Caption Max

by Robin Fogelson

Imagine feeling sick, wishing for a doctor and having Greg House magically step out of your TV and into your living room.  That’s what it was like for my husband, Jason, and me when the crew of one of our favorite HGTV shows, Hammer Heads, came to redo our front yard.  It was not a surprise, as we had to apply and go through a series of interviews to see if our project was a good match for them, but it was a shock on the day everyone finally showed up!  The three hosts (Carmen De La Paz, Steve Hanneman and Marcus Hunt) , plus a crew of camera, sound and support staff,  took over our house for four long days of hard work.  The backyard was filled with lumber, paint cans, power tools, mysterious cables and bustling crew members.

The staff had asked us many questions about what we liked in terms of design, but the whole project was kept a secret from us until the work began.  We wanted a yard which was drought-resistant, worked with our California heat and was really, really cool-looking. When you see the homeowners on these shows look surprised when the “big reveal” happens, well, it’s because they are!  We were not shown an overall plan, but went from project to project working with the hosts and learning as we went.  As we completed each project, we could see how it fit into the overall design.

If you wonder whether the hosts and homeowners actually do the work which goes into these projects, I can tell you that  they sure do. And that work goes on all day.  We started at 7:00am each of the four days, and finished around 7:00pm. During the shoot, we dug, painted, stained, hammered, and spread endless shovels full of gravel and mulch.  I learned to use a (very loud!) powder-actuated nailer as well as a (very hard to control!) giant power chisel.  The project was so big that we recruited friends and family, who generously donated their elbow grease to us in exchange for bragging rights and lots of barbecue.

The end result of all of this is a front yard which is more beautiful and more practical than anything we could have come up with ourselves. The expertise Hammer Heads brought was the magic touch which made it possible. The plants are all perfect for our climate and range from huge agaves to delicate acacias. There is a front deck with a built-in bench to watch the sunset, arbors to shade our front windows for the heat, and gorgeous wooden walkways welcoming people to our front door; all anchored by a unique wooden archway which will soon be overgrown by bougainvillea.

It was a great adventure  and great fun to have this experience.  If anyone comes out of your TV and shows up at your house, my advice to you is to welcome them with open arms!