|
Post by nicksmom on Oct 28, 2019 15:50:27 GMT
I watched the Rock the Block too and agree about that huge bathroom. I do love the free standing tubs but not in the middle of the room since I’m sure it wouldn’t be used much. When she took the storage from the garage I thought oh what a bad idea. Storage is everything.
Didn’t like the one with all the different materials in the bathroom, wonder if the bad wall papering was covered by those tiny mirrors. I know they are different baths. Sad the one didn’t do any thing with the toilet room.
The winning bedroom was really bad .
I hate the concrete floors are they popular there. Be hard on the feet. Of course I live where there is snow so we take our shoes off at the door even in the summer.
|
|
|
Post by Kao on Oct 29, 2019 15:20:26 GMT
On Rock the Block last night they renovated the kitchens, and everyone went all out in different directions. Once again, I found something to like in all four designs. My favorite of the night was Jasmine's. I loved the cabinetry she put in her kitchen, the color of her bottom cabinets (like a dark sage? It was pretty), the upgraded stove, the subway tile and the item made out of reclaimed wood. I loved the fact that Mina was the only person to think of adding a pot filler in her kitchen, and I loved her heavy duty wooden floors and her pantry door made of reclaimed wood. The only thing I liked about Leanne's was the concrete floor. It was a big mistake to take all the upper cabinets away and the entire kitchen was white to the point of being stark, and I despise all white kitchens. I think I would have liked the textured wall as a counterpoint to all the white but she painted that white as well! Alison's kitchen was lovely. It looked sophisticated, extremely high-end, and vintage, yet modern at the same time. and the coffee machine was a nice touch. I was rooting for Jasmine's kitchen but it didn't surprise me that Victoria's won.
|
|
|
Post by waywyrd on Oct 29, 2019 18:45:43 GMT
I didn't like Alison's kitchen, nor Leanne's. Leanne took away all that storage and put all those silly rocks on the wall, which I don't even want to think about trying to clean. They'd be great in another room, not a kitchen. Mike was right about that concrete floor staining when you spill things (I guess Leanne doesn't really cook much).
Alison overused her precious brass again, and I didn't see one single outlet along any of the countertops. Where would you plug in a mixer, toaster, blender? Again, impractical. And her stank attitude is the reason I watch the show the next day - so I can fast forward through her crap.
With the exception of the concrete sink, I liked Mina's kitchen best. It was a kitchen people could actually use, with tons of storage. But Mina's thing is pretty and practical, not bling-y showpieces. Jasmine's was nice, too, but I don't care for laminate floors in a kitchen.
|
|
|
Post by nicksmom on Oct 29, 2019 19:16:23 GMT
We don’t get the kitchen until this Sunday. I thought I missed it so looked it up, you guys are head of us in Canada it seems.
Still don’t mind hearing what you think though.
|
|
|
Post by MFWalkoff on Oct 29, 2019 20:14:23 GMT
I preferred Mina's kitchen over Allison's. I don't drink cappucino. But I would have gone with a sink that wasn't concrete.
Leanne is on some other planet. It's like she in designing houses for her imaginary friend.
----------------------------
In other news, I finally saw that Love It Or List It ad again. The new season starts on November 18th. Finally!
|
|
|
Post by nennie on Oct 29, 2019 21:02:29 GMT
I like Jasmine and Mina but don't care for Leanne or Alison. Alison's attitude turns it off for me and Leanne she leaves me baffled most of the time.
|
|
|
Post by photobabe on Oct 29, 2019 22:19:20 GMT
So. Leanne made a bathroom with no storage, took out most of the storage in the kitchen and took away the garage storage closet, and did the absolute minimum in the master suite closet. Does she design for buyers who don't intend to live in these homes? I worked as a real estate agent for 12 years. ALL buyers, regardless of price point, consider storage very important. From what I have seen so far, Leanne is going to be a big loser in this competition.
|
|
|
Post by Bearcata on Nov 1, 2019 22:53:37 GMT
Rock the Block episode 2 - Kitchen
I liked Alison's, Jasmine's and Mina's. Leanne ... I wish I could walk the physical space as she did put the storage from the upper cabinets she removed into the hallway she created and maybe that was a good idea, and she may have created a good flow for the house but it was hard to see on the TV screen as a viewer. I did not like that cutouts she put in the cabinets, it screamed cheap cabinets. Her grout wall I could take or not. What was important was the kitchen functional. I like the Mike pointed out that the concrete floors were not sealed properly. I am not a fan of the imperfect perfect, not when I am paying $750,000 for a home. No baseboards? What did the trim around the window add? Nothing. While her kitchen looks good in a photo how would it look after a day or two of someone really using it?
