Hgtv Designed To Sell

HGTV's Newest Show Comes To Loudoun

Two interior designers will duke it out Sunday for an upcoming HGTV series called Showhouse Showdown-each decorator is currently in the process of revamping five rooms in two separate, but identical, homes in Stone Ridge, along Rt. 50. Come this weekend, the rooms will be completed, and the public will vote on a winning home.

The television show, executive producer Dawn Stroupe said, is an Irish format that has been on the air for six years and was recently brought to the United States. So far, the show has visited Newport Beach, CA, Tampa, FL, Oklahoma City, OK, and now Loudoun.

"We're very excited to be bringing this fun new series to Virginia," Stroupe said. "Our designers and builders have been working very hard, and we can't wait for the people of Stone Ridge to see the results."

The series is scheduled to premiere Sept. 12 at 10 p.m. on HGTV. And the Stone Ridge episode should air toward the end of September or early October.

Unlike most design shows, such as Extreme Makeover Home Edition on ABC, Showhouse Showdown starts revealing decorated rooms before the first commercial break, Stroupe said. Since five rooms are designed in each of the two houses, there will be 10 presented during the show.

For the Stone Ridge episode, HGTV has teamed up with Van Metre homes, which has provided the funding for the designers to decorate five rooms each-the recreation rooms, kitchens and breakfast nooks, dining rooms, living rooms, and master bedrooms-in two of its homes. After the homes are decorated, Van Metre can either sell the homes as is, or use them as models.

The designers, Hayley Frazier, the show's production coordinator, said, are from the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, area. Their identities will not be revealed until after the public has voted on a winning home to avoid any potential bias.

Both designers have specific and different design aesthetics for the two homes. Stroupe said one designer is aiming for "simple sophistication" by using "a confident mix of organic and natural textures, a lot of patterns and a signature carryover color." And the second designer is embracing a "downtown modern" theme by incorporating "mid-century classics, retro art, bold patterns and clean lines." Stroupe said the designers are involved from the "stud phase" and up, making decisions on everything from the countertops, flooring and lighting to the wallpaper, fixtures and décor.

The homes, which are both located on Fluvial Terrace in Stone Ridge, will be available for public tours from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 17. The tour, Frazier said, will start at the house with number 25158. The first 100 people on the site will be allowed to vote in the competition, but an unlimited number of people can look at the homes. The winning home will also be revealed Sunday, along with the designers' identity.

A Quick Recap Of The Shaw Floors And HGTV Home Design Challenge Event!

After picking the gray carpet, we went crazy with color. We called our room an urban bachelorette pad, and Julia and I both wanted to move in and stay forever!

I still have so much to share, and Timothy and I will be unveiling some fun stuff related to the challenge -- prizes, perhaps? That's all you get to know for now! I'd love to hear what you think of the room. More photos to come (including professional shots!) and in September, you'll get to vote for your favorite of the 5 rooms as part of HGTV Month. More on that, too. It's going to be an exciting few weeks, and I hope you'll come along for the ride!

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