Remember Bronson Pinchot, the actor best known for playing Balki on the sitcom Perfect Strangers? Since then, he fell in love with the small rural town of Harford, Pennsylvania, and started buying old, neglected houses that he felt deserved rescuing. Now he has a show on the DIY Network called The Bronson Pinchot Project that follows along as he restores them with his crew of local contractors.
After getting sucked into a marathon of episodes last weekend, I thought it would be fun to show you some of his dramatic before and afters. Take a look!
This early 19th-century Greek Revival was the first house that he found in Harford. As he writes on his website:
“It was a July day in 2000. I had only one day on the East Coast before I was due to travel West. I’d seen a very cropped photograph of the house, which then was choked with trees (dying locusts) and wildly overgrown lilacs, and painted yellow (with plenty of fat bugs trapped forever in the sloppy paint job) and with the columns bending bowlegged in all directions and criss-crossed with scarifying spiraling cracks, and their bases rotted out and replaced with concrete.”
He could see the potential in it, though: “When I opened the door, the smell of cinnamon toast caressed me. I fell head over heels. Only a few years later, after year-round work under tarps with turbo heaters in the winter, it looked like this. And it had its own TV show.”
It also inspired him to buy more old houses in the town that were in bad shape.
In one episode, he gives the “Christmas Cabin”–an addition added onto the back of the house (above) that he thinks will be the perfect spot for a tall 17′ tree–a makeover. Here’s how the addition looked before:
And the fireplace wall after–with a mantel salvaged from an old house (one complaint–the afters are often still being shown at the end of the episodes while credits flash over them):
As you can see, he remodels houses so they look, well, old. Most of the salvaged wood he uses is not repainted because he likes the patina of it.
He began collecting architectural salvage in the late ’80s and now has houses to use a lot of his pieces in–like that fireplace, and the bust above it, which was so heavy it had to be built into the wall.
New (old) French doors were added to the room for more light, leading to the garden:
The kitchen in the Christmas Cabin before:
And after:
Bronson loves to disguise refrigerators and other appliances. In this case, the fridge is stealthily hidden behind this cabinet (below)–see the handle he’s reaching for underneath it?
One of my favorite episodes shows him transforming the exterior of another house he owns in Harford, called Decker Court. It was built in 1840, and let’s just say he saw potential in it that I never would have. Here’s how it looked before:
And after:
That picket fence was from the 1800s and had been stored in a local barn for decades before he put it back to use. It kind of fascinates me how he leaves everything looking weather-beaten and worn. This looks like a building you’d find on a back lot in Hollywood. I could see it being used in a period film of some kind.
The kitchen inside Decker Court was pretty blah, too:
He tore it down to the studs, uncovered the original wood floors, and gave it the look of an old country kitchen:
This time the fridge is hidden behind what looks like built-in shelves. Those pieces of china are glued to the shelves, and if you pull on one of them, they open to reveal a fridge behind:
Would I want to live in houses that are “newly aged” and countrified like this? Probably not. But I think it’s fun to see how he has a creative vision for these old houses and executes his ideas in unusual ways. They’re almost like art installations. And I could totally see him working as a set designer, couldn’t you?
He now owns 5 houses, 2 stores, and this tiny Post Office in Harford, which reminds me of the one my grandmother worked at when I was little (he uses it to store salvaged items for future renovations):
Have you been watching the show? Check the DIY Network website for dates and times of upcoming episodes (looks like more are airing this weekend). Bronson announced on his website that the show was picked up for a second season, and they’re starting production on it now. Can’t wait to see what else he has up his sleeve!
P.S. Love Before & Afters? I have an entire page devoted to them. Click here to check it out!
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{ 101 comments… read them below or add one }
While I admire his efforts to save old buildings, I don’t think he’s got the eye for incorporating all his salvaged elements in a way that isn’t so jarringly saying, “Look at me! I’m a collector!” I wouldn’t call anything here a restoration so much as a revisioning. That’s not objectionable – it’s just not my taste and much of it lacks practicality that underlies even very ornate older homes. They were meant to be lived in, after all.
