It’s the final word renovation and design showdown between veterans and rookies for Season 6 of Rock the Block. HGTV’s highest-rated competitors sequence returns April 14 as host Ty Pennington welcomes 4 duos pulled from the community’s universe of stars to Grantsville, a rising small city exterior of Salt Lake Metropolis. There they’ll battle it out with a $250,000 finances to rework their respective 5,500 square-foot houses appraised at $750,000.
Every of the six weeks will problem the groups to work on completely different zones of the property with visitor judges coming to evaluate general design, added worth and creativity. This yr among the many wrenches thrown into the combination is the actual fact the judges will go in blind and never know whose residence they’ll be touring forward of time. First up is the kitchen, eating and lounge. Leveling up the excessive stakes environment, rookie and veteran wins are tracked on a scoreboard the place the weekly winner secures $3,000 whereas the guy teammates obtain $1,500 for use within the subsequent problem.
The veteran lineup pairs Alison Victoria (Sin Metropolis Rehab) with former champ Michel Smith Boyd (Luxe for Much less) and Jonathan Knight (Farmhouse Fixer) and his New Youngsters on the Block bandmate and brother Jordan Knight (Farmhouse Fixer: Camp Revamp). Chelsea and Cole DeBoer (Down Dwelling Fab) and flipping, renovation and actual property specialists Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama (Renovation Aloha) spherical out the rookie’s facet.
In the long run, whoever can convey essentially the most worth to their home receives bragging rights and the final word flex of a road signal with their names on it. The winner of Rock the Block can even have a donation made on their behalf to No Child Hungry, which equates to offering 100,000 meals to kids dwelling with starvation.
All through the season, judges stopping by embrace Bobby Berk (Queer Eye), Mina Starsiak Hawk (Good Bones), earlier winner Jasmine Roth (Assist! I Wrecked My Home), Ray and Eilyn Jimenez (Divided By Design), Kim Myles (Battle on the Mountain), final season’s champions Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis (Unsellable Homes). All of it leads as much as Property Brothers’ Jonathan Scott (Movie star IOU) surveying the finished houses, together with the newly revealed exteriors, visitor rooms and balconies, earlier than becoming a member of Pennington to announce the profitable workforce.
Right here Pennington previews the season, in addition to opens about why he believes he’s in a very good place in life.
Host Ty Pennington welcomes Contestants Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama, Chelsea and Cole DeBoer, Alison Victoria and Michel Smith Boyd, as seen on Rock the Block, Season 6. (HGTV)
What do you consider the Rookies vs. Veterans workforce dynamic this yr?
Ty Pennington: As somebody who’s a seasoned veteran, I believe it’s nice. It’s such a aggressive present. Michel Smith Boyd got here on his rookie yr and gained with Anthony [Elle]. So, something can occur. I believe that’s what makes this so nice. Even individuals who have been on a number of instances and have expertise with it are nonetheless going in opposition to individuals who need to make a reputation for themselves. It’s a very completely different animal. You’re speaking about some very giant homes, one-acre of land. You not solely have some massive sneakers to fill however massive areas to fill. No person is protected. I like it. It’s a dry, dusty local weather, with a ravishing background. It’s such an epic bonanza, if you’ll.
This season the visitor judges are moving into blind. This tells me producers are listening to suggestions from viewers.
I believe blind judging is the one strategy to go in my view. Sure, is it cool to know somebody and kind of say, “Wow, they’ve completely switched their type and gotten out of their consolation zone.” On the identical time, it’s higher whenever you’re judging simply on what these groups are giving visually. The judges do not know who did it or the place it got here from, however you’re simply shocked and curious what you see. I believe that’s the easiest way to evaluate any artwork. I believe blind judging was a good way to go. I believe you actually get extra trustworthy, verbal explanations of what the choose thinks as a result of they do not know who created it. One factor the judges do shouldn’t be miss a element.
What do you make of the groups? Alison going for her first win once more. You must give her credit score for coming again every time. Additionally, I believe it’s fascinating Jonathan introduced his brother Jordan this time round. It’s virtually like a veteran-rookie hybrid workforce, though Jordan had been a choose prior to now. After which you’ve the brand new {couples}.
Actually, I really like the Kalamas. They’ve come throughout the nice ocean to be in the midst of the desert. They’re such good rivals. For Jonathan, as a substitute of getting his proper arm relating to design, he introduced in his brother so it’s a household affair. These guys have been in entrance of the digital camera for a few years. They’re undoubtedly seasoned in that means. The DeBoers really know what barn and farm life is really like and produce a novel perspective. They had been extra at residence than anybody in a means. Then you’ve Alison and Michel who’re such nice designers. They’re heavy hitters and metropolis slickers, so you’ve a wide range of backgrounds and kinds. That makes for a fantastic present.
How concerning the judges?
I believe we’ve got a fantastic bunch of judges who aren’t solely entertaining however very opinionated, which you need in judges. It’s nice too when somebody like Jasmine comes again, who actually competed and is aware of what it’s like. They perceive what it’s actually like attempting to get your supplies, meet deadlines and the quantity of labor you need to put in on a weekly foundation. They perceive this isn’t a straightforward job. These guys are away from their households, so pulling off miracles is a problem. However they do it, and it’s superb.
