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Ellen's Design Challenge: A First Look

Ellen DeGeneres puts six designers to the test in a competition where they fashion amazing furniture creations. Go behind the scenes and get a first glimpse before the contest begins.

Photo: Nino Munoz. From: Ellen's Design Challenge

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Ellen's Design Challenge Premieres January 26 on HGTV

TV icon, comedian, author and multiple Emmy-Award winner Ellen DeGeneres strikes out in a new direction in her HGTV show Ellen's Design Challenge, a six-part competition series featuring talented furniture designers.

Photo: Nino Munoz. From: Ellen's Design Challenge

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Ellen's Design Challenge

The brand new series premieres Sunday, January 26 at 9pm/8c on HGTV.

Photo: Stephanie Diani / Getty Images

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Ellen's Design Challenge

In this all-new HGTV series, Ellen presents six top-notch furniture designers with a variety of novel challenges to complete in a limited time frame. Each is assisted by a 'lead carpenter' -- one of HGTV's or DIY Network's show-hosts with expertise in building and design. The last designer standing in this heated competition takes home a $100,000 cash prize.

Photo: Stephanie Diani / Getty Images

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Surprise Appearances

Portia de Rossi pays a surprise visit to the set of Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Stephanie Diani / Getty Images

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Not For Amateurs

One of the designers, with identity concealed here by a welder's mask, does some serious work in the metal shop as part of a design challenge. Contestants are provided with raw materials, a well-equipped workshop and the assistance of a lead carpenter, but must come up with their own original and unique designs.

As seen on Ellen's Design Challenge, for the first challenge, designers will have three days to create a unique piece of furniture from the raw materials contained in six identical crates with help from their lead carpenters. Their work will be evaluated by judges and the five best pieces will move on to the next challenge. Competitors are working towards a chance to win $100,000. (Before)

Photo: Stephanie Diani / Getty Images

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What Exactly is in Those Crates?

For their first challenge, each designer must create a unique piece of furniture from the raw materials contained in one of six identical crates.

Photo: Nino Munoz. From: Ellen's Design Challenge

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Ellen on HGTV

Ellen DeGeneres of HGTV's Ellen's Design Challenge

Photo: Nino Munoz. From: Ellen's Design Challenge

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Ellen on HGTV

Ellen's new series premieres January 26. Keep watching HGTV and visiting the new HGTV.com for details.

Ellen's Design Challenge: A First Look

Ellen's Design Challenge Premieres January 26 on HGTV

Ellen's Design Challenge

Ellen's Design Challenge

Surprise Appearances

Not For Amateurs

What Exactly is in Those Crates?

Ellen on HGTV

Ellen on HGTV

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