Remember the TV crews that came to our house a few months ago? We were being filmed for an episode of House Hunters International — and our episode aired last night! We haven’t seen it yet, but it’s called Historic Country Homes in Normandy, and we had such a fun time filming the show.
I’m feeling so nervous. If you get a chance to watch, please tell me my family looks adorable. : )
UPDATE: You can find the episode on YouTube here (it’s in 4 parts).
P.S. — The funniest part: We don’t get HGTV here in France, so I didn’t even realize it had aired until I read your comments today on our way back from Paris. So glad you let me know!
oh wow! love house hunters and the blairs..win win!:-) i don’t have cable but i’m going to have to go to a friend’s house on July 8th lol…how exciting for you guys! does this mean you won’t be joining us back in CO?
just watched the episode on house hunters that i recorded after reading a tweet about it… love your sister’s blog! thanks to twitter i’m now following you also. adorable family and that house is absolutely dreamy! i’m excited to read about your adventures.
Congrats, Gabrielle, how fun!
We got rid of our TV so I missed it, but when they show it again, I’m planning to catch it at a friend’s. I know it will reinvigorate my desire to live abroad! And there is no way you’re family isn’t adorable.
Can we watch it online? I looked on You Tube but they didn’t have very many recent episodes :(
I don’t think so — but hopefully eventually. If I hear of an online source, I’ll be sure to let you know.
Just watched your episode and absolutely adored all three homes. Though I’m not sure I could pass up the second, with it’s “Harry Potter-esque” charm! I’m definitely looking forward to moving this year – London here we come!
Going right now to see if I can find it. I LOVE that show!!
Wow!! SO fun and exciting!!! I’d love to watch if it’s ever available online. Are the kids thrilled? I’m sure you all were adorable!
Don’t laugh, but we haven’t even seen it yet! I’m sure they will be thrilled when we receive the DVD. The kids sure had a ton of fun during the filming.
Looks like all of us who are cable-free will get to see it on Hulu when it airs there. Fun!
I was fun to see someone I recognized on House Hunters. I don’t know how you could pass on number two, but that tree house is quite adorable!
I saw it last night, and it was so much fun to see you and your family “come to life”! The house you chose is amazing, and seems like the perfect fit. The convent was kind of cool, but seemed a little spooky to me! I think it’s great that as a designer, you ended up in the artist’s house where you can be surrounded by his paintings everyday. The rooms also seem so big and comfortable. Avez vous un bon temps! (Did I get that right?)
We love living in an artist’s house. It’s such a treat!
I loved it, but so confused by the whole thing! Did they approach you after you already moved in? What could the pitch possibly have been? “want to pretend you’re looking for a house?’ So weird!
In a way, it makes me understand the HH/HHI thing a little more. Could never get why people would look at 3 places and buy 1. But I did think they were seeing things for the first time..
I made my friend stop and watch the episode with me! LOL!
I really enjoyed seeing (and hearing!) you and your family. You are a lovely bunch of folks. :)
I also was supremely annoying my friend with pointing at the screen going “I’ve been THERE!” Heh. She, sadly, has been to France but did not enjoy it at all. Me, I’m in love with the place and can’t wait to go back!
Gabby, what a FUN surprise to turn on the tv and see you and your cute family! I can’t believe how big the kids all look. You looked absolutely darling and the kids were perfect! My favorite was Oscar’s cute hammock comment! You’re living a charmed life my friend! xoxo
Hammock comment? Aaack! I have no memory of any hammock comment. I hope it was awesome. I can’t believe I still haven’t seen the show.
I am so sad I missed this. I love this show and watch it religiously. Except I’m 11 weeks pregnant and can’t stay up past 9pm anymore, lol. Boo. But I’m definitely recording the July 8th replay. Can’t wait. What a fun experience that must have been!!
Gah! I missed it! We were out for my MIL’s birthday. We love that show. I see from a comment above it’ll be on again July 8th – that’s my birthday! Guess it’s a present to me. : )
How did I miss that episode? That is one of my favorite shows — I watch it often. I guess I’m TIVO’ing that episode for the 8th. Man, so cool. How do I know such cool people? As I am decidedly uncool. Anyway, just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.
