A Review of HGTV’s Rock the Block in Berthoud, Colorado
Rock the Block on HGTV came to Berthoud, Colorado—a town that is less than 30 minutes away from where I live in Boulder, so, of course, I had to go! The Rock the Block event was for one day only, over Memorial Day Weekend, and I went with my friend, Justine. I was so happy that she invited me to go with her; this was one opportunity I was not going to miss!
“You know why I love HGTV? It’s not just that I get a peek into other people’s lives. It’s that everyone’s always thrilled with the end result, whether they’re redecorating an unfortunate room, selling a house, or cleaning up another contractor’s mess. I love for a happy ending, and HGTV is perpetually upbeat and optimistic. The shows are all about problem solving, not drama creating.”
What is HGTV’s Rock the Block?
HGTV's Rock the Block features renovation stars who compete to win a cash prize as they add value to identical properties in four short weeks. In October 2022, four design teams were in Berthoud, Colorado, competing on the fourth season of HGTV's Rock the Block to design four homes (5000 sq ft each) with a $250,000 budget. Each home that was worked on was valued at $1.9 million to start, but all appraised at over $2.7 million when they were all done.
Out of the four interior design teams, one winner is chosen. Jasmine Roth, one of the judges on the show this year, shared why Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle's renovation beat out the rest, even though they have the least amount of experience. “The best team won based on three independent appraisals that were conducted by local companies. We all had our favorites, but when it comes to adding value, the numbers don't lie," Roth wrote in an Instagram caption. “While every one of the contestant's homes was valued at over $2.7 million, Smith Boyd and Elle's was valued at $2.85 million, crowning them the winners.”
The interior designers/contestants on Rock the Block this year included:
House 1: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin from Farmhouse Fixer
House 2: Page Turner and Mitch Glew from Fix My Flip
House 3: Bryan and Sarah Baeumeler from Renovation Island
House 4: Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle from Luxe For Less (WINNER)
Experiencing Rock the Block’s One-of-a-Kind Design
I was in design heaven walking through all four homes in Berthoud! From the textured wallpaper and the very detailed and beautiful hardware on the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to the stone walls going down the stairwell and the intricate, soft carpet…the list could go on and on. I think I must have noticed almost every single detail in each home! It was really inspiring, and it got me even more motivated to continue my entrepreneurship journey and the running of my own interior design business!
I thought that each home I went into was my favorite one upon entering. So I think it is fair to say I liked all four homes for different reasons, but I think my favorite kitchens were House 1 and House 4! I was in total awe, experiencing the interior design of these homes firsthand and what was achieved in six weeks; it helped my own design ideas start flowing.
Being able to go and immerse yourself in an in-person design event like that makes it all the more special and all the more magnificent. And since a lot of shopping is done online these days, it’s great to be able to see and feel things up close (designers are really tactile people!). Thank you, LandMark Homes and HGTV, for opening up this incredible experience to the public; it was a day I won’t soon forget!
Interested in learning more about how an interior designer can add value to your home? Then make sure to read our latest blog post here.
