Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas' 'Rock the Block' House Reveal
Keith and Evan used their Detroit-style ingenuity to create one-of-a-kind luxury in their Rock the Block home in Charleston.
The Team: Keith and Evan
Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas of Bargain Block are used to working their magic on run-down Detroit properties to create colorful, cozy homes for first-time buyers. Their biggest challenge as Rock the Block season 3 contestants? “Taking a space this big and creating that homey vibe that we’re known for,” Keith said. With 3,500 square feet to play with, it's serious business.
A Little Help From Their Friend
Evan couldn’t join Keith in Charleston for the first few days of the project, and the all-important kitchen and dining room were a tall order to tackle solo — so Keith was thrilled to welcome realtor extraordinaire (and Bargain Block regular) Shea Whitfield as a pinch hitter. Shea was more than ready to get to work: “I’m like a demo angel and I come Evan-sent,” she joked.
The Team Is Complete
When Evan finally arrived in South Carolina, fellow contestants Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis of Unsellable Houses were on hand for a warm welcome. (Evan and Keith’s adorable dog, Belle, came along for the ride.)
Growing Into a Major Budget
The $225,000 Keith and Evan will be spending on their home is an order of magnitude beyond their typical budgets — and to Evan it felt “like an infinite amount of money.” “We spend $45,000 on a single house,” Keith said. “We can definitely guarantee a $45,000 kitchen is going to look pretty phenomenal!”
Hands-On Approach
Creating custom pieces for the dining room was central to Keith and Evan’s strategy for standing out, “since most people don’t make their own furniture,” Keith explained. “I think the most crucial element of this house is the fact that it would be impossible to find a duplicate because everything in it is custom; I’m hoping that will give us that competitive edge.”
Finishing Touch
Evan made the custom dining table even more spectacular by deploying shou sugi ban — a traditional Japanese technique that waterproofs and preserves wood by charring its surface until it turns black — to add personality to its crosspiece. Any bets on whether this week’s rustic-design-pro judge will pick up on the extra effort?
The Kitchen, Before
“You kind of just stop at this island,” Keith noted. “The flow feels kind of wonky.” Keith and Evan decided to rotate the piece 90 degrees and position a dining table between it and the exterior doors along the wall to the left.
The Kitchen, After
Framed with custom shutters and handmade tiles, punctuated with a one-of-a-kind hardwood table and embellished with intricate pendants, this kitchen and dining area are warm and opulent — and they flow into one another beautifully. “In this house we definitely want to take the design to the extreme end,” Keith said. “I want this house to just reek of luxury.”
The Kitchen, Before
Keith and Evan decided to knock out the awkward pantry and wrap cabinetry, counters and open shelving around the corner of the kitchen. To add an element of richness, they opted for hardwood cabinets stained a warm nutmeg brown. “Having that hardwood brings so much warmth and so much character to the kitchen,” Keith explained.
The Kitchen, After
The sheer scale of materials for this space was thrilling. “I’ve never used 10 slabs of marble, I’ve never used one slab of marble! This is the most marble I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m just dying,” Evan said. They installed a combination of metallic and flat-finish handmade tiles to create a dimensional, mottled effect for the backsplash.
Blast From the Past
Host Ty Pennington summoned the competitors to an architectural salvage yard for their first design challenge: They were tasked with adapting and incorporating vintage materials to bring a bit of Charleston history to their kitchens and dining rooms. Keith and Evan upcycled a comedy mask sourced from a theater to create a one-of-a-kind pot filler.
The Judges' Visit
Jonathan Knight of Farmhouse Fixer stepped in to evaluate the contestants’ renovation skills, while his brother (and former New Kids on the Block bandmate) Jordan approached the design from a buyer’s perspective. “It feels very organic in here,” Jonathan noted with approval. However, both brothers were concerned about potentially limiting choices like the space’s peach paint. That was all right with Keith: “I take it as a compliment when someone tells me [a project] doesn’t appeal to the mass market,” he said.
Making Themselves Comfortable
Though their six-figure renovation budget was a far cry from previous projects, Keith and Evan welcomed the challenge it represented. “This is definitely one of those opportunities for us to showcase that we can do luxury,” Keith said.