As an artist I enjoy these do-over’s, but as a housewife his houses, particularly that last kitchen, just aren’t practical. If one wants to display a living painting, fine. For a house to be lived in? No. Definitely.
I prefer my art on the wall or mantles in a house I can LIVE in.
I liked Mr Pinchots explaination of restoration. He asked
if you restore it to what it looked like new?
Or 50 years old? A hundred? I realized that we see only
One definition of restore. And that’s a shame. I now see
the beauty where I didn’t before. The
Mark of a true artist.
The befores and afters don’t look all that different from each other.
I had no idea he was doing this! I’m going to have to look for it. I love before & after shows! Thanks for sharing! I’m going to have to link to you
I love what he is doing! However, some of that wood could use some paint
I don’t mind some weathered pieces, but I think I would want my walls painted!
I totally agree with Melanie on having the walls painted. Today I watch the “Elf Room Interior”. I’ve thought that Bronson looked ill. Is he sick or dyeing of
cancer? I notice Bronson wears a band-an around his head. Once he was
filmed w/out it and Bronson a bold spot above his left ear. Maybe he is losing
his hair due to a illness.????
Leslie, I highly doubt that Pinchot’s dying.
The bandana just seems like a really bad way for him to cover-up his thinning hair. The sad thing is that constantly wearing hats or bandanas can cause bald spots.
Ok I am in the minority (maybe the only one?). I have never seen the show because I’m tired of old 80′s celebrities coming back and using that old 80′s status to reel us in (lol). But I would totally love to live in one of these. The only thing that I have seen that I don’t like is that massive bust above the fireplace in the Christmas Cabin. I love the way that he hides the fridges as opposed to the now popular “cover it with panels that match the cabinets” look. I love the sink in the Decker Court house. Now I may have to go watch the show…
I hope you get a chance to see it. I would love to live in any of theses homes. He is a true artist.
I live a few miles away from him. I saw him recently at a grocery store and.. I kid you not.. he was on his cell phone talking real loud (as if he was making sure everyone around could here him) talking about his fans sending too many letters! My wife is like… did he just say what I think he did? lol.
That sink…made my heart do flip flops!! I will have sink envy all day today…he gave the house a bit of soul.
Amen to that sister!
I have watched his show a few times. He really impressed me with his knowledge of different periods in history and the kinds of architecture each period presents. He does like to put his own twist on things sometimes. It’s kind of that way for old cars also. There are the people who want everything original and authentic on their antique car, and people who love to customize their old cars to their liking. It’s just a matter of preference.
I applaud his vision and use of saved aged beauties both houses and artifacts. How has the town responded? Do the homes sell to residents?
…of course I meant salvaged…though they may be interchangeable in some cases.
Interesting renovations. Although I love the look of that sink, my back hurts just thinking about how much I’d have to bend to do the dishes. My utility sink is that deep and it kills my back every time I use it.
I’m not sure I could tell the difference between some of the before and afters. Maybe I need to watch the show to really see the difference.
Interesting…..I will look for the show. He seems to really love architecture and kudos to him for saving some historic buildings.
I’m unashamedly in love with his renovations! Not what I would exactly do in my own home, but I love to look at it, at least.
Interesting. He’s definitely not going for the more commercial, mass appeal look. I’m not sure I like the afters, but I do like his effort to restore!
I could live in either of these houses shown here. They are just lovely! He broke the cookie-cutter mold and gave these homes character.
I dont see his vision as “restoration” at all. Nothing would have looked like this in the original version. Reduction and quasi hollywood decaying mansions style preservation, yep- but restoration? No how, no way…
The “afters” are hardly an improvement on the “befores” in this project. While he might love his work, if he really loved those pieces he’s collected, he would have restored/cleaned them up more before gluing them to old buildings. Turning them all into quirky building museum pieces just seems eccentric. He also has no eye for scale or period detail. Victorian, Federal and Classical Revival are not interchangeable periods of architecture and as a result, his building concoctions look like bad collages of decently crafted pieces. Sad, really.
