- 3 hours ago
Top Of The Block - Season 1 Episode 3
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Things are getting spicy on this historic block as three house-proud neighbors trade pleasantries for bragging rights in the battle to prove whose home really rules the street.
00:11With sharp eyes and even sharper opinions, the judges are ready to dissect every detail while the contestants watch and do some dissecting of their own.
00:21There is nothing old and charming about no AC. It's just sweaty.
00:25Oh, get over yourself.
00:26I want to see a bit more personality, maybe.
00:29Oh, you're wrong.
00:32Gwen and Adam hope their modern take on an old craftsman will stomp the competition.
00:37We want to win because we've done something pretty fabulous with this place and it's a beautiful house.
00:43Nicole thinks her new build is shiny, sweet and out to slay.
00:46Seeing the kids' rooms, how could you not fall in love with this house?
00:50Do I think I have a strong chance of winning? Yes.
00:53And Catherine's betting her century-old home delivers charm and chill, just like her.
00:59I think that I have an interesting design aesthetic and the people who love my vibe, those are the people that I want to hang out with.
01:05When it's all said and judged, one neighbor dishes the sass and claims the crown as top of the block.
01:14In this West End gem, charm meets chic.
01:21Century-old homes cozy up to shiny new condos, giving the old guard a nudge to make friends with the fresh faces next door.
01:29Stirring things up are our judges, ready to snoop, take score and rearrange the pecking order.
01:34Real estate agent and tough critic, Natalie.
01:38I look at specific criteria of what the house needs to have.
01:41I'm anti-dysfunction and anti-ugly design.
01:45Nosy neighbor Ben.
01:47Who doesn't love a good snoop?
01:48I like a mix of the old and the new, but also being surprised.
01:53And design devotee, Jordan.
01:55Cookie cutter, that's not going to be a fun time.
01:57So I need a hot pink sofa.
01:59I need some bows on the curtains.
02:01The rules of this competition are simple.
02:04As our judges tour the houses, they'll consider their design, functionality and value added to the home.
02:10And one house will reign supreme.
02:12I don't think I've ever come in contact with this in a home.
02:16Let the battle for block royalty begin.
02:22When we bought the house 20 years ago, we did an extensive bit of renovation.
02:28And I think our third floor is particularly spectacular.
02:31It's just the most brilliant room ever.
02:34And it brings me joy every day.
02:37Okay.
02:38I have a, you know, a little bit of anxiety.
02:41A home for me is a very personal space.
02:44And that feels a bit vulnerable if you're being judged.
02:47You're being judged.
02:48Do you know where I put my phone?
02:50Uh, no.
02:52Is it on the charger still?
02:53No.
02:53Okay.
02:54All right.
02:56Off we go.
02:57Did you say you were feeling nervous?
02:59Oh.
03:00Don't worry.
03:01It doesn't show.
03:02Already sensing a pretty great mix of new and old.
03:06Speaking of mixing things up, Gwen and Adam are ready to see what the judges really think of their house and do some judging of their own.
03:14Okay, here we go.
03:15Here we go.
03:17All right.
03:18Ooh.
03:19We got all this old wood.
03:21We were young.
03:22We were really young.
03:24Uh-oh.
03:25I feel like I've stuck back in time.
03:26Yeah, totally.
03:27I'm almost afraid to touch anything, though, because I don't want to ruin it.
03:30It looks so nice.
03:31You can tell how thought through everything is already.
03:33Like, I'm seeing, like, all these little details.
03:36Their decor is so coherent.
03:38They really maintained all the originality of this house.
03:41I didn't even notice the ceiling detail.
03:43Yeah.
03:43That's really lovely.
03:44That's all plastered.
03:44That's so much character.
03:45Oh, yeah.
03:46I forgot about that.
03:47Yeah.
03:48It's a great feature.
03:49I like the idea that I walked into a full, actual entryway, and I can put my coats, my jackets, my shoes, lots of storage space, and it just adds so much more value to a home.
03:59Exactly.
04:01Okay.
04:02Open.
04:03Not what I was expecting.
04:04They definitely took out a wall over here.
04:06It's functional.