Location, Location, Location
This stop-and-drop area is a handsome spot to hang up your coat and pull off your boots. Unfortunately, it’s a full stop: The detached garage doesn’t connect to this space, so traffic comes to a halt here. This quirk concerned rather than charmed the judges — but Keith and Evan have five more weeks to puzzle out design dilemmas and bring home the win.
Living Room, Before
Keith and Evan knew that they wanted to go big for the second week of the competition. “The living room space has got to steal the show,” Keith said. “I feel like everybody else is going to have their little square windows on either side of the fireplace with their little built-ins and we’ve got to do something different.” They planned a high-concept transformation that would be unforgettable. “A lot of teams are very good at design and construction, [but] I really don’t think they’re as artistic as us,” Evan noted.
Living Room, After
Keith and Evan made the most of the living room’s high ceilings by adding textural beams and creating an intricate fireplace with bricks in both lateral and soldier patterns. The fireplace and round windows claimed nearly a third of the week’s $30,000 budget, but they were worth the risk. “I think [this is] maybe the most dramatic room I’ve ever done,” Keith observed. “I’m hoping that not only have we done a huge design punch, but we’ve actually maxed out the appraisal value also,” Evan said.
A Statement in the Foyer
Keith created this one-of-a-kind installation to evoke the intricate grids of lathe and plaster revealed within the walls of historic homes. “I always find that to be so beautiful,” he said. “That’s the inspiration, [and] I’ve modernized it a little bit.” This high-impact treatment was also a low-budget wonder: created with 1x2 lumber, glue, nails and elbow grease, it rang in at just $45.
Finishing Touch
Keith invested serious time in surfacing the living room’s walls and ceiling with a faux finish to give it the look of older stucco. “I will say I’m a little concerned on how the walls are going to turn out,” he said. “Trying to mimic something that’s old in a new way is always a challenge, and we don’t want to have it look like it’s sponge painted — it needs to look luxurious.”
Living Room, Before
“Our strategy for the budget has been to evenly distribute it all across the house, but having a budget like this is really a test of taste,” Keith said. He and Evan planned for bold design moments in both the foyer and in the living room to create a first impression that was both warm and unforgettable. “You know how I like to assault you with design,” Keith joked.
Living Room, After
From a spectacular, geometric detail surrounding the foyer pass-through to curvaceous furniture and an all-enveloping palette of warm, historic tones, every element of the first floor’s design feels intentional and generous. “I wanted [visitors] to walk in and want to touch everything,” Keith explained.
Here Comes the Judge
Week 2 judge Jasmine Roth — who helms Help! I Wrecked My House and emerged as the all-around winner of Rock the Block’s first season — was enchanted with Keith and Evan’s work. “I walked into your house and I felt like I had been transported. It was edgy, it was 100% unique, it was also very Charleston,” she said. “I’m not sure this house is for everybody, but that one buyer that comes in and falls in love with this house is going to pay top dollar.”
Main Suite, Before
Keith and Evan planned fireworks for the third week of competition and their final spaces of the home’s first floor. “The main bedroom and bath is definitely our biggest focus of the entire house,” Keith said. Evan had his game face on as well: “We didn’t win the living room, so [we] have to pull it off for this main suite — because we’ve gotta win this,” he agreed. They planned to borrow square footage from the bedroom to expand a one-of-a-kind spa space, “but we’ll do a big intricate feature wall behind the bed that will make the room feel bigger,” Keith explained.
Main Suite, After
Keith made the most of the week’s special challenge — that is, to incorporate a representative Charleston material in the main suite — by modifying his original feature wall design to include textural sail fabric. He folded the material and stapled it to the wall in layered, dense whorls: “Think Van Gogh’s Starry Night, but in fabric,” he explained. A pair of French doors added access to the outdoors, and warm, organic textiles and tones extended the tactile elegance Keith and Evan established in the home’s first-floor common areas.
Strategic Storage
Keith and Evan didn’t customize the suite’s closet, but they did make a point of adding an organization system to head off criticism about practicality. “I refuse to compromise on design, but losing the last two weeks has definitely made it clear that we need to figure out ways to add value to the design to be able to win this competition,” Keith said. “If we had more time, we would have done a custom closet. We don’t have the time [and], we don’t have the budget, so we bought two organizers.” They added additional square footage by bumping the closet out to the patio, a savvy extension that cost just $2,800.