Cathryn, Bronson Pinchot knows more about Architecture than anyone on any show, period. Perhaps you haven’t been paying close enough attention, but Pinchot’s knowledge on the subject is quite extensive and impressive.
May I also note the the man is a certified genius, and graduate of Yale. He graduated magna cum laude from Morse College, and was valedictorian number one in his class. Now with that said, I will agree that his approach and end results are more than a bit eccentric.
I have no idea who he would ever buy his house when the day comes. I do really enjoy watching his program though. He’s extremely inventive, but I do wish he was a bit more conventional. I cringe at the way he handles all those historical materials. It’s like what’s the point? It’s like he wants to use everything. It’s like hoarding on a very sophisticated level, but we’re not fooled, just entertained.
Although his initial goals may have been laudable, he has ended up lowering the bar on historic restorations, and by having no real respect for old homes, has instead created ugly stage-sets. The “weathered” kitchen looks dirty and unsanitary–I wouldn’t want to eat anything prepared in it. And that fake facade with all the columns and round windows violated every principle of good taste.
Since the first picture looks so much nicer, when did he lose his sense of proportion?
–Road to Parnassus
He is doing his home not yours. It is up to his taste. Don’t forget he does change things. He has revisited other rooms and redone them again. I have to agree with you on the kitchen though. That is the one room I didn’t like. I see it and I get the urge to sand and paint it. If those people from that time era came back and saw that kitchen they would get the same urges.
I’m sorry, but yuck. I have never understood the appeal of “weathered” pieces. They just look old and dirty to me, and make me wonder if the owners are just lazy in their decorating.
I’m all for restoration, but most of this just looks like junk to me.
I’m with Aryn. He has an eye for architecture, …not so much decor! Ewwwww.
I’m with Aryn. He has an eye for architecture, but not so much decor!!! ….ewwwww!
Weathered can look great when done right, but in Pinchot’s manner it’s way overdone.
Count me in the ‘love it’ camp. I don’t love old things because they -are- old (so I don’t have a restoration fetish). I don’t love old things because they -look- old (so I would probably repaint things a bit rather than leave the aged paint like he does). I love old things because of the craftsmanship, detail, ornamentation, and originality that is just missing in today’s houses. And these rescues have that originality in spades. I have a Victorian, and I am interested in restoring what I can of her original look. And then, because she was a rather humble house, I’m going to add even more fancy details than she started with, and hopefully execute them as nicely as these houses.
There’s nothing wrong with mixing things up. I actually find the reimagined facade on that Decker Court house to be delightful and very interestingly proportioned. It does not look like house do today, or even like houses did in the 1840s, but so what?
As someone who lives in a Victorian with a lot of her original woodwork, I can promise you that Victorians did not all have clean, classic, perfectly proportioned design. Sometimes the ornamentation was too heavy, too bulky, or just a little silly. Often, especially in middle class houses, it was poorly installed and mismatched. The Victorians mixed up elements themselves, and if they could get ahold of both columns and gingerbread, they would totally have put them together, to have a house that looked different from the neighbors, if nothing else. That Decker Court house is FUN.
I also love love love the hidden fridge. So much more interesting than a panel cover. I’m going to have to check out the show to see how he does it, in case I can do something similar with mine.
I believe this is why the phrase “to each his own” was invented. More power to him that he’s interested, invested, and involved in preserving a small town but I’d have to wonder what will become of the home after his “renovation.” Who would ever buy it? It’s way too taste-specific, and I use the term “taste” loosely.
