This is one show I am super excited about. It's all the things we love about real estate -- voyeurism, the dramz of making deals, kooky buyers and inflated sellers -- except pumped up big, on New York City money. Premiering tomorrow night at 9pm ET, the cameras follow two of New York City's high-end real estate agencies, CORE and Gumley Haft Kleier, as their top performing agents usher our eyeballs through the city's most incredible residences (the kind we only imagined behind the closed shutters of SoHo and the dapper awnings of the Upper East Side.)
And the agents! The Agents... While I know that New Yorkers are just people, they do seem to live life more intensely. Shopping/lunching/schmoozing with smart phones glued to their well-quaffed heads, they're impeccably put together and ALWAYS on (it's true, you'll see.) And economic slump wha? By the looks of what they're moving -- and how -- you'd never know it.
In any case, I've made it a personal mission to max out for you exclusive accesses to some of the star agents featured on the show! Along with tomorrow night's premier, the Kleiers -- the mother-and-daughters team of Gumley Haft Kleier -- will be joining us in a Live Blog right here on on Style Sheet!! This means you can actually ask the agents questions while you watch the show, and to help you get to know them a bit, I've asked them a few questions of my own....
Samantha Kleier Forbes (left) and Sabrina Kleier MorgensternHGTV: How is it working for/with your mother?Samantha & Sabrina: A perfect excuse to spend all of our time together. Luckily we are soul mates!HGTV: You ladies – most people, for that matter, in New York City -- are always dressed to the nines – how do you run around in heels all day and maintain all your beauty appointments with your crazy schedules? There’s such pressure to look amazing every second of the day in NYC!S&S: It sure makes for a full day and some tired feet! modern technology has made us totally mobile (you will always see us clutching our cell phones and blackberries!) So whether we are getting a blow-out at the famed Valery Joseph salon (as we are in episode 3, btw) or shopping at our favorite neighborhood boutique, Edit, (as you will see later this season), we are always working. Our mother taught us to be queens of multitasking, and that you never meet a potential client sitting at your desk! HGTV: Do you think New Yorkers are any different as clients than people in other cities? How? (Some of the characters!) S&S: New Yorkers are on a level all to themselves: more sophisticated, more demanding, more savvy, and usually fabulous. We have some real New York "characters" on the show, such as the amazing fashion designer Indashio - a diva with a heart of gold!HGTV: What would you say is the most coveted and/or hard to find feature in New York apartments? S&S: Private outdoor space and private elevator landings. If you haven't guessed already, New Yorkers like privacy!HGTV: What decor style sells/shows the best? S&S: Classic never goes out of style. HGTV: What are your favourite areas in NYC? S&S: Carnegie Hill on Manhattan's upper east side is where we grew up and still live, all within three blocks of each other - so that is our "no place like home." (You will see Carnegie Hill in the show's premiere.) But, each area of Manhattan has its own magical charm -- whether it is the cobblestone streets of the West Village, or the cool lofts in Soho and Tribeca, or the exquisite prewar buildings on the Upper West Side. We love all of New York! Each of our episodes showcases an exciting piece of NYC, whether it’s Annie Liebowitz's former apartment, or Michael Strahan's Tribeca loft, or a $25-million townhouse with a swimming pool, or the ultimate NYC trophy apt: the 28.5 million penthouse at the legendary Stanhope hotel. HGTV: What do you enjoy most about your jobs?S&S: Being with our family every day, and finding clients their dream homes. Stay tuned! Tomorrow on Style Sheet, my questions for the matriarch, Michele Kleier, and the Live Blogging details for the premier of Selling New York!
Related:
Mongolian Lamb pillow cover, West Elm, $59 -- $129
It's September! YUCK. Aside from the shopping bug I get infected with every time the seasons change, Fall can keep its leaves and melancholy beauty. I'm still grieving summer. But for many of us, September is the unwritten new year's. Back to school, back to work (everyone is always on a last vacation in August) back to the grind, until Christmas holidays... What gets us through it? Shopping, as I mentioned, and here's where we come in: trend reports! All through the month of September we'll keep you abreast of what's new in the world of decor, with plenty of opportunity to discuss its merits.
First up: fur, faux fur and hairiness in general is in BIG TIME on the runways this season, and as is par for the course, so it is in decor. Popular decor stores have already begun to accessories chairs, sofas and beds with a touch of Yeti, and I for one am looking forward to seeing just how far sheep, lamb, fun-fur and other cozy hides will proliferate this season.
Is this look for you? Will you follow? (I have two baby sheepskins from IKEA that I still love and display, and am pretty sure will replace once time comes.)
Take a Poll!
The last long weekend of the summer is upon us, which is sad for some because it means that -- gasp! -- fall is fast approaching (Twitter follower @cBo_Events called it the F-word). Around these parts, however, we're all smiles because as you may have read here yesterday, our fall schedule starts tomorrow!