Alison - I am surprised she missed the vinyl floor pieces not laid out better. She normally is razor sharp with the details. Not a bad kitchen she does them well.
Jasmine - liked her kitchen. Liked the colored cabinets, may not be a fan of that shade of green but the overall design was nice. Luv'ed the entertainment area of cabinets she build those looked fabulous.
Mina - luv'ed the herringbone EVP floors, looked great. Luv'ed the extra storage. Luv'ed the look of the kitchen. I was surprised about Mike's comments about the concrete sink. I didn't know you had to seal it.
I was OK with Alison, Jasmine, or Mina winning this episode.
Alison's cockiness is really showing in this series and Leanne is right behind her.
|
|
|
Post by nicksmom on Nov 4, 2019 14:19:40 GMT
Finally got to see the kitchens.
Really hate Leanne’s looks. Like some one said how go you clean something like that. The walls and cabinets would be dust collectors. I’m guessing she is going to leave the concrete floors in every room.
Mina- I didn’t like the herring floor it looked old to me, would get tired of it fast. Is she the one that used towel racks as handles on the fridge, they would be huge. Oh how is she going to blend that floor into the next room.
It too loved the entertainment wall Jasmine did. I would be the first person to burn the counter top thinking it was stone.
Alison , hated all the gold, I know it’s back . The pugs along the counter missing would be so bad, never can have enough in the kitchen . Heck have them in that island .Coffee thing would be useless to me but give me that water pot filler some gave.
|
|
|
Post by photobabe on Nov 5, 2019 15:02:42 GMT
Rock the Block last night was all about the great room/outdoor living space. Brian and Mika Kleimschmidt were the judges.
Leanne's was her usual minimalistic style. She removed all the moldings and baseboards and left a concrete floor. The only thing she did that I liked was the stencils on the patio floor. Money left: $48,160
Allison brought a fireplace surround from Chicago and painted it and the built-ins next to it black. It was interesting, but not southern Ca. style. She did manage to block an unattractive view with an outdoor fireplace. Money left: $42,980
Mina was marked down because she didn't have a chandelier in the great room. Otherwise, the judges liked her design. She is the only one to add a pergola. Money left: $57403
Jasmine was the winner. She added a pool and an outdoor sink and fridge. Money left: $58,750.
Mina and Alison used artificial turf in their yards. Jasmine and Leanne used pebbles. I would think a pebble yard would be a recipe for disaster if you had kids or pets.
Next week is the finale.
|
|
|
Post by nennie on Nov 5, 2019 15:17:08 GMT
Leanne's, Alison and Jasmine's rooms were ugly. Mina's was minimalistic. Mina does better work that what she did last night. Alison had a cocky attitude and she thinks her poop doesn't stink. She hates losing. I would have taken Mina's room over the others.
|
|
|
Post by Kao on Nov 5, 2019 15:32:17 GMT
Out of the 4 I liked Mina's the best. I loved what she did for the living room with the built-ins and the outdoor area was qt.
Leanne: Only liked the birdcage looking chandelier in the living room and the accordian doors to the yard.
Alison: I wanted to like this but it was too dark. Loved the outdoor fountain.
Jasmine: Surprisingly, I liked hers the least. Living room looked thrown together. She will probably attract buyers that want a pool but her backyard was just okay.
|
|
|
Post by MFWalkoff on Nov 5, 2019 21:37:04 GMT
I would like a room that was somewhere between Mina's and Jasmine's. I loved the repurposed wood ceilings that extended to the outer area. The pool was a good idea but it was pretty small, and I don't remember seeing a diving board or even a ladder to get in/out.