I would love to own one. Especially the main house. He has done a fantastic job in there. The kitchen I would have sanded and repainted. Other than that I probably would leave the rest of the house alone. I believe I am not alone here. Why buy an ordinary house when you can have something extraordinary!
I watched several episodes a couple of weeks ago. I guess I must not be sophisticated enough, because I’m always a little let down by the afters. It’s as if he is certain that once the furniture and houses and fences etc… get run down looking, no one would ever repaint them again. I realize that for some antiques it devalues them to paint them. But I fail to see how theses houses will stand up to the elements over the long haul with no new paint and/or stain to protect the wood. And the interiors just look dirty to me.
I did find the shows to be entertaining. But I guess I’m not into that type of historic restoration.
Hmmmm. I want to be kind . . . so here goes: “Bronson, dear, PUT SOME PAINT ON THESE PUPPIES!!”
Okay. I’m done.
Oh, and yes, about historice restoration . . . this isn’t.
Historic. Whatever.
Love that he’s not doing the usual ‘gut-it-put-granite/Tuscan tumbled whatever-on-it’ thing. However, I also think the results are a little too Grey Gardens looking. Somewhere in between is what I would prefer.
Hi Julia!
How are you?
I’m having a very busy week but wanted to drop by to say “hello”!
Missing you!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
I don’t like how the paint is chipping off the wood. It makes the rooms and exteriors look dirty.
My style doesn’t exactly go with Bronson’s, but I’m just happy to see someone taking these old houses and restoring them to good use. It breaks my heart when you see someone buying a beautiful old house only to rip out everything that gave it any kind of character or history. If you enjoyed this show Julia, you should check out Rehab Addict on DIY and HGTV. It features a lady who flips houses…but she only buys the lovely old ones and she always restores them to their former glory. I find that she has a real eye for blending modern convenience with antique charm.
I’m sure not everyone loves the same architectural style that BP is doing, you have to admit his show is wonderul, funny and addictive ! keep up the great work and for always making us smile !
Bacause it’s Bronson, because of the thousands of laughs he gave me, and for brightening many, many hours, I forgive him for the overkill of white. Even if he sells one day, all the next owner would have to do is add a little colour.
Thanks, Bronson.
Thanks, Julie, for the update on one of my favorites. (:
Wow . That is such an interesting path that his life took. He seems passionate about the renovations.
Bronson Pinchot..can you even BELIEVE it!? I am obsessed with this show and watch it on demand with comcast..He is amazing at his detail, the workers are so funny and so “normal and nice” Makes me want to move back east and find my own private idaho..
Hows it going Jules??
xxoo
Lisa
I really think this is cool! Of course I would put some fresh paint on too, but I think it’s neat that he’s doing something with these neglected properties. If I had a bunch of money I would buy old houses too and transform them to my own taste. It would be so fun to do what he’s doing! Really love the post office.
I’m not sure these pictures do his renovations justice. Now I want to watch the show to see for myself. I’m sure that some of these properties were falling down before he bought them. They may not be to everyone’s taste (yes, please paint that stuff), but he does get an A for effort. And ditto on Rehab Addict that Chris mentioned. I upgraded my service on the TV just to get this particular show. Now I have to watch this one too.
The. comments here are so intriguing, with some loving his renovations and others not seeing the difference in the Before and After photos . I do admire Pinchot’s passion for Oder homes in need of attention and his dedication to a unique vision.
But Because my mother spent much of the Depression years in an authentic old home with period details, I know she would have been horrified by the exterior of the Decker home, not only because her family struggled to not only feed 8 children (conceived before the Depression, when times were better financially) but to keep as nice a home as possible with limited.resources.
I’m not crazy about that home’s lack of curb appeal either.
The battered looking wood…well, I can just imagine my mother’s reaction!
The Decker home seems more than intentionally aged but in need of paint so it loses that “haunted house” feel.
