A House Peepers Confession and the Perfect Cure – House Hunters on HGTV!
*This post is sponsored by me and Cason’s ever-growing obsession: HGTV’s House Hunters*
Hi. My name is Shelley, and I have a problem.
I’m a house peeper.
(or at least that’s what Cason likes to call it) ha!
I’m literally OBSESSED with trying to get a peek into peoples homes, to see what they look like! Forget the people… I just want to see what sort of layout you have, what your kitchen cabinets look like, or what paint colors are on your walls.
Cason first became aware of my little ‘guilty pleasure’ when we were newly married and taking a walk at night in his parents neighborhood. More then once I stopped dead in my tracks to try and get a good look through a few homes lit up windows… always squinting to sneak a peek at how other people decorate, live, and what kind of things they surround themselves with.
Come ON! Don’t you want to know if more people in this world live like this:
or like THIS!?
Yeah… well I do.
Do I sound like a total creeper now, or what!? jeesh. Okay, just for the record, I don’t actually walk UP to houses or peer in windows for strange amounts of time with a black ski mask on… it’s just more of a once-over “how are ya’ll livin’ in there?” kinda look.
Still think it’s creepy? Well then let me pose this question…
Who here LOVES going through model homes?
I’m pretty sure that most of you are thinking… “Oh yeah! Can’t get enough!”
Well… it’s basically the same thing. Those homes are set up like people are living in them, no? From fake fruit out on the counter, to the never worn his & hers bathrobes in the master bedroom closet. It’s the intrigue of living life in a beautiful, new space that makes us crave those model home experiences.
Who’s with me?
So that being said, it’s only natural that between my nosey nature, and Cason’s need to one day visit far off places, that House Hunters and House Hunters International, are pretty much two of our favorite shows on HGTV. Really… it’s perfect. Now we can just lay in our bed while other people do the work of showing us beautiful new countries and sneak peeks into complete strangers homes.
😉
If you’re not familiar with the show then you can check out the House Hunters Facebook page and also tune into the all new House Hunters International Season Premier, TONIGHT on HGTV at 10:30/9:30c.
While you’re waiting, you can catch up on past episodes online.
While you’re waiting, you can catch up on past episodes online.
Oh, and you DEFINITELY don’t want to miss this next part… My cute friend Allison from Petit Elefant will be hosting a live Twitter Chat party during the House Hunters International premier tonight, and she’ll be telling you all about how to win an iPad 2, with the new HGTV to GO App on it!
Party, Party!
Party, Party!
You can also download these fun House Hunters Bingo cards here.
Ya, you better believe that I’ve already got mine ready. Cason and I are super competitive and we always try to see who’s going to be right about which house the buyers will pick on the show.
I’ll admit, I’m usually wrong, so maybe having a leg-up on bingo will help. ha!
Whada’ say?…Are you ready to join in the obsession of peeking into homes with me!? You never know what kind of ideas or styles that you may be exposed to, just by simply seeing how “the other half” lives.
Nancy@owensolivia says
No Shelley!!!! I TOTALLY understand! Except, I would be willing to sneak behind a bush just so I can see a living room's layout!
You and me together would be very dangerous on a dark street. 😉
Heather says
You are not alone with this disease. I too like to peer into windows of the unsuspecting innocents. The older the house, the more likely Ill be slowing on your block.
I also love going into new construction homes, you know when they havent quite installed the front door…. 🙂
Lisa @ Before Meets After says
I LOVE peering into other people's houses….in the non-creepy way of course!
Rachel says
House-peeping is one of my favorite pastimes! My hubby and I will often take evening "drives" just for that reason. I say, "if the windows are open then why not take a look?" 🙂
Anonymous says
hahaha I LOVE this post. So honest. And I KNOW there are TONS more peepers out there! I am!
Jen says
I'm feelin' ya on this subject! I am a total 'stop in my tracks on a walk' or 'make my husband back up the car' so I can look in someone's windows. Like you, it's not like I'm going up to the window to take a peek, I just LOVE seeing what they've done with their space. I'm an interior designer, so it's in my nature. I can't help it!!
Andrea says
I am totally the same way! It is a total guilty pleasure. My uncle has a custom installation business (lights/security systems/home theatres)-mostly in giant fancy homes. So I've been able to go in a lot of them, and it's my FAVORITE! One home actually had a shooting range in the basement. A shooting range.
