HGTV’s ratings superstar “Rock the Block” is back for episode three, and the competition is heating up!
Episode three of season six debuts Monday, April 28 at 9:00p.m. ET.
And with the veterans and the rookies each scoring one win so far, you can bet the battle for bragging rights will be fierce, with all four teams going all out to take the lead.
While it’s still early in the season, season six has already been a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns in the four-team competition that pits designers against each other in an effort to renovate four identical homes to raise their value the most.
This season, the “block” is a neighborhood outside Salt Lake City, Utah, where four teams are renovating identical properties with a starting value of $750,000 each. The houses all boast mountain views, soaring interior spaces and the largest backyards in series history.
Each team started with $250,000 but none of them are going into episode three with nearly that much.
Big Block, Big Budgets, Big Changes for ‘RTB’ Season Six
Fans are loving “Rock the Block” season six so far.
According to a press release from HGTV parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, the season six debut was the highest rated season premiere on HGTV since 2023!
And for the first time ever, season six is pitting two teams who have competed on ‘RTB’ in previous seasons (the veterans) against teams who are the new kids on the block (rookies).
Those teams are:
Veterans Team One: Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab) and Season 4 champion and high-end designer Michel Smith Boyd (Luxe For Less) won episode one with their dramatic green kitchen.
Veterans Team Two: Jonathan Knight (Farmhouse Fixer) and his New Kids on the Block bandmate and brother Jordan Knight have not won a competition yet. Expect to see them going bold after feeling like playing it safe is hurting their chances. Though no one would call the swan faucet they put in their powder bath in episode two “safe.”
Rookies Team One: Married home reno pros Chelsea and Cole DeBoer (Down Home Fab) won episode two with a smart money move to expand the powder bath into an en suite by adding a shower. P.S., they do NOT like being called rookies.
Rookies Team Two: House-flipping experts Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama (Renovation Aloha) say adding value to homes is what they DO, and without a win under their belts yet, you can bet they have something to prove.
HGTV Introduces Game Changers for Season Six
Pitting veterans against rookies is just one of the changes for season six.
HGTV has also introduced a scoreboard that pits the two veteran teams against the two rookie teams. When one set of vets wins, not only do they get a $3,000 bonus to use in the next challenge, but also their counterparts score a $1,500 bonus. And the same goes when a rookie team wins.
Also new this season, blind judging. Guest judges don’t know whose house they’re looking at. In seasons past, the teams have toured the house with the judges. But this time, they go in with no information on whose house is whose.
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers for “Rock the Block” season 6 episodes 3 (April 28, 2025). Do not read ahead if you do not want to know who won.
The Standings Going Into Episode Three
Episode three is titled “That’s a Veteran Move.” The teams will tackle their main suites.
“Divided by Design” stars Eilyn and Ray Jimenez will be the guest judges.
Both the Knight brothers and the Kalamas will be looking for their first win of the season.
Budgets so far have varied by as much as $45,000 between teams in a challenge. For example, the DeBoers and the Knight brothers set a budget of $65,000 to renovate their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms. Meanwhile Alison Victoria and Michel Smith Boyd set a budget of $110,000 for those same spaces, and then went over budget after a countertop crisis forced a pivot.
Alison and Michel will likely have to make some budget moves in episode three. The pair have spent more of their $250,000 budget than any other team.
Episode Three Has DeBoers Riding High
The DeBoers quickly declare their intention to go for two in a row. They whip up a plan for the master bedroom that includes arches on either side of the fireplace.
And they decide to add a pergola to the balcony.
Their plan for the bathroom is full-on glam with a sauna, added windows, and a closet that caters to the “influencer capital of the world.” (Who knew?)
Alison and Michel lament their limited budget right away. But they know the main bedroom and bath will “sell a house.”
Both agree the bedroom isn’t big enough, and sacrifice a closet to get more space. They elevate the bed on a platform.
For the bathroom, they bring back their love of green in the tile, and add french doors out to the balcony.
They get back closet room by sacrificing space in the bathroom. They want to spend $50,000 but tighten their belts and set the budget at $40,000.
The Kalamas rock, paper, scissors to see who gets to go first giving ideas. Kamohai wins and wants to flip the spaces, extending the bedroom and adding a see-through fireplace going out to the balcony.
Their big plans go big-budget, at $45,000.
Jonathan and Jordan also have a flip in mind, swapping the bedroom and bathroom to maximize the view. They plan a giant slider out onto the balcony.
They also go big on closet space, blowing out the hallway to make a bigger closet.
They plan a massive shower with herringbone tile and a large copper bathtub.
The Knight brothers have the biggest budget at $50,000, to make up for playing it safe in past challenges.
Let the Judging Begin
“Divided by Design” stars Eilyn and Ray Jimenez love the custom look of Alison and Michel’s platform bed, dry bar and fireplace.
The massive closet is a major wow factor as far as storage, but they criticize the closet’s awkward layout.
But the high-end green tile gets props from the judges.
Then they head to the Knight brothers’ modern farmhouse.
The copper tub is an immediate show-stopper.
The terra cotta herringbone tile earns the brothers a chef’s kiss from Ray.
They get dinged for the bed design.
Next they head for the Kalama’s house. They love the huge shower and built-in sauna.
The judges love the washer/dryer in the closet.
But the double-sided fireplace is the real wow for the Kalamas. But Ray and Eilyn ding the team for being able to see the LED lighting.
Last but not least is the DeBoer house.
Ray and Eilyn love the mountain vibe and the way the window looks like a picture of the mountains.
The pergola is a huge win for the DeBoers design. So is the lighted vanity in the closet.
The DeBoers’ sauna gets praise for being “much more integrated.” And their high-end materials add value.
And the Winner of Episode Three Is…
Jonathan and Jordan Knight score their first win with their bedroom-bathroom flip. That means an extra $3,000 for them for episode four, and a much-needed extra $1,500 for Alison and Michel.
Ray tells the brothers their bathroom is what sealed the deal, giving them the win.
How to Watch Season Six of ‘Rock the Block’
New episodes of “Rock the Block” will air on HGTV every Monday night at 9:00p.m. ET. Each episode will be available to stream the next day on Max and Discovery+.
Next up: Episode four titled “Pull Design Outta Your Booty“: Ty Pennington challenges the teams with their toughest obstacle yet: transform a bonus loft and staircase in only 48 hours. All work and no sleep pushes the teams’ creativity. And spoiler alert – this episode’s guest judges aren’t guests at all. In a twist, the teams judge each other’s spaces and pick a winner.
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‘Rock the Block’ Episode 3: Live Results