HGTV’s ‘Rustic Rehab’ offers peek into Paradise
Yes, there are septic tanks in Paradise, along with rodents and termites.
HGTV’s “Rustic Rehab,” hosted by David and Chen-oa Rivera, is based in Paradise, Calif., a town pushed up against the Sierra Nevada range 90 miles north of Sacramento.
The show employs standard rehab formula: budget-buster surprises, tight time frames, demolition delight and lots of perennial potential. The show launches April 26. We caught up with the Riveras in the former gold mining and lumber mill town, population 26,396. The following is an edited transcript.
Q: Describe Paradise for us.
Chenoa: I call it our mini Lake Tahoe. We have four seasons, huge pine trees and a canyon on either side. It’s close to Lake Oroville, and there’s also Paradise Lake.
David: Many homeowners have main homes in the Bay Area, and it’s a source for lots of vacation rentals.
Q: What are the homes like?
David: There’s lots of wood in the properties — vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams and knotty pine.
Chenoa: There’s a mixture of cabin-style and older ranch-style homes. Also Craftsman.
Q: Imagining Paradise, we envision a deck with a mountain view and the scent of smoke from a wood-burning stove.
Chenoa: Some places lack central heat and air, so a wood-burning stove is the main source of heat. We repurpose vintage ones or go for a new, sleek and modern look.