Find Out Who Wins Tonight!
It’s Sunday, and that means we’re announcing the grand prize winner of the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway! Be sure to watch the live HGTV television special tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT to see who’s moving to the Florida Keys. And remember, we’re also giving away a special prize to a home viewer: a trip for two to the Florida Keys.
Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm for the 2008 HGTV Dream Home Giveaway and for all of your comments on the live winner giveaway. We have received thousands of comments and we greatly value your opinions. In the interests of time and space, we have had to turn off the comment feature for this thread. Be sure and come back Wednesday when we will have a new video with Stephanie answering some of the questions you submitted in an earlier blog post.
Thank you!
HGTV DREAM HOME AND MORE
- HGTV Dream Home Central »
- Official Rules: HGTV Dream Home Live Giveaway Home Viewer Drawing
- HGTV Dream Home 2008 Online Tour
- Share Photos/Videos of the Florida Keys »
- The Shore at Islamorada: Site of HGTV Dream Home 2008 »
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hgtv did not live up to my expectations in this tv program of the Islamorada house give-away.It was a complete failure.
Top of the mornin’ to ya!
I see we have new posts on the blog, so fc, are you there? I am having a blast trying to discover where in Sunny California the DH09 may be. Does anyone know when we can expect the next clue?
fc, want to give us a hint?
Wondering….The big green isn’t St. Patrick’s Day, is it???
First of all people, this isn’t the great welfare giveaway, so crying about how the dream home should be given to someone more needy is uncalled for. Have you ever considered the winner was in such complete shock that she didn’t react like you “think” you would? Have you ever had a reporter barge into your house, shove a microphone in your face and start asking you questions? If the answer is no, then you don’t have any idea how you would react either.
Hello everyone. All of the comments have been so interesting. I actually forgot to watch the show after a long day at church. When I got home, I looked at Joel Osteen for a few minutes and then read a book by Charles Stanley entitled “Walking Wisely”. I too, like all of you also entered the sweepstakes. I remember thinking on my way to church, How are they going to bring a camera crew to someone’s house and not know whether or not they are at home? So, I decided that if I was actually the winner, they would have notified me prior to this day. I think it is so interesting after reading all of the comments prior to the winner being “notified”. Most of the comments were so positive and everyone was so “hopeful” that they would win. Then, all of a sudden, it was like everyone would have killed the winner if they could have gotten their hands on her. It kind of reminds me of how everyone hung Jesus out to dry on that fateful day. I just want to leave you with this. Matthew 6:33-34, 7:1-2 But seek ye first, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all of these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore not thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you again.
Thank you for removing the volatile, threatening comments. Wow! I cannot believe how angry people are.
I am disappointed, too…. But in reality, I never really expected I would win, and I could not have afforded the fees that came with the home. But it is fun to DREAM!
This is the first Dream Home blog I have gotten involved in and I very much enjoy it….it is so much fun…and way too time consuming ;-D I would hate to see them stop using the blog due to abuse….
Please let’s get past this and get back to the guess work.
How about a clue?
HGTV built a house, they furnished and they gave it away. It was not a failure.
The winner was disappointing, but to criticize her home as looking like she didn’t need the Sweepstakes house, her home was nice, most HGTV viewers take pride in their homes and are always improving and take great pride in their homes that is WHY we like HGTV…I love my home and I pay my mortgage every month…to win a home no strings or mortgages attached is wonderful for anyone!! Too bad it seemed like she didn’t even remember she entered!!!
I am sure they have to notify the winners before the show…how do they know that person will be home the day of the announcement? But come on! Seriously, that woman could not have been more ungrateful looking. Maybe they hit her with the tax and insurance bills in the morning and she had time to digest that and realized she couldn’t do it.
I thought the show was pretty stupid and a real rip (especially those so-called clues) but I can’t blame the winner. She entered the contest just like everyone else. Some of you might consider the possibility that not everyone can produce an exaggerated super crazy reaction at the drop of a hat (or even after days of planning). Some people just don’t jump up and down and scream, that doesn’t make them undeserving, ungrateful, or bad people.
It’s a contest. HGTV does not know your sex, race or religion. It would be impossible to know such things by what we submit for this contest. Stephanie won. We should congratulate her and wait for our next opportunity. Life is so short. We really need to be happy for each other, not putting them down just because they didn’t react like we might have. We are all so different. I did see that she was crying. I do the same thing, I cry when I’m happy or when I’m sad. Just me…. Stephanie congrats to you and your family. Enjoy!
I'm ashamed of myself! I, too, had negative thoughts after I watched the show because I felt like Stephanie should have been "happier". But who are we to decide what is or isn't happy/grateful enough. I, especially feel bad now that I see how really mean people can be and I'm glad now to see some of the really negative comments have been removed. I bet she is just a quiet/shy person who probably hasn't had much sleep because she has an infant. This is probably exactly what she said "overwhelming"! Stephanie – I TRULY hope you and your family get to enjoy this and I hope good things come of it for you. I hope your family and friends are happy and supportive for you too. God Bless.
