The Truth About Filming an HGTV Show
When people find out we were on HGTV, they always ask the same question: "Was it real?" The short answer? Yes. Very real. We expected cameras, excitement and a finished home. What we didn't expect were the incredibly long days, how much work we'd actually do ourselves, and just how much goes into creating one hour of television. Looking back, there were so many things that surprised us and although we have mostly found memories, once was enough!
100 Hours of Film for 42 minutes of TV
One of the biggest surprises was just how much time it takes to create 42 minutes of television. For every single episode, there were roughly 100 hours of footage captured, all distilled down into less than an hour on screen. A scene that lasts only two minutes on TV could easily take hours to film. We'd repeat the same action from multiple camera angles, pause while the crew adjusted lighting and audio, and sometimes walk through a room or complete a task several times so every shot would be captured perfectly. Watching the finished episode, everything feels seamless and effortless, but behind every scene was an incredible amount of patience, precision, and teamwork.
So Much Work
Another question we get all the time is, "Did you actually do the work?" The answer, at least in our experience, is absolutely. While every HGTV show is different and every production has its own process, we were genuinely hands-on throughout the renovation. From demolition and painting to installing finishes, cleaning up job sites, and making countless design decisions, we were involved every step of the way. The truth is, this wasn't something we learned for television. It was what we were already doing long before the cameras arrived, and it's still what we do today. Renovating homes, making design decisions, and managing construction projects is our career, so the show simply followed us as we did the work we love every day. The cameras captured our real process rather than replacing it with someone else's. It was physically demanding, incredibly rewarding, and one of the things we're most proud of. By the end of filming, we had an even greater appreciation not only for the renovation itself, but also for everything it takes to bring both a home and a television show to life.
Renovations Aren’t Magic
If you've ever watched an HGTV renovation and wondered how an entire home transforms in just 42 minutes, they don’t. While television compresses months of work into a single episode, we were also working on an incredibly aggressive production timeline. Filming schedules don't pause for construction delays, material shortages, or unexpected surprises behind the walls. We still faced all of those real-world challenges, but there was constant pressure to keep the project moving. The expectation was clear: if we couldn't make the timeline work, someone else would. It wasn't always the warm-and-fuzzy feeling of, "We're all on the same team." Instead, we had to find solutions, make quick decisions, and push through obstacles to keep both the renovation and the production on schedule. It was one of the most demanding parts of the experience, but it also gave us an even greater appreciation for what it takes to bring a real renovation to television.
Not Fake, Just Filmed Well
One of the funniest parts of filming was realizing just how much of everyday life had to be repeated for the cameras. We might walk through the same doorway three or four times, have the same conversation again so it could be captured from another angle, or pick up a tool or piece of material one more time because the camera missed the shot. None of it was scripted or manufactured, it was simply the reality of filming a television show. Our reactions, conversations, frustrations, and excitement were all genuine; the production team just needed the right angles and audio to tell the story well. It was a fascinating reminder that while reality television is very real, it also takes an incredible amount of planning and repetition to make those authentic moments come alive on screen.
70+ Hour Work Weeks
Before filming, we assumed most of the planning would revolve around the renovation itself. What we didn't realize was just how much coordination went into producing a television show. Every day involved detailed schedules, shot lists, interviews, wardrobe considerations, design meetings, and constant communication between the production team and everyone involved in the project. At the same time, we were juggling permits, contractor schedules, material deliveries, and all the moving parts that come with a real renovation. It was like managing two full-time jobs at once, building a home and building a television show. The amount of planning happening behind the scenes was incredible, and it gave us a whole new appreciation for the producers and crew who somehow kept everything moving forward while making it all look effortless on screen.
Looking back, we're incredibly grateful we said yes to the experience. It pushed us in ways we never expected, strengthened our marriage, gave our kids memories they'll be talking about for years and changed our business for the better. Filming forced us to take a hard look at our systems, uncover gaps we didn't even realize existed, and become more intentional about how we operate. The lessons we learned under that kind of pressure continue to shape our company today. Along the way, we met incredibly talented producers, camera operators, sound technicians, and crew members who poured their hearts into every episode, giving us a newfound appreciation for the people who work behind the scenes to create the shows we all love.
Would we do it again? We're thankful for every minute of the experience, but once was enough. It was one of the hardest, most rewarding chapters of our lives, and we're proud to have lived it... and happy it's over!
