Keith Bynum (left) and Evan Thomas (right) are HGTV’s renovation savants who, through their series Bargain Block, have managed to turn some of Detroit’s most distressed, forgotten and rundown houses into designer dream homes. They’ve even expanded their horizons, traveling south to New Orleans to work their magic on some of the city’s shotgun houses and the like. Here we highlight some of the duo’s most noteworthy exterior transformations — from both the Motor City and the Big Easy — and their imaginative ideas for boosting curb appeal.

Keith and Evan purchased this house in northwest Detroit for $15,000. The exterior was in fair shape, with prior repair work including roof and partial siding replacement. Surrounded by vacant lots, the location felt woodsy and remote, leading Keith to nickname it his "Country Estate." Diamond, a potential buyer, was in love with the neighborhood and expressed an interest in seeing the house once the renovation was complete — before the house went on the market. A lifelong Detroit native, she liked what she saw with the in-progress renovation but was less than thrilled with the country getaway theme. She was in search of something hip and novel — but perhaps with a grittier, more urban vibe.

In keeping with the client’s suggestions, Keith and Evan changed their thematic approach mid-project. “Diamond ... is the epitome of who I see buying our houses," said Keith. "She's young and she's a music producer. Playing off that, I kind of want to [draw inspiration from] a downtown record shop." So country cottage was out, city living was in — and the moniker "Urban Estate" was born. The finished exterior checks all the boxes for big-city cool. The porch and façade get a modern look, with columns wrapped in natural wood, unstained shingles for the gable, new porch railings, a powder blue front door, contrasting black trim and fresh landscaping.

This 1940s-era red-brick house came with white trim, shutters, twin roof dormers — and lots of peeling paint, damaged gutters and deteriorating roof. It had been on the market for more than three months with no takers. A quick tour inside reveals water damage, buckled floors, wood rot and mold. The house was listed at $29,000 — the higher end of Keith and Evan’s usual price range. But the basement egress at the rear of the home was a plus because it suggested a basement rental unit for added owner income could be a possibility.