See Inside Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin's 'Rock the Block' Season 4 House

The Team: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Farmhouse Fixer co-hosts and longtime friends Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin might be New Englanders through and through, but they were eager to take part in Rock the Block Season 4 to prove their home renovation know-how extends well beyond the East Coast. Where Jonathan was quick to get hands-on with demolition, Kristina was on her toes thinking about all the best design tricks to maximize their appraisal at the end of the competition.

see more: Rock the Block

Creating a Game Plan

At the beginning of the competition, Jon and Kristina, along with three other teams, were given $250,000 to renovate one of four identical $1.9 million, 5,000-square-foot homes on a cul-de-sac overlooking the Rocky Mountains in Berthoud, Colorado. Their approach? To give it a modern farmhouse aesthetic that meshes well with the landscape. “It’s supposed to be a luxury home — we’re building for an upscale buyer,” Kristina said while brainstorming. “But at the same time, Colorado feels like it’s all about adventure and nature, so we’re trying to take these two forces and pull them together.”

The Kitchen

The first challenge of the competition was the kitchen and dining room, with the option to renovate the adjoining pantry, study, mudroom and powder room, as well. The duo vowed to spend no more than $70,000. Right away, Kristina got creative. “We’ll create a stove cove — a stove set into a wall,” she said. To make it stand out, she and Jonathan outfitted the cove with a stone backsplash and deep green cabinetry. Then, to add contrast and character, they opted for a stark black island with uniquely rounded edges. Cane counter stools offer a touch of added texture.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Dining Room

In the dining room, Jon and Kristina stuck to a high-contrast palette, opting for a subtle chandelier that wouldn't block the beautiful view. Then, to bring the outdoors in, they installed sliding glass doors that open onto the porch — the perfect spot for barbecuing.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

A Back-of-House Pantry

Kristina and Jon agreed that the pantry in the original home was too small. So, they transformed a "too-large" study into a back-of-house pantry — which, almost like a mini kitchen, offers storage and extra food prep space. "There's the formal kitchen and then the kitchen that the kids leave all their stuff in. It’s where life happens," Kristina said. Then, they turned the original pantry into a functional "ultimate dump space" right off the mudroom.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Getting Ahead

To give the back-of-house pantry a more rustic appeal, Jon and Kristina opted for brick floors and wood-paneled walls. While the project cost $18,750, Jon and Kristina were sure it'd be worth it. "I think the value of a second kitchen in a house this big, will really be rewarded in the final appraisal,” Kristina said.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

A Spacious Mudroom

To create flow between spaces, Jon and Kristina laid the same brick flooring from the second kitchen in the mudroom — a detail week one judges Dave and Jenny Marrs (of Fixer to Fabulous) immediately noticed.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Ultimate Garage Entryway

Jon and Kristina wanted to make the mudroom right off the garage as functional as possible. As such, they transformed the original pantry — adjacent to the mudroom — into a dump zone with a desk, lots of cabinet storage and counter space. The end-all touch: They switched up the adjacent powder room's door placement so it opened into the mudroom, as opposed to the living room.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Statement Ceiling

The statement wood ceiling in Jon and Kristina's powder room was so unexpected that Dave said it would be his bathroom if he lived in the house. But in the end, it was the duo's careful attention to details and the second kitchen that really won over the judges. They declared Jon and Kristina the winners of the week one challenge.

see more: Get to Know the Season 4 'Rock the Block' Teams

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Living Room

Going into the second week of the competition, Jon and Kristina were feeling pretty confident after securing the kitchen win in week one. Still, they knew they needed to bring their A-game to continue dominating. To do so, they planned to spend $25,000 of their remaining budget.

First Order of Business

The duo had a handful of ideas for updating their living room, but first: To highlight the natural landscape around the home, they swapped out the side-by-side French doors in favor of a glass accordion one.

Statement Fireplace

Then Jon and Kristina addressed their next order of business: Adding a fireplace. “It’s a living room, so everyone’s going to do a fireplace, but I think what will set ours apart is doing this dark brick all the way up to the super tall ceilings,” Kristina said during the planning phase.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Cozy Textures and Tones

With their focus on cultivating a farmhouse ambiance, Jon and Kristina created a cozy living room, despite its luxe footprint. “In this living room, we really want it to feel intimate, which is incredibly hard when you have 20-foot ceilings. This dark [fireplace surround] brick will really help warm up the space,” Kristina said. “It’ll be modern. It’ll be textural. It’ll be dark. It’ll tie over to the kitchen in color and texture. I think it’s going to be unexpected and I think it’s totally worth the splurge.”

