This home has been in Kris' family for generations, it's where Kris spent his childhood and over the years this has become a highly sought-after neighborhood to raise a family. After Kris and Melanie had twin girls, Kris's 90 year-old grandmother decided to leave the house to him and his family. They never could have afforded to move back into this neighborhood without this gift and they are thrilled to now call this their home, but after years of neglect, it's going to take a lot to bring this home back to it's original beauty. The place is definitely the eye-sore of the block. The paint is bland beige, window trim is peeling, the yard is half juniper, half litter box - it's no place for kids to run and play. They are here to stay and for their family and their neighbors, they are hoping the Curb Appeal team can help them turn this into a proud place to call home.
Angelica Mendoza is an Oakland native who takes pride in protecting her community as a member of the Oakland police department. She is a homicide detective, a job that is both emotionally and physically draining, leaving her no time or energy to tackle all that needs to be done to the front of her house. For all the time and energy she spends on her community, Angelica feels it's a shame she can't do one favor for the rest of her block by making her home look as nice as the rest. She was drawn to this neighborhood because it is quiet and beautiful. Neighbors maintain their landscaping and keep up with their curb appeal; she would like to do the same, if not for her, but for her neighbors' sake. She did some work on the inside when she first moved in, but when she really looked at the front of her house - ideas escaped her. The one thing she has managed to keep alive is a tree her mother planted years ago. She would like to hang on to it, but even that is looking worse for wear these days. She needs the help of the Curb Appeal team to do their magic and help her to keep up with her block.
The Villoria family knew they wanted to move into this Oakland neighborhood for the schools and the family-friendly community. They purchased the only house they could afford, bought it as-is, and it needed a lot of work. The inside is now livable, but they haven't had the funds to fix up the front. They are tied closely to their community, and wish they could better represent their block. Their house is the only one with a chain-link fence, a non-existent lawn, and absolutely no color or character. Kimo works as an on-call IT technician, (working all hours of the day with no consistent schedule) while Michelle is an art teacher, and they have 2 kids in school. Their lives are very busy which adds to the reason their front of their house basically looks abandoned. They would love to change that and turn their home into a destination on the block, but they need the Curb Appeal team to give them the jump-start!
When Rachel and Kristy Kinnon decided to start growing their family, they made the choice to move from the hustle and bustle of the city to the suburb of Oakland. They found the perfect charming neighborhood, but the house they could afford wasn't exactly picket fences and all-american charm that they had dreamed. The green-on-green-on-green paint scheme is the reason they've named it their leprechaun home. The previous owners covered the lawn in mulch to prevent weeds from popping up - yet they still have to weed the mulch every few months. The concrete steps look like an after-thought, the house has no particular style, the list of problems goes on and on. They've become fast friends with their entire block and they spend most of their life outside mingling with neighbors and watching their son play with neighborhood kids, but rarely do people hang out in the Kinnons front yard. They need Curb Appeal's help to turn this into a place people want to come and transform it from the eye-sore to the eye-catcher of the block!
Buren and Colleen are young, newly engaged and Buren has just moved in to Colleen's new house. She's a teacher for Oakland School District and through a financial assistance program for teachers, she was able to purchase her first home. They've been trying to make it their own, little by little on the inside, but with saving up for a wedding, it's moving really slowly. When they walk around the neighborhood they realize how nice everyone else's place looks and just how barren their yard is, and they think, one day... They really want to meet the neighbors and feel a part of the block, but the front is just embarrassing. They need Curb Appeal to make "one day" come now!
Doug is a fire captain while April spends all of her spare time volunteering as an art teacher and room mother for her kids school. They have 3 active kids and 2 dogs. Time for yard work is limited. They know very little about gardening so every effort they have made to beautify the front has been based on things they think look pretty. They had no idea everything they have chosen required a lot of maintenance. Now they are left with out-of-control palms, dead roses, and dead grasses. If they could get a fresh start on a low-maintenance yard, they promise not to let it go the way it has been going for the last few years. They have also made some efforts on their own outside of the yard. You may notice the peachy-pink color on the facade. They wanted to spruce up the front with some color, but didn't have the funds for a professional painter to paint the whole house. They discovered they had left over paint from the bathroom, so they did it themselves. After it was up they realized not only is it an awful color for the front, it's also interior paint so very soon they will add "chipping ,weathered paint job" to the list of issues with their facade. They're in dire straights at this point and the entire block would be thrilled to see the Curb Appeal team come out to help this family fit in with the block!