Allison annoys the hell out of me. Her constant unpleasantness makes me want to flip the channel. Her "chicago" style just looks like a douchebro's bachelor pad.
Leanne needs to be taken out in a straitjacket.
|
|
|
Post by waywyrd on Nov 6, 2019 12:14:28 GMT
Allison annoys the hell out of me. Her constant unpleasantness makes me want to flip the channel. Her "chicago" style just looks like a douchebro's bachelor pad. Leanne needs to be taken out in a straitjacket. You just made me spit my coffee out. Alison just keeps getting more obnoxious each week. Did she really think a massive black fireplace with her stupid brass accents would look SoCal? The outdoor fireplace was the only good thing she did. And I don't want a backyard full of gravel. Leanne - more boring white everything. Who wants to pay that much for a house with ugly gaps where the drywall ends because she ripped out every piece of baseboard/crown molding? Blah. Jasmine's room wasn't all that great, but I did like the wood ceiling thing she did. The pool might as well have been a hot tub, it was so small. And I've never been a fan of old school lockers in a house. I liked Mina's the best, with the exception of the plain gray outdoor fireplace with the weird bread bowl hanging over it. That just didn't look "Mina" at all.
|
|
|
Post by Eastcoastmom on Nov 6, 2019 16:01:32 GMT
I liked Mina's the best, with the exception of the plain gray outdoor fireplace with the weird bread bowl hanging over it. That just didn't look "Mina" at all.[/quote]
Maybe she was channeling Karen?
|
|
|
Post by Bearcata on Nov 11, 2019 19:43:00 GMT
Rock the Block episode 3 - Great Room and Outdoors
Leanne - in one sense she keeps to her aesthetic, but it is not the aesthetic of the average home buyer. I do agree with the one judge who said that Leanne took away value from the home by removing the trim, the baseboards, and the flooring. I didn't like the birdcage lamp it was way too big/long for the space. I really do not think she will win Rock the Block.
Allison - I like that she has a cohesive plan, that she had a nice outdoors as well as indoors. She is thinking about the entire space. I do like the black and white palette. I like the pier mirror frame she used in her outdoor space as a planter and water feature. Alison made the porch and outside area functional and addressed line of sight problems with the house next door. While I like how she re-purposes antique frames and fireplaces, the fireplace wall looked way too dark and black hole versus the 3D picture they showed as the beginning of the show. The grided folding glass doors also seemed a bit out of place. There had been so much California Casual and lack of elements in Leanne's rooms, to go to Alison's seems very disconnected.
Jasmine - if you are going to put in a pool put in a usable pool. Where are the Desert Flippers when you need them? That couple know how to put in a great pools space. The great room was OK. Jasmine did well with the sink and wine frig outside, nice touch. Liked her ceiling and how it extended outside. The chandelier was good as it was not hanging so low as to obstruct the view (ala the birdcage).
Mina - liked what she did. No you didn't need a chandelier in the great room. I do think Mina does a good job with the indoor outdoor living space.
I do not think Leanne will win this competition. I do think it will be between Jasmine and Mina with Mina getting the win. Allison has a chance as the only step wrong was the black hole fireplace.
|
|
|
Post by nennie on Nov 12, 2019 13:18:43 GMT
I think Jasmine will win. Hoping Alison or Leanne doesn't. Alison's arrogance is such a put off.
|
|
|
Post by photobabe on Nov 12, 2019 14:09:43 GMT
Since some of you get the show a week late, I will put my comments about the finale as a spoiler: {Finale Spoiler} I'm kind of bummed that Mina didn't win, but if not her, I was happy it was Jasmine.
Here are the appraised totals: Jasmine: $1,020,000. Mina: $1,005,000, Alison: $995,000, Leanne: $980,000
If I remember correctly, the original value of the houses was $750,000. They were given $175,000 for the reno so they were all in at $925,000. So, Leanne added an additional $55,000 to the appraised value while Jasmine added a whopping $95,000!
|
|
|
Post by Kao on Nov 12, 2019 16:42:28 GMT
I was very pleased about who won.
