Tour Evan Thomas and Keith Bynum's Season 5 'Rock the Block' Home

Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas have returned for a shot at redemption. The stars of Bargain Block are bringing their Detroit-style ingenuity to Season 5 of Rock the Block in Treasure Island, Florida. Keith, a designer and home renovation expert, and Evan, a builder and carpenter, will transform a blank-slate new build into a move-in-ready gem by the sea. In their last Rock the Block appearance — Season 3 in Charleston, South Carolina — the talented duo didn’t clinch a single weekly win. And this time, they're up against three other teams who left the block without a crown: Renovation Island’s Sarah and Bryan Baeumler (Season 4); Fix My Flip's Page Turner and Mitch Glew (Season 4); and Unsellable Houses's Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb (Season 3). “We plan to make sure we impress the judges and win all of it,” Keith said. “Our design ability and aesthetic has evolved a lot since last time we were here.”

This year, teams are imparting their signature style on the show’s first-ever coastal homes: 3,600-square-foot properties that overlook a pool, dock and the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay. In another first for Rock the Block, the $1.7 million homes are attached — so, Keith and Evan must collaborate with next-door neighbors Page Turner and Mitch Glew (Fix My Flip) on the exterior aesthetic. Each week, teams will design and build a different zone in the house and be judged by fellow HGTV stars. Keith and Evan have six weeks and $250,000 to create a waterfront paradise that wows.

During week one, teams tackled the kitchen and dining room and started on their exterior design choices. In yet another twist, the main floor had no internal walls, which meant Keith and Evan had total control of the positioning of the kitchen and dining room. “It’s going to be tricky to figure out where to put everything, because there is literally no starting point,” Keith said. “This will actually showcase who is the best planner when it comes to spaces.”

The duo decided to create intimacy in the sprawling space with smaller, defined rooms. They added architecturally interesting doorway arches and a ceiling treatment. “We’ll turn a cavernous space into a cozy space,” Evan said. As for their palette, “I think our biggest failure in the kitchen last time was that our color choices were a bit too specific,” Keith said. In this “organic modern” kitchen, the duo leaned into a neutral colorway for universal appeal and added intrigue with eye-catching quartz countertops, a sleek stucco hood and a graphite-hued range. Brass hardware adds drama, as do floating shelves that front the expansive backsplash slab.

In addition to adding doorway arches that help divide the rooms, Keith and Evan crafted a captivating ceiling treatment that judges — and Season 3 champions — Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson (Married to Real Estate) adored. “There’s a lot of [ceiling] in this space, so adding some detail there warms it up,” Keith said. “It’s beachy but also very sophisticated.” The pair opted to hide the fridge behind cabinetry and integrate a pantry into the wall of cabinets (versus constructing a separate walk-in pantry or prep kitchen). Though Egypt and Mike felt the amount of storage was plentiful, they noted that the lack of a walk-in pantry might be a dealbreaker for some buyers.

“My guess is everyone is going to do an open concept,” Keith said of their competitors. He and Evan decided to place their dining room toward the street side of the house to give their kitchen the prime water view. Like the kitchen, they upped the visual interest with ceiling beams and entry arches. “There is a trend in today's real estate market for these more cozy, intimate spaces, so I don’t think it’s the end of the world for us to break this up into more defined spaces,” Keith said.

Keith and Evan’s dining room is serene and gracious and features a built-in buffet that mirrors the kitchen, with its dramatic quartz backsplash and floating shelves. Keith created large-scale plaster artwork that evokes the sand and sea. “Everything is so beautiful and muted,” Egypt said. “You guys set the bar very high. We left feeling like we were transported.”

Egypt and Mike were wowed by Keith and Evan’s space. “You really made a statement with the countertops,” said Egypt. The couple also remarked the arches made them feel like they were in Morocco. Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t enough to pull off a win in week one. “There's always another day, and tomorrow, a new space,” said Evan.

Keith and Evan were craving a comeback in week two, when competitors were challenged to tackle the remainder of the sprawling main floor. “We’ve got to do something to end this drought,” Keith said. “We’ve got to make a really big move.” After finishing their beautiful organic-modern kitchen and dining room, Keith and Evan mapped out the rest of their space. To start, the duo envisioned an airy-yet-cozy living room with plenty of natural light. “We’ve got to blow out that silly tiny door and put a wall of glass there,” Keith said. “More water view, more glass.”

