Designing for the Sexes

Frank and Andrea Epinger are at a complete standstill in transforming what they refer to as ""the dungeon"" into a comfortable family room everyone can enjoy, including their two dogs Cloey and Baxter. Host Michael Payne arrives to discuss their decorating hurdles: sectional sofa vs. traditional sleeper sofa, hardwood floor vs. stone tile, a sturdy wood coffee table vs. glass. When finished, the room previously is now an elegant but comfortable retreat for every family member and the occasional overnight guest.

Dave and April Rossi are having conflicting decorating ideas with their family room remodeling project. Host Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: overall style of the room; sectional sofa vs. sofa, chair and ottoman; color and style of cabinet as well as the carpet color. When finished, the room is a wonderful blend of compromise.

Chris and Tonya Eggleston have seemingly incompatible visions with redecorating their living room and adjoining dining room. Host Michael Payne arrives to outline the details of their design dilemma: light neutrals vs. dark colors; casual vs. formal and leather vs. chenille. Payne proposes his plans to Chris and Tonya and the plans far exceed their imagination. When finished, the room is a perfect blend of masculine comfort and feminine elegance.

Jay and Lori Telenda are on roads to different design destinations with their home office redecorating project. Michael Payne arrives to discuss the details of Jay and Lori's design differences: overall style of the room, wood stain and accessories. When finished, the room is full of splendor from the dark-stained desk to the travel accessories

Josh and Ruth Silver are having different visions with their master bedroom redecorating project. Michael Payne arrives to outline the problem areas: color, storage and overall style. When complete, the room features an abundance of sophisticated cabinetry complimented by the warmth of sage green walls and handsome bedding.

Dave and Jan Spivey are sprucing up their combined dining room and living room but can't agree on the look and feel of the large space. Host Michael Payne arrives to outline some of the problem areas: he wants simple, she wants stylish; she wants to keep the overstuffed lounge chair, he wants a more refined style. See how they compromise to create a simple, but stylish look.

Peter and Gail Field agree they need to redecorate their three-year-old son Jake's room but can't agree on much else. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: a room entirely centered around a car theme complete with a car-shaped bed or a more traditionally-styled room with cars as accent pieces and a more conventional bed that's able to sleep an occasional guest. Another area of contention is how to store Jake's abundant toys. Peter wants them easily accessible and Gail wants them stored out of sight. When finished, the room is a car aficionados dream with clever car accent pieces and a trundle bed that's perfect for both Jake and an occasional overnight guest!

Dan and Jeri Floyd have been living amongst a sea of boxes in their living room for over nine months because they can't agree on how best to decorate the room. Michael Payne figures out where the heart of the conflict lies: their overall style and color preferences. He draws a plan for the Floyds' living room that incorporates her need for tranquility and simplicity with his taste for color and warmth. When finished, the Floyds' living room is an elegant yet colorful space that incorporates both of their styles and enough new shelving for both of their belongings.

Rob and Carol Haymer want to redecorate their family room. They both agree they want to remove the five-inch step down, which divides the room in half, but the agreement ends there. Michael Payne arrives to outline the problem areas: flooring surface, the existing plantation shutters, the existing bar and fireplace and whether or not to have a sectional sofa or several lounge chairs. When finished, the Haymer's family room is an enlarged and unified room, complete with a non-sectional sofa, several lounge chairs, slate flooring and a wonderful sitting nook. This is a family room the entire family will enjoy.

Dave Luce and Chris Mootz agree their kitchen needs a facelift but have different opinions on how the new kitchen should look. Michael Payne arrives to discuss the issues: slate vs. hardwood floors, light vs. dark cabinets and the overall look of the room. When completed, the room is a sophisticated blend of both Dave and Chris' ideas.

Don and Gloria Stasi want to redecorate their living room. They both agree that something needs to be done but they can't agree on a common vision. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: no window coverings vs. drapery, retro vs. classy furnishings and what to do with the fireplace. When finished, it's a sophisticated and inviting room with a retro flare that both Don and Gloria will enjoy.

