The latest episode of HGTV Barbie’s Dreamhouse Challenge found a great way to add 1980s flair to the design: include a member of an iconic 80s band like New Kids on the Block on the show.
Sunday marked the second part of the four-part event series inspired – and sponsored – by the new blockbuster film, Barbie. It’s hosted by model Ashley Graham and features eight teams of two made up mostly of HGTV stars, all drawing inspiration from different decades while working to transform a Southern California home into the Barbie Dreamhouse.
Each episode features two teams competing against each other in hopes of being selected as the winner that week, with one team ultimately being named the “Dreamiest” of them all in the finale. Not only will the winning team receive a donation to a charity made in their honor, but they will also play for one of eight Barbie superfans to win the chance to spend a night in the completed Dreamhouse.
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This week, one of those teams included the hosts of HGTV farm repairman, Kristina Crestin and Jonathan Knight. The latter – described as a “farm fanatic” – is also part of classic boy band, New Kids on the Block.
The New Kids formed in 1984 and broke through to huge success as You got it (the good stuff) And hang hard in 1988 and 1989. So it’s no surprise that Knight and Crestin had the 1980s as their inspirational decade for creating Barbie’s bedroom and bathroom.
In the bedroom, the main focal point was a large four-poster bed which included a bespoke headboard with a heart engraved on it. And since each team must also include a “toyetic” feature – similar to those found in Barbie’s toy dream houses – the bed also had special lighting and a recorded voice to help you sleep. This voice? That of Jonathan Knight.
The room also included glitter on the ceiling, lots of pink walls and curtains, and a totally ’80s jazzercise nook with matching blue and pink weights, an exercise bike, and the matching workout Barbie doll on display right next to it.
Their Barbie bathroom also brought in an ’80s twist with classic floral-print curtains and wallpaper, a pink shower glass, ’80s cabinetry, and the main eye-catcher: a giant version of Barbie’s plastic pink hairbrush.
Judges for the show include designers Jonathan Adler and Tiffany Brooks, as well as a guest judge each week who was filled in by entertainment tonight host Nischelle Turner. They were all impressed with the 80s-themed bedroom and bathroom and praised the team for capturing Barbie from that era.
Knight and Crestin faced Alison Victoria from Windy City Rehab and her partner, longtime home improvement show host Ty Pennington. They were tasked with creating a 1970s-themed space for Ken, which was equipped with a “party mode” feature that transformed the room into a disco with a light-up dance floor and a rotating dance booth.
And though Knight and Crestin were tough throughout the episode, they just didn’t have the right stuff as the judges crowned Victoria and Pennington as the winners of the episode.
Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on HGTV.