So it’s off to the GreenHome contest and you best believe I’m gonna enter the 2009 Giveaway!!!
Wow!!!! Im so shocked at all the MEAN comments! She just looked nervous to me! I am very happy for her and her family. No one here can say she and her family do not deserve the Dream Home!!! What is the matter with all of you? Sounds like a bad case of Sore Losers here on the blog. Very sad. CONGRATS STEPHANIE AND FAMILY!!!! ENJOY YOUR NEW DREAM HOME!!!! YOU DESERVE IT!:)
It’s a contest! HGTV does not know your sex, race or religion. I would be impossible to know such things by what we submit for this contest. Stephanie won. We should be good sports and congratulate her and wait for our next opportunity to try to win. Life is so short, we really should try to be happy for each other, not putting them down just because they won and we didn’t or that they didn’t react like we might have. We are all so different. I did see that she was crying. I do the same thing. I’ll cry when I’m happy or when I’m sad… just me. I’m a water spout. Stephanie congrats to you and your family. Enjoy!
Will Stephanie Dee now have her own HGTV show?
Oh, I hope so!
Did Stephanie already know she was the winner? She didn’t seem excited and since when do the people in Iowa leave their front doors unlocked so just anyone can walk in unannounced?
Dear HGTV,
Please don’t let the lack luster response that Stephanie gave in any way affect future surprise announcements. It was nice to dream of winning the house in the Florida Keys. I am haapy for Stephanie and her family, I feel that she may be one of those people who get speechless when really excited or surprised which may account for her not showing as much emotion about winning as every expected.
Congrats Stepahnie enjoy your new Dream House.
I was thinking about your production problem and came up with a solution for you…
1. Draw 100-200 possible winners from the initial entries.
2. Invite them all down to the Dream house for a live drawing.
3. Make a party/open house out of the whole thing. Serve food, drinks, tour the house. This would create a lot of excitement.
4.Last 15 minutes of the show, pull the winner out of a drum.
The builder, decorator, host would call out the name in the crowded room of people who really want to win the house.
5. Cheering, chaos, crying tears of joy would ensue.
6. GREAT TV, Happy, satisfied viewers and Sponsors.
7. I am a producer, if you are looking for someone new to put next years show together please give me a call. EVOLVE TV PRODUCTIONS.com
P.S. Too all the people
saying very mean, horrific
things to the winners :
It is really bad Karma,
Juju to wish bad evil on
people. Especially total
strangers. All this
venom could bite you in
tyour arse.
And you wanna know why
there never is World
Peace? All this over a
chance drawing contest.
The Mad Hatter, yes, they do check them out! Yes, it’s a drawing, a while ago, but they do check them out before going to their house!
I wrote a couple of nice postings this morning at 6a.m. Why aren’t they posted??????
i think hgtv should think about doing it differently next year maybe instead of 1 real nice house like that they could do 5 cheaper houses and more people could win first of all but there should be a limit on how much you make so needier people have more of a chance
My family was very excited to watch last nights show, we had alot of fun dreaming of what it would be like if we were the winners of he HGTV Dream home. We were very disappointed wih the boring reaction from the winner. It was a let down to watch her reaction. Hopefully she is excited to be the winner and will enjoy her new found wealth…..
Congratulations to Stephanie and her family!
I’m surprised at all the negative and hateful comments that have been posted regarding her reaction. The poor woman just looked shocked and was probably blinded by the camera lights! She had that obnoxious host Lauren Lake yelling at her and had two little kids running around that she seemed concerned about. It was all probably very overwhelming for her! Give the woman a break!
The whole show was annoying though – how they kept going to Lauren in the Van or whatever and not even giving any clues as to where she was. Then they of course waited until the very end to surprise the winner. It just wasn’t a good show at all.
Next time they should just have a special where they show the drawing, a quick clip of the winner being surprised and then have the rest of the show be the winner getting a tour of the home. They don’t have to hype it up to get people to watch – I mean 40 million people entered and they are all obviously interested in seeing the winner, so I don’t think it has to be a live “surprise”!
come on people – it’s a random drawing!! do you think they pick a name then check the person’s situation and decide whether they’re worthy or not ?!?!? it’s a name in a hat! they can’t tell anything about the person from their entry. Otherwise it’d be fixed and illegal. Be happy that someone will get to change their life and their family’s life with the money from this house.
Stephanie – Your cousin Wendi is here fighting for you so please make sure you invite her out to the house.
OK So we were all dissappointed that it wasn’t us, but thanks HGTV for giving us all a bit of hope! I’ll keep trying! Lauren, when you come to my door, be prepared to PARTY!
