The Best-Ever ‘Rock the Block’ Designs

We've seen three seasons of Rock the Block sweat, tears and jaw-dropping transformations — so it's only fitting to celebrate each and every winning room. We compiled the best (read: award-winning) before-and-afters since season 1.

By: Lauren Oster

Related To:

Ready to be Wowed? C'mon In!

Rock the Block has more in common with Ironman Triathlons than typical makeover shows; in mere weeks, contestants are given supersized budgets and tasked with reimagining entire blank-canvas homes from the ground up. This is renovation as an extreme sport — and as season-three champ Egypt Sherrod advises future competitors, “You're working so hard that you have to stay healthy and hydrated. Also, come in knowing that this will be the hardest you've ever worked in your life.”

So, what does it take to secure a Rock the Block win? Have a look at every jaw-dropping before-and-after that’s taken top honors.

From: Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas

Bedroom Suite, Before

For the first-ever Rock the Block challenge in Santa Clarita, California, queen of cool Leanne Ford (Restored by the Fords) planned to devote a significant portion of her total $175,000 renovation budget to blasting through the wall dividing this bedroom from its bath suite and creating a serene, integrated retreat.

Bedroom Suite, After

This elementally elegant space now oozes minimalist California chic. Leanne framed the new passage between the bedroom and bathroom with gorgeously weathered barn doors, then centered a tub and two-walled shower in the new spa suite. Cool concrete flooring and a sculptural night table lend the feel of a contemporary art gallery.

TOUR THE HOME: Leanne Ford's House Reveal

Kitchen, Before

Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab) was made for the second week of season 1 competition: she’s renovated more than 140 kitchens. She knew the kitchen would be the star of her home, and she hit the ground running with a plan to create a space that was “dripping in luxury.”

Kitchen, After

This showstopping, waterfall-edge quartz island features practical adds like a microwave drawer and porcelain sink; it also boasts a gorgeous layer of brass that Alison carried through the custom hood and the floating shelves. Shaker-style cabinets with luxe hardware frame a stone slab backsplash and a commercial-grade stove, and a pair of stately globe pendants add a focal point.

TOUR THE HOME: Alison Victoria's House Reveal

From: Alison Victoria

Great Room and Yard, Before

Jasmine Roth (Hidden Potential) knows a thing or two about making epic alterations to cookie-cutter southern California homes. So, she planned the ultimate upgrade for her home’s main space: blow out the back wall and add an in-ground pool — a move that would cost her $30,000.

Great Room and Yard, After

Crowned with a sculptural chandelier, this custom vaulted ceiling would be a power move all by itself — but oh, there's even more to come. Massive glass stacking doors facilitate indoor-outdoor living and frame the hillside pool, outdoor bar and sitting area out back. When the sun goes down and it’s time to towel off and come in, an elegant electric fireplace offers a cozy gathering spot.

TOUR THE HOME: Jasmine Roth's House Reveal

From: Jasmine Roth

Exterior, Before

Jasmine Roth knew curb appeal would influence every opinion the judges formed about her ranch-style house after entering, so she envisioned upgrades that would differentiate it from the rest of the season 1 development and add character that improved over time.

Exterior, After

Handsome stone skirting offers an elevated, organic look, while a coat of creamy white paint brightens the home’s face and pops against stained wood on the garage door and shutters. The new, framed walkway has a feathery grass border that will add movement to the front yard as it grows, and new, double-headed sconces on the garage gleam like bits of statement jewelry. It’s the perfect introduction to the family headquarters Jasmine designed — and it led to a final appraisal of more than $1 million and bragging rights as the first-ever Rock the Block champ.

TOUR THE HOME: Jasmine Roth's House Reveal

From: Jasmine Roth

Kitchen, Before

For Rock the Block’s second season, Alison Victoria returned to compete and dominate the kitchen challenge once more — partnered with renovation phenom Mike Holmes (Holmes on Homes). They decided to infuse their Paulding County, Georgia property with Old World style by including details to develop the space’s character. Architectural adds would create texture and custom cabinetry would have the look of antique furniture.

Kitchen, After

A handsome arch in weathered brick forms a shroud to conceal the vent above the range, and glass-paneled cabinetry is now embedded in the wall. Exposed beams draw the eye upward, making the kitchen and dining area feel even more expansive. Customized storage in the island is both beautiful and functional. The $48,000 Mike and Alison spent to reimagine this kitchen was very well spent.

TOUR THE HOME: Alison Victoria and Mike Holmes' House Reveal

From: Alison Victoria

Entry, Before

David Bromstad (My Lottery Dream Home) and HGTV Smart Home designer Tiffany Brooks joined forces with a goal of demonstrating that bold color and pattern choices could have broad appeal, and they planned to put an exclamation point on that statement in their home’s foyer. This fine-but-forgettable space would soon dazzle visitors.