After getting a better look at the finished products last night, I liked Jasmine's greatroom a lot more than I initially did. I really liked the fireplace, built-ins, and the wooden ceiling. Mina's outdoor look with the paint job, window boxes, and landscaping was darling. Ugh at Leanne painting the whole house white but HGTV has taught me there are a lot of people out here who want all white everything. I hope they have another Rock the Block next year in a different location because this was fun, and each lady designs for a different clientele:
Mina: Someone who wants the most for their money but wants an attractive space at the same time Jasmine: Easy, breezy, very California and unique Victoria: High end with vintage leanings Leanne: Avant Garde, very Malibu
Each house was unique and attractive in its own way but the thing that put the top two over was the fact that they designed for the neighborhood (a suburban California enclave with lots of families) while the other two did not.
|
|
|
Post by Bearcata on Nov 13, 2019 1:07:42 GMT
Rock the Block episode 4 - Curb Appeal and the Rest of the House
It was interesting to see how the ladies dealt with the remaining budget.
Leanne - oh don't do anything to the rest of the bedrooms and bathrooms but do make the entry way bigger and put a hall closet in. Oh, lets paint the entire outside white but not do anything about the curb appeal.
Alison - made the den a wine room cause who needs an extra bedroom in a family neighborhood cause people are having fewer kids, but do put in a wine room cause who doesn't want their kids partying when the parents aren't home. However she did style the remaining rooms and over all the house is finished. Allison did upgrade the curb appeal, I hope those are drought tolerant plants?
Jasmine - upgraded the garage door, added stone to the facade, added a walkway, and new plantings. Closed off the den and made it a bedroom and ensuite. Added a powder room. Jasmine made a 3 bedroom 2.5 home a 4 bedroom 3.5. I am a bit confused about the powder room as all the other homes had powder rooms.
Mina - great curb appeal, styled all the bedrooms, made the den a bedroom with a bathroom. Added a secret room. Could be an office or panic room.
Then the appraisers came through. I must admit it kinda gagged me that Drew and all the appraisers LUV'ED Leanne's design. That is was so high end. But I did like that they all noted she did not follow the brief which was add value to a family home. Removing floors did not add value. They noted that Leanne really didn't even try to stage the extra bedrooms or bathrooms and just left everything builder grade. It was a bit of a slap in the face to the winner I thought that if the judges could have based it on just design Leanne would have won.
It was funny to see the judges downgrade Allison on having cheap laminate floors throughout the house. I thought that was an odd choice too as I have seen her do much, much better on her show. While the appraisers liked Allison's style they did think it might be a bit too sophisticated for the neighborhood and felt she missed the opportunity to add value by not doing just doing a wine room in the den. Just styling.
The appraisers and Drew I think were kinder toward Jasmine and Mina as both ladies had more cohesive plans that included the entire home inside and outside. Considering it was a vinyl plank everyone luv'ed Mina's floors. The appraisers and Drew recognized that both Jasmine and Mina were stretching their budgets to cover the entire home. I was not a fan of Jasmine's pool as it was kinda small. The judges liked it but felt you don't always get the value back on a pool. Both Allison and Mina's turf backyards were more practical for families, more usable. The closets were a bit funny. The judges got Jasmine for not upgrading her closet enough but never said anything about Leanne doing nothing in her closet and commented that Mina's closet looked cheap (Ouch!). In so many HGTV shows even the competition ones that the brothers have done they do not do anything fancy in the master bedroom closets and I heard some even say that is does not add value yet here was Drew commenting how much a closet adds to the value of a home. Contradictory much? Jasmine did more than Leanne?
Anyway while I was hoping for a Mina win it was Jasmine. BTW neither Drew or the appraisers made any negative comments about Jasmine's master bathroom.
|
|
|
Post by MFWalkoff on Nov 13, 2019 2:00:44 GMT
I would have been happy with a Jasmine or Mina win, so I'm happy. What it boiled down to is, they both designed their houses for families wanting a move-in ready house. Leanne and Allison designed houses for childless couples who like status more than function. which is fine, except that those kinds of couples aren't going to be looking in that neighborhood, especially at those prices.