Unknown says
I am in the same boat! I crashed and totaled my first car at 16 because I was busy looking into someone's house. I love it when the houselights are in and it's nighttime…oh! So fun! I thought maybe I was the only one. 🙂
Rachel
Shelly says
I'm so glad I'm not the only house peeper/creeper! Bike rides on a late summer evening just as it's getting dark is the perfect time to be peeking in peoples homes because they haven't shut their blinds yet! (is that horrid that I know that??) I'm an avid House Hunters watcher too!
Cassi @ Stop And Smell The Roses says
Phew.. I thought I was the only one.
Unknown says
My hubs and I are addicted to these shows. We also love Property Bros…and a few more! 😉
Steph says
I am with you. Love to snoop! Have u ever been to the website "Hooked on Houses?" This genius of a blog is my favorite way to get my "house fix!" It is literally a treasure trove of house snooping. From celebrity homes, homes you see on movies and t.v. shows to hilarious real estate listing photos and before and afters! It is amazing! I am personally fed up with House Hunters (it is all that is ever on HGTV anymore and we don't have TiVo ) so this is my new favorite pastime when my hubs wants to watch sports! It is addicting!
Unknown says
Oh I used to loooove house hunters, and I totally do the checking out the decor of people's houses (while walking past on the street) if they happen to have their window blinds open & the lights on. (They must know people can see in!) Sadly, I now don't have cable, so I haven't seen many hgtv shows in a while now except for a few here & there online. We're hopefully getting cable again very soon though!!
Jessica says
Oh I too am a house peeper! I love to see how people live and decorate. AND House Hunters and House Hunters International are my favs as well. I can't wait for the premier. Yeah!
Becky says
I can't tell you how many times I have complained to my hubby that more people need to keep their blinds/ curtains open!
Kendra Lee says
I love House Hunters too! My favorite part is at then end when they show them a few months after they've moved in and you get to see what changes they've made and all that. So fun!
Oh, and I'm a peeper too! 🙂 So you're not alone by any means!
Genesa says
LOL! I'M so glad to know I'm not the only person that does this! (My hubby has given me some really strange looks over the years!)
Lisa says
I could watch endless hours of House Hunters. I LOVE that show, and my daughter loves watching it with me. Just as addictive as model homes which I gave up in recent years because it made me want what I didn't have, and that just didn't sit right with me. But House Hunters, that's different…
Lil Mama Stuart says
I am the SAME way! I love peering into other homes, moreso to see the home than the decor though.
Ok do you want me to tell you the HouseHunters secret to guessing correctly so you can beat Cason 😉 Or not, because it'll totally ruin the show for you going forward! I especially love when they show homes in my city, Chicago! 🙂
Robin says
Oh my goodness! You are a girl after my own heart! I love seeing how the other half lives! I always watch House Hunters and hubby and I always bet on which house they choose, too! My son has even gotten in on the game.
Deborah says
We are HGTV house hunter obsessed at our house. My favoite, House Hunter. My husband's, International House Hunter. Have fun watching.
meganwiser says
Haha, I watch HGTV like it's my religion. When I decided on a U-Verse TV package, I told the representative: "Whatever package is the cheapest and it HAS TO HAVE HGTV." 😀
wendyg says
Well I must have a problem then too, because I LOVE to house peek!! To bad were not neighbors, we could ride around and house peek together:) I love House Hunters and House Hunters International!!! HGTV is my fav, I watch just about every show they have, but I usually NEVER miss these 2!!! When I'm watching it and my husband comes in the room he always says'" your watching this AGAIN!? Didn't you alreay see this one?" I am so printing me a bingo card:)
silva says
WHAT?!! No remarks? Well, you are not alone – I confess I love to do the same thing….I am oh so happy that some people never close their curtains or even buy them….
Amber says
can I just say that i LOVE this? i have a similar obsession and feel like if you leave windows open and lights on you're ASKING me to look inside. house hunters is one of my favorite shows as well-i'm totally intrigued w/ the buying process and can't understand how people can NOT see past paint colors! sheesh! think outside the box people!
anywho- I'll be tuning in!
enjoy your bingo!
