5 Shows to Add to Your Shelter-in-Place Work Week Watch List

Need a diversion to get through another shelter-in-place work week? These five design-centric series let you mix business with a little bit of pleasure (or vice versa).

Home (Apple TV+)

This nine-part docuseries is all about creative houses and the visionaries who call them home. Yes, it features extraordinary architecture. But more importantly, viewers get to know the people who live inside.

Locations span the globe: think an eco-friendly bamboo treehouse in Bali or a Hong Kong studio apartment comprised of space-enhancing movable parts. The show also focuses on sustainability. A Malibu mansion is made of repurposed architectural elements and a partially-underground Austin home was created by a group of architects and ecologists.

“The series is just as much about the homeowners and the concept of innovation and big ideas and solving problems creatively as it is the house itself,” said executive producer Doug Pray in a House Beautiful interview.

Celebrity I.O.U. (HGTV)

Hollywood A-list celebrities take center stage in this new HGTV series hosted by Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott. The premise? Stars are provided an opportunity to thank significant friends, family, and mentors with surprise home makeovers.

Among the stars on tap: Melissa McCarthy, Viola Davis, Rebel Wilson, Jeremy Renner, and Michael Bublé. We also get to see Brad Pitt transform the detached garage of his long-time make-up artist into the perfect guest retreat.  

Save My House (HGTV)

Design pros Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent have a new mission: rescuing homeowners from renovation nightmares by helping them turn money pits into residential showplaces.

Problems on Save My House run the gamut from unreliable contractors to mold and HVAC issues. Look for upcoming segments that have the charismatic duo designing the perfect Midcentury kitchen, fixing a construction debacle, and revamping a growing family’s cramped quarters.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (HGTV)

The 2020 iteration of the popular HGTV home renovation series pairs host Jesse Tyler Ferguson with a team of inspired volunteers. Ten deserving families are selected to receive home renovations. The caveat? All work—interior, exterior, and landscaping—must take place within a week-long period.

One project transforms a police officer’s basic ranch into a modern beach house. Another builds a farmhouse-style duplex for two veteran families. And while the before-and-afters are impressive, the show’s real stars are the recipients themselves.

House In A Hurry (HGTV)

Set to premiere in late April, House in a Hurry follows relocating families on a whirlwind house hunting spree. The catch? For one, they’ll be working with an agent they’ve just met. And two, they’ll have only 72 hours to find the house of their dreams.

Stay tuned for an upcoming episode with a local twist. After accepting a job offer in Fort Worth, one couple goes in search of their forever family home. (slated to air April 30).