Home improvement in the competitive arena
Game of Homes asks teams of amateur renovators to spice up rundown homes
No, Game of Homes isn’t some MTV Cribs-style spinoff of Game of Thrones. Tyrion Lannister doesn’t point to his bedroom and say, “This is where the magic happens.”
Instead, Game of Homes is a high-stakes W Network competition series in which four teams of amateur home renovators revive rundown houses, one room at a time, for a chance to win their very own home.
The show is currently airing Season 2 with new host Dave Salmoni and resident judges Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan.
The teams must battle small budgets, tight deadlines and cramped quarters — they live in their masterpieces-in-progress during the renovations — and include married couple Kim and Harry, best buddies Domenic and Michael, engaged couple Courtney and Tyler, and mother and son duo Shelley and Alex.
Masters of Flip stars Kortney and Dave Wilson are aboard this season as guest judges, as well as Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot from Love It or List It Vancouver.
“I was looking for spaces that were timeless, simple and classic,” says Harris, who will appear in the May 10 episode focusing on bathrooms. “Renovations are expensive, and if you are not a professional then creativity shouldn’t be a first priority.”
The interior designer, who was born in Peace River, Alta., admits being challenged by home DIY projects herself. “To be honest, I’m really impatient and don’t like following instructions, so that’s why I hire professionals,” she says.
Harris offered these five quick tips for those souls who are brave enough to take on interior design projects at home:
1.
Get inspiration from other successful designers.
2.
Keep it simple — do one project at a time.
3.
Keep the tags on until you are 100 per cent sure.
4.
Start with a one-colour colour scheme, then add in other colours over time.
5.
Stay in a family of tones.