HGTV stars Ty Penningtonof “Rock the Block,”Alison Victoriaof “Windy City Rehab,” andTaniya Nayak of “Build It Forward” are busy on Season 4 of “Battle on the Beach.” And this week, it’s all about living rooms.
After Pennington’s mentees, Chyenne Overturf-SmithandKristin Smith, won the first week’s kitchen challenge and Nayak’s couple, Samantha and Sean Kilgore, stood out in the second week’s main bedroom challenge, the pressure is on for Victoria’s duo, Teresa Robinsonand Brandon Parker, to get a win in the latest Season 4 episode, “Sunbelievable Living Rooms.”
“We’re the only team without a win,” Robinson says. “We have to win this space to really keep up with the competition.”
They’re hoping to impress judges Sarah andBryan Baeumler, of “Renovation Island,” who appear at the end of each week to evaluate the changes made to the three Oak Island, NC, beach homes.
Each of the three teams started with $100,000, but their budgets are already dwindling. The teams will need to be smart about their spending, as these living rooms could decide which team wins the $50,000 grand prize and which go home empty-handed.
Read on to learn how these teams add value to their homes, with plenty of living room inspiration along the way.
Highlight a tall ceiling for a grand living space
Robinson and Parker are feeling the pressure to win the living room challenge. Luckily, they’ve got a big asset in this room: a high ceiling.
“I love the high ceilings. I think it makes the space really grand,” Robinson says. “So we have to think of something really cool to put here.”
They decide to build a massive, two-story fireplace covered with multitone wood panels that Victoria says look “very beachy.”
“This is your wow factor,” the designer adds. “Nobody else has this, I guarantee it.”
The finished fireplace with its wood tones warms up the space, and its height makes this living room seem much bigger. This living room isn’t huge, but with one oversized feature, it feels grand.
Choose materials that fit the location
Nayak’s team, Samantha and Sean, also work hard to create a feature fireplace. Samantha comes up with an idea to cover it with seashells.
The couple spend hours collecting shells from the beach, crushing up some shells to mix into the mortar and using others to cover the facade. All that work pays off, and the fireplace looks beautiful and beachy.
The judges love the look.
Sarah calls it “a labor of love,” but she and Bryan are concerned about the safety of the shells.
“They are a little bit sharp,” Bryan says when touring the space. “When you get here with the little kids, there’s going to be some blood.”
“The fireplace wasn’t my favorite,” Sarah later adds. “I do think with young children, those shells are breaking, they’re very sharp.”
It’s a good reminder that looks aren’t everything, and safety is paramount.
No one wants to look at a bathroom while in the living room
Before beginning this week’s renovation, Sean and Samantha mention that their living room layout, with a full bathroom right next to the soon-to-be fireplace, is a little awkward.
“Nobody is going to want to shower in that little corner shower off the living room,” Samantha says.
Sean suggests giving the bathroom a hidden door.
“You’re sitting here, you’re enjoying the space, but you’re not seeing into that bathroom,” he says.
It’s a great idea, and the team adds a bookshelf to each side of the fireplace, with one of them acting as a door to the bathroom.
At the end of the week, the feature impresses the judges.
“We have never seen this before on ‘Battle on the Beach,’” Sarah says.
The team also renovates the bathroom, removing the shower and adding a fun wallpaper.
Sarah and Bryan agree that this bathroom shouldn’t be factored into their decision this week, as it’s not technically part of the living room, but the secret door is certainly a fun addition!
A Dutch door connects the outside and inside
In the first week, Pennington’s team cut the original kitchen door in half, creating a Dutch door. It was an eye-catching feature, so the couple decide to do the same thing with the back door, which opens to the living room.
“Just like we did in the kitchen by making a Dutch door out of an existing door, we saved $4,000,” says Smith. “That’s just for the cost of the doors, not including any labor or install.”
When the door is in, Pennington points out that the feature helps capitalize on the beach view. By opening just the top half, residents can essentially get another window with a water view.
Built-ins add function to the living room
On the other wall, Pennington, Overturf-Smith, and Smith decide to add built-ins.
“It’s going to make it look bigger, and it’s going to make it look like it’s been around. It’s a little cozier,” Pennington says when marking up the wall.
The team installs two built-ins flanking a large couch, matching the cabinets to the dark blue living room color and adding wood detail that matches the ceiling.
In the end, the shelves look great and add storage, but Sarah says that the feature is a little underwhelming.
“I would have preferred a little bit more on this wall, incorporating the built-ins, even if it’s a little bench, another seating area that will allow for a larger gathering,” she says.
Who wins this week?
After Sarah and Bryan tour each living room, they announce that Victoria’s team, Robinson and Parker, have earned their first win.
The duo are proud of their work and don’t seem too surprised to have won.
“We knew that the fireplace that we were creating was going to be amazing,” Robinson says.
Still, Victoria is focusing on the bigger picture.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but this is infusing them with energy again,” she says. “So I need them to take all that and I need them to, like, push through to the final with the same energy.”
