NEED TO KNOW
David Bromstad is expressing his gratitude for his fans this holiday season.
The beloved TV host, 52, thanked his fans for all their support on his new HGTV special, My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending, during which he opened up about “using substances” and checking himself into a treatment “program” after his Florida home was destroyed mid-renovation.
In the Dec. 24 Instagram Reel, Bromstad starts off by wishing his followers a “Merry Christmas Eve” before getting into the sentimental message.
“I wanted to thank everyone for the incredible support that you guys have given me after the show,” he said, referring to My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending. “It’s been great [and] super amazing.”
He then revealed that he hadn’t shown his followers any of his Christmas decorations this year at his new Florida home. He noted that he was having family over and was hosting “for the first time ever” before getting into the in-depth tour.
“Merry Christmas Eve my sugar loves! I wanted to give u what has been taken up every morsel of my existence since nov 1. 😂,” he captioned the video.
“Enjoy the sugary icy cuteness. Happy snacking 🎄.”
David Bromstad/instagram
During the tour, pink, green, whitesand iridescent trees of all shapes and sizes can be seen filling the space.
He zoomed in on ornaments that were shaped like cookies and pastries, along with traditional baubles and twinkling lights. “It’s just yummy and happy,” he said.
“I can’t just have one tree or two trees, you know? I have to have a few hundred,” the designer continued, panning through the main room with trees with twinkling lights, tinsel and icicles.
He then took fans into the “winter wonderland.” “You can’t tell me that doesn’t look cute!” Bromstad said of what appears to be a den, that was practically glowing pink from all of the trees and furniture.
On bookshelves in one room were sparkling tiny houses and trees set up like Christmas villages, with cotton and string lights made to look like snow. Bromstad noted that the cozy house collection wasn’t something he collected over time, but something bought all at once.
However, he said he had been “collecting Christmas all of my existence.” Bromstad added that his Christmas decor continues upstairs beyond the main level. He signed off his video, blowing a kiss to his fans and wishing them “the best, best day.”
David Bromstad/instagram
Bromstad added that he hadn’t “done any posting” about his home since he wanted the HGTV special to air first, which focused on the transformative process of building his dream home.
During the show, which premiered on Dec. 19, he revealed that a massive storm destroyed the work he had done, leading him to start the renovation from scratch.
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He said he was “emotionally attached” to the house, and “whatever happens to the house feels like it’s happening to you deep within.” “With all of the drama, the house, the stress, insurance claims, needing money — I just had to keep busy. My vision for the house was no longer clear. Everything was in chaos.”
The designer recalled “starting to spiral” during the process. “I got into some unhealthy behaviors and it’s really easy to go there when you’re under distress.”
“Using substances has been…it’s a real easy escape to take yourself out of a stressful situation,” Bromstad continued. “I knew I was in trouble.”
HGTV
Bromstad stepped away from the construction and took a year-long break. While he was off, he took a healing trip to his ancestral homeland of Norway for his 50th birthday.
He also checked himself into a treatment “program” while filming. “I think with the house, with where I’m at emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, everything has stopped. I was literally screaming out for help,” he said.
When he realized how serious the situation was, Bromstad “decided it’s time.” “I need to put my house on hold and I need to check myself into some sort of program.”
“I need to talk. I need to climb out of this hole. I need to understand why I climbed into it in the first place,” he concluded.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