Main Suite, Before
“The main bathroom seriously has to be astounding — like, literally jaw-dropping,” Keith said. He and Evan decided to use their massive budget to show off their design chops in an unforgettable way: They would borrow space from the bedroom and a closet to build a monumental, 10-foot round shower flanked with matching vanities. “I’ve been dreaming about this bathroom for a long time,” Keith explained.
Main Suite, After
Keith and Evan poured $35,000 into this bathroom suite renovation, and it’s worth every penny. Handmade Zellige tile (a cool $10,620) in a soldier pattern ornaments the interior and exterior of a curvaceous double shower chamber that called on every ounce of their framing expertise. Red brick walls and warm, geometric vanities flank the showpiece. “It is a big risk for us to pour this much money into a single space,” Keith noted, but he and Evan agreed that the space was “the coolest thing we’ve ever done.” “By a long shot, actually,” Evan added.
Twice as Nice
The bath suite’s double water closets are a major value add for homeowners who want a bit more privacy in their baths: “I do not like sharing a toilet,” Keith said. He and Evan were also able to repurpose upper cabinets removed from the kitchen to create linen storage. “We do not want the judges to come in there and be like, ‘It’s great, but where am I going to put all of my stuff?’” Evan explained.
Bowling the Judges Over
Judge Alison Victoria helms Windy City Rehab and is Rock the Block’s only two-time contestant (and winner of three room challenges, including the main bedroom and bath — no pressure). Co-judge, real estate broker and Fix My Flip host Page Turner came prepared to turn a calculating eye on Keith and Evan’s flights of fancy. So how’d they do? “We haven’t seen anything like this,” Alison said. “Not ever in my life, actually,” Page added. “You should be so proud. This is the wow factor from all four houses.” The guys were gratified that the judges had appreciated their vision. “I love creating spaces that are unique,” Keith said.
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Loft Space, Before
For their fourth round of Rock the Block competition, Keith and Evan transitioned from the first floor of the home to designing the second-floor loft space at the head of the stairs. “I’m thinking big leather couch, big coffee table. We’ve brought all of those hand-done wood elements to almost every space, [so] I want to make sure that we kind of follow through with this space on that.” They budgeted just $2,500 for this space, and Evan was skeptical of Keith’s ability to work within it — but Keith had a trick up his sleeve. “Fortunately for us they put the dumpster for the houses right next to us so I’m out there dumpster diving just about every day,” he said. “It is unbelievable what these people are throwing away! It’s our competitive edge; nobody told me I can’t use trash, so I’m going to use every piece of it I can find to elevate these spaces.”
Loft Space, After
“Trash to treasure” is an understatement: The feature wall and cabinets, stained in several tones to add dimensional texture, both showcase Keith’s ingenuity and offer a potential competitive edge. “This is definitely a way that we can combine design and value add with this built-in,” he said. “Any time you have a built-in, an appraiser is able to check off that little box.” Dusky peach paint extends the warm, homey feel Keith and Evan established on the first floor.
F.R.O.G., Before
The second fourth-week space — the finished room over the [detached] garage, also known as the F.R.O.G. — offered an opportunity to step outside the palette and design scheme Keith and Evan established in the main house. “I wanted that F.R.O.G. space to really stand out and be distinct so we’re going very saturated [and] very bold,” Keith said. “Keith is going completely wild on the F.R.O.G. space design,” Evan confided. “I know that we’re taking some risks with the design,” Keith countered. “Evan doesn’t trust me, every time I say ‘color’ he does that face — but I know it’s going to be really cool!”
F.R.O.G., After
Deep teal paint anchors an eye-popping kitchen space with a pale blue refrigerator ($1,130) and emerald green tile ($975), and a graphic black-and-white design adds character to crisp white cabinetry. Warm tones bloom through the room in an intricate area rug, a massive abstract painting and a sculptural side table. The week’s guest judges — Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, Rock the Block season two competitors and co-hosts of The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project — appreciated those touches. “I loved that when [I] walked up to your F.R.O.G., [I] felt instantly transported; it felt like a small boutique hotel,” Jeremiah said.