04:07We have the kitchen.
04:08You have the dining room.
04:09People can chat between.
04:10I like it.
04:11But I am surprised only four spots at a dining table.
04:13I want a statement table.
04:15Like, I want to walk in and know these people are going to host.
04:19Guys, you know what's really bothering me right now?
04:21Tell me.
04:21The fact that I'm sweating.
04:23There is nothing old and charming about no AC.
04:27It's just sweaty.
04:27She's right.
04:29She's right.
04:30It's on the list.
04:31We just haven't done it yet.
04:32I'm loving the Butcher Block Island.
04:34This is such an entertainment piece for me.
04:36He gets it.
04:37I think a huge, huge island is so lovely.
04:41You're cooking.
04:42You want to be chatting.
04:42You have all your friends gathered around.
04:44Butcher Block looks great, but it's very hard to maintain.
04:47Does it get scuffed up easily?
04:48It gets scuffed easily.
04:49You're supposed to be able to reseal it.
04:51People don't really do that.
04:52No.
04:53Oh, you're wrong.
04:54I oil it once a month, so.
04:56Because if you put it on my quartz counters or stainless steel counters,
05:00they're cold.
05:01Yeah, but they're in the club.
05:02How do you guys feel about the yellow?
05:07It's a choice.
05:12Um, why is the dishwasher on the end of the island?
05:16Okay, that's very random.
05:18Do we like that it's tucked away?
05:20Yes, we do.
05:22I mean.
05:22No.
05:23Absolutely not.
05:24You're taking out all your dishes?
05:26Like, you're going to just be banging it to people.
05:28And I've got a drip drip.
05:29Like, the dishwasher has always got to be near the sink.
05:32Like, for obvious reasons.
05:34I think we're taking on water here from the way these guys are describing it.
05:38Awoga.
05:38Awoga.
05:39The home is giving a little DIY.
05:41Those are old cabinets that are painted.
05:43Not my favorite, but cost effective.
05:45And if they enjoy doing a little DIY project together, like, why not?
05:49I disagree with you.
05:50All of the DIY they've done in here has kind of taken away the charm.
05:54Wow.
05:54Okay.
05:55Harsher than I expected.
05:56Well, I think antiseptic kitchens are more the norm now.
06:01Yep.
06:01I think the quirked-up-ness of it is, I think, what's totally taking me.
06:06Ben, that's not a word, but we get you anyway.
06:09I don't even know Gwen and Adam, but I walk in here and go, oh, it's so Gwen and Adam.
06:14Oh, you can come over for a drink any time.
06:17Oh, this is nice.
06:19See, I'm taken back to the historical charm.
06:22Let's see what the third floor does.
06:24That is our secret weapon.
06:25Secret weapon.
06:26Let's do your thing.
06:28Oh, my goodness.
06:32Wow.
06:33Kind of speechless.
06:39Gorgeous.
06:40I would never leave this room.
06:41No.
06:42Kind of speechless.
06:44Exactly.
06:45Yep.
06:46Very different than the rest of the house.
06:48I love the architecture.
06:49Like, gorgeous windows.
06:50Beautiful design.
06:51I don't know how we got so modern, though.
06:53Mm.
06:54Yeah.
06:55I like the difference.
06:57I really like, like, the conversation happening between new and old.
07:02The history of the city where the city is now.
07:05Exactly.
07:06There we go.
07:07Exactly.
07:07Yes.
07:08Ben is our hero.
07:09He gets it.
07:10I love it.
07:11As the judges head off to the next house, let's see if opponent Nicole gets it, too.
07:16She's here to size up her competition.
07:19Wow.
07:19It's very historic.
07:22Hmm.
07:24I don't know how the judges are going to make a decision.
07:27It's very different than my house.
07:29Yeah.
07:30Exactly.
07:31It's an interesting setup.
07:33I was a little worried since the houses are all so different, but I feel more confident
07:41about my house now.
07:43You talk the talk, Nicole, but let's see if your house can walk the walk.
07:50I do hear people sometimes say, like, oh, I don't like those modern-looking houses.
07:54It doesn't fit into the neighborhood, which I disagree with.