Entry, After

Well hello there! An ombré-effect treatment on the stairs’ risers pops against a sleek black wall adorned with vintage mirrors. On the opposite wall, peacock-pattern paper and graphic black-and-white canvases texturize the once-blank hallway. Don’t let this zone’s whimsical movements fool you: David and Tiffany also built major function into the area by using adjoining rooms to create an in-law suite and a mudroom connecting the garage. They also toned down the second-floor landing to give the eye an opportunity to rest.

TOUR THE HOME: David Bromstad and Tiffany Brooks' House Reveal

From: Tiffany Brooks and David Bromstad

Bedroom Suite, Before

Alison Victoria and Mike Holmes liked the layout of the home’s principal bath, but they knew they needed to invest a substantial portion of their budget to outfit it with top-of-the-line materials and treatments. Alison envisioned a one-of-a-kind treatment that would make it unforgettable.

Bedroom Suite, After

This stunning space now features nearly $8,000 in ombré tile (which, for obvious reasons, is incredibly difficult to install and grout). A glassed shower with brass accents allows the tile effect to take center stage, while a drop-in bathtub surrounded with opulent veined stone balances a glamorous wall of custom cabinetry and gleaming installations.

TOUR THE HOME: Alison Victoria and Mike Holmes' House Reveal

Basement, Before

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent (The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project) reasoned that they could get the most bang for their buck by investing $40,000 to turn this season 2 space into a two-bedroom rental unit (that would add 1,000 square feet to the home). With a lockable door between this floor and others, the room could function as either an income property or bonus rooms for the family living above.

Basement, After

Nate and Jeremiah chose finishes and furnishings that were consistent with the ones they used in the rest of the home. This multi-purpose space features a custom Murphy bed, a home office, cabinets repurposed from the upstairs kitchen, opulent marble countertops and a full bath. Touches like sliding barn doors and glass-paned French doors make the rooms feel both divisible and spacious. Those value adds dazzled the judges, and Nate and Jer's serious investment paid off.

TOUR THE HOME: Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's House Reveal

Exterior, Before

The backyard of Nate and Jer’s house was limited. Its front and side porch — and the face of the home itself — offered little opportunity. Knowing they'd need to make a statement, the duo decided to sink $40,000 into wrapping the home in gorgeous brick that would withstand the test of time.

Exterior, After

This bespoke home pairs all that gorgeous brick with crisp black trim, warm wood and stylish sage green accents. A handsome screened porch with marble floors offers indoor-outdoor living and an elegant respite from Georgia’s infamous insects. Balanced container plants and a terraced lawn present handsome, formal curb appeal.

TOUR THE HOME: Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's House Reveal

Bonus Space, Before

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, the husband-and-wife team behind 100 Day Dream Home, decided that a third garage space wasn’t doing their home any favors — and that potential buyers would appreciate a bit of customization that could potentially see much more day-to-day use.

Bonus Space, After

Other treadmill views, please try harder. The Kleinschmidts installed a glass-paneled garage door that opens to offer direct access to fresh air and the bucolic landscape behind their home. That clever move — taken in consideration with value-building strategies they’d followed throughout the competition — landed them a final appraisal value of $625,000 and the overall win. Now that’s what we call a hard-working gym.

TOUR THE HOME: See the Winning Design! Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt's House Reveal

From: Mika Kleinschmidt and Brian Kleinschmidt

Kitchen, Before

For the first challenge of the third season, Dave and Jenny Marrs — the husband-and-wife team behind Fixer to Fabulous — wanted the open-plan first-floor space of this Charleston home to feel light-filled and breezy, and they earmarked $50,000 of their total $225,000 budget to make it happen. Dave’s carpentry expertise was the not-so-secret weapon that could take their family-friendly design from ‘cozy and timeless’ to ‘greatest kitchen of all time.’

Kitchen, After

Southern breezes and dazzling light pour into this space from three directions, thanks to the large sliders the Marrs swapped in for French doors and the massive windows they added in the kitchen. A rotated island lets hosts and guests flow freely through the space, while a stunning custom dining table (courtesy of Dave) is able to seat a substantial crew. Coastal and industrial pendants add punches of style to the airy, elegant space.

TOUR THE HOME: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Foyer and Living Room, Before

Pay close attention to the windowed hallway at the right of this space, because the way dynamic duo Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson (Married to Real Estate) transform it is one of the big reasons they went on to (spoiler alert!) win the third season of Rock the Block. They bumped out their home’s entryway to create both a hidden and highly functional stop-and-drop space and a hallway that would connect the main house to the garage. That power move would add more than 150 square feet to their property’s footprint.

