Is ‘Rock the Block’ Off Its Rocker? This Winning Design Move Makes Us Wonder—Take a Look
HGTV
Season 4 of “Rock the Block” is the perfect pupu platter for viewers who want a general glimpse of what home designers are doing these days—and the latest episode focuses on a truly make-or-break area of the house.
In the episode “Living Room Face Off,” host Ty Pennington declares the challenge is to “make a great first impression with the entry area and living room.”
The competition, based this time in Berthoud, CO, will be tight for the four teams of design stars, which include Bryan and Sarah Baeumler from “Renovation Island,” Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle from “Luxe for Less,” Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin from “Farmhouse Fixer,” and Page Turner and Mitch Glew from “Fix My Flip.”
Knight and Crestin won last week’s kitchen challenge, so they’re the team to beat.
On hand to judge are Jennifer Todryk of “No Demo Reno” and Mina Starsiak Hawk of “Good Bones.”
As they try, in host Pennington’s words, to “Make like John Denver and get that Rocky Mountain high value,” we get some excellent renovation ideas for our own environs—as well as one look we think is just nuts. Take a look and see if you agree.
Beetle kill wood is the new cedar
Ceiling with beetle kill woodHGTV
Smith Boyd and Elle decide to warm up their ceiling by lining it with beetle kill wood, which stands out for its knots and blue stain.
“Beetle kill is a double money-saving move,” explains Smith Boyd. “It’s from Colorado, so it’s virtually no shipping, and it’s half the cost of cedar. If we stain it dark, we’ll get that super chic look without paying chichi prices.”
They spend about $4,110 on their beetle kill wood ceiling—$1,200 less than the $5,360 that Turner and Glew spent on their cedar-lined ceiling.
We can’t help but wonder, though, if beetle kill wood smells as good as cedar. A fine, woodsy smell when you walk in the front door is priceless.
Never block a great view
Living room with a fireplace between French doorsHGTV
Each home has two sets of French doors looking out to the mountains beyond. It’s a killer view, but the original builders put a big swath of drywall in between the doors, blocking the view in each of the four identical homes.
Each team decides to change out the French doors to open up that amazing view. Most of them put in glass accordion doors. But the Baeumlers decide to do something a little different.
“We’re moving the two French doors out to make room for this beautiful double-sided fireplace,” says Bryan. “So the new owners can sit on the couch, watch the fire, and enjoy that beautiful view of the mountains.”
Unfortunately for the Canadian couple, the judges aren’t wild about that setup. “You’re going to have to peek around it,” says Starsiak Hawk. “I don’t know how that’s going to play out.”
Black looks chic, but designers frown on brown
Black brick fireplaceHGTV
Crestin and Knight spend $3,230 on dark brick for a massive fireplace that goes all the way up to the ceiling.
But when Crestin sees the brick Knight is installing, she takes a pause.
“Do you see black or brown?” she asks.
“I see a lot of brown,” responds Knight.
“I have to admit, I’m very disappointed,” Crestin confesses. “I’d like to paint it black. I know it’s controversial to paint brick, but now that we’re three-quarters of the way along, you step back and it looks so brown, and it doesn’t tie to the [black] kitchen. So we have to paint it black.”
“As long as I don’t have to take it down and start over, I’m good,” says Knight.
Black ends up looking so much more modern and sleek than the brown did.
Adding any size bath will raise a property’s value
A Rocky Mountain-chic powder roomHGTV
After moving their laundry room into the mudroom, Turner and Glew decide to convert the old laundry room into a full bath.
Unfortunately, while Turner is away, Glew comes to the realization that there just isn’t time to add a shower/bath to that new bathroom.
“It’s a lot of space to handle,” explains Glew. “Tiling, plumbing, and the electrical—we don’t have the time to add a full bath.”
Turner is disappointed but points out, “as house flippers, we know that even a half-bath shows up on an appraisal.” Any bathroom, even a small one, adds value to a property.
Pay attention to what a room sounds like
Judge Jennifer Todryk rocks out when she hears the music.HGTV
“Is that music I hear playing?” asks Todryk excitedly as she enters Knight and Crestin’s home.
“We want you to feel like home the minute you walk in the door, ” says Crestin.
“As a musician, I feel like music in a home can really set a tone,” says Knight. “We put in a wireless speaker system, and it just sets a vibe.”
Crestin and Knight used their $1,000 winnings from the first episode to fund that.
The judges love the vibe that was set. It’s one of their favorite parts of the home.
Who wins this week’s ‘Rock the Block’?
While the judges found something to love about every home, Turner and Glew were awarded top honors and $2,000 to put toward their next project. So what exactly won the judges over?
“The bookshelf,” said Todryk, referring to the many shelves flanking the fireplace. “When I walked in, it was instant. It was cozy, it was homey, but it was so cool the way y’all made it so luxurious. That sold it for me.”
The winning living roomHGTV
Indeed, the shelves look lovely, but we do have a beef with the books placed spine facing in and pages facing out. While this look is a hot home-staging trend that looks uniform and pretty, it’s not very functional. With the spines hidden, how in the heck are you supposed to find the book you want to read?
So while these “Rock the Block” judges seem to dig this look, we strongly beg to differ.
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