I haven’t seen the show, but it looks like he’s taking shabby chic a little too far. I agree with others about the kitchens looking unsanitary — in need of a good scrubbing and a coat of paint. The house transformation where he removed 2 functioning windows and replaced them with one large (non-functioning?) oval? Why? In general, not my cuppa tea, but I guess that’s why they make all flavors.
I’m waiting for another celebrity to buy these homes in a future decade, and really restore them for another show!!
Conflicted about this one. Kudos for saving old houses and salvaging lumber and various house parts. I’m usually one who loves it when houses look authentically old, and I love a rustic country kitchen with salvaged wood or re-purposed cabinets. But these, not so much. First, if it was restored to original condition, the exterior would be painted. How else will the wood be protected from the elements and rotting? Did he treat the wood with a vanishing sealer of some kind? And as for the peeling paint inside, especially in the kitchen, what has been done to remedy lead paint issues? Since kitchens of the period were typically in separate buildings outside of the main structure and didn’t have running water, you can’t be authentic in putting in a modern day kitchen. However, you can build cabinets in the style and with the construction techniques of the period and use milk paint or other historically accurate treatments. These kitchens look more like turn of the century prairie farmhouse than something of the Greek Revival period. To me it looks rather like a romantic misinterpretation. Is it supposed to look like it evolved through time and various owners but stopped somewhere in the early 20th century and was never maintained? The Europeans seem good at keeping the old bits while modernizing function. Americans not so much – either we typically like it all new or new made to look old. Thank heavens there’s not any shiny granite in that kitchen, though. And I do like that chalky gray-white patina in the first kitchen. . . Like I said – conflicted!
I have never heard of this show — but will now search it out because I’m really curious. I know I couldn’t live with the peeling paint so would need to repaint! (Not to mention flakes of lead paint flying around).
I absolutely love this show and I’m so thrilled you are telling the world! Bronson is so funny and really very smart. I also get so tired of the shows where everything looks exactly the same! I love original and different and old and historic, so this show fits me to a tee. The Comcast in my area took all the old shows off, so I’m hoping the new episodes show up.
I love to watch this show……not only is he the ultimate recycler……..I really enjoy seeing how each project turns out…..I wouldn’t make the same choices…but I appreciate his work. Plus….he’s funny…
I seriously thought you had mis-labled the “afters.” I don’t necessarily think everything has to be new and shiny, but I was totally disappointed in these results. Plus, his style is a little too kitschy for me. I definitely like a “cleaner’ look.
I haven’t seem it yet. Thanks Julia. I remember him. Really like that first kitchen.
Hi there!
I’ve followed your site for quite a while now, but never leave a comment.
I think this post warranted a comment… smile.
I have followed this show for a while now, and I love it!
His helpers are pretty funny characters too…. gotta love Mikey.
While the finishes that he uses are not the direction that I would personally go…I have a great admiration for his vision and execution of his personal passion.
Enjoy the show !
I love hearing from first-time commenters. Thanks, Kerin!
I’ve been watching the show. I like the old patina, but only in one or two items in a room; it’s overwhelming when it’s the whole house. BUT he is so charming, I can’t help but watch.
I’m with Ana I think his work is really beautiful !! I could live in one of his restored homes easily, he kept the character of the originals and gave the homes some lived in history. I’m seeing this look as a new design trend getting away from the Home Depot look.
I really love Bronson’s show, glad he’s filming this month for Season 2. Bye the way, you can see all the episodes on youtube.
Put me in the “love” column. I am, simply put, jealous! To have the money and time to collect architectural relics, purchase beautiful old houses in lovely small towns, hire colorful local craftsmen, and then joyously go about doing whatever you damned well please. Seems like a “hooked on houses” dream come true. To get back down to earth, for hundreds of years houses evolved. Furniture was passed down for several generations. Homes were rarely remodeled. Bathrooms and kitchens were retrofitted into buildings that had none. Rooms were added on. People made do. Very rarely (and only for the very wealthy) were houses “period specific”. Hurrah! for Bronson. Oh, Nicole Curtis of Rehab Addict is my news Sarah Richardson. She is absolutely adorable, unbelievably hard working and very, very talented. She comes on in 15 minutes so – gotta go!
