The Service Solution

Since 1994, HGTV has been drawing in viewers looking to improve their homes. Many of their programs are worth checking out, from “Property Virgins” (focusing on first-time home buyers) to “Design Star” (where contestants compete for their own HGTV show). One, however, offered viewers themselves a chance to participate: “Rate My Space” with Angelo Surmelis. While there’s no word on an upcoming season, the show is still worth remembering, and the site is still active.The process begins at HGTV’s “Rate My Space” website, where users can upload videos and pictures of their own living spaces. Those images are then rated and commented on by the community. Visitors can find whatever type of rooms they’re interested in with the easy search function, or by browsing one of the categories such as “Basements” or “Closets”. High-rated spaces net their owners a feeling of pride and accomplishment. What did low-rated spaces get? Why, a chance to be chosen for the show, where host Angelo Surmelis made over the room so it could then be rated again. If you were lucky enough to be chosen for a makeover, the website came into play again, as you were asked to pick three rooms from the site for Surmelis to focus on in his design.Those chosen could rest assured that their homes were in good hands. Surmelis has been designing since the age of 6, when he started rearranging his parent’s apartment. He already had two shows under his belt before moving to HGTVClean Sweep on TLC and Merge on Lifetime. Angelo also runs his own design company, Swell Space, which may be taking him away from his TV aspirations for now.