After an 11-year long distance friendship, Jen and Frederic just got engaged to be married! Frederic is from France, he picked up and left his family, friends, job, everything, to move to the US and marry his best friend. When they first saw this house they both told their realtor absolutely no! They drove right by because the curb appeal was horrendous. After the realtor convinced them to go inside, they were sold. When they moved in 1 year ago, the first thing they wanted to tackle was the paint color, but since then, they say they have been "bleeding money". They had to immediately get to work on repairing an unforseen sewage problem, as well as electrical issues, so the color has remained - to all of their neighbors' chagrin. In fact, they all all ask when they're going to change it. Jen and Frederic both have choice words for the color, bird poop being the nicest. The front door is broken and hits visitors in the back when they enter, the brick porch has overspray of the hated house color, the walk and driveway are a bright red that they despise almost as much as the house color, and the lawn is only kept alive because their neighbor sneaks over to mow and water while they are gone. They don't know where to start and with such a tightly-knit charming block, they feel they are the "newbies" bringing down the block. They need Curb Appeal's help!
Jake and Meredith recently married and she moved into what was his bachelor pad. Inside and out, the house had bachelor pad written all over it. They saved up to remodel the inside and turn it into a home that fit them both. They got as far as the kitchen and ran out of money. Without the money to fix up the front, the weeds, trees, and vegetation have overtaken the yard and somewhere in there is a house. They both love to entertain and having a front yard that welcomes guests and gives them a place to hang out is a dream that, without the curb appeal team, may never be realized.
Jason Riggs and his best friend John Ryan decided they would get more house for their money if they bought together. They found the perfect 2 unit Victorian in a quaint San Francisco neighborhood. They've since fallen in love with the neighborhood and as much as they love their humble home. They call the house their "dowdy dame" and they are at a loss as to how to turn this place around and make it match their outgoing personalities.
The Cornejo family bought this home knowing it as a fixer-upper, but they had no idea what they were getting themselves into. After practically gutting the inside to make it livable, they've run out of money, but are still slowlymaking what improvements they can to the front. They have absolutely no backyard, two little girls, and they'r very social, so they are out front all the time. For both safety and appeal, they did build their own picket fence, and installed a patch of grass, but they don't know what else to do. They love to bring the grill out and BBQ in the front with neighbors and friends, but currently there isnowhere to sit or entertain. The neighborhood is excited to finally have a family that cares about this home, and have been encouraging and grateful for the improvements they've made so far. The Cornejo's feel the neighborhood deserves more than what they can give, and they need Curb Appeal to help the complete the look for their family and their new neighbors.
Inga and Jonathan recently bought this home after renting in a nearby Oakland neighborhood they loved, but when Inga's mom offered to help them buy, they couldn't pass up the offer. The most important thing to them was finding a block that mimicked the close-knit feel they had in their old neighborhood. They found it here, but now they need to put work into this place to really feel like they fit in. They have 3 boys, ages 11, 9, and 2. The two youngest have a genetic disease and have special needs that require a lot of support and attention. Providing this support consumes most of their free time and energy, as well as any financial reserves from their salaries. Little is left for luxuries like beautifying the front porch and yard. When they first moved in, they had high hopes of fixing up both the front in time for summertime outdoor fun. Now one summer has passed and another is fast approaching with no improvements in sight. Although the interior of our lovely 1926 home was renovated prior to their purchase, the yard was a clean slate, or, as realtors like to say, it had potential!
Shane and Nicki Pace moved into their house 7 years ago when they were expecting our first child. Theywere SO excited and had SO MANY ideas for landscaping, gardening, making extra room, and planting. Then we had Tyler...and then Trinity...and then Tori...and then Trent. Now they are a family of 6 not a lot of time or money to finish those lofty plans they once had for their yard. Their son Trent also has a brain disorder and is legally blind, legally deaf, unable to hold his head up, sit, or stand. As it is now, their home does not have an accessible entryway. They have a large step and abig threshold to get over and that will be a problem when they are no longer able to carry Trent. Fortunately, John Gidding and his team are stepping in to help this deserving family create a home they can be proud of and one Trent can be comfortable in for many years to come.
Curb Appeal heads to Euless, Texas to transform an entire block! Three neighbors will each receive curb appeal makeovers! Drought has destroyed their yards, and their cookie-cutter brick facades are lacking personality. Fortunately, John Gidding and his team are up to the challenge! In just a few weeks they will transform these THREE homes with Texas-size changes, and even take on a neighborhood project that benefits everyone on the block! It's Curb Appeal 'Texas Style' and the results will blow you away!
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