has takin care of poeple every where we move. But she nevre ask anyone for anythjng. I feel so sorry for her she's had two masive heart attacs and we havent done any thing for her we are honner roll students but she deervie much more.My dad works for eazy reantal.He's great. Some times i wish she could get the decoration she wants.her living room is small, her dinning room,and kichenis to can you help us help her; We love you and take care. MARRIAH ROBBINS STONE MOUNTAIN GA,
Genevieve,
First of all button your blouses. Leaving so many unbuttoned makes you like a slut, and not a professional person. Also, for someone who has been designing for so long your work stinks, how embarrassing for you. Take some tips from Candice Olsen,now there is a designer.
Genevieve,
I'm having trouble finding out what paint color had been used on episode 103 (Fit for the whole family) – if anyboyd know, could they please post it?
Thanks
I feel this will be a difficult request for your personal and professional assistance.
Our daughter, Milissa purchased a one bedroom Condo in Arlington, VA about two years ago. Since she has moved in she has only been able to put a new coat of pant on the walls. She also purchased some furniture, but it really is too big and bulky for her 480 square foot layout. She wanted to wait until she saved up enough money to create a functional, yet Cape Cod look to her home.
Well she was recently lost her job and with that her hopes of doing something to her Condo has been put on a "permanent" hold.
My wife and I are committed watcher to your show and HGTV in general. We have seen what you have been able to do to capture a person's personality and vision for their place of residence.
How can you help us "put a smile" on our daughter's face?
We look forward to hearing from you.
Marlene and Steve Leavey
Dear Genevieve – I love your show and would love your help. My kitchen is in need of a drastic update from 80's to the new century. We also need some innovative design idea's to possibly change layout. I am a mother of three, work a full time job and part–time job, and have been caring for my elderly parents for the last 10 years. Trying to keep my family afloat it leaves little time to much decorating. I lost my dad to diabetes this past year and had to put my mother in longterm health care facility. Could you give me the best way to cover wallpaper that is stuck right to the sheet rock. I do not have the money to replace the sheetrock but want to at least paint. Please help!
Dear Genevieve, my husband and I just bought a new chocolate brown sectional. I’m so excited to finally start decorating my house with my own style instead of everyone elses that i’ve aquired through hand me downs. My delema is choosing a wall color that will go with the couch and enable me to change out accent colors through the seasons. I also want to know if painting my coffee table and end tables black would be too much and what other colors would go with all of it?
Hi G Love your show!! Have a question, I have painted woodwork in my kitchen area, and the rest is stained woodwork, this is all on the same floor, very open floor plan. Should all of my woodwork be painted?
Dear Gen, my husband and I are building an addtion to our home the walls go from 13ft and slope down to 10ft and this is a big room its going to house a new kitchen and dinning room and sorta formal living room if you will (we arent formal people lol) but I luv to paint and decorate but one issue that I am finding in my home now is its one open room so when you have no walls to seperate the rooms you have to paint the same colors so the rooms dont look choppy and I love the openess but how can a person seperate with color without some kinda devider? Also with the pitch being so high in our new addtion and because is slopes if crown molding makes ceilings appear higher I probably wouldnt want to put crown molding up right? And putting color on the ceiling will help make the room appear smaller? I need your advice. Thanks for advice. Tana
Dear Genevieve,
We just had a major flood in our home back in September of this year. We are currently living in a hotel with our four small children until the contractor turns the house over to us. We are scheduled to retun back to the house the week of Thanksgiving 2009, or latest by December 1 st. The entire house is going to need putting back together. Please Help! Our basement is drab looking. we want to decorate it but don’t have the money to do so, after spending so much money on restoration due to the flood. It’s the place we spend a lot of time together as a family.