Adding Oomph With Artistry
In displaying their dramatic F.R.O.G. suite to Nate and Jeremiah, Keith and Evan felt seen. “I massively disagree with the notion that design doesn’t add value; otherwise, why would you do design? I think it’s really exciting to have judges that actually understand that,” Keith said. “We think that the emotional value that you get when a potential buyer walks in and sees the creativity does add value,” Nate told him. “You guys did a great job,” Jeremiah added.
Bath Brights
Keith made a risky move in choosing a purplish tone for the F.R.O.G.’s bathroom; even Evan was skeptical of its potential for success, and both competitors knew their judges for the week weren’t crazy about bold tones. $3,560 of the budget went to dramatic, handmade black tile for the shower area and a basketweave marble for the floor, and Keith was thrilled with how they looked beside the strong walls. Luxurious brass fixtures added to the space’s regal character.
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Exterior, Before
The exterior details Keith and Evan mapped out at the beginning of the competition were in their home stretch for week five, when the project’s outdoor surfaces and spaces would be judged. “I really want to play up the Charleston-y vibe on the exterior to make sure it fits with really bright, happy, cheery beach houses,” Keith explained. He and Evan chose two hues for the cedar shake on the lower portion and the back of the home. “I think a two-tone would be really effective; I don’t think anyone else is doing two-tone,” Keith said. “I really like the idea of doing a blue on the top, and then for the metal roof I want to go kind of dark.” They opted to add brick skirting to pump up the visual interest even more.
Exterior, After
Enveloped in a warm clay tone that complements the brick skirting, the cedar shake on the lower portion of the main house contrasts beautifully with dusky teal. As Detroiters who typically don’t have a landscaping budget, Keith and Evan did their research and thought carefully about how to spend the $9,560. “We don’t want to put something in the yard that’s going to cause a buyer to have to overly baby it,” Keith said. A boxwood border adds classic curb appeal, and textural grasses contribute height and movement to the design.
Exterior, Before
With just one week left in the competition, Keith and Evan knew they had to go big in their outdoor spaces: “We are packing this backyard full of every amenity we can think of,” Keith said. They planned to create an edible garden, add a privacy fence, install an outdoor kitchen and round out their design with a cozy fire pit.
Exterior, After
Landscaping and hardscaping combine to create a layered, private retreat in the home’s backyard. A handsome wooden fence encloses the lawn, and pavers lead from the bedroom suite’s patio to the home’s main outdoor entertaining space; hardy indigenous plantings add more texture and definition to the yard’s functional spaces.
The Perfect Pergola
“With the big French doors that we added to the main suite, obviously we have to have a patio out there — so I was thinking a pretty good size… [and] I want to separate it from the rest of the yard so you have this private patio for the main suite,” Keith explained. A pair of striped chaises, a triangular table that matches pieces he arranged inside the home and cascading greens all evoke Charleston’s coastal Southern splendor and add value to the main suite. Who wouldn’t want to have their morning coffee out here?
Room to Grow
Keith and Evan invested $885 in a farm-to-table flourish: planter boxes for an edible garden. “I can imagine a family in that backyard, and they wouldn’t really have to add anything for it to be a fully functional, very fun [outdoor space],” Keith said.
Impeccable Taste
The covered patio that extends from the indoor dining room offers a breezy outdoor entertaining space — and its prep and cooking area have a distinct advantage over similar installations in the other contestants’ homes. Keith and Evan are the only duo who built their backyard kitchen beneath shelter from the elements.
The Judges Arrive
Keith and Evan’s visitors for the fifth week of competition were guest judges Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk of Good Bones. Karen is a master gardener and Mina was a first-season Rock the Block competitor, so the duo turned especially-keen eyes on the exterior designs. “I loved your guys’ bold color choice — I think it was great,” Mina said. “Your house was the warmest with the jewel-tone greenish blue and the shake that you painted to look like it was real wood.”
