Who won first challenge on 'Rock the Block' Season 2? A look at the teams' stunning kitchen and dining areas
If you've been waiting for a home makeover show that really packs a punch, then gear up for Season 2 of 'Rock the Block'!
This season the show is back and its bigger than ever before. The 6-week renovation competition has four teams renovating and redesigning four homes that have been built from scratch, however, these homes are just basic houses, as of now. It's up to the teams to work their magic and create a home that has buyers enamored.
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With a budget of $225,000, the teams have to renovate a 4,000 sq ft+ home, which consists of a first floor, a second floor and a basement, all of which have been divided into various rooms. Each of the homes has a market value of $250,000 and it's up to the teams to get the highest appraisal value. With one area per week to renovate, access to contractors and trade people, the race is on.
This week, the teams are renovating the kitchen and the dining area. With Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young as the judges, each team is working against the clock to put out the best kitchen. But this season comes with it's own new challenges. Ted Allen, host of 'Chopped' dropped the twist of the episode. Seeing that 'Chopped' has a mystery box element, each team were given a mystery box - filled with faux leather, subway tiles, mason jars and chicken wire - all of which they had to incorporate in their designs.
Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent
Estimated kitchen cost: $50,000
House style: European Farmhouse
The couple expected to run through their budget in no time as both Berkus and Brent are known to have very eclectic taste and it shows. The biggest challenge for these two was to stick to their budget and add value. They went with custom cabinets and storage throughout the kitchen to get a higher appraisal. The kitchen had a stunning and clean style, with the seating being its most unique feature. The judges loved the open seating format but were not a fan of the open cabinets, seeing that it might be an issue for families living here.
Alison Victoria and Mike Holmes
Estimated kitchen cost: $48,000
House style: French Countryside
The team considered to be the biggest threat, seeing that Victoria competed in Season 1 and Holmes was a judge on the season, this duo really has an added edge, seeing that Victoria won the kitchen challenge the first time around - the same round Holmes judged. The pair went for the most unique looking kitchen, they went with a stunning stone archway above their cooking range. Holmes and Victoria took an interesting approach to the challenge they were presented - they melted down their mason jars to create a stunning bowl that worked as a great centrepiece. The judges loved everything about it, but they also pointed out that the stone elements could have been carried through to tie in the kitchen and dining room together.
Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt
Estimated kitchen cost: $40,000
House style: Southern Craftsman
Although the Kleinschmidts made it clear that they felt that they were at a disadvantage, each team had a professional designer, in some cases even two, the couple had one advantage- Mika is a professional realtor, so when it comes to getting the most value, no one does it quite like them. With a stunning kitchen that focused on creating more space, the judges were impressed by just how well they managed to open the area up. However, El Moussa did point out that the island which made the kitchen stunning also ate into the space.
David Bromstad and Tiffany Brooks
Estimated kitchen cost: $45,000
House style: Modern Tudor
The former winners of the 'HGTV Design Star' have gone with a Tudor theme for their home. The only team to completely rearrange the location of their kitchen, the pair went with an extremely bright and vibrant look for their kitchen, choosing to go with a green and gold palette. They used the challenge items to create custom coasters and jars. The judges loved just how vibrant the kitchen was and how well it made use of natural light. However, the green theme could very likely throw a buyer off. To which Bromstad came in hot and reminded him that Brooks and he did not win 'HGTV Design Star' by playing it safe!
Although the decision was a tough one, the kitchen that came out on top was team Alison Victoria and Mike Holmes. The team clearly proved that they were the ones to look out for, seeing that this is the second time Victoria has won the kitchen and dinning room challenge. The team earned themselves a $1,000 bonus - an amount that will increase with each challenge and allow the team to extend their budgets.
Looks like the race is on!
Catch season 2 of 'Rock The Block' on Mondays at 9 pm ET/PT on HGTV and you can stream the same on Discovery+.