User Reviews

Let me start off by saying that I don't hate this show. Even though I know that Katie will almost invariably produce pedestrian or sometimes downright ugly crafts, I still regularly watch the show. Perhaps it's because the cooking part of the show is a touch better than the crafts. Maybe it's Ms. Brown's can-do demeanor. Or maybe it's because I have basic cable and nothing else is on at 5AM in the morning.

Having said that, it is an entertaining show. I find it somewhat charming to see Katie try her damnedest to emulate Martha Stewart. Only difference is, with Martha you get Israeli cous-cous and hand-felted invitations; with Katie Brown you get only slightly less impressive food but cheap and/or awkward looking crafts.

For instance, on one show a centerpiece was made by sticking single flower buds in glasses of sand. It just didn't look right, certainly didn't look expensive, and wasn't worth it for the amount of time put in. Another time, ribbon was woven through a lantern to decorate it. Boring idea, and again: the ends don't justify the means.

The worst craft ever, though, was when Katie ruined perfectly beautiful glass bead miniature faux Christmas trees by randomly gluing real tree branches to them. The result was hideous and tacky looking.

Bottom line? Katie should focus all of her energy on cooking and leave the crafts up to someone else; I think it would vastly improve the show.

The crafts are ugly and confusing. One of the prime examples was even she took her husband's old button up dress shirts and half hazardly wrapped them around a vase with ribbons. The end result was messy and weird, with fabric awkwardly bunched. Every episode she somewhat annoyingly yells across the set for one of her assistants to come and unnecessarily tie a ribbon or cut a wire for her. She seems to radiate tyrannical irritating boss. She reminds one of that friend that thinks they are ultra creative, and is constantly offering terrible unsolicited decorating advice. But for unknown reasons her show can feel somewhat addictive and comforting.

My wife and I both like this show, which is saying a lot because generally I find myself hating these kind of shows. The difference between this show and Martha Stewart is easy to spot. This show is a labor of love from an authentic personality with an original vision. This host looks like she actually has fun coming up with ideas and working on the show. Her demeanor with her guests is refreshing as well. I am SO glad she is not Martha Stewart, who so often has many great ideas with a refined presentation, but who lacks the joy it takes to create a true home. Katie bears that joy on every program even if some of the ideas fall a bit flat on the crafting side. Would watch again, 10/10 for authenticity.