Foyer and Living Room, After

Visitors now enter the home and can hang a right to stash coats and belongings … or keep on going to the garage and the finished rooms above it. On the other side of the foyer wall, a powder room with a chic Charleston-blue-tiled feature wall adds functionality to the first floor. Exposed ceiling beams carry the eye through the space, and a wrought-iron chandelier adds historic flavor to a coastal seating area that Egypt created with two slipcovered white sofas and a live-edge coffee table. Mike built a massive white fireplace and surround to bring warmth and coziness to this gathering space.

TOUR THE HOME: See the Winning Design: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson's 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

From: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson

Main Suite, Before

Unsellable Houses’ irrepressible sister act, real estate agents Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, plotted to spend a whopping $35,000 to fill their home’s main suite with high-end amenities that would win buyers’ (and appraisers’) hearts. They also focused on functionality by adding doors to a private outdoor patio space and a fabulous walk-in closet featuring a washer and dryer. What’s not to love?

Main Suite, After

With gorgeously weathered-looking floors, a dramatic four-poster bed and quirky accents galore, this sumptuous suite already boasts a lived-in feel. The twins balanced their design by pairing metallic details like the gleaming mirror and console table with cozy, textural textiles and organic accents. Velvety grey accent paint beside the door and behind the bed, in turn, anchors the ethereal space. Did we mention that they outfitted that spectacular closet with reclaimed pine to meet the requirements of a weekly challenge? Well done, ladies.

TOUR THE HOME: Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb's 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

From: Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis

F.R.O.G., Before

To squeeze every bit of functionality out of the finished room over the garage (AKA the F.R.O.G.), Jenny and Dave Marrs decided to create a space that could serve as both a home office and a mother-in-law suite for visiting family. They allocated $13,000 for the transformation, which Dave would supplement by building both a custom drop-down desk and a trundle bed. All in a week’s work, right?

F.R.O.G., After

Sea-green paint infuses the F.R.O.G. with Charleston character. Truly the Swiss Army Knife of spaces, this part of the home now boasts a kitchenette with a wine refrigerator, a finished half bath, an overhead projector and screen, stained glass, style for (nautical) miles … we could go on. The judges were smitten with how Jenny and Dave packed the space with both style and practical perks.

TOUR THE HOME: Dave and Jenny Marrs' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

Exterior, Before

Egypt and Mike paid close attention to moves contestants made in previous seasons, and they knew brick exteriors could have major impact on their home’s ultimate appraisal value. They planned to supplement that look with porch accessories that would cultivate southern style and romantic landscaping to complement the property’s coastal location.

Exterior, After

A pair of crepe myrtles and textural greenery flank the driveway at Egypt and Mike’s lime-washed home. Egypt was inspired by the quirky-charming houses she saw on Charleston’s historic Rainbow Row, and she channeled all of that personality into this new construction. Blooms spill from a wrought-iron Juliet balcony and armchairs beckon guests to stay a while on the spacious porch.

TOUR THE HOME: See the Winning Design: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson's 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

From: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson

Bonus Room, Before

Strategy kicked into high gear for this third-floor space, where Egypt and Mike planned to present a screening room that just so happened to double as a legal en suite (thanks to a closet that they’d convert to a full bath). They decided to convert a second closet to a dry bar that could also function as additional bedroom storage.

Bonus Room, After

Egypt brought the drama with a deep shade of almost-black grey that carried a cool blue undertone; the walls, molding, doors and ceiling all fell under its spell. A cozy caramel-colored leather sofa and sleek modern chairs and tables can be mixed and matched for entertainment of all kinds. Appraisers love this kind of versatility — and at the end of the week and the competition, Egypt and Mike won it all with a total appraisal value of $913,000.

TOUR THE HOME: See the Winning Design: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson's 'Rock the Block' House Reveal

From: Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson

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Rock the Block

The Best-Ever ‘Rock the Block’ Designs

Related To:

Ready to be Wowed? C'mon In!

Bedroom Suite, Before

Bedroom Suite, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Great Room and Yard, Before

Great Room and Yard, After

Exterior, Before

Exterior, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Entry, Before

Entry, After

Bedroom Suite, Before

Bedroom Suite, After

Basement, Before

Basement, After

Exterior, Before

Exterior, After

Bonus Space, Before

Bonus Space, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Foyer and Living Room, Before

Foyer and Living Room, After

Main Suite, Before

Main Suite, After

F.R.O.G., Before

F.R.O.G., After

Exterior, Before

Exterior, After

Bonus Room, Before

Bonus Room, After

Shop This Look

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