07:57This townhouse is my dream home.
07:59It was brand new.
08:00I could completely put my own mark on it.
08:03I've loved design since I was a kid.
08:05I love kind of contemporary black and white, but my home secret weapon is the kids' rooms
08:11because they are just so fun, and I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I'm proud
08:17of my house, and I think it could win.
08:19I'm so nervous, but also really excited.
08:22Very new.
08:24Yeah.
08:24It stands out, doesn't it?
08:25Yeah.
08:28Excited.
08:30Oh.
08:31Oh.
08:32Okay.
08:33This is very tight.
08:34Tight.
08:34Oh, yeah.
08:35Yeah.
08:35Can we all fit?
08:36I think so.
08:37Scooch.
08:37Just think about coming in the winter with coats, strollers.
08:41Yeah.
08:42Groceries.
08:42Groceries.
08:42Yeah.
08:43Yeah, it's bad.
08:44Ooh.
08:45Bright.
08:46Very bright.
08:47Oh, God.
08:48All I can see is the cat scratches.
08:50Uh-oh.
08:51This cat is just one scratch away from being in the doghouse.
08:55This is cute.
08:57Really cute.
08:58It's really tiny.
09:00I actually think it's really spacious.
09:02We have lots of room for the kids to play, and the cat.
09:06He agrees.
09:08But it feels open and airy.
09:09And I'm sure in the summer, these doors open up onto the patio.
09:13Nicole must love that.
09:14Indoor, outdoor action.
09:15Indoor, outdoor action.
09:16Everybody loves a little more outdoor.
09:18I love the blue and the shiplap.
09:20Just adds some texture and character to the home.
09:23I love shiplap, too.
09:24I don't love that when I walk up, I see the TV first thing.
09:28I hate that.
09:29Yeah.
09:29What?
09:30How can you not have a TV space?
09:32It's either this wall or this wall.
09:34But yeah, it's a good point.
09:35I guess we're thinking, like, where else could it be?
09:37Yeah.
09:38I do love the white cabinets.
09:40Normally, I'd say they're too stark, but, like, it actually brightened up the space.
09:44And I do like the built-in appliance.
09:46It was needed here.
09:47Imagine just having a big old fridge right next door.
09:50Just in your face.
09:50For your living room.
09:51Yeah.
09:51So this was kind of mandatory.
09:53I'm very glad she did that.
09:54Good job, Nicole.
09:55Yay!
09:56They like it.
09:56It feels like there's a separate space without it being, like, in your face.
10:00Yeah.
10:00It flows very nicely.
10:02Nice, in that, like, you can be doing whatever and still have eyes on the kids.
10:06I mean, this is, like, tucked away so nicely, this little office.
10:09Very clever use of space here.
10:10Yeah, totally.
10:12But I think I want to see a bit more personality, maybe.
10:16Make it feel a bit more homey and cozy.
10:18Maybe a little less, like, sterile.
10:20For sure.
10:21It feels like I've opened up a catalog, and I'm like, oh, what beautiful pieces all put together.
10:25But I'm like, who's Nicole?
10:26What do you want me to have more?
10:28Like, my homemade pottery on the walls?
10:30Art that I made?
10:31I don't know.
10:32I don't know what else.
10:33We don't either, Nicole.
10:34Okay, so we have Louie's room.
10:37Oh, I love this.
10:39I'm loving the wallpaper.
10:41I like that it's just black and white, really detailed.
10:44I'm liking the energy it's bringing.
10:46It's animating the room a bit.
10:48Yeah.
10:48You know what I wish, though?
10:49Seeing these curtains now with, like, the little edge detailing, I wish we had curtains downstairs.
10:53Like, this, we had the, like, lines that came down, but we had no textiles to, like, add layer to the room.
11:00I would like a little pattern, a little something-something to break up just all the solid colors down.
11:04Right.
11:05Yeah.
11:05Could be good, but I'm glad they love Louie's room.
11:08Okay, so now we're in the pink room.
11:10Oh, this is adorable.
11:12Oh, I love this.
11:14I do love the gold finishes, and that just adds to the elegance and the femininity of the space.