I just discovered “Rehab Addict” and really like it. I’ll have to write a post about it sometime!
Completely off topic (and I’m truly sorry) but Nicole sold the Minnehaha house! Yay!!!! With any luck she won’t have to sell her own home. Just to tie this in with Bronson, Nicole finished her basement in order to sell her house and it had a ton of “Bronson” style renovations. Actually they looked very good. I had my doubts but was won over. Here’s to all out there that refuse to “HGTV” their houses. Here’s to personality. Here’s to “Hooked on Houses”.
yuck, what a waste.
I love what he is doing to these old houses, the history lessons he tells us about are right on point!! Love the show and him too and the cast!!
I love what he is doing to these old houses, the history lessons he tells us about are right on point!! Love the show and him too and the cast!!
I enjoy watching the show, but like many of you I am not certain about the afters. These houses would be gorgeous with some new paint.
Also..speaking of paint… I don’t think I have ever seen anyone in protective gear around any of these materials..and to top it off, in the last episode I saw HP purchased 5 or 6 mercury backed mirrors. The salesman kept asking Bronson to wear his gloves…but he kept forgetting..and none of his crew wore gloves either. So, between the exposure to lead and mercury (both known heavy metal poisons absorbed through the skin)…..Bronson might just be a tad loony!
It feels like he could (and may be should) be a set designer for something set in a swamp, like True Blood. I’m sorry, but this is just terrible. It goes from old and rickety crap to older more rickety crap.
paint? come on,,,,paint helps hide imperfections….old houses are full of imperfections and that is what makes them so beautiful. you have to look at the piece and not the paint……bronson you have some great ideas keep up the good work
Amen to that!! He is a true artist!
He lives in my friend’s town (or, to be more precise, she lives 2 miles outside “Pinchot Village”).
Here’s the irony. The town is over 200 years old, but he only cares about the stuff he owns. Older houses are as nothing to him. He’d rather take a rather mundane early 20th century house and make it old hideous (the Decker Court house) than admire any of the genuine Colonial and Federal country houses in the area. What a [redacted].
The most painful truth is that he dissed the entire town when he sued the Historical Society (!!) because he didn’t like a gazebo on a tiny triangle of land in front of his house. Wow. What a [redacted]. Didn’t make him any friends, of course, but hey, he pays the “guys” now so what does he care.
Amazingly soulful.
I would love B.P to do my kitchen over, a small less the wow kitchen, I am so on board with B.P salvage up-styling.
Come for a visit.
Xox
Dore
Love youre show,and all that you have brought to this small town.It so exciting to see the finished product.
I watched numerous episodes on New Years Day while I was cleaning. I was impressed by Bronson knowledge of architecture and his willingness to give something a second life. He has an eye for design that is unique. I see it isn’t for everyone, and I am not sure I would like it myself. however, I can appreciate his vision and I am glad that designers like him exist. He revitalized homes that were on the verge of demolishion. Great work – bless you!
For what it’s worth (and just to keep the record straight), he’s demolished twice as many buildings as he’s renovated…if you can call what he does renovating. I assure you (having just visited Harford), it looks a lot different in real life. Like the smaller house is now behind an 8-foot-high stockade fence that he’s left as raw wood…except for the Keep Out signs. (Some townspeople wish he’d made it 12-foot-high.)
ok. Thanks for setting the record straight. Always 2 sides to every story!
I live a few miles away, the locals can’t stand him, he came in and tried to take over the town and turn it into his little playhouse. The only time I saw him was while at the supermarket recently.. and I kid you not, he was on his cell phone talking real loud (as if he was trying to let everyone hear him) about his fans sending him letters. My wife couldn’t believe it, she was like “did he just say what I think he said?”. The guys seems like he has some inferiority issues. I know what you’re thinking.. you saw the guy once and you got him all figured out? Well. you had to be there… I mean my wife and I don’t even think he was talking to anyone on the phone, though we can’t prove that. He just seemed so obvious about talking real loud so everyone can hear him talking about his “fans”.