Wow, it seems like there are a bunch of sore losers posting on this site. Granted, the winner could have had more emotion, but do we really want a raving lunatic like we see on so many game shows? And Lauren Lake was a bit over the top and annoying for my taste. For those complaining “that just another white person” was the winner … the vast majority of whites aren’t living on easy street and could use this prize like everybody else and everyone had an equal chance. Do we want affirmative action/quotas for prizes now? Finally, kudos to HGTV for running a contest like this to give people an opportunity to change their lives.
My comment wasn’t posted either. In watching the show, we find that here on the west coast ITS NOT EVEN LIVE AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO EVEN ENTER THE LIVE CONTEST.
Its clear that the winner already knew she won. Its clear that HGTV staged all of this.
I am happy for the winner, she was clearly overwhelmed.
But I am unhappy with HGTV for selling this as a live show when it was anything BUT a live show.
For all the people who didn't think that Stephanie deserves the dream home. Give her a break. Just because you weren't the lucky winner means that you should be all mad because it wasn't you. There were thousands of people who entered this contest, what are the odds that you would win? Stephanie was just the lucky person out of all of us.
I am very happy to see that there are a few people on here not bashing the winner. I loved the show. I loved that she won. She was crying and in shock. It was so cute. I’m very happy for the winner.
GOOD JOB HGTV. I don’t know what all of these posters have been through in their lives, and they don’t know anything about the winner. I’m glad that you hosted the contest and changed the life of that lucky winner.
I loved all of the sweeet comments before the show- then reading the spoil sport comments after ;0). I think that the right person won- wouldn’t have wanted to see a spoiled brat win
…
Congrats to the mom in Iowa from a mom in NY. You rock & thanks HGTV for building and giving away a fabulous home!
Ok negative people get over it!
No one KNOWS anything for sure here.
1.Why was the door open? Obviously someone inside was in on it and left it OPEN on purpose to surprise Stephanie.
2.Start a petition to “take it away from her and give to someone appreciative”….Would that be you Mo?
3.No black winners? 40 Million plus “plain people” entered, only 1 can win, black or white.
4.She was drunk or on drugs? She looked perfectly normal to me and SCARED.
Your all JEALOUS.
Congratulations Stephanie.
I am a newly wed without a home of my own and this Dream Home would have been the perfect place to start my family. In addition, my mom will soon start her chemo and radiation therapy to treat her breast cancer and this would have been the best place for her to make a full recovery. But oh well, life must go on! I still want to congratulate Stephanie and her family for her win. She is a very furtunate woman and hope she enjoys every inch of that home, cause I would have had I been the winner!
Good afternoon fcole.
After a long, tedious morning of editing the blog, you probably are not feeling too much like giving any information away, are you?
BTW…you did a great job!
Still, I’m wondering if we can expect to receive a new clue soon? After all, California is such a BIG state……. Maybe just a hint as to which part of California DH09 will be in?
Between San Fransisco and Los Angeles, south of Los Angeles, or north of San Fransisco?
What ugly, shameful posts. If I were in hgtv’s shoes I would no longer have a dream home give-a-away.
In Stepahnie defense I would have probably puked and passed out just from knowing that I was in front of how many people. But I’m very happy for her, and hope her and her family enjoy FL and all it has to offer. Congrats Stepahnie and family now go out and make some memories you can cherish and hold in your hearts through the good and make you smile through the bad.
PS: please don’t let that puke thing deter you from picking my name next season.
Okay, I give, I thought CA, WA (the apples clue) now can we have more clues as to location. PLEASE
When my daughter was born, I think I may have had the same reaction as Stephanie. I was crying, I couldn’t believe it, it seemed like it wasn’t true. Here was this baby, and it was all surreal.
It seemed that Stephanie’s emotions were genuine. I am very happy for her and her family.
Congratulations!
Lucinda
You know, I don’t want to get into “lack mentality” and it’s truly a blessing for any of these people to win these dreamhomes….but
it’s truly the fault of HGTV that they do not take the “real chance” of surprising the winner, even if the winner is not home. So, what? They can afford it, and the viewers would rather see that someone was truly surprised instead of a staged gamut. The only thing that was great about this winner as compared to the 2007 winner, was that she wasn’t sitting there with a fork and knife at the table, with a smirk and 15 family members and friends, that says yess…(I’m a retired postal worker in which the gov’t deserved to give me this all along).
Wow, Stephanie, congratulations. She didn’t seem that excited about the whole thing. I cried when I found out I didn’t win but boo hoo. I think it was very unfair how people on the west coast did not even get to enter the for the florida trip because of the time difference.
Yes people, someone in the house knew she had won. How do you think HGTV controls where and how to find you. Last year the guys son said he knew. They contact someone in your family.