Kisses,
D
I LOVE House Hunters International — we DVR’d it and watched it last night. Was delighted to see you and your family on the show and IN FRANCE! I know you from The Stir (I used to blog for CafeMom, too), your blog, Twitter, etc. and it was so much fun to see you house hunt in Normandy — now I want to catch up on every detail of your adventures there!
And, yes, your family looked adorable! Six kids — so in awe of you! And now officially jealous, too — you found an amazing place! Enjoy it! :)
It’s true! We found an amazing place. We feel super lucky!
I loved seeing yall! Such a fun episode! I recognized you and your family immediately and had to start reading previous blog posts, thinking I had missed something. I was on the cutting edge for the first time. :)
How exciting!! They approached us when we moved to Copenhagen, but since we are renting we were not candidates… which of course totally bummed us out! We’ll have to see if we can download your episode!
I watched the episode last night and was SO EXICTED when I saw it was your adorable family! It was so fun to see you go through the process – not to mention now I really want to move to France!
Come to France, Beth! It’s lovely here.
That was my most favorite HHI ever. EVER. And when it was mentioned you were a blogger, I had to look you up (but waited until the end of the show for fear of spoilers).
You guys are a darling family and I love your spirit of adventure. Congrats on your home and exciting new life!
Visiting Texas and saw your show with my daughter. The men who deserted us to watch the NBA finals certainly missed out. Great to see the Blairs in HD and living color.
If you’re only in France for one year, then why would you look at houses to buy? I felt like you knew all along that it would be the rental house at the end and just made noises about “Oh, I don’t if I can consider a rental…” The homes were beautiful and it was a treat to see all 3 of them but I felt like HHI was being a tad manipulative with this episode.
I saw the episode and it was great. So cool to recognize someone off of their blog. When watching, we all thought that is such a great childhood for those kids! Very idyllic and a great way to grow up, learning the foreign culture and language and having such a beautiful house/yard to play in. I just love that show, it is so cool that you were on it. Is your family planning to put roots in France?
Just saw your episode! I only watch the European ones – so tired of the episodes of people buying cookie cutter condos in warm places and seeing them gasp in delight over granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
So I Googled you after seeing the episode and am so happy to have found you so that I can live vicariously!
Your house is just amazing – wow – keep giving glimpses please! Love it!
I haven’t seen the episode yet, BUT I knew it was for House Hunters International! You guys having to stay in Paris for a few days (?) during filming totally gave it away. We had been contemplating contacting them in regards to our own move after seeing a casting notice on an expat forum. We’ll see.
Very cool news… even if the “reality” part of it is just grown-up “make-believe.” :) I haven’t seen the episode yet, but I’ll record it when it airs in July.
I LOVE the episode. Everyone looks great! Your family is adorable, and even the real state (Adrian) is great :D
I am an HGTV fan, but no much into blogs. But after that episode I had to go online and google you. Now, I am also your fan! Looooove your blog.
Just had a mom`s night out yesterday to say good-bye to a friend who is returning home (to Paris). We talked about the episode and your blog over dinner and now, I need to send them all your posts.
Funny enough, the other friend was from Sweden and another one has a Dutch husband. Can you tell they will all find something on your blog?
I haven’t seen it yet! Did you buy a house? I’m always curious about the real experience of that show… do you really only view 3 houses?
Great show! My husband and I watch House Hunters all the time. I was so excited when I reconized you and your family. You picked an amazing home.
boohoo, I want to see it too! I can’t wait for it to come out on youtube or something in my reach, being in France:)
You are soooo busy, how can you do so many things in such a short time? I am really envious…
Bisous
Freida
This is an article from the Washington Post about the domestic version of the show that reveals a few of the behind-the-scenes secrets (takes a while to load): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092400127.html?wprss=rss_realestate
I missed it! I’m soooo bummed :( I love that show and you! I hope I catch it another night! And they were at Jordan’s too? Awwwwww man!
Darn! Definitely bummed that I missed it. Hopefully there will be reruns someday. If you find out, be sure to let us all know! :)
A few months ago I was telling my sister, Tania (your friend from NYC), about my hopes to move overseas for a while and she told me that your family did that this year. Since then I’ve been following your blog and enjoying seeing your experiences there. It was funny to turn on my favourite show Sunday night and see you on it! I loved getting to see La Cressonnière in more detail and I think it is the perfect house. I want to live there when you’re finished! I admit it was a little tough for me to come to terms with the fictional side of HHI, but in the end I decided that I love seeing the way people live in different parts of the world (am imagining myself there) and that is why I watch the show. I am totally curious though – did you approach them or did HHI approach you? Oh, and I am definitely going to take one of Susan Loomis’ cooking classes when I make it to France someday. Thanks for the heads up!
Considering I have a French husband, I was especially excited to see this episode of House Hunters International. Your family is exceptionally charming and your kids are precious! I love the walking shots of you in Paris!
The rental house in Normandy looks amazing! It made me think seriously about packing up for the summer and heading to France for the summer — as I once had dreamed of doing. And now that we have a child (who is a dual-passport citizen), it seems more important than ever, to expose and share her with our family abroad.
Can you hear that? … it’s my brain on full throttle excitement. Thanks for the inspiration!
ADORABLE is definitely how I would describe your family! Love your large family adventure spirt!
Enjoy France! WOW!
I’m addicted to House Hunters Int’l and hadn’t realized you were going to be on it. I started watching and was excited it was going to be in France and then I saw it was you..and Ben Blair…and the kids! I told my husband “I know those guys” and he looked at me like I was crazy..which of course I am lol. It was wonderful to get a walk through of what we have seen in pictures and you all looked great. Fun to see someone I “know” on tv :)
Your episode has become my new favorite House Hunters International of all time – bumping off another episode with Adrian Leeds :)
I’m attending a blogging conference this weekend, and watching your episode of House Hunters International right now. It said you were a design blogger, I Googled, and voila! I’m on your blog!
What an amazing techno age we live in right now!
Congratulations on your move. How neat!
Watching right now! So great I have been waiting for it.
I just saw the show for the first time, and even though it’s the middle of the night, I HAD to google “Normandy design blog six children”, and you popped right up! That rental is absolutely amazing. Gush city… but I could not imagine bringing my three sweet little hedons into a home that beautiful. I would be constantly following them around, “Don’t touch the naked mermaid!” “Wash your hands before touching the furniture!” “Stop twirling around like a diva, or you will knock over something very interesting and artistic!!” But what a dream place that is! You have such a lovely family too.
But the “Witch House”…it was not really for sale at the time of filming? Very interesting how these shows work, those dirty rats. lol!
My husband watched HGTV’s marathon Househunters International last night. I’d seen most of them before, but not your episode. I was floored by the beauty of the Normandy countryside. I also cannot believe the fantastically low rental price for your home! I pay almost that much for a little suburban cookie-cutter house in Erie, Colorado. At the end of the show, I asked my husband “What the heck are we still doing here?” I first visited France in 2006 when I went for a three-week stay with my son who was in Paris on a scholarship. We traveled around a bit, but mostly south to a little town called Moulins to stay with the family our of friend Anny, who lives and works in Versailles. We didn’t get the chance to go north. More’s the pity. I’m curious to know how you are finding life there.
Oh wow! I had no idea you did a HOUSE HUNTERS!
Oh wow! I had no idea you did a HOUSE HUNTERS! Love that show and have secretly fantasized about being on it myself:P So (despite the fact that I’m secretly jealous now;), I simply love you and all that you do and couldn’t help but watch it twice!
Loved all your choices and it was great to see you ‘in person’. Congrats on the show!
Is it true that the converted convent near Elise Notre Dame in Louviers was not really for sale — but staged for the show? It belongs to chef and is a cooking school owned by Susan Herrmann.
I wondered the same thing.
I watch House Hunters all the time and I have to say that your episode was the best content of them all. I’m probably slanted as I read your blog daily. It was fun to see the family in action!
Hi, I wondered if you might be able to give me any information about the other houses you looked at. Do you know the name of the church that was across from the one house? All the houses were awesome!
I am watching the show right now and decided to google you to see if you happened to blog about your experience, and here you are! Such a magnificent opportunity and beautiful home. Looking forward to reading your blog. — Michele
I too just watched your episode tonight while working out on my elliptical and wanted to find your blog. How lucky you are to be living in that incredible house in Normandy! I look forward to reading more….
~Carole