11:20This is what, a bit of what I was missing downstairs.
11:23There's such a clear story, the bows, the flowers, this little, like, cute little Sophia, her name written out on the wall.
11:29Look at the little choo-choo shirt.
11:30Lots of pastel in here.
11:32She's really poured her time, her energy, her love into making these safe, comfortable, cozy spaces for her children.
11:39Yeah.
11:39It's just nice to know that other people like my design choices.
11:44And there's a whole other floor.
11:47There is.
11:47Let's go see it.
11:48Ooh.
11:49Nicole's room.
11:50Are you ready?
11:52Oh.
11:57Nicole's room.
11:58Are you ready?
11:58Oh, okay.
12:01Kate, do they love or hate the wallpaper?
12:03Immediately, the wallpaper.
12:05Each room, like, we're getting such a clear story, and I'm noticing it's the wallpaper that's anchoring it, isn't it?
12:10I loved it from the very beginning, so if they didn't love it, I would have been like, well, you're wrong.
12:14But that's cool.
12:18Hey.
12:18Hey, neighbor.
12:19Are you ready to do this?
12:20I'm really excited about this, yeah.
12:21I think this is going to be great.
12:22Poor Gus.
12:23He just got rid of the judges.
12:24Now, here come opponents Catherine and Adam to share some opinions of their own.
12:28Surprisingly big.
12:29You could have a party here.
12:31You could.
12:31It's well thought out, I think.
12:33Yep.
12:34We like the cat design.
12:35That's the best thing.
12:37I'm a bit surprised at how much I like it.
12:40I would have thought, because they're fairly narrow, they're all new, et cetera, compared to, for example, your house and my house, which is the old brick style.
12:48I think we all had anxiety, though, when they were building this, when they tore down the old building.
12:51We were all worried about what they were going to put here.
12:53Yep.
12:54Oh, this is interesting intel.
12:55I certainly wasn't expecting this kind of design aesthetic.
12:58So, shh, don't tell anybody, okay?
13:00Yeah, exactly.
13:00Game on.
13:01All right.
13:02Aw, thanks, neighbors.
13:03That's got to be a good sign.
13:05I'm feeling more confident, for sure.
13:07Overall, it seems like they like it.
13:09It sure does, Nicole.
13:10You're nipping at their heels now.
13:15Well, if I was voting, I'd vote for my house.
13:18I really love my home, and I love making it a place that's special for other people, and I think that I have an interesting design aesthetic.
13:27Indian, Middle Eastern, Moroccan kind of flavor.
13:32It's a real mishmash of a lot of different things that I've seen and experienced in my travels.
13:36My husband and I, we've been here for 24 years now.
13:40We'll often drive around your neighborhood at night in the winter and look in people's front windows to see how they've done.
13:46I think we've all done that, right?
13:49Is that bad to say?
13:51No, I shouldn't say that.
13:54You do you, Catherine.
13:55Coming up to all these beautiful trees.
13:59Some kind of oasis already, just walking up to the house.
14:02You feel like you're tucked away, like you're not in the city.
14:04Yeah.
14:05Okay.
14:07Nice, open foyer.
14:09Oh, wow.
14:09Really open.
14:10Knowing that it was an older home, I think I was expecting...
14:12To be closed off.
14:13Yeah, totally.
14:14Wow, really open.
14:15Oh, my gosh.
14:16I'm already obsessed.
14:17Loving this table.
14:18Gorgeous dark wood.
14:19I love how all the plates are different.
14:22They're all the blue tone, but they're a little, like, mix and matchy.
14:24That's really sweet.
14:26Yeah, Catherine the Entertainer.
14:27That's what I'm getting.
14:28Yeah, exactly.
14:29Like, you could fit maybe 12 people at this table.
14:32Oh, my gosh.
14:33We're so far away from each other.
14:36And I'm distracted by this, like, acorn-leaf-ornate-mirror situation happening on the world.
14:41Like, that's a beautiful piece.
14:43I kind of like what they're saying.
14:45Entertainment continues.
14:47Cocktail time.
14:48Cocktail time, music room.
14:50Catherine's DJing.
