The Riveras transform woodsy abodes in ‘Rustic Rehab’
Rehabbing Paradise: David and Chenoa Rivera dive into yet another dilapidated property in the newest episode of renovation series “Rustic Rehab,” airing Thursday, Sept. 6, on HGTV. The couple have been tackling big renovations in the Northern California mountain town of Paradise, Chenoa’s hometown, since 2012. They flipped and transformed a whopping 20 homes in 2017 alone, with plans to finish 25 in 2018.
Being locals is an advantage, as they are always prepared to deal with the small-town problems that arise on most properties. The vacation town of Paradise is one of the largest municipalities in the United States without a sewer system, so the Riveras have become experts in septic tank repair. On the sunnier side, another common trait among the homes in the area is incredible original design features of its cabin-style, ranch-style and craftsman homes. Vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and wood-burning stoves and fireplaces get some modern updates from design enthusiast Chenoa to become stunning focal points of their completed homes. Each of their properties gets a different spin on the Riveras’ rustic design sense. As Chenoa told the Los Angeles Times, she will “gear the design to the originality of the house — from modern to farmhouse.”
The Riveras began their renovation journey by creating their perfect family home, in which they still live today with their four children. Real estate investor David and real estate agent Chenoa committed full-time to flipping houses after a successful run of transforming foreclosed Paradise homes into attractive rental properties.
Camp love: Five new couples from some fan-favorite reality TV franchises move in together to test their bonds and determine whether to stick it out or split up when a new season of “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars” premieres Friday, Sept. 7, on WE.
Among the houseguests are former Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock and her husband, Chris Siegfried; “Making the Band” contestant Aubrey O’Day and “Jersey Shore” alum Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio; Real Housewife Kim Richards and her boyfriend, Wynn Katz; married “Black Ink Crew” stars Puma and Quani; and Momma Dee and Ernest of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.”
In a sneak peek of the new season, Hartsock is heard saying “I settled for Chris,” no doubt referencing her time on “The Bachelorette,” at the end of which she accepted Seigfried’s proposal after being dumped by Brooks Forester. Further clips show O’Day opening up about her insecurities in her relationship, Richards asking Katz some tough questions, Quani denying blame, and Momma Dee admitting that she dated while Ernest was in prison. Teaching America: A new episode of Starz’s 10-part docu-series “America to Me” airs Sunday, Sept. 2. In the series, Oscar-nominated documentarian Steve James (“Hoop Dreams,” 1994) examines segregation in two of Chicago’s affluent high schools: Oak Park and River Forest High School.
The schools are part of majority liberal communities, employ engaged teaching staff and attract an array of bright, diverse students. Though they should be high-performing schools, the white students’ test scores climb while the black students’ stay the same. A mostly-white school board struggles to address the gap in performance being shown to them by concerned staff members.
James spent a year documenting the perspectives of staff, students and parents, encouraging a discussion about racism in America’s school systems. “America to Me” dismantles the idea that there is a post-racial America growing within these upper middle class liberal communities by inspecting the reasons behind who excels and who is left behind with the system as it exists now.
The day-to-day experiences of the students of Oak Park and River Forest provide insight into the barriers that still exist across students being offered the same opportunities to exceed. An enthusiastic cheerleader, for instance, notices that members of the dance squad, who must meet qualifications obtained outside of school at a prohibitive cost to some, are mostly white, while her cheer team is made of mostly black girls.