Our HGTV Rate My Space Adventure: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Fifteen Seconds of Fame

Last night was undeniably a whirlwind of excitement and a moment of surreal joy for us. We had our exhilarating, albeit fleeting, fifteen seconds of fame – or perhaps more accurately, fifteen minutes, if you count the anticipation – on HGTV’s beloved show, Rate My Space. The lead-up to our segment was nothing short of a nail-biting thirty minutes, but the payoff was immeasurable. For those of you who managed to tune in, we genuinely hope you enjoyed it! Sherry and I are primarily relieved that we managed to maintain a semblance of coherence and didn’t appear too awkward on screen. (We were coherent, right? Sherry still insists her voice sounded entirely different!) A massive thank you to everyone who reached out to us after the show; your kind messages mean the world, and we’re so thrilled you could share this unique experience with us.

With the initial jitters now behind us, it’s time to dive into the nitty-gritty – the fascinating behind-the-scenes scoop of how our segment on this popular home renovation show actually came to fruition. To help paint a vivid picture, we’ve even included some high-tech screen grabs – essentially, photos of our paused TV screen – to guide you through our journey.

The Unlikely Call: From Blog to Broadcast

Before our personal involvement, we, like many viewers, approached the premise of Rate My Space with a degree of skepticism. We always assumed that when homeowners supposedly “hand-picked” their three inspiration rooms, there must have been some behind-the-scenes filtering by producers or the resident designer. We imagined a limited selection of pre-screened rooms offered to the makeover recipients. To our delightful surprise, we learned this wasn’t the case at all! C.V. and Noel, the incredibly warm and friendly homeowners featured in our episode, genuinely had free rein to explore the entire universe of RateMySpace.com. This meant they could choose any room that captivated their imagination, making their selection of our bedroom a truly humbling moment for us.

Once C.V. and Noel singled out our bedroom as one of their top favorites for design inspiration, the show’s exceptionally friendly production team reached out. They informed us of the exciting news and requested a video tour of our room, coupled with a brief video interview. This, we suspect, is the crucial screening stage where potential participants are vetted to ensure they aren’t “babbling weirdos” – a hurdle we somehow, unbelievably, managed to clear! With immense relief and a touch of disbelief, we learned that our room and our interview had successfully passed the screening test. The next step was swift: a film crew was scheduled to fly out to Richmond just two short weeks later. The realization was palpable; we spent the subsequent fourteen days pinching ourselves periodically (to confirm it wasn’t a dream) and, naturally, engaged in a relentless cleaning spree to ensure our home was television-ready. This unexpected invitation into the world of TV production was both exhilarating and slightly daunting, turning our usual DIY home decor routine into a full-fledged TV preparation marathon.

Filming Day: The Lone Wolf and the Cutting Room Floor

When we refer to the “crew,” we do so generously, as it was essentially a one-man show. Dan, a genuinely delightful individual who has since become our Facebook friend, is the dedicated talent responsible for shooting all the inspiration rooms for the show, regardless of their geographical location. He had just returned from a shoot in the exotic locales of Hawaii, which perhaps made Richmond a slightly less glamorous, but still vital, stop on his itinerary. Below, you can see Dan in action, expertly filming some “B-roll” footage of Sherry engaging in various bedroom-centric activities, such as thoughtfully contemplating her wardrobe. This particular footage, along with a treasure trove of other bedroom scenarios, ultimately found its way to the cutting room floor. We filmed quite a lot: us casually reading on the bed, our dog Burger enthusiastically “attacking” the camera, me attempting to blog from a cozy chair, Sherry admiring her extensive shoe collection, and a lengthy, detailed interview about our design choices and philosophy. Dan was on site filming for approximately six hours, which clearly necessitated a significant amount of meticulous editing to condense our contributions into the ninety-second-ish time slot allocated for us on the show. I was particularly fortunate that they edited out the moment I accidentally referred to designer Angelo Surmelis as “Anthony” under the pressure of the cameras. My apologies again, Angelo – I hope my fellow Facebook friend has forgiven my brief lapse!