14:51Friends are dancing.
14:52Reviving.
14:53Yeah, I'm liking this in-between space.
14:55Yeah, it's a good flow.
14:56Even though everything is open, I feel like there's different stations and sections.
15:00Yes, totally.
15:00So it doesn't feel like just one jumbled mess.
15:02Yeah.
15:02I feel like I've received a pat on the back.
15:04I do love this flow and layout.
15:06Mm-hmm.
15:06But I am so confused.
15:08There's so many different elements going on.
15:10Sure, there's tons of personality, but it's overwhelming me with all of her experiences.
15:15I'd rather have an interesting house than a boring house.
15:17Now we have, like, hunter vibes?
15:19Oh.
15:22The antlers.
15:23That's just Catherine's way of saying, my decor could kill yours.
15:27There's a lot to take in.
15:29There is.
15:29There's a lot to take in.
15:30To me, I'm like, oh, they're not just things, they're treasures.
15:33That's fair.
15:33Like, I love seeing them, like, the more the merrier.
15:37Definitely very much me and my family.
15:39Wow, okay, so now we're in office space.
15:41I feel a shift.
15:42Yeah.
15:43Yeah.
15:43I think the home ended here.
15:46It does feel like a stark difference.
15:47The office desk and monitor is a bit of a vibe killer.
15:51I don't need my inbox in my mind while I'm letting my hair down in the music room.
15:55A full inbox is the perfect party buzzkill.
15:57Right, Catherine?
15:58There was so much more I would love to have done if I'd had the extra funds for it.
16:03This room does feel a bit disconnected.
16:05I think I'm missing Catherine.
16:07I'm missing the theatricality.
16:09If I'm at the dinner party, I might want to skip the living room.
16:11Um, who said you were invited?
16:13Don't agree on everything, but I respect your opinions.
16:16Okay, so I'm on the opposite side.
16:18I actually love this room.
16:19She was able to build that out in her backyard.
16:22I mean, it's really very functional.
16:23You nailed it.
16:25Okay, wow.
16:26Oh, my God.
16:27Really bright.
16:28Wow.
16:30Oh, whoa.
16:31This is lovely.
16:32This is beautiful.
16:34This is the most nicely designed room we've been in so far.
16:36This is your favorite?
16:37Yeah, because we still have all of Catherine's beautiful pieces and treasures.
16:42Treasures.
16:43But everything flows cohesively, and it feels calm and airy.
16:48Even though we have a big, huge armoire, we have the heavier bench at the end of the bed.
16:51Like, I feel like I could come here, close my eyes, and just, like, zone out.
16:54Yeah.
16:54I feel validated.
16:56I have no clue how we're going to make a decision now.
16:58We have a lot of work ahead of us.
17:00Yeah.
17:02Friends and opponents, Gwen and Adam, have been to Catherine's before, so now they're just
17:06torturing themselves.
17:08Oh, frig.
17:10Friggin' Catherine.
17:11With the flowers.
17:12So what we should have done is hired Catherine to do our house.
17:20Fun.
17:20I've never really been back here.
17:22Ooh, that's nice.
17:24The decoration, the aesthetic.
17:26If I were a designer making the judgment, this is amazing.
17:32Okay.
17:33Give us a good run for our money, but I think we can do it.
17:35Our bones are better.
17:37Our bones are better.
17:39Judges, design, function, and added value are your metrics.
17:43Time to pick which house is top of this block.
17:47How are we feeling about the houses?
17:49Walking into Gwen and Adam's house, I absolutely adored that they maintained a lot of the historical
17:54elements of that home.
17:55That home is clearly over 100 years old.
17:57But then you come into the kitchen, and I was lost at that point.
18:01Their dishwasher being on the end island, that to me is a nightmare.
18:05Who thought of that?
18:06Yeah.
18:06That was a quirked up decision of them, I will admit.
18:08But you know what?
18:09I think those details, that's why I loved it so much.
18:12And then the newly built third floor, what an architectural beauty.
18:17That light pouring into that space was absolutely stunning.
18:20So good.
18:21I think it was done so well.
18:22Yeah.
