Back in 1994, something kind of iconic happened; whether we realized it at the time or not. HGTV officially launched, and with it came a show that quietly laid the foundation for an entire genre of television. That show? “Room by Room.”
Let’s be real: today’s home renovation TV is full of dramatic reveals, massive budgets, and hosts who somehow demo a kitchen before lunch. Now, don’t get it twisted… we love that. But “Room by Room” walked so all of those shows could run. And honestly? It still deserves its flowers.
The Show That Started It All
Hosted by Shari Hiller and Matt Fox, “Room by Room” focused on exactly what its title promised… transforming spaces one room at a time. The concept was simple, but that’s what made it work. Instead of overwhelming viewers with full-home renovations, the show broke things down into manageable, realistic updates.
According to IMDb, the series highlighted “practical, inexpensive decorating ideas for every room in your house.” And it seems like that accessibility was the secret sauce. This wasn’t about perfection; it was about possibility.
Yep, the design choices might feel a little, well very ‘90s, now. (We’re talking patterns, colors, and some bold decisions.) But the core idea? Still solid. Make your space feel like you without breaking the bank.
‘Room by Room’: The Blueprint for Modern HGTV
It’s kind of wild to think about, but without “Room by Room,” the entire HGTV landscape might look very different. Shows like “Home Town,” “Fixer to Fabulous,” and even “House Hunters” might not exist in the way we know them today. Even fan-favorite personalities like the Property Brothers are part of a legacy that traces back to this original format.
It seems like “Room by Room” proved one key thing early on: people genuinely love watching spaces transform. There’s something satisfying, comforting, and even a little inspiring about seeing a room go from “meh” to “wow.”
And now? That idea has turned into an entire empire of content.
Where Are They Now?
If you’re wondering what happened to the original hosts, they’ve both taken their own paths… but still stayed close to the world of design and creativity.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Shari Hiller has been working as an interior designer, which honestly feels like the most natural full-circle moment. Meanwhile, Matt Fox has been sharing glimpses of a more laid-back lifestyle (with his pup) on his Instagram, along with speaking events and appearances. It seems like both of them have embraced a slower pace while still connecting with audiences in their own ways.
Can We Still Watch ‘Room by Room’?
Here’s the fun part; this isn’t one of those shows that disappeared into the void. If you’re feeling nostalgic (or just curious), you can actually find episodes of “Room by Room” streaming on Apple TV and Discovery+
Honestly, it’s worth checking out. Even if its just for the time capsule vibes. You’ll probably notice how much design trends have changed… but also how much the heart of home makeover shows has stayed exactly the same.
And really, that’s the legacy of “Room by Room.” It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t over-the-top. But it started something huge. And yep; we’re still watching.
HGTV needs to get back to the reality that most Americans cannot afford what they are showing. They got rid of the real good shows for shows that are so bad I cancelled both my HGTV cable subscription and my magazine subscription.
I loved that show. It was part of my Saturday night lineup on HGTV. Before computers.
Hi! This is Shari Hiller. Matt sent this article over to me today and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for writing this lovely article. Matt and I so enjoyed doing “room by room” and although the designs are extremely dated, lol, our hope was that the lessons on how to decorate a room would help “real people” create homes they loved, and made them feel great about what they accomplished. Hey HGTV, we’d love to do a relaunch so we can decorate together, “room by room!”