House Hunters International

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!

172 thoughts on “House Hunters International”

  1. I saw your episode on HGTV this evening and was impressed with your children’s behavior during the “shoot”. I know there’s such a thing as editing but they seemed to be angels. What a wonderful opportunity for your family. I also thought you made a good decision because if you decide to stay in France you have a lot more time to find the ideal house for your family. I wish you all the best of luck!

  2. I saw the episode last night for the second time and I am in love with the house you chose! I would like more info on the owner/artist and is there any way to get information on the paint colors used throughout the home and/or still shots? I am in the process of redecorating my home in PA/USA and I was so inspired!

  3. I was working on my laptop next to my husband flipping channels and watching House Hunters. When I looked up and saw you & your trademark (in my opinion) beautiful hair, I said, I think I know who that is. We missed the beginning so I don’t know if they mentioned Design Mom, though I’m sure they did.

    Your whole family looked adorable—the shot of all the kids running to the tree house at the end is priceless, but what really came through was the partnership between you and your husband. We so enjoyed the glimpse into your decision-making and the AMAZING homes in that price range.

    One question—as a mother to three young boys, all I could think was that I wouldn’t want to live in the artist’s home because I would be so worried about ruining any of the artworks while renting the home. Has this been an issue? Don’t you have little ones with sticky hands too? :)

  4. I just wanted to say that it’s so neat to have found you here. I, too, have seen the episode and really loved the house that you chose. What did ya’ll do about the mermaid painting in the bathroom? Anyway, the show was inspiring to travel and take chances

  5. Imagine my surprise when I saw Susan Hermann Loomis’s lovely authentic half-timbered house (On Rue Tatin) on the HHI episode about Normandy. My daughter and I took her cooking class in July 2011 and got to enjoy working in her fabulous kitchen. What an experience it was! Her home is a real treasure and the HGTV folks apparently got her to share it with everyone through their show. See Susan’s website by Googling On Rue Tatin.
    -Jan

  6. I would love to know the name of the artist too! :)

    I’m curious to know if you will stay in France longer than a year or if y’all will be
    coming back to the U.S.

  7. I dream of being able to convince my husband to take a risk and move to France. We have twin toddlers that aren’t yet 2 yrs old. At some point, when they eventually go to school, I think it would be an amazing learning experience for them to live abroad for a year or two. Or hell, if we decide to stay, then even longer! Now that you are there, do you think there’s an ideal age to bring children to live abroad? How did you find schools for your children? One last question, which website did you use to find your “artist’s rental?”

    Apologies for the 20 questions. Living in a foreign country is on my “bucket list” and my husband has agreed to do this with me in our lifetime. Although I think “his” timeline is when we retire. But I don’t want to wait 20+ years!!! Life happens and things come up to get in the way. Plus we don’t know how long we’ll even be alive to take such a leap. You’re VERY fortunate that your husband was on board with this. Just curious: did one of you have to convince the other?

    Your family seemed lovely and as an avid watcher of Househunters International, your episode has been my favorite so far. And I’m not typically a “favorites” type of person.

    Cheers to you & yours,
    Jacqueline

  8. OMG! You really had a hard decision to make. Each home was so unique but I agree with you in making the decision you made. How wonderful to be immersed in a house with an artistic soul. What a lucky family you are!

  9. Oh wow, just watched it on YouTube, since I don’t have cable! I didn’t know that you guys we’re looking to buy? Or was it just that the show you guys to “seem” like you were looking to buy, since you had already had the house in order?

  10. I am a religious watcher of House Hunters International and I must say that the episode of your house hunting experience in Normandy is my favorite. I just watched it and was so inspired that I googled it and found your blog! I hope your family is loving it there. P.S. It would be awesome if the renters would let you paint the tree house! Maybe to match the artists detailed work though out the rest of the home. Good luck!

  11. Wait, you didn’t choose the convent?!? (To be fair, I caught this show only up to just before the third choice – the longterm rental) Missed the third choice altogether, but boy that convent had me wanting to move there for sure! Bon chance Design Mom!
    -Angélique

  12. Oh the drool begins now. Drool, drool, drool and drool. For the house you selected, for the amazing overseas experience for you and your family, for your beautiful (numerous!) :) children, and being on my all-time favorite show! Love your blog, always have — and now way more than ever. Have a spectacularly beautifully French Autumn! God bless.

  13. What a great show! Househunters Intl. is one of my favorites and I do not watch much TV. Infact we don’t have cable in our home so I was glad to see this on youtube. Our family did a show for HGTV too, entitled “A Formal English Garden” on a show called Landscape Smart. We transformed our backyard in 2 days! It is a great experience and turns out to be a time capsule on video for all of us when we look back at it. Fun!

  14. Marilyn (Grandma GG)

    I just saw a repeat of the House Hunters International show so I googled and found your blog. Darling family…that adorable baby is much too cute. I am so glad you are having a great time in France. I was hoping you would select the former convent, but, in the long run, I think being surrounded by so much art will be wonderful for your children. I would love to live there and just soak up the beauty…wish I were a tiny bit artistic and I could do every inch of my house.

    I adore France…not too big on Paris, but France is amazing.

    We lived in Isfahan, Iran, for four years when our children were small and that was an amazing experience for them.

