Homeowners Sarah Theile and Mike Lopez look at “before” photos of their kitchen during filming for the DIY Network show “Kitchen Crashers” at a home near Harmon and Eastern avenues Tuesday, March 7, 2012.
Thursday, March 8, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Trading her 5-inch high heels for heeled work boots, TV host Alison Victoria is a 5-foot-tall bundle of energy who has drafted a tall order for one Las Vegas couple’s ’70s-style kitchen.
It’s Victoria’s latest project for DIY Network’s “Kitchen Crashers,” a show that selects random homeowners to participate in free kitchen makeovers.
Since Monday, Victoria, a team of contractors and a camera crew have been crashing the kitchen of Mike Lopez and Sarah Thiele, a married couple whom Victoria met by chance inside a Lowe’s home-improvement store.
“They kind of looked like they didn’t know what they were looking for,” said Victoria, who cases out home-improvement stores in both Las Vegas and Chicago to pick couples to be on the show.
Lopez and Thiele were looking at power tools when Victoria and her camera crew snuck up on them and started asking about their kitchen.
The couple’s kitchen sported black cabinets and concert countertops, and the floor tiles were mustard yellow.
“They turned out looking nasty after awhile,” said Lopez, describing the black paint peeling off laminated cabinets.
“This is an old Las Vegas house, super ’70s,” Victoria said. “Like ‘The Brady Bunch.’”
Though the kitchen is under renovation for four days, only three days are shown on air. The extra day is used for painting and to let drywall set.
“People don’t have to watch paint dry,” said Rachel Sobel, producer of “Kitchen Crashers.”
On Wednesday, a hint of fresh paint scented the air, blue painters tape decorated the walls and workers were scurrying to install bright white cabinets.
Homeowners can be found assisting on the remodel. They also are asked to complete a few “do it yourself” projects. Lopez and Thiele learned how to decoupage their kitchen door with sheet music from their wedding song — “These Arms of Mine,” by Otis Redding.
Today the couple will be kicked out of their home so Victoria can make the finishing touches.
“It’s got that feel like you’ve just walked into a magazine,” she said. “I don’t want to leave someone with an ugly space.”
Lopez said the change was welcome, but he’ll be skeptical until the reveal.
“How do you know there’s not going to be a fish tank or disco ball?” he said. “We’ll see after tomorrow.”
The show has featured remodels ranging from cozy indoor kitchens in traditional homes to modern outdoor kitchens that feature brick ovens and a barbecue grill on patios. Homeowners in Chicago and Las Vegas are selected for the show because Victoria is a dual resident of both cities.
Victoria’s a graduate of UNLV and has lived in Las Vegas for 11 years. She owns her own company, Alison Victoria Interior Design.
“I’m the first female crasher,” she said.
DIY Network shows include “Bath Crashers” and “Man Caves,” both hosted by men.
“I knew people would be skeptical,” Victoria said. “I am an interior designer, but I’m not afraid to get dirty.”
Victoria said she was blessed to be able to redesign people’s kitchens.
“It’s the hub of the home,” she said, adding that she hopes to “change lives, change rooms and make a difference. ”
The show featuring the Lopez-Thiele kitchen is scheduled to air this summer. Episodes from season one, which originally aired in October 2011, are currently airing on DIY, and new shows can be watched at 9:30 p.m. Mondays.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy