Dreamhouse Nightmare

Written and directed by Kathleen Phelan (Spirit of the Eagle, Winter Wolf), Dreamhouse Nightmare is an amusing and cautionary tale of the pitfalls of home remodeling. Hosted by contractor Jerry Fulks, the program follows the (mis)adventures of Curt and Claire Kendall, a couple who have decided to expand/remodel their kitchen (and their family: a baby's on the way). What starts out as a simple project quickly mushrooms into a major (and wallet-wringing) enterprise. Before long, the Kendalls are up to their ceiling joists in "discoveries," "allowances," "change orders," and "contingencies." And it looks like the extras are going to run the project a wee bit over schedule...their might just be some plaster dust sprinkled on that Thanksgiving bird. In addition to walking viewers through the fictional couple's nightmare, Fulks also talks to Arnie and Rose Katz, a husband and wife psychologist team who underwent a home renovation and lived to tell about it, and Burt and Steve, a pair of fellow contractors who talk about the main reasons why projects go overtime and overbudget. While the information is, ultimately, a little on the thin side, Dreamhouse Nightmare does get people to thinking before it's too late, and provides some great laughs to boot. Highly recommended. (Available from: Wehman Video, 2366 Eastlake E., Suite 420, Seattle, WA 98102; (206) 726-0220.)