I just finished watching one of his newest episodes: Federal Sitting Room. Like many others, I adore this show. I enjoy it mostly because I am excited by his passion to save/repurpose historic architecture.
However, I have a hard time believing any of the rooms would have actually looked that way when the house was built. They are far too “shabby chic” and far too informal.
Bronson keeps saying how he wants to return the house to its original splendor. In sincerely do not believe the original builders/owners of that house would have allowed it to contain peeling/cracking paint, unfinished floors, faded wallpaper, etc.
The pieces, while gorgeous in character, look filthy, shabby, and tired. The Federal Sitting Room is a prime example. In Bronson’s desire to keep everything original, the room looks very sad…like a funeral parlor. It’s gray and lacks any kind of energy or life.
Tiles, textiles, etc of that time were actually very colorful. I’m just not understanding how his interpretations are at all “true to the house” when the only thing they seem to really have in common is age and architectural style. There is no “design” other than historic shabby chic, which seems more proper for a much smaller, humble house.
Love
Love
Love
The show!
How can anyone love this show?
Pinchot is increbile boring and very little happens during the course of show. People watching the show must wonder how he got a TV show.
Some of the properties look very nice from the outside. He claims he doing restoration???? WTF? The Greek Revival property would have been much more “upscale” originally in the interior(to complement the exterior). He makes a grand house into a cabin. Weather beaten finishes are not the appropriate finish for the interior of a Greek Revival house. That’s not patina, that’s peeling lead paint. The only redeeming factor is that it falls outside the realm of the rest of the HGTV shows that are all the same show in varying forms……open floor plan, bamboo floor, stainless steel appliances, trendy mid century furniture, rip the classic stuff out and replace it with big box store cheap foreign material. etc.
I didn’t like it at first. It grows on you. You have got to admit having the exterior of a house inside a house is a cool idea. What he does with bits and pieces of wood trim is amazing. Anyone can remodel a house and make it look modern but reconstructing something from nothing is hard to do.
I think I would prefer to call what Bronson does “remake” rather than “restore.” But I absolutely love what he does with these houses. I’m an artist so I see things differently than most people around me most of the time, too. Bronson has an artist’s mind and he creates a new identify for these houses through his artistic expression. I like it that he uses architectural pieces that are intermixed, coming from different periods, yet are perfectly suited to each other. It takes talent to pull that off. I don’t really care if a home is brought back to it’s original state, unless it’s a project taken on by some historic restoration group or something. Just the fact that he turns these places into awesome pieces of artwork is enough for me. I could live in one of those houses with no problem. The only thing I would do that he hasn’t done is hang a lot of things around on the walls that I have created myself that identify who I am as an artist. It might not “match” the period, but it would be colorful and liveable because it’s personalized. I just say keep up the work, Bronson. Some of us see things from an artist’s eyes and heart, and others are more purist. Purist, I am not.
I meant to say in the previous post “creates a new identity” not new “identiFY.”
Love these “old” houses. Many of the features remind me of visiting grandparents and great-grandparents. My great-grandparents’ house had no plumbing…a bucket under the sink that got dumped out into the yard! I would pick a place like any of his over the “highly polished, granite counter, stainless steel crap” any day!!!
Bronson lives/thinks/dreams/restores outside the box. I love that about him. He doesn’t need to be true to anything but himself. We aren’t always going to like everything someone does but we can certainly learn from them and get ideas. I have definitely been inspired by him. I have found myself just plain giddy over his creativity and what he’s going to pull out of his hat next. Overall, I’m really loving “the look”. I enjoy his personality as well. He’s unique, funny and just seems like a nice guy and he makes you want to hug him…lol…most certainly a nice, refeshing break from “trash tv”. Kudos to you Mr. Pinchot. I look forward to many more seasons.