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

An Unexpected Curve

When the brick arrived for the fireplace, however, it was closer to light brown than black. Despite knowing it's a controversial practice, Kristina decided to paint the brick black so the living room would tie back to their winning kitchen color palette.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Entryway

Following their high-contrast, modern-farmhouse design, Jon and Kristina painted the front door black, but otherwise made few changes to the entryway.

Setting the Tone

To set the tone of their home, Jon and Kristina spent the $1,000 they won during the week one challenge on a high-end, hidden sound system embedded into the wall. "As a musician, I always have music playing in my house — to me, music creates mood, it creates feelings, it creates an environment,” Jon said.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

But It Wasn't Enough to Secure Them the Week 2 Win

HGTV guest judges Jenn Todryk (No Demo Reno) and Season 1 Rock the Block competitor Mina Starsiak Hawk (Good Bones) loved what Jon and Kristina did with their living room. “I think it’s an organic, modern twist of a farmhouse. It’s beautiful, I love it,” Jenn said. "You had a ton of texture and variety. When [we] walked in, you had the warm wood floors, the super dark beams, the black painted fireplace. There were so many pops and it was really fun and interesting to look at."

See the Winning Design: See Inside Page Turner and Mitch Glew’s ‘Rock the Block’ House

The Main Suite, Before

Going into the third week of the competition, Jon and Kristina were feeling pretty neutral, considering they'd won one and lost one. Still, they wanted to move forward as positively as possible and planned to spend $45,000 on their main suite which included a bedroom, bathroom and closet.

Bedroom Fireplace

When brainstorming their main suite floor plan, Jon imagined how great it would be to wake up with a direct view of the Rocky Mountains. While Kristina agreed, she countered and suggested moving the bed to the right side of the room and adding a fireplace directly across on the left side of the room. That way, you get a cozy view in front of you, as well as a relaxing one out the window.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Making a Statement

Per usual, Jon and Kristina wanted to make a bold statement in their main suite that still felt true to the Rocky Mountains. To play into nature's color palette, they added green wood wainscoting throughout the walls.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Main Suite Hallway

Rather than having the en suite bathroom accessible from the main bedroom space, Jon and Kristina opted for a reconfigured double-door entry off the suite's hallway.

In the hallway, they incorporated some of the lassos they retrieved from the ranch to accomplish host Ty Pennington's design challenge. They also added lassos to the main bedroom light fixture, however, HGTV guest judges and Season 3 Rock the Block main suite winners, Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis of Unsellable Houses, immediately took note and weren't fans.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Main Bathroom, Before

When designing the en suite bathroom, Jon and Kristina wanted to tie in the color palette from their winning kitchen in hopes of taking home another win.

Main Bathroom, After

They went all out with heated black-slate floors, a spacious shower outfitted with handmade green tiles with a marble bench and a soaking tub sandwiched between his-and-her waterfall vanities. While it cost upwards of $17,000, their investment earned wide-eyed "Wows" from the judges.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Open Shelving

When designing their en suite walk-in closet, Jon and Kristina again prioritized color but instead of going with all built-ins, they opted for open shelving. Ultimately, it was a choice Lyndsay and Leslie couldn't get behind.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

A Well-Planned Laundry Room

To make their closet as spectacular as possible, Jon and Kristina added a laundry room complete with a washer and dryer, lots of extra storage and a pully-controlled drying rack. Designed with pocket doors, the laundry room is accessible through the main suite's closet and the living room.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Judges Reactions

“You walked in and you felt like you were in the Rocky Mountains, inside your home — it was incredible,” Leslie said. Lyndsay agreed: “We walked in and were immediately drawn to the main bedroom area — it was beautiful, stunning."

See the Winning Design: The Winning Design: Tour Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle’s ‘Rock the Block’ Season 4 House

The Lower Level, Before

For the fourth week of the challenge, competitors focused all their efforts on the lower level of their homes. As soon as Jon and Kristina walked into their basement, they marveled over all the natural light and the sheer size of the space.