In addition to the “wow moment” of the sweeping slider doors that overlook Florida’s natural beauty, Keith and Evan created a sculptural fireplace to anchor the space, invite relaxation and continue the serene design energy they brought to week one. They crafted a peaceful window seat that flows from the hearth and provides an additional place to curl up or converse with friends and family. It even features a recessed fireplace storage nook, which adds texture and architectural interest. As for the calm and collected furnishings, “we’ll have two big comfy couches that face each other and really invite you in,” Keith said. They continued the coffered ceiling treatment utilized in week one. “It adds value from a buyer's standpoint, because they see a space that looks like it’s straight out of a magazine and say, ‘I want to live there,’” Evan said.

To stand out from the competition, Keith and Evan made the bold decision to convert the remainder of the main floor space into two bedrooms and two en suite bathrooms. “The name of the game is value add,” Keith said. “When you can’t add square footage, it’s bedrooms and bathrooms. This is our winning moment.” The team decided to create one smaller, “flex space” room, which can double as an office, and one larger bedroom. “We’re taking a big risk by cramming in two beds and two baths,” Keith said

The larger bedroom on the main floor features sizable windows and continues the restful palette applied to the main floor living areas. Keith and Evan incorporated natural hues and surfaces, a simple but intriguing branch over the bed, textured lamps and burl wood-inspired side tables.

Keith and Evan styled the smaller of the two bedrooms as an office, but it could easily be transformed into a cozy bedroom space. Gold accents in the etagere and writing desk echo the hardware and finishes in the kitchen.

“The bathrooms are going to give us the best chance at winning,” said Keith. “I don’t think there’s anyone else who did two bedrooms and two bathrooms in this space.” The team selected dark wood vanities and tile with a terra cotta hue that leans into their Italian-inspired aesthetic. “We haven’t wasted any square footage on anything that’s not adding value, so we’re feeling very confident,” Evan said.

“I’m at a resort, and I’m talking like a five-star resort,” said judge Brian Kleinschmidt as he and his wife and partner on 100 Day Dream Home, Mika, entered Keith and Evan’s living room. In this week’s twist, judges toured the spaces without the teams present to mimic the experience of a home buyer walking through a listing. “Florida is all about vacation, but you guys took us into a whole other world,” Mika said. “It left me speechless.” The Rock the Block Season 2 champions loved Keith and Evan’s architectural details, their use of space and the value added by creating two bedrooms and two baths. “How did they fit all this in here?” Mika asked. “It feels like they had more square footage, and we know they didn’t.” Keith and Evan’s efforts paid off, and they secured their first Rock the Block win. But in true Season 5 fashion, it came with a twist: They tied with Bryan and Sarah Baeumler. “I’m very excited we won, I’m glad to share it with Bryan and Sarah,” Keith said. “But it’s still a little disappointing.”

Keith and Evan approached their main-suite renovation buoyed by their first-ever win and ready for a victory that was theirs alone. They planned to earn it by making their already-admirable view even better. “We need to change that door to all glass,” Keith noted. “We [should] do the bifold doors [here] in the bedroom, too … [and] open up that balcony.” He and Evan planned to fill the space with natural light and enliven it with art.

Now, that’s more like it! A generous quartet of bifold doors grant visual and literal access to the indoor-outdoor living Florida homeowners expect. A gleaming, biomorphic installation above the bed catches the sun and adds an air of opulence to the room, while a curvaceous bed, bench and nightstands reinforce organic ease. Sandy-hued linens and accessories pair with a variegated glass chandelier to evoke the coast in high style.

Lovely sleeping spaces are well and good, but Keith and Evan knew the real battlegrounds in their suite were elsewhere. “To win it, we have to win it in the bathroom, right?” Evan asked. “The bathroom and closet is definitely going to be what people remember,” Keith replied. They planned to save money by keeping their layout largely intact, then layering in luxurious finishes and amenities.

To create a sense of intimacy in the sizable bathroom, the duo constructed an interior wall, where the shower abuts a vessel tub. Hovering next to the tub area's Art Deco-inspired pendant, a subtle recess echoes the elegant archways downstairs in the kitchen and living room. Rich, antique gold finishes on the vanity sconces add even more warmth and decadence to the suite.

