American Dream Builders

After nine weeks and 19 renovations, the final two designers meet their final challenge. In their biggest renovation to date, they must transform two dream beach homes in Ventura, Calif. Luckily, they won't have to go at it alone. They are reunited with a few surprise guests to help them. One designer will win the grand prize of $250,000 and be crowned as the first American Dream Builder. Nate Berkus hosts while Eddie George and Monica Pedersen serve as judges.

The dueling teams tackle two empty artist lofts in downtown Los Angeles this week. Their focus will be to present a project that defines them most as a designer. Feeling the pressure, Darren of Team Red builds a unique project in his attempt to prove to the judges he deserves to stay in the competition. Nina Magon takes lead on Team Blue, but she and Jay struggle to divide their odd-shaped open floor plan into multiple living areas. Lukas Machnik serves as site manager for Team Red. One designer is sent home. Nate Berkus hosts while Eddie George and Monica Pedersen serve as judges.

This week the contestants renovate two beautiful craftsman-style homes with families that require an office workspace for their at-home businesses. Team Blue, led this week by Nina Magon, puts Darren Moore's fitness background to use by creating an eco-friendly indoor gym for an owner who is a personal trainer. On Team Red, site manager Erinn Valencich cooks up a classy kitchen for a professional chef. After the judges and the neighborhood council tour the homes, one designer is sent home. Nate Berkus hosts while Eddie George and Monica Pedersen serve as judges.

This week the two teams take on the restoration of cabins in the mountains of Big Bear, Calif. Team Blue, led by site manager Darren Moore, gets creative repurposing elements found in nature and transforming them into a chic interior design. Site manager Dann Foley and Team Red put emphasis on color, creating a unique palette to make the space pop. Design is not the only obstacle this week, however, as the designers must find a way to handle a pesky rodent problem. In the end, one designer from the losing team will be sent home.

Two teams of designers will tackle sweeping makeovers for two mid-century Modern-style homes that are just a few doors down from one another in Palm Springs, Calif. This week the focus is on bringing a "dream home" to reality. The contestants are challenged to create a stunning "outdoor oasis" and, in the midst of things, must deal with a massive rainstorm that causes delays and frustrations. Team Red (headed by Chicago-based designer Lukas Machnik) focuses on creating a tranquil master bedroom, an inviting indoor/outdoor space and they also take on several creative special projects, including a chicken-wire light fixture and a metal sculpture. The team struggles with time management and spends too much time on the sculptures. Team Blue (headed by New York-based designer Andrew Flesher) focuses on the front exterior and the overall interior color scheme. Sparks fly when Team Blue designer Elaine Griffin chooses a color for her living room that everyone else dislikes for the rest of the home's color scheme. After the judges review the homes, Berkus invites a local "neighborhood council" to vote on which house they feel is the best makeover. In the end, one designer from the losing team will be sent home.