The Skype Connection: A Real-Time Design Dialogue

Without a doubt, our conversation with homeowner C.V. and acclaimed designer Angelo Surmelis was the absolute highlight of our entire filming experience. What made it even more remarkable was that it was the very first thing we filmed, unfolding a mere fifteen minutes after Dan’s arrival. The entire interaction happened precisely as you witnessed it on screen – no clever editing tricks or camera wizardry involved. They were genuinely mid-makeover when we connected, and C.V. was absolutely bubbling over with infectious excitement. (By the way, wasn’t she just fantastic on camera? Sherry and I were thoroughly impressed by her effortless delivery and natural charm.)

Utilizing the crew’s laptops, we were seamlessly connected via Skype, embarking on a fascinating fifteen-minute conversation that delved into a myriad of topics. We discussed C.V.’s husband’s whereabouts, explored other inspiration rooms they were considering, heard Angelo’s evolving vision for their space, and clarified the intentional placement of our curtains on either side of the bed. It was particularly gratifying when Angelo, initially unaware, truly appreciated the hidden storage solutions behind our curtains – a detail that delighted us, as it showed how practical design can also be aesthetically pleasing. While only our musings on paint colors, spa-like fabrics, and various textures made the final cut, we were simply thankful that we managed to string together full, grammatically correct sentences, complete with properly placed nouns and verbs, under the pressure of live television. It was a genuine exchange about interior design principles, spatial planning, and the transformative power of a well-thought-out home makeover.

Unveiling Production Secrets: More Than Just a Pretty Room

We probably bombarded Dan with countless questions about how the intricate tapestry of the show is woven together – after all, inquiring minds (especially those deep into DIY home decor) simply must know! He patiently indulged our curiosity, sharing several fascinating tidbits about the production process, particularly from the perspective of the makeover recipients. One of the most intriguing revelations was that, for logistical reasons, they currently select homeowners exclusively in California. This strategic choice allows the production company to keep filming local to their headquarters, streamlining operations and costs. Quite interesting, isn’t it?

Another significant discovery was that the production company shoulders all the costs associated with the spectacular home makeovers. However, this doesn’t mean C.V. walked away with her estimated $12,000 room transformation entirely free of charge. Apparently, the homeowner is still responsible for paying taxes on the value of the improvements received. While it adds a layer of financial consideration, it’s still an incredibly generous deal for a comprehensive room transformation and professional interior design expertise, wouldn’t you agree? This insight offered a deeper understanding of the economics behind television home renovation shows and the true value homeowners gain from such a unique opportunity. It’s a testament to the fact that while the show provides amazing design inspiration, there are practical considerations that viewers often don’t see.

Reflections and Your Turn to Rate That Space!

So, there you have it – the comprehensive scoop on our exhilarating little peek behind the Rate My Space curtain. It was an absolutely incredible experience, a journey into the world of television production, and we couldn’t be happier with the final result. Aside from my wife Sherry’s humorous declaration that she now requires a “voice transplant” after hearing herself on TV, our brief fifteen seconds of national fame has left us with indelible memories and a renewed appreciation for the world of interior design and home renovation. It truly demonstrated the magic that can happen when skilled designers and enthusiastic homeowners come together to create something beautiful.

For those who missed it, or if you simply want to relive the excitement, we invite you to click here to check out a clip of the episode. We are genuinely eager to hear your thoughts on the final makeover. Wasn’t the room’s newly spacious layout and thoughtful design truly amazing? Go ahead, don’t hold back – rate that space in the comments below! And please, feel free to ask any and all behind-the-scenes questions that might have slipped our minds in the blissful afterglow of our HGTV appearance. We’re still buzzing from the experience and would love to share more about our journey on this fantastic home renovation show. Your engagement helps us continue to explore and share our passion for DIY home decor and design inspiration.