Warm marble with rosy, dramatic movement carries from the mouth of the glassed-in shower all the way across the L-shaped floating vanity’s countertops and backsplash. “That just screams luxury,” Keith noted. “It is a little expensive, but it is a guaranteed way to add value.”

Befitting a season of firsts, Keith and Evan threw a true main-suite curveball: Behold Rock the Block’s first-ever, walk-in closet fireplace. Keith and Evan took heavy criticism for a lackluster closet in Season 3, and they aimed to clear their names and become legendary in the process. “What a fun little element, having a fire feature in there. Just click it on when you’re getting ready in the morning, [and] it’s all cozy while you’re sipping your coffee,” Keith said. “This closet definitely should impress. It is our redemption moment for sure.”

There’s quite literally a station for that morning coffee built into the closet, along with a refrigerator. To the left is a desk area and a secret door providing private access to the laundry room to its right. “This time I believe there is not a single person on the planet who can say this is not enough,” Keith said. “If someone says this is not enough closet for them, they are insane,” Evan agreed.

Farmhouse Fixer’s Kristina Crestin (Season 4) came to Treasure Island to evaluate Keith and Evan’s second bid for main-suite victory, and their extra-credit efforts caught her eye. “If we’re thinking of redemption, you redeemed yourself with your closet,” she said. “The closet was my singular most favorite closet. It felt the most custom, the most thorough. It truly felt the most elevated.” That said, the unbeatable closet faced an equally invincible bedroom and bathroom at Page and Mitch’s house — and the win went to them.

Keith, Evan and their competition received a surprise infusion for their fourth week in Florida: Each team would receive a $25,000 bonus to their budget in order to take their 600-square-foot covered patios, pools and backyard spaces to the next level. That made an already-novel project even more interesting. “We don’t do a lot of pools in Detroit,” Keith said. “Our price points and the weather are really not conducive to that.” “But we have been to a lot of pool parties, so I feel like we understand how to entertain in a space like this!” Evan added.

To create the ultimate, organic-modern entertaining space, Keith and Evan created an oversized lounge area with plush, upholstered teak seating and layers of textural throw pillows and blankets. It’s no accident that the materials here echo the ones they used throughout the interior spaces upstairs: “Outdoor living is absolutely essential in Florida,” Keith noted, and he was committed to extending the luxury he developed in those rooms here on the waterfront.

“This is a huge amount of outdoor space. We don’t ever have outdoor space, so this is going to be a tricky one for us,” Keith said. “I feel like this whole area from the covered patio to the pool to the fire pit is like one big party area,” Evan observed. Since creating a pool in just one week is beyond even the Rock the Block construction teams’ capacities, they began planning their party-area design back in the first week of competition. Now they would finally see how those plans turned out.

Since they had the good fortune of a plot that sat squarely in the middle of their inlet on Boca Ciega Bay, Keith and Evan prioritized balance in their design. “The main key to this is keeping that sight line really beautiful looking out of the house,” Keith said. “So I think the way we went with the symmetry on this is really, really key.” Twin lounges and occasional tables share space in the ankle-deep water on the pool’s sun deck, and a fire bowl and teak Adirondack chairs line up perfectly with the hot tub.

Tall, sculptural cypresses bookend the view of the bay. “The hot tub is right in the center!” Evan said with satisfaction. “I love having that sun deck area, that sort of shallow spot; you have the bubblers that are symmetrical there with a fire pit in the middle.”

Now that the scene is complete, Keith and Evan appreciate just how much goes into pool construction. “There’s just a lot of stuff that you don’t think about!” Keith said. “When you look at a pool you’re like, ‘it’s a blue pool.’” The end result was well worth all that effort: “I can just imagine sitting here, just watching the boats go by,” Evan sighed.

With apologies to cute little bistro tables, this is how you set the scene for an outdoor dinner party. Keith selected a massive dining table with elbow room for at least eight guests, and he and Evan constructed an extensive, all-weather kitchen and prep area along the covered patio’s wall to serve that table in style (for $4,628). “I think this makes sense as a perfect spot for a large kitchen area: a grill, a fridge, lots of counter space, and of course you’d have a dining space here,” Evan said.