Sarah says
I soooooo do that!! I love walking at twilight- just so I can see inside people's homes! The funny this is that I close my blinds just before twilight so no one can do it to me! hahahahahha
Carin says
This posts made me laugh so hard! I've always loved peering into people's homes. In fact so much so that my friend and I would plan our nighlty walks in certain neighborhoods just to get glimps into LR, DR, BR etc…so much fun. I fully admit to watching House Hunters and don't care if it's one I"ve already seen…sometimes I imgine what I would do if it was my house.
Good to konw there are lot's of house prowlers out there 🙂 Could we make a club or what!
live and luv says
Oh good LORD! Are you sure we aren't long lost sisters or something?!? My husband doesn't get my obsession with looking at/in people's homes and their decor. I love a good open house too. Ok-ok…I admit it! I've even made up fake names/numbers at open houses when the realtor asks or we have to sign in. I use my doggies as an excuse to check out neighborhood homes on our nightly walk (oh dear, do you have to potty right here- as I peer through the open window). Oh and I'm a definite online home stalker as well. Love me some House Hunters too…stoked for some new episodes! I truly didn't know there were others out there! Hello…my name is Dar…and I'm a house peeper!
Natalie says
Ooooo..I am such a House Hunters nerd and a model home junky although there aren't many where I live anymore. When I meet people I always wonder what their houses might look like. So weird..So fun!
live and luv says
oh my LORD! Are you sure we aren't long lost sisters or something?!? My husband totally doesn't get my "sickness" with house peeping! I use my doggies on our nightly walk to peer into others homes (oh my, do you really have to go potty here? – as I secretly peek through their windows). I love me a good open house. Ok-ok, I admit it! I've even given the realtor a fake name/number when asked or had to sign-in. I'm an online home stalker as well. I could surf the web for hours! I love me some House Hunters too…stoked for some new episodes. I truly had no idea there were others with the same "sickness". Hello, my name is…Dar, and I'm a house peeper!
Jennifer Spadaro says
I find most real peoples house arent decorated at all. I'm always surprised by how people live, and not in a good way
Jessica @ Home and Faith says
I am the exact same way!! That's why I love House Hunters!! My hubby and i like to try and guess which home the people will choose too!
Kelli says
I absolutely LOVE House Hunters and Inter.!! They are in my top 5 favorites shows and are always watching them. It's one of the main reasons why I am going into Real Estate school right now 🙂 I agree with other comments, people need to look past the paint colors! Love this post! PS. Property Virgins is also another favorite! Well pretty much anything on HGTV is awesome!!
B's Mommy says
I am! I am! With YOU!! There is a house I am madly in love with. If I had the nerve, I would knock on the door and plea my case… on hands and knees (more dramatic) and beg to see the inside!! Heck I'll even clean it for a tour!
LOL! A girl can dream… I am a house peeper!!
Life Love and Hiccups says
Ok normally I am a silent stalker all the way from down under, but today I just had to speak up because OMG I am soooo guilty of this too. I love it, it it why I only go walking at dusk or night and it is why I male my hubby drive at night so I can concentrate on peering in through windows of houses we pass. Thank you for owning it and making me feel much more normal lol xx
Rebeccarama says
that first picture looks to me like a house for giants with their oversized lights and vase. haha
Unknown says
i feel really dumb asking this but how do you play the bingo game?? do you cover up a square if they say the word or what?? don't hold it against me… i just had a baby and have a 2 year old! 😉
kristincita says
I love the end where they say "SIx months later….." and you can see what they DID with the home. That's the best part for me. How fun that Cason watches with you! My hubby retreats to his man cave in the attic.
Andrea @ Decorating Cents says
OMG…I love House Hunters. I can't get to bed at night because I'm up watching it. Anything on HGTV is my favorite.
Stacy says
Yes, I am a peeper, always have been, in fact in our new neighborhood we live in now there are a few houses I am trying to "peer" in because they look so "yummi" if you will, you just have to do it really sly, like maybe have your child stop on their bike and pretend you are talking to them but are really looking in someone's house!!! haha!