Taking Advantage of Natural Light

The first thing Jon and Kristina noticed when touring their lower level was just how bright the far right room facing the back of their house was. Knowing bedrooms — especially those with incredible natural light — add value to any home, the pair decided to create a bunk room.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Best Room in the House

To make it a versatile retreat, Jon and Kristina outfitted the room to sleep six by adding full-sized beds on the bottom with twin bunks on top. In total, it cost $8,890 — but to them, it was worth it. “It’s a party,” Jon said, noting both kids and adults could use the space. “This is my favorite room in the entire house." HGTV guest judge Alison Victoria of Windy City Rehab (who made a record-setting fourth Rock the Block appearance) agreed. “It's playful but it still feels like this could be for me and my friends,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be for kids.”

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Ultimate Family Hangout

As wonderful as a bunk room is, Jon and Kristina knew a place to sit back and watch TV was essential for the laidback lower level as well. So, they added plush seating and a large-screen TV in the living area leading out to the backyard.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Wraparound Banquet

Catty-corner from the living space, Jon and Kristina pushed back the wall to make room for a wraparound banquet fit for large gatherings. It was one choice that first-time judge Veronica Valencia (host of HGTV’s Revealed, due to premiere later this year) immediately took note of.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Brick-Backed Bar

Another feature Alison and Veronica loved about Jon and Kirstina's design was the brick statement wall behind the bar. It cost $2,480, but clearly it was an investment that paid off.

The Billiards Room

Off the bar, Jon and Kristina added a moody billiards room outfitted with a pool table and darts. “This is not just fun, it’s functional," Alison said upon entering the space. "It’s keeping that whole theme of adult time and kid time, at the same time — which is hard to do."

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Arcade Additions

Adding even more value to the space, Jon and Kristina lined one wall of the bar with vintage arcade games beloved by folks of all ages. “The bar, the brick, the video games, the pool hall — I loved it,” Alison said in her final appraisal of the space.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Room for Improvement

The one thing Alison and Veronica would have changed about Jon and Kristina's space was the lack of appliances in the bar. Though they loved the design, they wished there was a dishwasher or ice maker in the space.

Lower Level Winners

Judgment Day turned out in Jon and Kristina's favor thanks to their fun, family-friendly approach to the space. They won $4,000 to spend in week five of the competition.

see more: Pick Your Favorite Before-and-After Makeover From Rock the Block Season 2

The Front Facade, Before

After taking home their second win during week four of the challenge, Jon and Kristina were feeling confident heading into the next challenge: the exterior.

The Front Facade, After

When approaching the front of their home, Jon and Kristina wanted to stick to a more monochromatic color palette so that the front porch area would really pop. However, to ensure it offered as much curb appeal as possible, they opted for plenty of texture with cedar shake and board and batten siding juxtaposed against stone around the front door.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Upper Deck, Before

When Jon and Kristina renovated their interior living room, they swapped the original French doors for an accordion number that made it easy to combine the indoor and outdoor spaces. For the exterior challenge, the pair wanted to capitalize on this.

The Upper Deck, After

Jon and Kristina extended the look and feel of their interior living room onto their upper deck by adding an outdoor fireplace surrounded with plenty of seating. While they initially hoped to frame the accent wall with porcelain slab to capture the modern farmhouse aesthetic, the material kept breaking. So, they ended up going with black granite and board and batten — a choice guest judges, 100 Day Dream Home’s Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt — Rock the Block season two champions, were pleased with. “This steals the show out here,” Brian exclaimed.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Upper Deck, After

Looking out from the upper deck, Jon and Kristina were sure not to obstruct the beautiful Rocky Mountain view. All in all, their design choices earned them endless praise from Brian and Mika. “You did a really good job executing and making every single square foot of the outdoor space count,” Mika said.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Lower Deck

To create a seamless transition from the downstairs living space to the backyard, Jon and Kristina went with a decorated bottom deck that leads to outdoor seating facing a fire pit and the beautiful Rocky Mountain view.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

The Backyard, Before

Jon and Kristina's modern farmhouse renovation was geared toward entertainment and fun, and they kept this in mind when working on their backyard, too.

