Scaling Back on Blog Posts

I kicked off this year with the Response to TV Show Viewers series from January and into July, with those articles falling into a Monday-Wednesday-Friday pattern. Since then, I've posted on Mondays while considering how this blog will fit in with my other work and writing. 

Going way back, finding balance has been bumpy for me. And it was like this when I first started working for myself, and similar yet different after marriage and fatherhood, with me continuing to struggle to get a reasonable grip on some sensible, productive, healthy dynamic since. 

Trent Fasnacht

These last several years have created new challenges and a fresh search for equilibrium that feels right. Within this ongoing phase, I've developed renewed appreciation for Blood, Sweat, and Pig's Ears as my place to share writing and then direct people who reach out.

For now, I am going to scale back here and Substack in order to refocus on larger writing projects. I will begin posting on each at the beginning of the month, coupled with a commitment to maintain this approach into 2027. 

Until then, thank you, and have a great rest of your summer.     

   

That's All Folks

Happy New Year, Friends!

I've really appreciated the inquires about upcoming projects on television.  These notes have meant a lot as well as the words of support and enthusiasm for the shows.  

As many of you understand or can imagine, renovating a house that's been condemned is a big challenge and doing this work with a film crew on site makes everything more interesting and exciting.  In many ways, the network's role makes things easier and in others, it makes them trickier.  It's certainly a give and take, but without a doubt the TV involvement in the effort makes the renovation work more expensive.  

Schedule is significant in renovating houses, but with a Pig's Ear or extreme rehab, it's just one factor.  For me, it's never been the top thing.  I know it's really important in home flipping, but that's not what I do and this disconnect in priorities was an obstacle that I didn't anticipate.  My objective is to save the house, make the most of whatever I have to work with, and come away with some profit.  But the producers have different goals.  They have a show to make with an awareness of what viewers will tune in for.  Along with that they're diligently focused on the schedule in a way that takes precedence over everything.  As an example, the producers came to South Carolina to film me four times and we wrapped production as scheduled all four times.  But this adherence to the schedule comes with a cost and our rehabs were extremely costly, especially on Restoring Charleston where we completed both homes in nine weeks as planned.    

I'll always be grateful for the TV experiences I enjoyed and will continue to share my work through this blog as well as my Trentovation page on Facebook.  

Best wishes for 2018 and as always, please feel free to ask any questions or comments below or email them to bloodsweatandpigsears@hotmail.com.

My step-son Covington getting a feel for the
weight of the camera, Summer 2016.

American Rehab House Front Before/Afters

The American Rehab House in Summerville, SC was started in 1906.  It was originally 550 square feet and is now 1,950 sf.  

Our ownership of this home began in November 2013.  In February and March of 2014, we started the exterior work of this renovation which took two weeks and was filmed for the premiere episode of the DIY Network's American Rehab shows.  

Following our episode in August 2014 were AR Detroit, AR Buffalo, AR Virginia, AR Restoring Victoria, AR Utah (aka Old Home Love), AR Motor City (aka Site Unseen), and five additional episodes of American Rehab Charleston that we filmed in Dec. '14 - Feb. '15, airing on the DIY network Fall 2015. 

   

American Rehab Charleston also made it on HGTV here in the United States as well as internationally.  This project is an on-going effort.  I'm enjoying each phase, grateful I had the opportunity to share some of the project through ARC, and thankful to have been in the middle of this special project since 2013. 

Trentovation - Facebook

American Rehab House Brick Drive 10 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 9 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 8 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 7 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 6 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 5 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 4 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 3 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 2 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

American Rehab House Brick Drive 1 of 10

Trentovation on Facebook

Please consider reading more about The American Rehab House HERE.

Trent Fasnacht on YouTube

Restoring Charleston: Viewing Options

DIY Network

Wed., Nov. 16th, 
8pm-midnight 

Thurs., Nov. 17th, 
Mid.-4am 

Thurs., Nov. 17th, 
4-8pm

Hi Folks!

We worked really hard this summer and had a lot of fun while we rehabbed.  I'm glad this is coming through in the shows.  As you may have noticed, the airing of this series has had some stiff competition for viewership.  In our first week, we were up against the final Presidential Debate.  Week 2 had us on at the same time as Game 2 of the World Series.  The third week we were on with the Country Music Awards and epic Game 7 when the Cubs beat the Indians in extra innings.  And last week we were on opposite many programs sorting out the results of the historic election.     

We have a couple more chances for everyone to see what we did in St. George this summer.  All the episodes of Restoring Charleston will air again on the DIY Network tomorrow and Thursday.  Back- to-back for eight hours (8pm to 4am) means we'll be on prime time coast-to-coast, which is awesome. In addition, some have asked me if they can catch Restoring Charleston on-line and I have a couple options linked below plus there are likely others if you do some searching; Youtube and iTunes.

Thanks again for watching and for telling others about the series.

Trent

American Rehab Charleston on Youtube and iTunes.

The Seven Hour Marathon

American Rehab Charleston
4-7pm EST

Restoring Charleston
7-11pm


Dear Friends,

Three years ago, my family & I started a wild ride that culminates with a seven hour marathon of fourteen episodes on the DIY network tonight.  Wow!  It's still hard to believe all that has happened.

In some ways this traces back to people asking me curious questions as I worked; "How do you do what you do?  How do you fix up a home that's been condemned? or Where do you start when a house is so bad ?" Those questions lead to this blog five years ago because as much as I love taking on these houses we call 'Pig's Ears', I have also grown to really love writing.  Now, after this three years and two shows on TV, people keep asking my family, friends, & I this one question more than any other, "How did this happen?"  It's an amazing, unbelievable story and I told my wife I should write a book titled, "Dude!  How'd YOU get on TV?"       