Karen was appreciative as well: “I liked that you used those grasses and created all that movement, and your pergola: top notch. And [that] you created a raised bed in the back for gardening, so you have garden-to-table, is fantastic. It’s just such an interactive space, everybody’s going to want to gather around that.”
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Third Floor, Before
The 500 square feet of “bonus” space on the home’s highest floor had the potential to be a game-changer — after all, the difference in appraisal values between season two’s Rock the Block winners and the next-closest team was just $6,000. Keith was ready for that final push: “Having that third floor space is the cherry on top of the house, quite literally in this case,” he said. This is one space where you can really get creative.”
Third Floor, After
Keith and Evan created a personal wellness space that feels like a culmination of the warmth and artistry they carried through the rest of the home. Who wouldn’t love to have a full-service spa available at all times? “Pulling out the stops is super important; we’ve got to make sure we wow everybody,” Keith said. He saved the offcuts of the panel wall in the second-floor loft, then sanded, stained and installed them to create a unique feature. Equipped with twinkling tea lights, they created a “wall of flames.” This time around, Keith was confident that his palette would find favor with at least one of the judges: Property Brother and season-one Rock the Block host Drew Scott. “This is a color Drew could appreciate, I feel like — it’s bright, it’s happy,” Keith said.
Next-Level Retreat
Naturally, a full-service wellness space would have to boast a sauna (which rang in at $5,150). “I think it adds a huge amount of value, because that is luxury,” Keith said. “This is going to be one of those legendary features that people talk about; never have I ever thought that I would ever be putting in a sauna in a house.” Keith and Evan also spent $1,850 to have a carpenter install the sauna kit’s hundreds of pieces.
Full Steam Ahead
A bathroom with a massive steam shower (and a price tag of $11,450) completed what Keith called the home’s “mental health zone.” “That steam shower is a nice amenity, but it also is a great value add because it makes that space an en suite for our appraisal,” he noted.
A Home Tour for All the Marbles
Reigning Rock the Block champions and 100 Day Dream Home hosts Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt joined HGTV host Drew Scott on the final and most crucial walkthrough at Keith and Evan’s place. Keith explained to the three judges that Charleston, textures and livability had inspired him and Evan in their design. “Downtown you’ll see these old stucco churches, [and] that was the theme of the main house — then the F.R.O.G. space was staged as a boutique hotel,” Evan added. Like Brian and Mika, Keith and Evan didn’t win any individual weeks of the competition; like Brian and Mika, would they be able to pull off an upset and win the whole competition?
see more: See the Winning Design! Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt's House Reveal
Strong First Impression
Keith and Evan’s potentially-risky style choices succeeded in wowing the judges. “The moment you walk in the front door it is mind blowing. There is so much detail, I love that stuccoed finish that they have, it’s something that looks just completely different,” Drew said. “Rock the Block always has someone who goes really bold with the design and I think you can see that here,” he added. “They’ve done a lot of great things, and the materials they’ve chosen are really adding value. I can tell you right now if I brought my wife through here absolutely she would be all over this. She loves that unique style and I love it as well.” Mika was bowled over, too: “From the exterior to the inside I don’t think I would have guessed that this is what would be behind that front door,” she said.
Taking It All In
Drew, Mika and Brian agreed that Keith and Evan’s house was stunning — and all three judges were shocked that their spaces hadn’t taken home any weekly wins. “These guys are so creative and talented,” Brian said. “With certain structural architectural details like the shower I think you are adding value, there’s a uniqueness,” Drew added. “They have that artistic edge, they have a beautiful designer touch.” Mika concurred: “Almost every other house we saw, they wanted to infuse where we’re at in Charleston. This house takes you away to another dimension!”
Realizing Their Dream
Though the judges awarded the win to Egypt and Mike, Keith and Evan were thrilled with the home they created in Charleston. “We poured our hearts into this house,” Evan said. “It’s a totally beautiful house.” “We did a lot of things that some people wouldn’t say was super value adding, but we are desperately passionate about design,” Keith added. “It’s really great to hear from the judges that they liked the house; the artistic quality of it was noted, and that is really lovely. We came here to do that, and they picked up on that, so that was awesome.” The Detroiters gave their all, and they unquestionably rocked the block.
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Photo By: Tom Griscom/Big Table Media