Get ready to trade in those hammer-wielding home renovation shows for a heartwarming twist on home makeovers – Hallmark’s highly anticipated ‘Renovate My House’ series is finally here, and it’s set to shake up the traditional home decor landscape with its charming blend of love, laughter, and beautifully designed homes. This feel-good makeover series is the long-awaited counterpart to HGTV’s top-rated shows, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the talented team at Hallmark bring their own special brand of magic to the world of home makeovers.
Hallmark’s Foray into Home Makeover
Hallmark is getting into the home makeover docuseries game. The company launched a new TV show titled Home is Where the Heart is. Starring actor-woodworker Luke Macfarlane alongside cohost-designer Olivia Westbrooks , the series is a first of its kind for the platform.
What is Home Is Where the Heart Is About?
Home Is Where the Heart Is follows Macfarlane as he channels his woodworking skills to help families in and around Atlanta transform a special room in their home, which has been inherited or holds a sentimental meaning to the owners. He works with cohost and designer Westbrooks to draw on the past and present to refresh to interiors while maintaining soul and charm.
The Concept: Transforming Sentimental Spaces
The series focuses on transforming rooms that hold sentimental value to the owners, such as inherited spaces or those with emotional significance. Macfarlane and Westbrooks work together to bring new life to these spaces while preserving their emotional importance.
The Hosts: Luke Macfarlane and Olivia Westbrooks
Luke Macfarlane, a Canadian actor, and Olivia Westbrooks, an Atlanta-based interior designer, team up to host Home Is Where the Heart Is. Macfarlane brings his woodworking expertise, while Westbrooks provides her design skills to transform the spaces.
How Can You Watch?
The series is exclusively streaming on Hallmark+. The first two, roughly 40-minute episodes are currently available, and new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays through April 17.
Streaming Exclusively on Hallmark+
Hallmark+ is the exclusive streaming platform for Home Is Where the Heart Is. Fans of the show can catch new episodes every Thursday through April 17.
Episode Release Schedule
The first two episodes are currently available, with new episodes releasing weekly on Thursdays through April 17. Mark your calendars to catch the latest transformations on Home Is Where the Heart Is.
Meet the Stars
Luke Macfarlane: Actor-Turned-Woodworker
Hallmark fans likely recognize Macfarlane for his roles in a handful of Hallmark Channel movies, from Christmas Land to A Valentine’s Match. The Los Angeles-based Canadian actor and Bros star first got a taste of home renovating at an early age.
“Building has always been a part of what my family did together,” MacFarlane tells Gizmoposts24. “My father was a wonderful teacher, and when I was 12, my parents did an addition to our family kitchen and my sisters and I were unpaid general labor.”
Throughout high school and college, Macfarlane took on carpentry jobs while pursuing an acting career. “Over [COVID-19], I was terrified the film industry was going to be shut down, so I took on a few commissions,” Macfarlane says. “A friend of mine is actually an acoustical engineer, and I built him a prototype for a new speaker that was going into some very fancy home studio.”
Now on Home Is Where the Heart Is, Macfarlane has appreciated the chance to use his expertise for families in need. “The truth is, most people simply do not have the time, money, or ability to transform their environment, but it can make a huge difference in how they feel.”
When he’s focused on his own home, Macfarlane gravitates toward an “eclectic modern” interior style marked by contrasting yet collected pieces. “Texture is very important to me in my home,” he says, calling out Morris & Co. fabric, George Nakashima furniture, colorful glazed pottery, and steel tables with rust-red legs. If you fill your home with pieces you love, he says, “they can all live happily together.”
Early Beginnings: Family Renovation Projects
Home Is Where the Heart Is follows Macfarlane as he channels his woodworking skills to help families in and around Atlanta transform a special room in their home, which has been inherited or holds a sentimental meaning to the owners. He works with cohost and designer Westbrooks to draw on the past and present to refresh to interiors while maintaining soul and charm.
Personal Style: Eclectic Modern Interiors
When he’s focused on his own home, Macfarlane gravitates toward an “eclectic modern” interior style marked by contrasting yet collected pieces. “Texture is very important to me in my home,” he says, calling out Morris & Co. fabric, George Nakashima furniture, colorful glazed pottery, and steel tables with rust-red legs. If you fill your home with pieces you love, he says, “they can all live happily together.”
Olivia Westbrooks: Interior Designer with a Heart
Westbrooks is an Atlanta-based interior designer and founder of an eponymous design studio. She was especially drawn to HIWTHI because of her own experience of having to make the tough decision with her siblings to sell their childhood home despite their desire to keep it.
Personal Connection: Honoring Family Legacies
“I once heard a wise man say that if you desire something, give it to someone else,” she tells House Beautiful. “Working with these families to help transform the homes that hold so many memories while also honoring their loved ones was my way of doing just that—giving them what I had longed for.”
Design Philosophy: Sentimental Treasures to Décor
Honoring each family’s legacy meant unearthing heirlooms tucked away in attics. “We transformed sentimental treasures into meaningful décor—displaying a grandmother’s china as wall art, framing handwritten family recipes, and repurposing sentimental objects like bells or cowboy boots,” Westbrooks says.
The Show’s Impact
The Power of Transformation
The truth is, most people simply do not have the time, money, or ability to transform their environment, but it can make a huge difference in how they feel. Now on HIWTHI, Macfarlane has appreciated the chance to use his expertise for families in need.
What Sets Home Is Where the Heart Is Apart
A unique blend of sentiment and style, HIWTHI offers a fresh take on home makeover shows. By honoring family legacies, the series creates a sense of emotional connection with the viewers, making it a must-watch for anyone who loves home renovation and sentimental storytelling.
Conclusion
As the television landscape continues to shift, a significant player in the home decor space, Hallmark, is set to shake things up with its highly anticipated makeover series. According to the article, this long-awaited series promises to bring a fresh perspective to the traditional home renovation format, injecting a dose of warmth and personality into the equation. By combining Hallmark’s trademark feel-good approach with the expertise of professional designers, the series is poised to redefine the way we think about home makeovers.
The significance of this development lies in its potential to disrupt the status quo in the home renovation genre. As the article suggests, the traditional HGTV approach can often feel formulaic and lacking in emotional resonance. By incorporating Hallmark’s signature warmth and charm, the new series is likely to resonate with viewers on a deeper level, creating a more engaging and satisfying viewing experience. Furthermore, the series’ focus on storytelling and personal connection may also set a new standard for home renovation programming, one that prioritizes the human experience over mere aesthetics.
As we eagerly await the premiere of Hallmark’s makeover series, one thing is clear: the future of home renovation programming is looking brighter than ever. As the series gets ready to roll out its red carpet and welcome viewers into its warm and inviting world, we can’t help but wonder: what will the new standard for home makeovers look like? Will it be a return to traditional values, or a bold new direction? One thing is certain, however: with Hallmark at the helm, the possibilities are endless, and the future of home renovation just got a whole lot more beautiful.
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