The Backyard, After

For a little extra intrigue, Jon and Kristina added an herb garden in low planters and a lawn decked out in sod. What's more, to check off Ty's Exterior Design Challenge — contestants were asked to include a sports-inspired or recreational activity area to the outdoor space — the pair built a custom bocce ball court sandwiched between the fire pit and planters. Given the long, narrow space they had to work with, Kristina thought it was the perfect touch to their modern farmhouse.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

But Alas, They Didn't Take Home the Exterior Win

As much as Brian and Mika enjoyed Jon and Kristina's exterior, it wasn't enough to overlook their concerns — that the pair's sandy bocce ball court might actually become an unintended dwelling for neighborhood cats (given its resemblance to a litter box), if not a mud pit on rainy or snowy days.

see more: See Inside Bryan and Sarah Baeumler's 'Rock the Block' Season 4 House

The Final Challenge

The sixth and final week of Rock the Block Season 4 focused on the study and bonus garage. Since Jon and Kristina used the study to create their back kitchen at the beginning of the competition, their goal was to put all eyes on the bonus garage to add extra value to their modern farmhouse.

Coming Up With a Plan

Knowing just how important outdoor exploration is to Coloradans, Jon and Kristina dreamt up the ultimate adventure garage.

The Adventure Garage

With just $5,000 left of their budget, these farmhouse lovers transformed their bonus garage into a haven for Colorado adventurers by outfitting it with gear racks, ample storage, a workbench and tools — allowing the homeowners to fix adventure equipment at home.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Dual-Purpose

To take their garage over the top, they added a $730 reclaimed island to create an eye-catching gathering area in the space. "It's bringing in that tactile feel; that warehouse feel," Kristina said. And that's not all: They also incorporated a minibar and kegerator to add a fun, post-adventure party vibe to the garage. "I think this space needs to be our mic-drop moment," Jon said, admitting that the kegerator was his favorite part.

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Final Reactions

When HGTV guest judges — Season 1 champion Jasmine Roth and Season 3 champions Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson — toured Jon and Kristina's home, they were big fans of the wood beams and rounded island in the kitchen; the back kitchen; the black brick fireplace in the living room; the fireplace in the primary bedroom; the double vanities in the master bath; the bunk room, bar and game room in the basement; the bocce court in the backyard; and (of course) the brand-new gear garage.

see the winning house: The Winning Design: Tour Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle’s ‘Rock the Block’ Season 4 House

Just Shy of a Win

Despite how much Jasmine, Egypt and Mike liked Jon and Kristina's house, their appraisal wasn't the highest, so they didn't take home the Rock the Block Season 4 win.

winners' interview: Interview: The Season 4 Winners of ‘Rock the Block’ Tell All

From: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Rock the Block

See Inside Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin's 'Rock the Block' Season 4 House

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Team: Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin

Creating a Game Plan

The Kitchen

The Dining Room

A Back-of-House Pantry

Getting Ahead

A Spacious Mudroom

The Ultimate Garage Entryway

Statement Ceiling

The Living Room

First Order of Business

Statement Fireplace

Cozy Textures and Tones

An Unexpected Curve

The Entryway

Setting the Tone

But It Wasn't Enough to Secure Them the Week 2 Win

The Main Suite, Before

Bedroom Fireplace

Making a Statement

Main Suite Hallway

Main Bathroom, Before

Main Bathroom, After

Open Shelving

A Well-Planned Laundry Room

Judges Reactions

The Lower Level, Before

Taking Advantage of Natural Light

The Best Room in the House

The Ultimate Family Hangout

Wraparound Banquet

Brick-Backed Bar

The Billiards Room

Arcade Additions

Room for Improvement

Lower Level Winners

The Front Facade, Before

The Front Facade, After

The Upper Deck, Before

The Upper Deck, After

The Upper Deck, After

The Lower Deck

The Backyard, Before

The Backyard, After

But Alas, They Didn't Take Home the Exterior Win

The Final Challenge

Coming Up With a Plan

The Adventure Garage

Dual-Purpose

Final Reactions

Just Shy of a Win

See Inside Bryan and Sarah Baeumler's 'Rock the Block' Season 4 House 51 Photos

Interview: The Season 4 Winners of ‘Rock the Block’ Tell All

HGTV Stars Share Behind-the-Scenes Details from Season 4 of ‘Rock the Block’

Season 4 Competitors Reveal What it's Really Like Filming 'Rock the Block'

See Inside Page Turner and Mitch Glew’s ‘Rock the Block’ House 51 Photos

The Winning Design: Tour Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle’s ‘Rock the Block’ Season 4 House 51 Photos

Related Pages