Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Restoring Charleston - Updates and Thank Yous

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Big night tonight.  Restoring Charleston is an eight hour marathon, 8pm to 4am EST which puts it into prime time viewing; East Coast, West Coast, and everywhere in between.

First off:  The Cottage has been sold.  However, we're still trying to connect with the right buyer for the Appleby House.   It's 1,961 sqft., two bedrooms, two baths, and $295K.  Email me at   bloodsweatandpigsears@hotmail.com with interest or questions.

Secondly, a lot of folks have been asking, "What's next?"  I'm wrapping up some other projects that have been pushed back and beginning the preliminary work on The House in the Woods.  I'm really excited about this one.  Lots of potential and plenty of great things to work with on this turn of the century home that used to actually be two separate houses.  
    
The House in the Woods

I'd also like to take  a moment to thank Phyllis Hughes, the President of the Upper Dorchester Historic Society.  Without any commitments from the network, she took a chance with me and worked steadily helping me find three homes for the shows this summer.  It's not easy to find the right properties, but options are good and it was great having three Pig's Ears to match up with the budget and schedule demands. 

It's hard to start thanking people because the list grows quickly, but I want to also mention how much I appreciate the Town of St. George for their enthusiasm and support for the show and our projects.  It was a great summer.  St. George is a wonderful, tight knit community.  Sure, it has obvious natural beauty that's easily exemplified in the picture of The House in the Woods above with the centuries old live oak tree that frames the house with the blooming azaleas.  However, the people are what really make St. George so special.  In some ways they're like one great big family and throughout the year they've treated me very much like one of their own.        

Finally, I'd want to most especially thank Shawn Visco, our Executive Producer in charge with the DIY Network.  She's the reason our shows are so great.  Until just now, she's been our secret weapon. The vision for how we've told the story of each rehab has started and ended with her.  I've been the host, and the houses have been the stars of each episode, but Shawn has made the magic happen.  Sure, I was the one crazy enough to buy the properties, but the cool music, the graphics, the history beats, the voice overs that tie everything together in an understandable way and knowing what to include and what to edit out... all of that goes through Shawn.  She's been the driving force behind American Rehab Charleston and Restoring Charleston. The Holy City is near and dear to her heart, maybe now with the success of our shows more than ever.  Without her diligence, hard work, and talents none of this would have happened.  Like I said above there are so many people to thank, but at the top of list, without question is Shawn Visco.  I'll never be able to thank her enough for her unwavering enthusiasm for these shows and her confidence in me from the start.