[Image: Chicago Skyline, 2004, designslinger]

I have lived my life in big American cities. I love the urban lifestyle and have never felt the pull of suburban or country/rural living. Through the years, I have made my home in apartments that required a little paint, to almost complete overhauls, tearing down walls, stripping woodwork, you name it. I have also gone through these experiences with many a friends, or friend's clients, renovations as well.

[Images: designslinger]

In Saturday's New York Times, real estate section, I saw an article titled, "Reluctant Renovators."
Like the people profiled, I was never a reluctant renovator at the beginning of a project, I tackled them with gusto, and depending on the job at hand, I could run out of steam after the first flush of rehab euphoria. And, it was my interest in old buildings  that lead me to a career in the world of art, architecture and design.

[Images: designslinger]

I remember being glued to the television set every Saturday (and any day with reruns!) of the very first season of This Old House on PBS. I was enthralled with Bob Vila's weekly adventures fixing up that old ramshackle house in Boston. With the explosion of cable television, and the amateur decorator's habit of choice, HGTV, it's hard to keep up with all the programming geared toward the renovating do-it-yourselfer. But, with the advent of the DVR, it makes the job a little easier.

[Images: designslinger]

Our newest favorite renovator's delight is the Bravo T.V. program, "Flipping Out." If you haven't seen it, I have to tell you that it isn't the This Old House of the new century. It's like most reality T.V., a show about the dysfunctional escapades of the star - who happens to be a home rehabber. The insane behavior Jeff (the star), and his wonderful assistant Jenni (they are no Bob and Norm, from the original TOH), are not the only reason we are weekly viewers. His transformations of these real estate properties are top notch and a cut above the usual fare on HGTV.

[Images: designslinger]

Unlike the subjects of the Times article, or myself for that matter, Jeff does this for a living. So, technically he's not just an individual who finds himself caught up in rehab fever; he's also a house flipper. He does have the wherewithal however to get through the mind numbing, physically debilitating experience that seems to be the norm when it comes to a renovation project.

[Images: designslinger]

A close friend of ours redid a 1940's era house she recently purchased, a transformation that took only seven weeks, with spectacular results! Every once in a while, I feel those pangs of wanting to take on a project and glam the shit out of it, but then I look at the trials and tribulations another friend of ours who is currently rehabbing a house he bought in Palm Springs. His unfortunate experience, brings me back down-to-earth. So, I will continue to get my rehab fix sitting in our cozy living room, on our slouchingly comfortable sofa, and live vicariously through the crazies on our television set.