Leanne's house seemed like half a house, since she left so much of it untouched. The stone wall was a conversation piece, but I can't stand homes that you're just supposed to stand around and admire, rather than actually do your living in it.
I liked Mina's secret passages and rooms, that was fun.
|
|
|
Post by Bearcata on Nov 13, 2019 3:14:36 GMT
I would have been happy with a Jasmine or Mina win, so I'm happy. What it boiled down to is, they both designed their houses for families wanting a move-in ready house. Leanne and Allison designed houses for childless couples who like status more than function. which is fine, except that those kinds of couples aren't going to be looking in that neighborhood, especially at those prices. Leanne's house seemed like half a house, since she left so much of it untouched. The stone wall was a conversation piece, but I can't stand homes that you're just supposed to stand around and admire, rather than actually do your living in it. I liked Mina's secret passages and rooms, that was fun. Leanne's rooms look good in a photo but are they really practical living spaces? I can't believe none of the judges didn't say how bare and empty Leanne's master bedroom looked. I must say that Leanne took loosing the most gracefully. I wouldn't mine Mina or Jasmine doing my house. Allison also but with limits and she would never do that because she must be free to do her design. Just no, to Leanne.
|
|
|
Post by Kao on Nov 13, 2019 3:33:29 GMT
I like some of Leanne's ideas (her renovation of her brother's live/work space comes to mind) but her limited color palette would be a major reason why I wouldn't use her. Jasmine's ideas are great and out of the four I would use her to reno my space and Mina to do the outside because she shines in that department.
|
|
|
Post by MFWalkoff on Nov 13, 2019 4:45:04 GMT
Every time Leanne was on screen, I couldn't get Diane Keaton out of my mind.
|
|
|
Post by photobabe on Nov 13, 2019 13:05:29 GMT
I was surprised that the appraisers didn't comment on the lack of the functionality of Leanne's home. But, I'm sure the appraisers said a lot of stuff that we didn't hear. They were probably in each home 30 minutes or so.
|
|
|
Post by nennie on Nov 13, 2019 14:25:02 GMT
Every time Leanne was on screen, I couldn't get Diane Keaton out of my mind. That's who she reminds me of. I think she is dingy but it works for her.
|
|
|
Post by waywyrd on Nov 14, 2019 15:17:24 GMT
Every time Leanne was on screen, I couldn't get Diane Keaton out of my mind. She does favor Diane Keaton. On Xanax. I was hoping Mina would win, but I didn't hate Jasmine's house. If I had to buy one of the four, it'd be Mina's. Leanne's stuff is just too sparse and plain for me, and Alison's design looked about as SoCal as ten feet of snow. No thanks. I hope they do this again, it was fun to watch in spite of Alison's snottiness (pro tip: don't snark on her designs on Twitter, she'll block you ).
|
|
|
Post by Kao on Nov 14, 2019 15:27:34 GMT
I want them to do this again and maybe swap the Home Town lady in for someone.
|
|
|
Post by nennie on Nov 14, 2019 17:53:35 GMT
I would be more apt to watch more of each show if they would take Leanne and Alison off of it. I would like Erin from Home Town and even Tamara Day.
I don't think Alison can take criticism. She is so arrogant.
|
|
|
Post by nicksmom on Nov 14, 2019 18:20:52 GMT
That pool was so small, I think I would have like more sun shelter in the back yards. I did like the bamboo swing used in one of them. The fireplace was good to cover the neighbours but what the heck was the stuff on the backside of it making it look like it was a mantle .
Wasn’t really blown away with anyone’s great room, did like the would ceiling in the one that won with that black light. The bird cage thing reminded me of those macrame things from the 70’s. That hung in corners. Not sure why but the couches all looked frumpy to me to for new homes.
I agree with people about Leanne, to stark in there for me. I did like her stencil on the outside.
Hated that water feature, dust collector...lol
Good thing I’m not a judge..lol I probably don’t have style or maybe I would like these houses better if I saw them in person.
|
|