  15. Loved the show! However my wife was wondering if the witch’s house was still for sale as we can’t seem to find it anywhere on line. Enjoy your new home and we envy your whole experience it must have been awsomely exciting!! Thanks…Mike

  16. I’m a bit late commenting on the Normandy episode featuring you and your lovely family; however, my husband and I watched it for the first time last week. Your move to Normandy has created a fire of inspiration in us to live a life outside of the professional career box that we have created around ourselves. Both of us work in tv and I know the reality of “reality tv”; however, I did want you to know that your family and your move to Normandy compelled me enough to turn on my computer and find this blog. We were so impressed with both of your courage and calm demeanours (b/c even with the cameras rolling and knowing which house we picked – I think I would still be a stress ball) – and how well behaved your kids were, that it made a difference in our lives…we found ourselves in a wonderful conversation about the idea of moving away and I often think of this episode with a smile.

  17. I loved seeing your darling family. That was fun. Thanks for sharing. You’re living the dream of so many families, I’m so happy for you that your family is able to experience this. I’m so thrilled for you.

  18. Elizabeth Peterson Olsen

    Oh my goodness. I just got done watching…and your family is gorgeous! It was so fun to see you. The old schoolhouse, super-duper cute–not so practical. The Normandy house was hands down my fave, with a huge plus being your sanity to have all the living space. Oodles of space for exploring, creative imaginations, and a place to process all things Paris. And…I’m pretty sure I need a tree house like that for my little Ruby. What a fun adventure.

  19. so… silly me….. your HGTV show is one of my favorite House Hunter shows….. I love the houses you got to look at. (and I found your blog from another bloggers blog)….. we are all so blog happy!

  20. I just caught the episode last Sunday night. I admire your families adventurous spirit. As a person living in foreign lands, I know the value of having the abroad experience. It will (if it hasn’t already) change your families life forever.

    Now, I just need to find a good blog idea and take my family on the road!!

  21. I just watched your house hunters episode on Youtube, it was very good! So often the show is filled with negative comments, and I appreciated your optimism! All three choices were really beautiful, but who could beat the charm (and treehouse) of the rental?

  22. Hi! I am a producer on “House Hunters International” and would love to talk to you about how our crew reached out to you. Can you recommend anyone to our show? Please email me with any references you can give, and thanks!

  23. Have totally seen that episode randomly, we were doing Xmas at my boyfriends parents and saw it, too cute, your brood is adorable! Good luck with your year aboard, the house you chose was amazing!

  24. OhEmGhee! I cannot believe that I somehow stumbled upon your lovely blog … kept going…and found that you were my favorite HHI episode EV.ER. Oh I hope to someday be able to move to the country side. Le sigh.

  25. We are getting ready to film our episode in Berlin & it is good to know other people went through the process & not only survived, but did indeed “look adorable”. Congrats on the episode, your house, & the latest addition to your family.

  26. Your move to france is inspiring! I am new to your site, I first heard about your website a few days ago from BYU Magazine and have loved reading and watching all about your move to France! I actually have very similar aspirations for my own family one day! We have talked of moving to Europe the minute we have the financial freedom to do so! I am so impressed with your drive and take action life! I am sure you are loving every minute of your time there! Wish you the very best! Maybe in a post you could write about some of the pros and cons to your move. Also, maybe could you write about the top ten things you have had to learn while there? (maybe even the hard way?) Thanks!
    Julia Deaver

  27. I saw your episode this weekend, and I absolutely LOVED it. I am a new HHI watcher, and although I read about the ‘reality’ of the series, actually signing on the dotted line first, I still love the show. It’s fascinating to see other countries and cultures, and imagine yourself there! I have always had a desire to see Normandy, and now I’m more determined than ever! THANK YOU for sharing your wonderful pics too, your family is gorgeous! Bon jour! (there, that was my full French language knowledge base!)

  28. Hi! I started to watch your episode of HHI and decided to search for your blog and am happy to have found it here! My fiance and I recently filmed about me moving to Zagreb, Croatia. Ben (who I recognize there in the picture!) was telling us stories about the amazing homes in Normandy from when they filmed your episode. I’m excited to watch, it’s nice to put a face to a name and I’m looking forward to exploring your blog!

  29. I read the article “Vive la Blog” in the BYU magazine and loved it. I went to the You Tube videos and watched your programs. I thought you made a great choice. I was wondering if you put your kids in the French schools and if so, are they speaking French yet?

    You have a beautiful family and I bet you are having the time of your life.
    Bonne Chance!

  30. I´m so happy to have found you! I think you can complete my dream to really moving ton France; my daughter is allready there, but in Paris where I don´t want spend the rest of my days. I´m looking for a small cottage to rent or a small apartment. I´m leaveing anyhow when the easter comes to my little west coast home in Sweden. Please don´t let me down!

  31. I’m going to drill glass using your Pinterest entry. I remember watching the episode on House Hunters as I watched it now on line. I envy your experience. Good for you and keep the creative ideas coming!

  32. We just saw the episode for the first time last night. I squealed like a schoolgirl when I recognized you. I have been reading your blog for a couple of years, so it felt a lot like seeing an old friend on tv. As my husband and I watched it, I had to be careful not to spoil it for him since I have seen so many pics of the house you chose. Your family looked adorable, and your hair is so beautiful. Congratulations on being so likeable on tv. So many couples cannot pull it off on that show!

  33. You are officially the sweetest family (and couple) ever. Makes me want to have more kids even though my hands feel full with 3. I don’t know how you guys do it all, making it look so effortless at the same time.

  34. So every time I visit your blog I think about this one House Hunters International episode of “this one family” with a set of adorable children and moved to France. This episode has stuck with me forever because someday I would like to move with my adorable children to France. So I have forever linked you with this house hunting family in my mind; but . . . I just figured out that you are indeed that family from the show!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top