NEW YORK — Geoffrey Taft and Joshua Altman, owners of Apprize Realty in San Diego, Calif., are the first winners of A&E/FYI channel’s new hit competition series Rowhouse Showdown. The design duo, featured in the current issue of San Diego LGBT Weekly (issue 155) bested three other teams as they battled it out to transform dilapidated homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. They successfully raised the property value and the community surrounding them garnering them the coveted $50,000 grand prize and immense exposure.
Geoffrey Taft and Josh Altman also won an extensive editorial to be featured in Dwell media. Altman and Taft were the show’s breakout stars from the very first episode and made the series extremely exciting to watch each week. Throughout the season, the teams renovated and redesigned rowhouses under the watchful eye of host Carter Oosterhouse, celebrity designer Kathy Kuo and Cincinnati- based house flipper, Jim Bronzie, who judged the team’s renovations.
During the Wednesday’s season finale, Dwell’s Editor in Chief Amanda Dameron, guest-judged the series finale, saying. “They are very talented as designers; they have the eye, that’s obvious. They have a more refined aesthetic than any of the others” and “this kitchen being featured in our magazine, that’s exactly the kind of detail we like to hone in on.”
Geoff and Josh, praised for their “sophisticated eye” by celebrity designer, Kathy Kuo, built a reputation for withstanding the intense pressure of transforming their deteriorated rowhouse on a meager budget, restoring the stressed structure beyond its former state to a breathtaking home filled with light and trend-bending appeal.
Speaking to LGBT Weekly Geoff said, “We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in Rowhouse Showdown as we were helping revitalize a community that was in desperate need of a helping hand. The revitalization process starts with as little as one home and we hope that we were the catalyst to inspire the community to continue the work that we began. We certainly had our fair share of drama throughout the season, but that is the case with any renovation. All in all this was a once in a lifetime experience that neither of us will ever forget.”
Carter Oosterhouse also expressed his support throughout the series, “These guys have great design aesthetic” and “they always wow us.”
Talking about his experience on the show Josh told LGBT Weekly, “I loved being a part of Rowhouse Showdown. It was especially meaningful for me as my grandfather grew up in the same area that we were rehabbing. I also want to thank the more than 20,000 Twitter fans that have supported us throughout this amazing and unforgettable journey.”
The exciting news continues to roll in as the Rowhouse Showdown winners were offered and have signed a production deal with Jane Street Entertainment, the powerhouse team behind the FYI program and the wildly popular Rachael vs. Guy series.
If you like unfinished work then the right people won.