Tour Chelsea and Cole DeBoer’s Season 6 ‘Rock the Block’ Home

Technically, Down Home Fab’s Chelsea and Cole DeBoer — who have spent years developing their design and renovation chops in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — had no Rock the Block experience prior to this season’s competition. But to call them rookies? So what if they faced competitors who’d been around the block a few times? “I want to win so bad, and if we can take out the [veterans] that proves to everyone we deserve to be here,” Chelsea said. “Yeah, we’re here to make a name for ourselves and put our name on that street!” Cole added.

The DeBoers joined another team of HGTV stars competing on the block for the first time — Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama of Renovation Aloha — and also squared off against two pairs of returning competitors. Michel Smith Boyd (Luxe for Less) — winner of Season 4 — teamed up with Windy City Rehab’s Alison Victoria (who competed in Season 1 and Season 2). Farmhouse Fixer’s Jonathan Knight (who also competed in Season 4) came to town with his brother, New Kids on the Block bandmate and Camp Revamp assistant, Jordan. They gathered just outside Salt Lake City in the growing town of Grantsville, Utah, where property values jumped 26% in the last five years. This time around, each team was assigned a 5,500 square foot house valued at $750,000. They had $250,000 and six weeks to budget it out into zone-by-zone renovations. Weekly winners received $3,000 to spend on the next week’s work, and their fellow rookies or veterans would share in their victory to the tune of $1,500. At the end of the competition, the team with the home appraised at the highest value would reign over the block and hang a street sign with their names to proclaim it to the world.

Going bold with design inspiration they dubbed ‘cowboy contemporary,’ Chelsea and Cole enveloped their kitchen in dark, moody cabinetry that was nearly black with just a hint of wood grain ($26,750). Pale slabs of quartz for the massive, double-dishwasher island and the backsplash ($9,250) beneath their glam custom range hood ($950) pop against that dramatic stain, and woven leather barstools with warm metallic bases add a bit of visual texture. “I am so over all the super-light kitchens,” Chelsea said. “I don’t want it to feel like a light, bright space that you can’t get dirty in. I want to feel cozy in there.”

The DeBoers squared off a funky corner pantry and created a hidden door that would blend seamlessly with their stained cabinets. “This is honestly a great-sized pantry, and I love that it’s closed storage and open shelves,” Chelsea said. They added texture and functionality by using salvaged wood from the week’s design surprise — which entailed deconstructing an old ski chalet that the teams were then tasked with incorporating in their homes — and building an easy-access wine rack for low-key entertaining.

Chelsea and Cole doubled the doorways leading to the rear deck, then created elegant arches to refine their look. “They are such a moment,” Chelsea said. “When you walk in through the front door and you walk through the hallway, these are what you’re going to see, which is major.” They used more of the ski-chalet wood to create a deep, dramatic fireplace surround, then installed rich, warm wood and faux beams across the ceiling. Floating benches on either side of the fireplace add functionality and a satisfyingly symmetrical look, and low-slung, neutral furniture encourage ease and let the views take center stage.

Designing the dining room with a large family like their own in mind, the DeBoers created a wall-spanning, channel-tufted banquette that accommodates a massive party and conceals serious storage. “Having the bench seating on either side of the fireplace, and then the built-in banquette [at] the dining table and then the [kitchen] island has seating — it really is just a 360 area for everyone to hang out and come together,” Chelsea said. The antler chandelier pairs with the sleek, curvaceous pedestal table to feel, yep, cowboy contemporary.

Bobby Berk of Queer Eye delighted in the DeBoers’ creative approach to the chalet challenge, commending them for adding accessibility with their wine-rack installation and transforming their wood for the living-room fireplace surround. His first impression of their beloved doors, on the other hand, was unfortunate: “I’m all about scale, and I think the arched doors were a little short for the space,” he explained. Alas, no win — but Cole was circumspect. “You just have to pick yourself up and think overall picture. We know how to dig deep. We have four kids at home! We can rally.” “We are professional ralliers,” Chelsea added.

Chelsea and Cole designed their entryway as an unforgettable opening. “This is everyone’s first impression, so we have to make sure when people walk in they know what our style is [and] what the whole vibe of the house is going to be,” Chelsea said. They installed large-scale tiles to create a durable, elegant entry for guests, then splashed out in the hall leading to the second story and the first-floor living area with a wall of cowboy hats above a long console table. The mudroom where family members would be tumbling in and out of the house on a regular basis would offer more functionality. This zone, by contrast, is a warm welcome for guests.

The den beside the entryway at the front of the house could have been a home office, but where’s the fun in that? Chelsea preferred to build it out as a relaxation space for tired parents that could double as a guest bedroom, thanks to a cozy daybed tucked beneath the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that arch over a pair of windows. A color-drenching paint treatment that envelops the walls, ceilings and molding in on-trend olive green balances out the dazzling light from all those windows.

Walking around the corner from the den to the home’s first-floor powder room got Chelsea thinking. “I feel like if we put a door here it’s like an en suite,” she mused. She and Cole decided to borrow 10 inches of space from the den’s closet and add a shower to this room and create a three-quarter bath. “Did we just win this week? I feel like we’re just checking the boxes!” Cole exclaimed. Handmade tile in bold, vertical green and white stripes give the shower more of the bold style established in the foyer, and a floating, marble-topped wooden vanity makes the most of this room’s oh-so-valuable space.

“I feel like a laundry room and mudroom is where you have fun,” Chelsea said. “The elk wallpaper is a risk because it’s kind of in your face and something a little bit different — but it’s also the state animal of Utah." As in the foyer, she chose a large, veined tile that’s both handsome and easy to clean. More of the moody cabinetry she loves carries up the walls to offer both open and closed storage, and a stacked washer and dryer make the most of the room’s relatively modest footprint. “This week we are definitely putting a lot of design personality and our personality into these spaces specifically; we are doing things that are going to be different,” Chelsea said. “Yeah, I don’t see anybody else saying yee haw,” Cole agreed.

Rock the Block’s first champion (Help! I Wrecked My House's Jasmine Roth) and her fellow Season 1 competitor (Good Bones’s Mina Starsiak Hawk) arrived for the second week of blind judging. Jasmine knows the feeling of transforming Utah property quite well, having recently relocated to the state. She was the perfect audience (and wearer) for the DeBoers’ entryway hat wall. The praise continued as they took in the frosted doors between that entryway and the den, and it peaked when they realized the powder bath was now much more: “Adding that shower is so smart from a value standpoint,” Jasmine noted. She also gave Chelsea and Cole props for the elk-spangled wallpaper and another excellent glass door and at the end of the walk-through, only one conclusion was possible. Chelsea and Cole won the week handily. “I’m pumped!” Chelsea exclaimed. “You pour your heart and soul into this house, and it’s a representation of us as people and our design, so it feels damn good to win!”

Riding high on a win that affirmed their instincts, Chelsea and Cole decided to conserve resources by working with the second floor’s existing layout to create their main bedroom suite. “This is really a great size and I say we just roll with what we’ve got and make it amazing,” Chelsea said. They made a luxury of abundant natural light by building out both a massive picture window on the bedroom’s long wall and a vista-framing transom window above their built-in, feature-wall-spanning headboard. A rich Roman clay treatment on the walls, ceiling and molding creates a velvety backdrop for the room’s opulent, neutral textiles. A pair of faux shearling armchairs anchor a cozy sitting area before the home’s second fireplace.

The DeBoers transformed the look of their principal suite’s closet-flanked hall by creating tambour-clad arches that concealed those closets’ doors. Noting that Utah is the influencer capital of the world, Chelsea plotted out one space that maximized storage and a second that would serve as a custom-lit home studio — perfect for outfit-of-the-day photos, getting-ready-at-the-vanity shoots and content creation of all kinds. “That’s our buyer,” she said.

A large-scale, gray-and-white marble bathroom floor is another big swing, to be sure, but “I think we need to just stay true to who we are, and that’s making bold design choices,” Chelsea said. Wraparound walnut cabinetry provides plenty of elbow room at the twin sinks. Floating mirrors at the suite’s generous window and a demilune mirror along the rear wall double the space’s light and anchor another prep area. More of the immersive, luxe Roman clay treatment on the walls and ceiling carries the bedroom’s mood into this spalike space, and a sculptural soaking tub in the center of the room feels like functional art.

Cole and Chelsea knew they wanted to devote their previous week’s $3,000 winnings to making the bare-bones balcony adjoining their suite feel extra-special. To that end, they built in a crisp black pergola that provides shade and a bit of privacy by culminating in planters outfitted with tropical foliage. They then perched a lightly-stained bar at one end of the waist-high black railing to accommodate sunset apertifs. Who wouldn’t want to drink in the views from out here?

Married co-stars Ray and Eilyn Jimenez of Divided by Design brought each of their Miami design firms’ expertise to Utah to evaluate the DeBoers’ primary suite. They appreciated the modern mountain vibe Chelsea and Cole had so carefully cultivated. “This bedroom by far is my favorite,” Ray said. Just-so embellishments on the balcony and in the closets hit the mark as well, and the judges’ one quibble seemed minor: “You had so much room to play with the area of the vanity space inside the bathroom,” Eilyn said. “Either give that space to the closet or keep the vanity in the bathroom, but maybe reinvent that space.” On a block as competitive as this one, alas, that was enough to give another team the edge this time around.

The fourth week of competition served up another curveball for Chelsea, Cole and their competition: They’d have just 48 hours to complete both their landings and bonus spaces. Happily for the DeBoers, their theme resonated so strongly throughout their home that the landing’s look was a foregone conclusion. “For this wall we do slats floor to ceiling and then [get] a fake-but-cool, huge European mount [a skull with attached antlers],” Chelsea said. “Oh my, yes,” Cole replied. “That’s very Utah!” “I definitely want the landing to give the other teams an idea of what our style actually is, and so we’ve gotta go full yee haw on this wall,” Chelsea continued. Painted to match the landing’s two-story wall, the tambour panels behind the European mount create continuity between the first and second floors and, yes, serve as an emphatic thematic statement.

The bonus space, now — that was another story (no pun intended). Faced with the last-choice room-theme assignment — gaming and tech — they had to sync their style with a purpose that couldn’t feel more inappropriate for their home. Daunted at first, Chelsea rallied and rose to the challenge: “We can do built-ins that actually do add value to the house,” she said. “Our whole house is very family-friendly, and I feel like this could be a space more for teens.” “We can make this very intentional and not like we were forced to have this,” Cole agreed. Floor-to-ceiling built-ins and a desk frame the dark tambour-paneled feature wall at one end of the room, and a long entertainment center beneath a wall-mounted TV anchors a cozy seating area. Chelsea chose cabinetry and seating that echoed the bold, moody selections she made downstairs, and she used the LED lighting strips as thematic accents rather than focal points. Layered plaid and cowhide area rugs give the room a Silicon-Valley-meets-the-Old-West edge.

Instead of presenting their space to guest judges, Chelsea and Cole faced evaluation from their competitors (and evaluated their spaces in turn). They garnered universal praise for surviving and thriving when faced with a seemingly-dreadful theme: “Somehow they have made this look good!” Alison said. “I appreciate the fact that they created these towers that then flow into the desk area: plenty of storage.” “This is just beautiful,” Jon said. “Now I’m worried about our space!” The DeBoers also got bonus style points for the old-school digital avatars they displayed on their TV — and though they didn’t take the weekly win, they gained massive respect for landing on their feet after a week of plot twists.

When the stakes got high in week five, Chelsea and Cole went low — to their home’s 1,300-square-foot ground floor, where they were required to build a second kitchen and transform an unfinished area for the purpose of their choice. No sweat: “We know what lower levels are all about in South Dakota,” Chelsea said. “I know not everywhere has lower levels, but we do!” With their own adult-friends-and-kids get-togethers in mind, they decided to build a game room for grownups, complete with a moody, paneled poker nook, a pool-players’ space with faux molding and a shuffleboard table that doubled as a kitchen island (yes, you read that right). “So you can play it but still have seating? I love that idea!” Cole said. “You are a big old kid,” Chelsea noted.

After stretching their budget by sourcing scrap wood to customize the four-seat shuffleboard “island,” the DeBoers make a $6,000 commitment to outfitting their second kitchen with truly spectacular quartz slabs for the countertops and backsplash. “Just because it’s the lower-level kitchen I don’t think it has to be basic,” Chelsea said. Envisioning the ample array of snacks and multiple coffee pots she brews for get-togethers, she equipped the space with full-size appliances and a generous amount of cabinets.

As for the massive, unfinished space at the back of the lower floor? “This is the perfect opportunity to do a full-blown, over-the-top, nostalgic arcade,” Chelsea said. Starting with a fabulous retro carpet ($1,830) that channels old-school arcade aesthetics and just so happens to hide stains like a dream, the DeBoers outfitted their headquarters for kids with skeeball, a custom-built basketball game, a niche full of classic arcade cabinet and a beanbag-bedecked hangout space. “Growing up I loved going to the arcade. I’m pretty sure I had all of my birthdays at one of the arcades in town,” Cole said. “And our kids love the arcade too. We just really want to make them proud!”

Design Star winner and Battle on the Mountain mentor Kim Myles came to Utah to investigate the competitors’ lower levels, and she liked what she saw at Chelsea and Cole’s place, to put it mildly. “That run of quartz from counter to ceiling, that was such a smart way to deploy [your] budget and get a big wow,” she said. “The arcade portion of the room? Absolutely genius! We walked in and I was 12 again.” Though she loved the creativity of the shuffleboard island, she wasn’t sure about its practicality: “As a cook, [I feel] you sacrificed function in the kitchen a little bit.” Though their efforts didn’t net them a weekly win, the DeBoers knew they’d built all kinds of additional value into their home.

When it came time to address the unprecedented acreage — the biggest ever — in their backyard, the DeBoers and their competitors were going to be hard-pressed to stretch the remainders of their initial budgets ... until Ty came to the rescue with a one-time bonus of $50,000 for each team. “I really want the main focus to be in the yard,” Chelsea said. “I want [the deck] to be an extension of the kitchen — a dining table, really comfortable seating.” Cole was right there with her: “We could do some wood paneling on the ceiling and black railings to match the windows.” The space they created is perfect for gracious entertaining, with generous proportions and more of the finishes that give their home’s interior cowboy-contemporary character. Best of all, it transitions smoothly into the major moments they created in the yard itself.

Can you spot the pair of power moves in this space? One, of course, is the supersized playset, which Chelsea knew buyers would adore. “We know how to add value because we know what a family wants in a backyard,” she said. The second is the fence enclosing all of the yard, a major investment that Cole felt was well worth its cost. “It’s so priceless to be able to just let your dogs out or let your kids go out [and have] peace of mind,” he said. “It’s such a smart move,” Chelsea agreed. “If I was going to judge these four houses and I saw our backyard and it was fenced in, that would be major.” The DeBoers poured their $50,000 bonus, the $1,500 in prize money they’d earned from their fellow rookies’ week five win and $10,000 of their remaining funds into a $61,500 week of work.

A family-friendly wonderland also calls for grown-up space, so the DeBoers hardscaped a portion of their yard beside the deck stairs. This substantial fire pit features both upholstered outdoor furniture and a retaining wall they dreamed up as part of the week’s design challenge: Charged with making the most of an innovative 3D printer that could fabricate massive pieces, they commissioned a sculptural structure with rope texture and cow-skull detailing.

Unsellable Houses stars and reigning Rock the Block champions Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis made a beeline for the DeBoers' in-ground trampoline, because of course they did. “I am sure that is the only built-in trampoline that will be in this whole neighborhood. This is the kid hangout area,” Leslie noted between bounces. “Look at this playground, this is insane!” “This fence is a huge added value,” Lyndsay added. “People will take that into consideration when comparing two homes — and then [they] still did not sacrifice on the adult entertaining space!” Another team's strategic outdoor move secured the week’s win, but the DeBoers’ additions were clearly going to have a major impact on their ultimate appraisal.

Cole and Chelsea outfitted their final second-floor bedroom with their most ambitious built-ins to date, a project that underscored their commitment to creating the perfect family home and to meeting the market’s needs. With generous proportions, a moody palette and handsome symmetrical arch details that echo the themes introduced downstairs, the beds in this ultimate bunk room are a fitting finishing touch and a masterful value add. “Going into this competition, our strategy was to be smart with our money and be smart in spaces,” Chelsea said. “I feel like that paid off, because we’re in the final week and we still are able to do our biggest built-in yet.”

The DeBoers’ final week on the block also marked the completion of the exterior transformation they set in motion when they first arrived in Utah. They maximized their home’s curb appeal with a dynamic, colorblocked face that combined vertical cedar planking, creamy stucco and crisp black roofing and trim. A darkly dramatic stain defines the garage doors, and an addition beside them reflects yet another of Chelsea’s observations on the neighborhood’s character. Noting that many residents owned and parked campers beside their homes, she lobbied for the construction of a concrete pad that extended the driveway to accommodate a recreational vehicle. Cole was right there with her: “That’s definitely adding some value to the front,” he said.

Chelsea and Cole completed their home with a black, glass-paneled front door that offers a glimpse of the cowboy-hat wall in their week-winning foyer. Beneath the cedar-lined portico that stands before their cozy and versatile bedroom-retreat, a blanketed porch swing invites guests to put their feet up. “We created a house that is very true to the area and very true to who we are,” Cole said. “I think people maybe doubted [us] in the beginning, but I feel like it just made us want to go even harder,” Chelsea replied. As guest judges noted week after week, their cowboy-contemporary home went toe-to-toe with each house on the block, rookie and veteran alike.

For the second season in a row, Property Brother Jonathan Scott joined Ty on the block to give each of its four homes a final walk-through. After that last look at the contestants’ efforts, he conferred with three local appraisers to find out which house came out on top. “Chelsea and Cole just bring this fun dynamic,” he said. “I do think their constant focus on family throughout the whole house, as well as some pretty savvy budgeting moves — that combination is their power move. This is my first time experiencing what they can do and it was a wow.”

“I grew up on a ranch we were all about cowboy culture, but you did it in such a tasteful way that I think somebody coming from the city, somebody coming from the country, everybody would love that home,” he told the DeBoers. “I’m not going to lie: I was taking selfies in that barcade! I was sending my kids photos, I was sending my brother photos, it was a really cool space.” He gave their outdoor spaces high marks as well: “I really think you had the most complete, manicured yard of anybody, because it was fully fenced and it was really fantastic.”

The DeBoers’ competitors were as dazzled by their bonus-bath power move as the judges had been (and as eager to don cowboy hats while exploring the property). “This is genius adding the shower,” Kamohai said. “With the access from the den? That’s a winning move!” Alison agreed.

Michel saw enough that he was prepared to expand his firm. “Will you please join my design team?” he asked Chelsea. “[This is] the fun house on the block for sure.” The DeBoers’ efforts to infuse their work with their personalities was clearly a success. “This feels so much like you,” Kamohai told Chelsea and Cole.

The sixth season on the block was its biggest yet in any number of ways: The largest-ever lots were each a full acre of land, the homes themselves set a new size record at 5,500 square feet of interior space apiece, and the renovation budgets rang in at $300,000 per team before weekly winnings. The difference between first and second place, on the other hand, was a mere $35,000. The winning home appreciated $350,000 to a total value of $1.4 million — and it earned Alison and Michel the ultimate victory.