HOME DECORATING, HGTV GYM RAT VERSION

For a charming throwback look, start with the basics.

The image above is one never seen on HGTV.

Not on the Property Brothers, Love It Or List It, or Rehab Addict.

The most likely place to find this sort of furniture? Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna.

But what would they do with it?

Put yourself in the picture.

It’s made of heavy gauge steel, not the aluminum foil feel of the steel in some bargain weight machine clusters.

This decades old squat rack/bench press/high pull-up bar will break you before you break it. That’s a certainty if you misapply your fitness goals to a thousand pounds of metal handing on the rack.

If you decorate your house with one of these you’ll feel compelled to use it. After asking, “Why is this in my house?” enough times, the reason will occur to you.

It occurred to me when strong men came and lifted, who are also known as my sunshines.

If you’re anything like me, your kids have been showing you up since grade school. Did you help them with fifth grade math? Please, call for help instead of adding to the confusion.

This is why I expect HGTV Chip and Joanne Gaines to decorate with a huge, lugging, old fashioned weight rack. The real reason? It’s what Chip will use to keep ahead of his kids with ‘Old Man Strength.’

When they pass him by we’ll get to watch what he does. What did you do when your kids bested you the first time? It doesn’t have to be the first time, but a good ‘best.’

Jonathon and Drew are strong guys, HGTV strong. From Yahoo Lifestyle:

As for working out, their trick is to have a membership at fitness clubs that have gyms nationally. But if they’re in a more remote location, they turn to their gym in a bag. “I always travel with exercise bands and a TRX system, which allows me to get a solid workout in using my own bodyweight,” says Drew. When super-short on time, the duo will do a 20- to 30-minute CrossFit-style workout that includes moves such as squats, chin-ups, bench presses, and pushups.

They lift, but not the way I envision Chip.

Plus, he’s got the Joanne edge. She’s a blogger on magnolia.com.

With a Tower of Power as your center piece, the one thing that pulls the room together, you’ll feel it pulling you together, too.