I like his shows, but don’t necessarily like the whitewash look that predominates every remodel. I think adding a little color to the rooms would be more interesting. Also, some of the homes are a little too small for the Greek revival look which I feel needs more space in relation to the large items he uses.
I do love the items. They just seem out of place when used in such small areas.
Bronson has a good eye but the rooms don’t look comfortable enough for real family living. I like the smaller house he did as a guest home. A little of this style is ok but can most folks live in a warehouse. He needs to finish it. His helpers are very talented carpenters which is good to see.
i absolutely love his project!!! Would love to see in person!
I didn’t like his show at first. I always had the urge to go to his house and repaint it. When I saw him do the kitchen my heart stopped. I hated what he did there but the more I watch his show the more I like it. He actually has some really cool ideas. His show is definitely improving.
P.S
I am now a fan of his. His show is set to record automatically at our house.
Caught the show by accident, but watched the last three weeks. Love it! I love old houses. I restored one in Washington State. It’s a lot of work, but Bronson makes it all look easy. I love his style and his collection of statues and reliefs are to die for. I hope he continues to have his show. His houses are works of art. It’s not for everyone, but I love what he’s done.
It looks like he’s building dollhouses rather than “human” homes. The artwork in itself is beautiful and unique, but very unpractical to live in for the average person. I loved watching the show and reminiscing about goofy Bronson. Has he grown up after all these years? I think not. You go, B!
Impracticality at its finest!
I find the negative comments curious, as, after having watched as many episodes as I’ve been able to locate so far (5), I don’t at all get the impresson his goal is to re-create an historically accurate representation of the 1840′s. As an artist myself, I see the beauty in the salvaged materials he’s collected and enjoy his aesthetic and vision for how they would look, re-purposed in whatever space he’s currently working on. I read somewhere he said he had no intention for the house ‘to look like a museum with a docent inside, handing out leaflets’, when he had completed it. I see no reason why his creative endeavor can’t be taken at face value – for what *he* wants it to be. After all – it’s his house.
I love his show. He doesn’t do anything ordinary. He can see beyond what is there. I like that about him. I like the fireplace he had built. Wow, it definitely is beautiful. Anyone could build a beautiful ordinary fireplace but it takes vision to build one like that. He seems to be getting better at what he does. I don’t like the kitchen though. It definitely needs to be redone. Who knows maybe one day he will get a great idea for the kitchen and redo it.
He’s a crazy idiot, an ignorant, indulgent 4 year old in an adult man’s body, except because he’s a celebrity, we use the word “eccentric”. Whatever. Love the “kitchen” with the peeling lead paint everywhere. He thinks he’s helping the cause of saving America’s architectural history, but he’s really doing it a disservice.
Hello! I have a Greek revival home I am selling it in Upstate New York if your interested! My question is this…what about lead paint on all the old wood, did you test it? I love to go shopping in antique shops , you have some great ideas! I love your show and you have a great smile!
Have a great day!
Krista
First of all — to each his own — but I can tell you that if, while driving,z I stumbled on this town with all the “restored” houses, I would turn around right then and there since all the houses look like something from a horror movie. It looks like the kind of town where you know if the hero stops there, either vampires or zombies are going to be paying him a visit. Alfred HItchcock would have loved it. Maybe that’s what he could do with all the houses when he’s done….(he is after all “in the business”) — he could rent out the entire town for shooting horror films….what ya think?
It’s a typical old country town, it’s nice and quite with no crime, nice people and only a few minutes from Interstate 81.
He really does an amazing job on these houses. I don’t know if I would necessarily want to live in one of them though as they look a bit too rustic to be comfortable. He certainly does an excellent job of giving them a retro look…. all that’s missing with his show is Cousin Larry:(
Maude
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