I can finally talk about it and I’m trying to be zen. As if it’s just another day at the office.
However, I have zero chill and I’m completely geeking out. The renovation TV show pilot I’ve been working on will air this Friday on HGTV. Yes, that channel. Seriously, what is my life right now?
Our show is called Reno Italiano and it’s on at 11:30 a.m. EST (USA) between Flip or Flop and Love It or List It. Check local time for listings.
The house is located in Arpino, a small hilltop town between Rome and Naples, and the views are gorgeous. It’s over two hundred years old and had been abandoned for sixty years. This was not an easy renovation and we were doing it in Italy on a very narrow street. However, we had a great team and you’ll get to meet them during the show.
My clients, Tracy and Matt, are American and couldn’t see their house (once the renovation started) until it was finished! Can you imagine? I’m grateful for the trust they placed in us and that we were able to make their Italian dream home a reality. I’m also grateful for our excellent project managers Kylie and Antonio, phenomenal contractor Bruno, and last but not least our on point geometra, Michele.

Regarding the non-renovation part of this process, I learned a lot. It’s one thing to be an assistant or a producer on set. Being in front of the camera? Weird. I was in good hands though with my producers Kip and Rich and our showrunner Katie. This unscripted world is new to me and fascinating.
We can’t share any BEFORE or AFTER pics before the show airs. I can tell you that it’s a stunning transformation so set your DVRs.
Follow along on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtags #renoitaliano and #hgtv.

RENO ITALIANO
Friday, January 15th, 11:30 EST on HGTV (USA)
this is SO fabulous!! i will be watching!
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Thank you for watching, Coco!
It was fabulous! I happened to walk through the living room and was wowed! Then, I tried to find it on demand. Nope. Tried to see the next airing and scrolled through over a week of programming and couldn’t find another episode. When is the next episode airing?
BTW, get some advertising on Google. I had to switch to Yahoo to find this!
I enjoyed you and your reno, fantastico LOL… just lucked out to put tv on at the right time. This is my fantasy come to life! Congrats and I hope to see more on hgtv.
Hi Annette. I’ve asked the producers if HGTV will re-air the pilot. It’s not a series. Today was just the pilot episode. Fingers crossed that we go to series. Thank you for watching!
I absolutely loved your show!
Thank you, Tenishea!
How do we find out about the next one?…this was fabulous…
Thank you, Linda. It was just a pilot. We’re waiting to hear from HGTV if they will rerun it and if we will go to series.
Kudos to you! 👏🏽👏🏽You are living a life many can only dream of! I continue to be so proud of you and your accomplishments. Can’t wait to see the show! Love you more! 😘❤️
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Love you too, Gloria. Thank you for the support!
Loved the show!!!! Cant wait for more episodes!
How exciting this is! I look forward to watching your journey!
Grazie, Aperilife! I hope you enjoy the show.
So happy for you Arlene!
Thank you, Valerie!
I too just happened to have hgtv on at that time and saw the show. Loved it as well and hope it becomes a series. Love Italy and loved seeing the transformation of the home. Would love to buy a property in Italy and renovate it. She made it look very easy.
Just watched the pilot. I loved loved the show, can’t wait to see more.
Thank you, Emma!
Loved the show was trying to find it again to watch again…..no such luck….congratulations
I just watched the show and I’m here to tell you I LOVED it! Fabulous pilot and I can’t wait for more episodes. Congrats!
Thank you, Mark!!!
I just finished watching the pilot and I loved it. How often will the shows be aired?
Thank you, Cleo! We hope the show becomes a series. Right now we just have the pilot episode. I think HGTV will re-air it.
Ho visto sua programma oggi. Era molto fantastico. Sogno di avere una casa in Italia. Trovi case per persone interessato stanno abitano in Italia? Guardo online per case ma sono paura per correre il rischio. Sto studiando Italiano per un poche anni allora ho scritto in Italiano
Grazie mille, Abby! Non trovo le case. Posso suggerire e sento spesso parlare di casa in vendita. Se lavori con un ottimo immobiliare e geometra, il processo sarà più semplice.
This was fabulous!
We need more programming.
When is the next episode?
Why did I have to use Yahoo to find this? Nothing on Google
Good job!
Hi, Annette. Thank you. I don’t know yet if we’re going to series or not. I also don’t know why it was hard to find on Google. Hmmmm
I feel like I know you, you are a lovely person. Your design style is amazing I look forward to
see what you do next. I have considered buying a home in Italy for my family, to have someone
like you to coordinate such a big project would be amazing. Where can I begin ? Again thank you
for your new show ,It shows me its not impossible .
Hello Iilyann! Thank you for the kind words.
It’s not impossible. The first thing is to focus on the region you would like to buy in. That will determine a lot (costs for example).
The key is having a great local team in place. As you know, Italian red tape is not joke.
I don’t find houses but I do hear of houses for sale all the time. If you know what area interests you, I can see if I know any real estates agents in that area. In the meantime, I would join some of the Expat in Italy FB groups. They are a great resource regarding the realties, and not just the movie version, of what it’s like to live in Italy.
Incredible show. What a transformation! I loved how you uncovered that arch and the cathedral cielings. Congratulations.
Thank you, Bennett!
What an amazing job! Just gorgeous…so jealous but love to see someone living my dream. Can’t wait to get back to Italy…will need to explore more small towns for sure!
Thank you, June!
FANTASTICO!!! Cant wait for more episodes to hopefully air soon.
Grace B.
Thank you, Grace. This was just the pilot. Finger crossed we go to series.
Is there a link that I can post on social media? I have “like-minded” friends who would love to see your show!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCY7pwip1v/ here is the promo. I don’t know if/when it will rerun. Thank you.
I just watched the show. Hope there are more to come!!!
We hope so too!
You and your team have outdone yourselves. The transformation was stunning. Hope to see much more of you on HGTV. Congratulations on what I hope is the first of many episodes. Add me to your fan count!
Thank you, Melinda! We hope we go to series too.
Congrats! Really enjoyed the show.
Thank you, Robert!
Holy Freaking Geez Moly!!! Love Love Luuuurve this show! I just so happened to work nights this week and caught this show. Arlene’s style & professionalism was impeccable! Please tell me this was not a fluke and will be a continuing series. Head honchos of HGTV Pleeeeeease give Arlene full reign! This show was fresh & inspiring! Congratulations to you & your staff Arlene. I need more!
Thank you! I don’t think HGTV is reading my blog, ahahah but I hope we get a green light to series as well.
Lovely, loved what you did with the homes to a warm modern historic home. We are looking forward to more!
Thank you, Scott! We hope there are future episodes too.
Arlene,
You are uber talented! I just saw the pilot and as an interior designer and former film and commercial set decorator, I can say you hit it out of the ballpark with that pilot! Congratulations! I imagine your phone will be ringing off the hook if it isn’t already. That Reno truly transformed that space from what looked like rubble/ruin to a gleaming gem. 👏👏👏👏
Thank you, Carrie!!! We hope it will picked up for a series.
Wife and i just happen to come across your show, absolutely amazing!
Great job, can’t wait for more episodes.
Thank you, Cesare! I hope it gets picked up for a series.
Dang I missed this! How can I find out when this airs again? I am just in Thea’s Moving to Italy Master Class.
All the best,
Rachelle
Hello, Rachelle. We hope HGTV will have rerun it but don’t have any info about that as yet. I’d check their social media. Good luck with your move to Italy!
Saw the show on Thursday. You did a fabulous job! I love Italy and would love to own a house there someday. I really hope this becomes a series. Made me wish I was back there!
Thank you! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the show.