All posts in "HGTV Urban Oasis"

As promised, I present the 2013 floor plan today, plus TWO time-lapse photo galleries: one that captures work in the living room and one that captures the renovation in the master suite. Yes, we are tearing down walls, folks. Enjoy!

Clockwise from top left: View from HGTV Urban Oasis 2013, interior designer Lindsay Pumpa, Old Town Trolley Tour, historic Quincy Market, Fenway Park.

In early April I ventured to Boston to meet with colleagues and apartment planner Jack Thomasson for what’s been coined a “FAM,” or familiarization tour. At the beginning of each home or apartment giveaway program, key members of the HGTV staff (programming and PR, plus online editorial, sales, marketing, etc.) meet to explore the area, enjoy presentations by each member of the design/build team, tour the home site and neighborhood, and swap notes over lunch.

The day’s adventures began with a trolley tour of the city. We passed by Boston Common, Newbury Street, Beacon Hill, Faneuil Hall and the waterfront and Fenway Park, just to name a few historic highlights. As we passed by beautiful brownstones and historic buildings, I felt myself slowly but surely falling for the city. One can’t help but develop a crush.

We returned to the Residences at W Boston, the location of this year’s apartment, and settled into the hotel lobby for a presentation by this year’s interior designer, Lindsay Pumpa. Lindsay shared her design inspiration, plus fabric, wall color and tile swatches she plans to incorporate into the apartment design. Interiors will be in keeping with the W’s own contemporary design aesthetic, while uniquely Boston pieces will speak to the city’s talented design community. Expect to see compelling artwork, photography and locally crafted furnishings, plus plenty of mirrored surfaces to visually expand the space. Lindsay selected the Traditional Twist palette from the HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams paint collection and low-profile furnishings to maximize views from every vantage point.

And views from the unit’s floor-to-ceiling windows? Picture-perfect with key components including the Charles River and Boston Common. “So many times high-rise units look out at other buildings. That could be a unit anywhere,” says apartment planner Jack Thomasson. “The location of and views from our past Urban Oasis units were unique. The W in downtown Manhattan featured the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, things you could only see in NYC. In Chicago, we had the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the L tracks down below — only in Chicago. In Miami, we had Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach and the Port of Miami — only in Miami. I loved that we were able to find a location here that featured that iconic Boston view.”

Stay tuned for more updates, including the floor plan and time-lapse construction pics.

Finally, the time has arrived to reveal the location of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013. Please watch our announcement video and post your thoughts below. We’ll be sharing more info in the days to come. Stay tuned!

Continue Reading

Happy Friday!

This week, after enjoying the most amazing Italian lunch, I strolled down an avenue near the location of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013 and spotted this adorable bicycle. Don’t you just love the vintage basket?

Oh where, oh where could the next HGTV Urban Oasis apartment be? Take a look at these pretty pics and see if you can pinpoint a location. I hear Austin is a sweet spot to plant some roots.

Happy Friday!

I am disappointed. I don’t think anyone responded with the specific answer I was searching for in clue one. I was hoping just to get you to region of the country. Try again.

This clue will zero us down to state. Take a look, do a little research and post your best guess. I’m really digging the dark blue stone, by the way.

Happy Monday!

Our first clue in the quest to uncover the location of HGTV Urban Oasis 2013 comes in the form of a big colorful photo. What could it mean? Perhaps I’m hinting at the location where a certain game of chance was invented. Or perhaps it has something to do with United States history. Maybe you need to add up all the numbers and decipher the grand total? Only time will tell.

HGTV Dream Home 2013 has been won and the HGTV Smart Home 2013 virtual tour is about to launch. What about HGTV Urban Oasis, you ask? Happy news: We will soon announce the 2013 location. But not before we do a little teasing and clue dropping in this blog.

Let’s start today with a poll. Where do you think the next urban center might be? Cast your vote and post your thoughts.

I’m sending a big shout out and congrats to Houston, Texas, resident James Walley, who has won the HGTV Urban Oasis 2012 Giveaway. HGTV’s John Gidding came knocking on the Walley family door yesterday evening, just one day after James’ birthday. At that moment, James was helping his oldest son, age seven, with a homework project, while his wife Denise was finishing up a bath for the couple’s youngest son, age two. “My son ran up to the door and yelled up and down the hallway ‘HGTV is here! HGTV is here!’” says James.

James works in the IT department for a national sporting goods chain and says his favorite HGTV shows are Property Brothers and Love It or List It. Denise, who just opened her own medical practice, says she loves the series Property Virgins. As for a move to Miami, the couple says they enjoy the city and have vacationed there before and agree that the location of the home made the contest very attractive. The Walleys entered the HGTV Urban Oasis 2012 Giveaway twice a day — almost every day — through the entry period.

To see James’ reaction to winning the grand prize, tune into the HGTV Urban Oasis Giveaway 2012 special on Friday, December 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Today, John Gidding and friends gathered at a local Knoxville, TN, fulfillment house to randomly draw the name of the HGTV Urban Oasis 2012 Giveaway winner. Later today, John hops on a plane to head to the secret location to surprise the winner.

Could it be you? I am keeping my fingers crossed for each and every Dreams Happen fan. Good luck and please, promise me, you will answer the front door if your door bell rings unexpectedly over the course of the next few days.