After Vanessa and I got to spend time in New York last week viewing some amazing properties (photos coming soon!), I'm super-excited for the premiere of Selling New York, a new show about the fast-paced world of million-dollar Manhattan real estate. Of course, I'm also a fan of homegrown shows like Property Virgins and The Property Shop, too. I asked our lovely Facebook fans and Twitter @hgtvcanada followers what shows they're most excited for and some of the results are below.
I'm digging Jeannette's Mad Men avatar, but alas For Rent isn't new this season (though you can watch season 3 online).
Recent guest blogger Michelle from Holley & Gill is also anticipating SNY:
The Facebook crew continues the SNY build-up:
So tell us, what are you looking forward to?
Clockwise, from top left: Scott McGillivary of Income Property, Selling New York, Sandra Rinomato of Property Virgins and Tatiana Londono of The Property Shop
I hope I'm not alone in rejoicing the dawn of September and with it, all things autumn: boots, sweaters, crisp air-conditionerless air, soups, stews and best of all, new television! This season, we've got some familiar faces (Hello Scott McGillibabe! I blame Elana for the nickname), new faces and new series. There's a lot of exciting programming coming your way, covering all the things you like best: design, makeovers, real estate and renovations. So let's get to it!
New Series Color Splash Premiering on Monday September 6 at 10am ETDesign Star champion David Bromstad brings his exuberance, passion, decorating savvy and unwavering belief that "color is the root of great design" to transform tired rooms for homeowners each week into vibrant, unforgettable spaces -- while he teaches us to do the same in our homes. My First Sale Premiering on Monday September 6 at 2:30pm ET & 8:30pm ETThink buying your first place is tough? Try selling it! My First Sale takes the proven and successful docudrama format of My First Place and turns it upside down -- telling the story from the seller's point of view. Selling your first place means the stakes are even higher than when you purchased. More pressure, more jeopardy, more to gain -- and potentially thousands to lose. My First Sale has even more drama and, most important, more valuable takeaways to help viewers make top dollar on their own sale. Battle on The Block Premiering on Tuesday September 7 at 9pm ETBattle On the Block is a fun, character-driven home makeover show where three neighboring families compete against one another in an effort to design and build one new room from scratch, all in the span of a single weekend! The winner not only gets $10,000 but also bragging rights in the neighborhood. You'll recognize host Genevieve Gorder from Dear Genevieve.Selling New York Premiering on Wednesday September 8 at 2pm ET & 9pm ETThey are assertive, razor-sharp and always compelling real estate brokers in the country's most competitive market. In a city of over 8 million people, where the average sale price is over $2 million, the competition to seal the deal is stiff. Now, catch a rare glimpse into a world where a solid reputation at the top of the real estate food chain involves swimming with the sharks, going head-to-head with the best, and rubbing shoulders with the wealthiest and trendiest of New York's social, political and artistic elite.New SeasonsMy First PlaceIncome PropertyProperty Virgins (moved from Wednesday to Monday at 9:30pm ET)The Property Shop Bang for Your Buck (moved from Monday to Wednesday at 2:30pm ET, 8pm ET)My First Place Real Estate Intervention Designed To SellCarter Can House Hunters House Hunters InternationalLocation, Location, Location Repeating ShowsSarah’s HouseReal RenosMillion Dollar ListingFlipping OutHome To FlipThe UnsellablesHolmes InspectionAgent vs AgentRestaurant MakeoverPure DesignHGTV’s Top 10For RentMansions
Coming in October
Home To Keep Premiering Tuesday, October 19 at 8pm ETPeter Fallico helps homeowners turn their homes from potentially temporary to for keeps.
Disaster DIY Premiering Thursday, October 7 at 9pm ETBryan Baeumler is back to help hapless DIY-ers how to fix it themselves.
Tough as Nails Premiering Thursday October 7 at 2:30pm ET & 9:30pm ETWatching Cindy Stumpo in action is like watching a tornado tear through a city. With two cell phones glued to her ears, talking on both at the same time, she keeps multiple contractors, employees and even her ex-husband in line as she manages her multi-million dollar construction and development company. And in the middle of this whirlwind, she's a single mother of two. She can sometimes have a short fuse but it's always with good reason. How does she juggle it all and still remain true to who she is in a man's world? She's Tough as Nails.
Well, communing with nature is a bit of a stretch. There was much talk of 'glamping' if I remember correctly, but what do you want? We're design folk.
If you happened to miss any of our Camping and Cottaging posts from the late month of August, then have yourself a trip down recently memory lane with the below links. There are some good ones in there, including Michelle Carangi's (of Holley & Gill fame) Top 5 Friday on modern cottages.
Next, look to special Trends posts all through the month of September!Related: