Deserving Family Wins a Home in Marietta on Fox’s Home Free

Categories: Remodelers, Uncategorized

Would you be interested in remodeling homes for deserving families? What if the end-owner of the home you renovated turned out to be you? That’s what happens on FOX’s home-makeover show “Home Free,” hosted by licensed contractor and home-improvement TV personality Mike Holmes. The show’s first season featured nine couples, all of them DIY enthusiasts, with inspiring back-stories that proved they each deserved to win a home. The couples competed each week to renovate a room that was assigned to them in a run-down house. Then, as the renovations were completed, the rooms were judged by Danisha Danielle, a licensed broker and investor, and by the host of HGTV’s “Curb Appeal,” architect and interior designer John Gidding. The prize at the end of the week? One couple won the home and walked away with the keys.

As explained by the show’s creators, “In each episode, Holmes presents the couples with tasks designed to test their DIY skills. Holmes is with them every step of the way—demanding that they meet his high standards.

In a surprise twist, not only do the couples work together to restore the dilapidated home, but they all live together there for the entire week. So, the more they accomplish, the better they sleep at night.”

In one episode, the Marietta home featured here was remodeled. It was dubbed a “modern wannabe” due to its run-down, mid-century architectural style. Three remaining teams were tasked with designing either the living room, upstairs loft or backyard deck. Once each team decided on a space to renovate, host Holmes threw them a curveball, telling each couple that they must incorporate custom-designed concrete and plywood features in each space. Fortunately for them, the couples had help to accomplish their renovations—the “Home Free” crew of contractors and designers worked tirelessly in the background to remodel the rest of the house and to bring each couples’ vision for their room to fruition.

The exterior was given a multidimensional facelift to divert attention from its unattractive sloping roof. The wood façade added warmth with a modern structural twist and the landscaping, with funky hanging swings, created a welcoming front yard/lounge area.

Upon entering the home, the ambiance is bright, airy and open. The soft gray hardwood floor by Armstrong Flooring has a textured appearance and serves as a neutral base for the home’s color palette. For the stairs, sleek, stainless-steel cable railing was installed as an alternative to traditional wood railing. “Keeping the space visually connected was important and could have been difficult with the split-level stairway,” says Andrew Penny, vice president of marketing and advertising at Feeney, Inc. “Our CableRail is often chosen as a means to keep sightlines unobstructed, whether used for an interior stairway or exterior deck.”

Down the stairs and into the kitchen, colors alternated between dark and light, with the deep-brown cabinets by Waypoint Cabinets and Dekton by Cosentino countertops and backsplash. “This open-concept, loft-style home needed a surface that would maintain its beauty as the focal point of the bottom level,” explains Samantha Anderson, media and communications manager for Cosentino. “The veining in Dekton Aura ties flawlessly into the sleek, brown cabinetry. Even better, the Dekton countertops and backsplash will stay looking just as perfect as the day they were installed.”

To give an authentic mid-century appeal, a vintage-inspired refrigerator, range and hood by Smeg were included in the layout. Function and design combine in the spherical pendant lights by Progressive Lighting in the kitchen and dining room.

In the lower-level living room, contestants Tiffany and Oreonna used Quikrete to create a concrete chair with a plywood backrest, a concrete coffee table and custom artwork. To offset those gray tones, they brought in a stitched brown leather sofa and cowhide rug, both by Cromatti Furniture.

Upstairs in the loft, husband-and-wife duo Ben and Kasey created a smooth concrete frame to surround the fireplace, which immediately captured the attention of the judges. Adjacent to the fireplace, they created a square-patterned, plywood accent wall with cylindrical concrete sconces for an additional unique accent.

In the back of the home, contestants Kate and Andi updated the deck railing with Feeney CableRail, and the outdoor bar and dining area were accented by a geometrical plywood wall warmed with ambient candle lighting. The casual entertaining area featured the sisters’ concrete chaise lounge. Beyond the deck, a hot tub from Atlanta Spa & Leisure was added to provide an alternative outdoor relaxation space for this ultra-modern home.

“This house is a contemporary, environmentally friendly smart home,” says Adam Burke, president of Atlanta Spa & Leisure. “The Maax Collection 471 hot tub is equipped with a Wi-Fi feature that allows the owner to control the tub’s jets, LED lights and sound system through a smartphone app. The tub’s insulation is made with recycled blue-jean material called BlueMaax, which dampens the sound of the tub.”

The contestants of the home-improvement show not only revitalized the house, but the quality of life for its new occupants as well. In this episode, Atlanta-based fashion designers Kate and Andi, who were competing to win a house for their aging parents, received the keys to the newly remodeled home.

See Photos in Slide Above

1. Fool the Eye

A clever use of wood slats and the bright blue color breaks up the boring expanses of wall in the front yard. A faux patio was created using stone pavers in a grid pattern, surrounded by gray beach pebbles. The wood trellis on the right defines the front garden space as a place to relax. Hot red and pink plants add contrast to the cool colors.

2. Make It Disappear

An unsightly view was blocked by a chevron-patterned wood wall at the end of the deck. Simple shelves allow space for candle sconces.

3. Dive In

An easily accessible lower garden features a “smart” hot tub.

4. Neutral Is the New Black

The neutral walls and soft gray and tan hardwood flooring by Armstrong Flooring contrast nicely with the crisp lines of the black-painted railings and the dark wood dining table and cabinets. The contestants’ concrete chair next to the stairs is a quirky nod to modern design.

5. Glass with Class

Dramatic pendant lights by Progressive Lighting lend a whimsical, modern touch to the kitchen and dining area. Dark brown Waypoint cabinets with simple modern handles ground the kitchen design and bring out the veining in the Dekton Aura countertops by Cosentino.

6. Concrete Class

The bold, concrete fireplace and hearth took the room’s focal point from eyesore to elegant. Stained plywood squares of various depths create a perch on the wall for bright white accessories.

PROJECT DETAILS:

Exterior / Structural:

Armstrong Flooring | Atlanta Spa & Leisure | CertainTeed | Feeney, Inc. | Monrovia Nursery

Kitchen & Bath

Dekton by Cosentino | Emtek | Kohler | Smeg | Waypoint Cabinets

Interior Decor

Art.com | Books A Million | Cromatti | Feeney, Inc. | Progressive Lighting

Quikrete | Roma Paint | Select Blinds | Select Comfort | Sengled LED light bulbs[embed:fc:field_portfolio:2453:fc_portfolio_node_embed]