The problem with the show is that it is live. The whole thing felt unscripted. How bland!! Watching the designer walk around the house trying to find things to say was painful. I think it is now obvious that it has to be taped ahead of time. Take two. This time Steph I want you to use as your motivation YOU’VE JUST WON A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOUSE. Ready? Take two and….. action
Many have posted that someone in need should win. How would they afford the property taxes? How would they afford the taxes that need to be paid for winning the contest? It’s not like they can put the house on the market and it will sell instantly.
I love HGTV and the whole Dream Home experience! I will definitely be entering again this next year. But I have to say, that if I were to win next year….I don’t think I would read any of the blogs after the whole giveaway show…..you would have to have some pretty thick skin to read some of the comments after winning. Whatever happened to all those entries before the giveaway of good wishes to the winner? I wouldn’t wish some of these comments on anyone.
, I will not be checking in on the blog. I will be too busy packing anyway. 
So next year, when I win
LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!
This is very amusing. I’m laughing as I read most of the comments. I think HGTV loves the reactions to these contests. After the Colorado Dream House experience, if you are not notified a few weeks in advance as a finalist you are not going to win the Dream House. For all we know, the producers of the show probably told the family not to show any emotions-just to see the viewers’ reactions. Next year, the winner will not be home. The host will just be standing at the door holding a bunch of balloons. That would be the ultimate let down to viewers and the posts will be flooding in! Congrats Stephanie and I know you will be screaming with excitement as you actually walk through your Dream House!!!
I think it is time that HGTV, the “start at home” network needs to re-assess this dream home giveaway. For most of us buying our first home was a dream come true. With the growing numbers of hard working Americans losing their “dream” to foreclosure daily now or those in this country want nothing more than to give their children an opportunity to have a real home of their own -why can’t this network shift gears and renovate this award show. How many of these winner actually can afford to keep these mansions and maintain them? There are many deserving people from around the country who want live what we call the American dream, but will never attain it.
This large prize package is proving to world that we in the USA are spoiled. HGTV ask your viewers and sponsors which they would prefer this network to be part of. I think you all already know that answer.
Most people here are disappointed about the winners reaction or lack of. I too think she should of showed some emotion like, happy, elated, thankful..on and on. I’m not going to judge her because we dont know her. She maybe in shock or some other condition. Congrats to her and I hope she enjoys the new house. I just wish we all could of been as fortunate. My first post wasn’t posted either!!
fFOR ALL OF YOU CRYING ABOUT THE WINNER:
This Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the U.S. and its territories, possessions and commonwealths (excluding Puerto Rico) who are 21 years of age or older as of January 1, 2008, except employees and members of their households and immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings, children and each of their respective spouses) of HGTV as the Main Sponsor and General Motors Corporation, Lumber Liquidators, Inc., The Iams Company, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Moen Incorporated, BISSELL Homecare, Inc., JELD-WEN, inc., California Closet Company, Inc., Cosentino North America, Ethan Allen Global, Inc., Sub-Zero, Inc. & Wolf Appliance, Inc., Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., Oldcastle Architectural, Inc., Hickory Hardware, Inc., The Shore, Generac Power Systems, Craftsman Tools and Equipment (Craftsman is a registered trademark of KCD IP, LLC), The Home Depot Rewards MasterCard, Propane Education & Research Council, Rinnai America Corporation, and all other participating product sponsors (collectively, the “Participating Product Sponsors”), Ritway, Inc., and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their advertising and promotion agencies and all local sponsors are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Main Sponsor reserves the right to conduct a background check on any potential Grand Prize Winner and reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any person based on such background check if Main Sponsor determines in its sole discretion that awarding the prize to such potential Grand Prize Winner might reflect negatively on Main Sponsor or any of the Participating Product Sponsors. By entering, all participants and/or entrants release the Sweepstakes Entities and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective agents, advertising and promotion agencies, affiliated companies, sweepstakes partners and prize suppliers, and all of their respective affiliated companies, employees, officers, directors and shareholders, from and against all claims and damages arising in connection with each entrant’s participation and/or entry in the Sweepstakes and/or their receipt or use of any prize awarded in this Sweepstakes. Any and all warranties and guarantees are subject to the respective manufacturer’s terms. This Sweepstakes is governed by U.S. law and is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico, outside the U.S. and where prohibited by law.
I HAVE COMMENTS TO SAY:
1) the winner was not RICH so she would not be able to afford it
2) Maybe if a RICH person did win maybe they would use it as a beach house or a second home
3) THOUSE OF YOU WHO SAID SOMETHING BOUT RICH PEOPLE THAT WAS SUCH AN INSULT!!! TO THEM!!!!!! WATCH WHAT YOU SAY!!!1
I love HGTV. But what I dont love is that they are censoring the critisism of last night’s Dream Home show. Time to face the music HGTV! Let the voices be heard or it will look really bad for you!