What’s one thing we could not see by the method which will shock individuals or discover fascinating?
Climate. Actually, at some point it’s 70 levels and wonderful and the following it’s 22 levels and looks like 16 under. It’s Utah and the climate adjustments each day. Any design present you do on tv, when you’ve massive concepts and the query is are you able to pull it off within the time you’ve. I’m somebody who actually understands that. You’ve received your sights and hopes of doing one thing actually big. You get all the things you need delivered in time to tug off that unimaginable factor. Typically you need to settle. As a designer, that’s some of the irritating issues. How you’re employed with what you may get in comparison with what you had been hoping to get. Plenty of instances you need to take issues into your individual arms. That results in a variety of stress. You then additionally should be on TV on the identical time. That’s what makes it such a fantastic present. Do you need to share the drama or do you need to compress it and sweep it beneath the rug?
Right here’s the trustworthy reality, these guys are superb at what they do. There may be nothing more durable than this present than on the designer as a result of they’re attempting to show themselves in opposition to a number of the greatest within the enterprise. So, they’re going to attempt issues they’ve by no means tried earlier than and pull off miracles that haven’t been completed earlier than. It actually comes all the way down to who’s going to work the toughest, put in essentially the most time, who’s going to go the additional 9 yards for the win. It takes lots out of you, however that’s the way you resolve whose title goes to be on that signal as a result of it takes lots. You must actually need to win.
With all these reveals, are there any reveals you want to observe on HGTV?
In fact, I just like the sound of my very own voice. I actually suppose Rock the Block is among the greatest. Plenty of the groups have their very own reveals and are in their very own kind of area of interest. It’s taking individuals out of their aspect, setting them up on what’s like a hearth island and saying, “Are you able to pull this off for the judges?” That’s what I really like. I really like a variety of reveals on HGTV. I believe they’re a variety of enjoyable, however I believe that is so compact and concentrated. It’s all the things we like to see. An even bigger finances and greater concepts, but additionally a shorter deadline. You additionally should give you one thing that can dazzle you and is timeless. That’s the problem of residence TV.
HGTV
It’s loopy to suppose you’ve been within the residence reno TV present recreation for 25 years. How does it really feel to be this godfather of the style?
I might have by no means thought I might be a godfather of something. I’ve all the time been the adolescent one. It’s humorous. I’ve been doing this for 25 years. Isn’t that loopy? I’ve to say it’s nice to have the ability to additionally lend a mentor’s eye and ear to individuals developing and attempting to make names for themselves. One factor I do have is expertise. I additionally know what works and what can result in an enormous failure. I attempt to assist out every time I can verbally. I may also see when issues take a troublesome flip and attempt to give a phrase of recommendation. In the long run it comes all the way down to the groups and people, and them working collectively and figuring out their strengths and weaknesses like we do in actual life. I nonetheless like it. I’m a very good ear and shoulder to lean on, however in the long run, you may’t assist an excessive amount of. You must allow them to discover a means. Hopefully, it’s a strategy to victory.
You’ve been by a lot through the years together with working by some darkish instances. It appears you might be in a fantastic place proper now. Your spouse Kellie [Merrell] appears to be an enormous a part of that. How a lot has she meant to you and the place you’re in mentally and in your life proper now?
I simply love that you just mentioned I’ve gone by some darkish instances like I’ve been by one thing just like the Center Ages [laughs]. No, actually, I used to be on the street a lot I couldn’t even maintain a plant alive a lot much less a relationship. I’m really in a fantastic place in my life. I’m proud of somebody who I really like and has a fantastic humorousness. I’ve received two small canines. I don’t understand how I really like them a lot when their breath smells like fish and rubbish, however I do. It’s a fantastic place to be. Content material is one thing I’ve by no means actually had. I’ve all the time strived to be engaged on the following challenge and subsequent factor. When you get to the purpose the place you don’t should show something to your self, then you definitely begin to notice, “I’m adequate to simply breathe and never should compete. Not should overdo all the things.” It’s a more healthy place to be mentally. I believe on the earth we reside in, that’s a necessity lately.
What number of homes do you’ve lately?
I work on one, reside in it, flip it and transfer on to the following one. I constructed one in Florida. It’s a really sustainable residence and a type of issues the place I’ve designed each a part of it. It’s additionally tremendous wholesome and the place I’ve my mother dwelling. I additionally reside in Savannah, which is a number of hours north. So, I can pop in about each two weeks to keep watch over her. I’ve the individuals taking care of her, however I additionally go since she is shut. I’m in a great spot that means.
One factor I’ve all the time been inquisitive about. How many hats do you personal?
Look, I’m at that age, however on the identical time, I’ve all the time collected some actually cool hats. Even within the Nineties, I used to be carrying some actually bizarre toboggan ski hats. I like hats. I appear to have worn a variety of completely different ones, actually and bodily. An estimate of what number of? I don’t know. In all probability, about the identical as sneakers. That goes with out saying. I’m actually frugal. I’ll discover them in thrift shops. It’s humorous I’ve an outdated Stetson that I discovered for 12 bucks that’s most likely 400 in actual life. I’ve all the time been actually thrifty. I’ve been amassing classic issues for a very long time.
Rock the Block Season 6 premiere, April 14, 9/8c, HGTV