Since Bargain Block’s HGTV debut in the spring of 2021, Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas have developed stellar reputations as Detroit-based design powerhouses. They’re still delivering creative transformations of once-dilapidated properties in the iconic town they call home, but they’ve also taken their high-concept act on the road — to compete with other HGTV heavyweights in the third season of Rock the Block and to help create the first-ever human-scale Barbie Dreamhouse. (Motion-activated Chilean flamingo water features, anyone?) Wherever they go, they demonstrate that creativity isn’t a budget line item because, well, it’s priceless. Ready for a look at their most inspirational design details? Come on in, and don’t be shy about taking notes.

We couldn’t possibly have mentioned those flamingos without featuring them, could we? While the most outrageous elements of the front-exterior design Keith and Evan executed for HGTV's Barbie Dreamhouse might not pass muster in the “real” world (We’re guessing a 900-pound toyetic roof handle would have most HOAs seeing red.), the black-and-white striped awnings, glorious profusion of curbside petunias leading to the front door and proudly pink house number all provide punches of curb appeal non-Barbies can appreciate, too.

Presented with a $225,000 renovation budget that blew their previous projects out of the water — and three sets of competitors with pockets just as deep — Keith and Evan knew they had to infuse this new-build Charleston home with character and luxury in the form of massive slabs of marble for the countertops, a handmade-tile backsplash and gourmet-caliber appliances. They developed atmosphere with clever touches like this space’s sophisticated lighting scheme: A sculptural pendant crowns the dining table, four classic midcentury pendants provide task lighting at the island, and recessed lighting along the range infuses the cooking area with a golden glow.

Once a large but forgettable white box, the living room in Keith and Evan’s Rock the Block house is now a textural, timeless retreat — thanks to the finish Keith hand-applied to the walls and ceiling, the addition of ceiling-spanning exposed beams, intricate bricklaying and layers of high-pile textiles. The big-ticket circular windows set a tone for the space, but all the finishes surrounding it are what develop its all-encompassing warmth.