CJMsquared+6 says
Your not a Creeper cause if you are, I'm one too!!! ha ha I am always curious how people live. I live in South Dakota and it seems that we are "behind" in terms of architectural layouts and that most people don't really have that desire to really decorate that great…. it's sort of depressing in a sense so I am always wanting to see if there is at least one other family out there who cares about their house!!!
marni zarr says
we love this show too! so funny how friday fun has become cuddling on the couch with house hunters international. downloading bingo boards for tonight, whoo hoo 😉
Sara H says
Shelly! That hoarder kitchen you posted is my kitchen's twin! I even have two-tone cabinets (not the same colors as the hoarder kitchen)! Crazy! Check it out if you want a laugh! saraanndipity dot blogspot dot com/2009/10/kitchen-before-after.html
Marcie says
This post makes me laugh..because we're so much alike! One night we were driving around and I asked my husband if it's weird that I like to try and see in other people's houses. I think his response was something like, "Uh. Yeah." Ha! I'm glad to know there is a name to our curiosity. 🙂
pinkalishious says
IM A HOUSE PEEPER TOO!! Or nosey parker as my DH calls me, It is intriging i have to admit & im always looking around in ppl's homes when i get to go in, & saying Oh this/that is lovly, wow etc
Unknown says
Okay, you are so funny! Me and my husband were just talking about this a few days ago because we both (unbeknownst to each other until this conversation) love to do that. Our house is so small and there are a ton of houses just like ours in our neighborhood so we are always curious how everyone else lives and how they manage with such small space. So, I'm a creeper too! 😉
Kristin says
Ok Shelley, I've been "peeping" in on your blog for a little over a month…and I just love you! (I'm sure you get that all the time.) My hubby also discovered my little guilty pleasure shortly after we were married. We'd be driving around and I'd make him slow down so I could get a better look into homes. I think at first he thought I was a total perv! Love this post, thanks for the laughs!
Lesli @ BeautifullyCoastal.com says
Count me in … house peeper here! Of course, I think ALL design bloggers are house peepers for sure! But you're right, long before I had a blog, and long before HGTV even existed (yeah, I know, I'm showing my age) I used to go to decorator showcases, open houses, etc. Now being a house peeper is so easy. I simply go to my email inbox everyday and read the dozens of beautiful blogs I subscribe to … just like this one!
Smiles,
Lesli @ BeautifullyCoastal.com
Glidewell Family says
Ha I'm a creeper too. Thats why I leave my blinds up so other can take a look. Love your post and will have to check out the show if its on hulu since I don't have a TV.
Jamie @ the Backless Shirt Blog says
If you remove "Shelley" and "Cason" and replace it with "Jamie" and "Josh"…it would like I wrote this post! (thank goodness there are others like us)!!!!!
Jamie
Shevon says
I am a total creeper peeper. I have even contemplated getting my real estate license so I can peep even more!
CamLo says
Sounds like you need to be a card carrying member of Looky Loos of America. A completely fake group my friend Philip and I started waaaaay back in college. We were the only members. We would dress fancy, borrow his parents Jag and go to open houses in all the fancy L.A. Neighborhoods. Just to look inside at the floor plans, architecture and decorating. Too hard to do this now. It was so fun. I have that membership card around here someplace…
CamLo says
Sounds like you need to be a member of Looky Loos of America. A completely fake group my friend Philip and I started waaaaay back in college. We were the only members. We would dress fancy. Borrow his parents Jag and go to all the open houses in the fancy L.A. Neighborhoods just to see the architecture, floor plans and interior design. It was so fun! Too hard to do that today. None of those neighborhoods have open houses anymore. This was in the late 80's early 90's so the decorating was, well, not so good–lots of Dynasty! Thanks for triggering a great memory. Peepers unite!
Ellen says
That bingo card needs "ooh, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances!" "This closet will be big enough for my clothes, where will you put yours, honey?" "This kitchen needs to be updated" and "Where is the space for my man cave?" – then you'd totally win!
And if you want to win the betting game, choose the house with no furniture. Seeing as the people who go in the show already have a contract on the house they "choose" and then go look at two more, it's always going to be the house with no furniture…
Ellen says
That bingo card needs "ooh, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances!" "This closet will be enough for my clothes, where will you put yours, honey?" "This kitchen needs updating" and "Where is the space for my man cave?" and then you'll totally win!
And if you want to win the betting game, choose the house with no furniture. Seeing as the people who go on the show have a contract on the house they "choose" and then go look at two more, it's always going to be the house with no furniture…