For first-time pool designers, Keith and Evan acquitted themselves beautifully. Basketweave pavers ($4,260) add a classic pattern that flows from the covered patio out and around the water, then bumps out in a centered semicircle to accommodate the fire bowl and Adirondack chairs. Might the shallow S curves that form on either side where the hardscaping meets the landscaping recall the graceful arches overhead on the main floor of Keith and Evan’s house? They’re playing a long game on the block this year.

Would Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt, hosts of 100 Day Dream Home, award Keith and Evan an out-and-out win to pair with the shared win they received in the second week of competition? Mika returned to Treasure Island with praise for Keith and Evan's top-of-the-line outdoor kitchen. “Usually appliances are kind of ugly to me, but you guys dressed it up like you always do; you make it look like art,” she said. Brian hoped for even more of Keith’s creativity in the blank space above those appliances: “I want something on these walls over your outdoor kitchen — some personal art touches from you guys,” he explained. Though the pool area’s spectacular symmetry and balance of elemental touches wowed the Kleinschmidts, the weekly win went to a team that edged ahead with retractable screens for their covered patio.

“There’s a lot of space up here, and I feel like it can be a value add,” said Keith. “It definitely needs to make the rest of the living space on the first floor bigger.” With slider doors already installed from the kitchen and living room to the balcony, Keith and Evan were poised for an outdoor living space that melds seamlessly with their serene interior. They planned a cocktail bar station with a drink fridge off the kitchen and more couches, chairs and zones for al fresco relaxation off the living room. As for its aesthetic, “our balcony is going to continue our organic modern vibe,” Keith said.

Keith and Evan continued their theme of “ceilings that wow” by installing leftover decking from the balcony floor to the ceiling “to add more warmth to the space,” Evan said. Hanging above the outdoor dining table near the sleek cocktail bar is the team’s week five art challenge installation, a glass pendant hand-blown by Keith with the help of a local artisan. Toward the living room side of the balcony is a seating area with chic furnishings in streamlined wood and white.

After making compromises on the front exterior — dark pavers and garage with white stucco and light composite tile and wood — with their next-door neighbors Page and Mitch, Keith and Evan were ready to round out their façade choices. “The outdoor space is something that I feel like we are definitely capable of really nailing,” Keith said. For their landscaping, the duo envisioned plantings that would stay true to the local flora. “I really want it to feel like Florida,” Keith said.

The facade of Keith and Evan’s home reflected their light and airy interior with a white front door flanked by windows to let the sunshine stream in and white stucco and light composite tile and wood for a beachy feel.

“I would love a little bar cart or something with drinks,” said Keith of his vision for their bayside dock. “So you can come in from the boat, grab a drink, stay here and lounge or go to the pool,” Evan agreed.

Keith and Evan used their ingenuity to devise a waterfront cocktail bar crafted out of leftover wood. “You can pull up in your boat or come down [from the house] and have a meal with the view or have a cocktail,” Keith said. The duo rounded out the breezy space with additional seating and tropical potted plants.

Judges Michel Smith Boyd, reigning Rock the Block champion and Luxe for Less star, and Veronica Valencia, talented designer and host of Revealed, adored Keith and Evan’s balcony. “I feel inspired,” said Michel of Keith and Evan’s balcony. “The color palette, the interior and the exterior, how it all plays together — everything is just so calm,” Veronica said. “You showed a different side with the neutral palette. It was so elevated,” she added. The judges also approved of Keith and Evan’s front exterior, especially the pattern and hue of the driveway. On the dock, they admired the bar and view it offered, but felt the space was a bit sparse. While Michel and Veronica enjoyed much of their work, in the end, the judges awarded another team the win, and Keith and Evan were left waiting for their next chance at redemption in week six.

Continuing with a season full of twists and turns, episode six introduced the teams to a race against time: designing, building and decorating a multipurpose bedroom suite in 48 hours. It all started with a mad dash in the Rock the Block warehouse space to collect a room theme, furniture and finishes to take back to their homes to use in their dual-purpose spaces. Keith and Evan chose the "meditation' room theme, which worked as a natural extension of their overall “organic modern” aesthetic.

“I am very excited about this challenge,” said Keith. “It’s right up our alley. We love pressure, we love time challenges.” The duo mapped out their meditation room-meets-bedroom, which would include a built-in shelving unit, a soft brown paint color and a grasscloth accent wall. And while they were a bit apprehensive about accomplishing all their goals in time allotted, they were also confident. “48 hours is definitely a challenge for anyone, but I feel like all the other teams are not nearly as used to turning out a look as fast as we are,” Keith said.

The Bargain Block stars added value with custom built-in shelves crafted by Evan to frame a large-scale painting by Keith. They outfitted the shelves with books and yoga props and placed meditation pillows nearby to invite reflection and repose. The duo wrapped the space in a soothing, soft chocolate paint color and chose organic-leaning decor: seagrass rugs, woven baskets and a sleek white dresser with cane-front drawers. “There are a lot of Zen choices that were made for this space,” Keith said. “It’s all about symmetry and balance. We brought in natural plants and wood elements, just a lot of things to help you relax and center yourself. I love this room so much.”

In addition to a thoughtful meditation area, Keith and Evan created a restful bedroom zone in their dual-purpose space. With a subtle repeating pattern, the grasscloth accent wall adds interest without being busy, and the simple headboard, wood side tables and spherical lamps are minimalist yet warm.

“The strategy [in the bathroom] is to make sure the room feels like an extension of the house,” Keith said. “The tile we picked is similar to the tile we used in the main suite, so the whole house feels very cohesive.” Evan and Keith continued the use of brown paint into the bathroom, which married beautifully with their river rock-inspired shower and floor tile. A white vanity, gold hardware and black cabinet pulls round out a space that is at once sophisticated and organic.

Throughout their 48-hour challenge, the teams didn't know which HGTV stars would be judging their spaces. In yet another twist, Ty revealed their fellow competitors would be the ones calling the shots. “As designers, you strive to create an emotion and a feeling in a room, and this room was the epitome of that,” said Lyndsay of their meditation space. Bryan took the praise one step further: “We would like to take your room and put it in our home,” he said. Sarah admired the duo’s layout. “The room felt as if there were two separate zones,” she said. The one drawback noted by both Mitch and Bryan was the caramel-colored grout in the bathroom. “The clay grout on the marble river stone was a mistake,” Bryan said. Mitch agreed, saying, “I really would have preferred to see white grout.” While Keith and Evan scored major points with their competitors, their multipurpose room wasn’t quite enough to take the top spot. But the good news is they still have one more week to dominate the Block.

With one week left of their six-week block rocking renovation, Keith and Evan were ready to tackle the second-floor loft space at the top of the stairs. “Our loft is the last space we can squeeze in extra value,” Keith said. The pair decided to create a built-in office moment with plenty of storage and a dedicated space for adults to tackle work or kids to do homework. “One of our biggest misses last time was focusing so much on the design of our gorgeous bathroom that the closet storage took a back seat,” said Keith. “With this built-in, we’re definitely not going to get that critique this time. In fact, thank you, [judge] Page, for that note so we can use it against you this time,” joked Evan.

With $8,000 left, Evan constructed a built-in office zone using white oak, the same wood the pair utilized in their bathroom spaces. With exposed shelving, cabinetry and drawer space, the sleek unit features storage for a bevy of needs and a place for adults and kids alike to sit and focus.

While the rest of their competitors built out their laundry rooms during the final week Keith and Evan completed theirs back in week three, a surprise addition to their main suite that was accessible through a secret, mirrored-door in the primary closet.

With an expanse of built-in cabinetry that echoes the serene storage of their kitchen, plus ample counter space for folding laundry and open shelves for storing linens and laundry supplies, Keith and Evan created a hardworking, wow-worthy laundry room. They installed a rod for hanging clothes and selected a countertop with terra cotta tones, which echoes their bathroom tile for another style tie-in.

It was all on the line in the final judging session of Season 5, when Ty brought in HGTV legend and construction and design expert Jonathan Scott to walk the properties with him. Jonathan was drawn to Keith and Evan's organic style, their beam and shiplap ceiling treatment on the first floor, the spa-like main suite bathroom and their over-the-top closet. “These guys know how to do redemption,” he said. Keith and Evan’s choice to add two bedrooms with en suite baths on the main floor was a power move in Jonathan's eyes. Ty admired their creative energy. “They put such an artistic twist on their interior design,” he said. "This is the type of bold that I think a buyer is going to love,” agreed Jonathan.

In the end, it all came down to the appraisal. “Every single home was a home run,” Scott said. And the numbers supported that statement. With an original value of $1.7 million each, the winning home appraised for $2.3 million dollars, an impressive increase in only six weeks.