18:22But I felt like I went through, like, this time travel.
18:27Which I really loved about their house.
18:28I feel like it was really interesting in the way they paid homage to the history of the
18:32home and the city, and took a new modern creative twist upstairs.
18:35Nicole's house, man, coming up those front steps with a toddler.
18:42Oh, brutal.
18:42The entranceway was a problem.
18:44Yeah.
18:45One thing I did really like, though, that she was able to do, she created a functional main
18:48floor.
18:49Yeah, the flow was, like, the biggest thing for me.
18:51Kitchen cabinet had those nice built-in appliances, and it just adds so much more value to a space
18:56by being able to use the dead corners of your home.
18:59But I think the design is where I struggled.
19:02It felt a bit impersonal to me, I think.
19:05Really?
19:05And I think that made it feel a little less cozy, maybe, than it could have been.
19:07I get what you mean.
19:08Like, it felt so picture perfect that it's, like, too picture perfect.
19:12Like, anybody could live there.
19:14Right.
19:14But it wasn't until we got to our kids' room that you really saw personality shine through.
19:18So, like, that did get points for me there.
19:21Okay, walking up to Catherine's house, it's a vibe out there.
19:24Yeah.
19:24It feels so private.
19:26It feels like an extension of the home.
19:28To me, that first step in the home, I was like, oh, my gosh, I could live here.
19:32There's just so much personality.
19:33There's so much to see.
19:34But it was very confusing and overwhelming for me.
19:38Oh.
19:38I think that's what makes a house charming.
19:42It was a good use of space.
19:44However, I didn't understand why I had to be taken to a cubicle before I got to the beautiful
19:48vaulted area.
19:49It felt like such a distinctly different vibe.
19:52What about the bedroom?
19:53I really liked her design in that room because it felt rectic, it felt dynamic, but it didn't
19:58feel overwhelming.
19:59Yeah, it felt like a more muted version of Catherine, but in a really nice way.
20:03Okay, why don't we just, on one, say which house we chose.
20:08Okay.
20:09Okay, ready?
20:10Three, two, one.
20:18Whose house will be crowned top of the block?
20:21We don't just have an old house.
20:23We have this amazing new space.
20:26I'm very confident the space is fabulous.
20:29It's just, is the aesthetic a turn off to the judges or not?
20:33I agonized over a lot of the design choices in the house, but the judges, they said positive
20:38things about it, so I feel more confident.
20:41In my own opinion, I think that I could be a contender, but I think that I have some amazing
20:46competition here.
20:48The verdict is in.
20:50We got it in the bag.
20:51I am less confident.
20:52We have it in the bag.
20:54I'm really excited if I'm going to win this competition.
20:57I am feeling confident.
21:08Catherine?
21:09Hi.
21:09You won!
21:10Come on.
21:14Congrats.
21:15It's sheer delight knowing that other people like what I've done inside my house.
21:23That's a 10 out of 10 feeling.
21:24I like that a lot.
21:25It was so awesome to be in your house without you there and still feel your presence everywhere.
21:29Yes, totally.
21:30Totally, yeah.
21:30And it's as chic as you are.
21:32Oh, well, thank you.
21:33As soon as we walked up, the landscaping, the porch, it was special.
21:38And all the decor was so unique and really dynamic.
21:41I think Catherine really mixed high and low well, brought personality with a more historic home.
21:48She really bridged kind of the best of both worlds to me.
21:51And for me, it just kind of hit all the nails on the head.
21:53I'm disappointed because I really wanted to win.
21:58But I understand.
21:59Our houses were very different.
22:01So if they won, it must have been what the judges were looking for.
22:05I kind of really wanted to win more than I thought I did.
22:08But great feedback.
22:09We don't love our house less.
22:10It's been a blast to do.
22:12So come back like two years from now.
22:14Yeah, exactly.
22:14You can do top of the block too and see what was changed based on.
22:19I think my house is unique.
22:20It's a puzzle that only I could ever have created.
22:25I think it shows a lot of the inside of my mind.
22:28Which I guess I think that a house should do that.
22:31I think when people come in, they should feel your warmth.
22:33And I think that my house does that for people.
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