  

For those still wondering, here's a brief time-line:  I started writing this blog in October 2011, with a post titled, What is a Pig's Ear?  In the fall of 2013, I received an unexpected email from a producer in New York that lead to a couple rough videos with our family, a three minute test reel with a production crew from California in November, and then the two week filming of a pilot episode in the spring of 2014 that premiered as American Rehab Charleston in August of that year.  This did well enough for us to have a chance to complete the six episode season from Dec. '14 - March '15 which was televised that fall. ARC rated well and we bought three houses in 2016 to rehab with DIY.  We filmed and renovated two of these homes this past summer that make up the eight episode season of Restoring Charleston that concludes tonight.

I'm not a TV guy.  And by that I mean I had no experience, family, or contacts in the television world. I've made a lot of friends in the business in the last three years, but when I started, I knew no one.  For me, this experience has been like walking around in a boarded up, condemned house alone without a flashlight; missteps, falls, bumping into stuff, and stepping on nasty things.  More than once in the last three years I've wished I could turn back time to make a small, but impactful adjustment.  There were countless anxious moments for myself and on behalf of my family, long periods of self-doubt, and all consuming exhaustion that isn't quite over just yet.  However, it's been a blast.  So much fun, it's challenging to convey in brevity.  However, like renovating a property that no one else wants, it's been an adventure and who doesn't love a good adventure.

After three years, I want to take a moment to thank my wife Diann for her encouragement and support.  She's done an amazing job of juggling her own work, the needs of our children, both our families, and the frequently shifting demands of the productions.  We've canceled/postponed a couple of vacations, so I owe her and our kids a big one, once the dust settles.  

Finally, thanks for your notes, texts, emails, calls, and messages of support.  And thank you for watching and for telling others about the shows.  

With love and appreciation,

Trent               

The Queen Anne-Craftsman Master_Suite - Before

Restoring Charleston
DIY Network
Wed., Oct. 26, 2016
9-11pm EST

There's been a request for more before pictures of The Queen Anne-Craftsman that we're saving on Restoring Charleston.   (Links to before pics of the first two episodes are included below.)  Episode 3 (tonight @ 10pm) focuses on the Master Suite; the Master Bedroom, Master Bath, and Walk-In Closet.    

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Old Bathroom

Future Walk-In Closet

Looks like a barn.

The Queen Anne-Craftsman Kitchen/Dining - Before - Oct. 18, 2016

The Queen Anne-Craftsman Living_Room & Foyer Before - Oct. 19, 2016

The Queen Anne-Craftsman Living_Room & Foyer Before

Restoring Charleston

DIY Network

Wednesday
10 - 11pm EST

Foyer

Foyer

Wall Damage in Living Room.

Door to Foyer.

Window to Front Porch.

Living Room Fire Place

Living Room

Living Room Fire Place

The Queen Anne-Craftsman Kitchen/Dining Before

The only window in the future kitchen, on the left,

behind the mattress and box springs.

Restoring Charleston
DIY Network
Wed., 10pm EST

The fire place on the right, with door to foyer center left.

An electrical wire with a light socket for a single light bulb is okay,

but in 2016 we can do better.  And we did.

Dining Room

Dining Room - Looking into Future Kitchen

The only traditional kitchen this home has ever had was added on to the porch.

... just lovley.

TV Show(s) Update

The DIY Network
Wed., Oct. 19th
7-11pm


American Rehab Charleston
7-10pm

Restoring Charleston
10-11pm

We're on the schedule for this Wednesday, October 19th on the DIY Network from 7pm to 11pm.  The first 6 episodes are the re-airing of American Rehab Charleston.  This is the Country Victorian project (also known as The TV House) that originally premiered on August 28, 2014.

The two brand new episodes are premiering as Restoring Charleston.  The first five episodes of this season will be the transformation of The Queen Anne-Craftsman and the concluding three shows will show how we renovated The Newlyweds' Cottage.  

We started the search for these homes last November and worked on both projects this summer.  These were challenging projects, but the homes held so much potential and I'm excited to share what we did and how we did it for everyone starting Wednesday. 

A House In The Woods - Outside Before

I've seen houses like this for decades, but until now I've never owned one.  Mother Nature is winning.  She hasn't won yet, but it looks like she's already victorious.  She's not.  This house had a great metal roof system installed decades ago, I'm not sure if it's original, but it's done an outstanding job for a long time and that has made the difference for this special place. 

I'm so excited to clean up the property and give the home a chance to breathe again.  It's engulfed by trees, vines, bushes, weeds, and natural debris.  However, getting choked by the invasive plants are some grand oaks, pines, and magnolias as well as grape vines and flowering bushes that need room to thrive and bloom again. 

This Pig's Ear is like many old homes in this part of the country in that it's actually two separate homes that were connected together to become one.  The small house in the back is close to four hundred square feet and the biggest home in the front is nearly 1,150.  The small section that connects the two buildings, perhaps a large breezeway that has since been enclosed, is a little shy of two hundred square feet. 

I've been inside and know the conditions on the interior.  I have a lot of work to do, but this house has tons of potential.  I'm going to open it up and transform it into something extraordinary.  It will be a smart, practical renovation that I'll do in a way that honors the home's history, while making this house feel modern and cool.  There are plenty of windows which will make it easy to let the natural light pour in from multiple directions. 

The original little house in the back.

This metal roof is made up of multiple, interlocking squares of metal.

These delicate corner details are in surprisingly good condition.

The azaleas blooming in the spring.

The pictures on the inside are next.