Barbara Zimmermann and Bill Christian want to redecorate their 1950s bathroom. They both agree something needs to be done but they have conflicting ideas on just how much should be done. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: a simple cosmetic update or totally regutting the entire bathroom; pedestal sinks vs. vanities and ceramic tile vs. natural stone. When finished, it's a sophisticated and handsome room both Barbara and Bill will enjoy.

Nancy Lyon and Mark Daniels need to redecorate their kitchen. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: refurbish the existing cabinets or buy new, natural stone countertops vs. solid surface and what type of material to use for the floor. He draws up a plan that will open up the room and create a greater sense of space. When finished, it's an open room with a fresh contemporary look that maintains the integrity and charm of the old room.

Frank and Debbie Winton can't even agree on whether or not to redecorate their family room and the disagreement doesn't end there. Michael Payne arrives to outline the problem areas: whether or not to integrate a home office into the room, choice of wall color and flooring. When finished the room is a warm and inviting space that integrates both Debbie's need for a home office and Frank's need for a comfortable TV room.

Les and Dawn Kozlowski need to remodel their kitchen. Both know they need to open the room up and create a greater sense of space. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: the lighting, the cabinets and what type of materials to use for the counters and floor. He draws a plan for the Kozlowskis' kitchen that will expand the space by removing some of the existing upper cabinets. When finished, it's a spacious, elegant room with a beautiful tile mural, granite counters and lots of natural light.

Mike and Joanne Romanelli are at a total loss over their nearly barren living room. Michael Payne arrives to add some insight to their unusual design dilemma. Joanne envisions the room as a formal sitting area, which is in stark contrast to Mike's vision. He wants the room to have a relaxed, masculine feel to it. Payne discusses his plans at his drafting table and once the couple sign off on his plans, they all head to Scavenger's Paradise to shop for a wall sconce and then go to the Leather Factory to shop for furniture. Finally, Payne visits again to see how all their hard work has paid off. The once barren room is now a comfortable and elegant sitting area both Joanne and Mike will enjoy!

Rich and Helene Ellis want to remodel their master bedroom. They both agree the room lacks style and storage space. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: selecting wall color, bed linens and what to do with the awkwardly-shaped closet. Payne draws up a plan for the couple's bedroom that will add style and a walk-in closet to satisfy both their needs. When finished, it's an elegant and organized room with added storage space.

Ron Dadetta and Carol Todd are on the verge of seeing red over their all-white living room and adjoining dining room. Michael Payne discusses his plans, which include replacing the existing hardwoods and staining them in a darker color consistent with the rest of his plans. Restoration on the ceiling beams to make them a more natural tone begins. Payne arrives to see the dramatic change for himself. A little give and take went a long way with Carol and Ron's living room and adjoining dining room.

Tim and Robyn Schepman are at a loss for ideas on decorating the room they call their ""heritage"" room. Payne outlines the problem areas: wall coloring, furniture fabric and overall layout of the room. He suggests dividing the room into two separate areas to maximize the space. They go to Valley Furniture to look for an unfinished TV cabinet with pocket doors and abundant display space. Finally, Payne re-visits the Schempmans to see how the compromise worked out. The room that once made Robyn feel anxious and rushed is now a comfortable family retreat the whole family can enjoy.

James Vowell and Codette Wallace are at odds over their troublesome TV room. Michael Payne arrives and he and the couple discuss the issues. Together, the enormous TV and bookshelf overpower the room. The other issue is lack of seating for guests. They go on a field trip to Sofa U Love in search of ideas for a new sofa. Payne shows the couple a sectional sofa, which will accommodate both of their tastes. He then introduces a deep green fabric that incorporates both Codette's need for color and James' desire for subtlety. He comes to the rescue once again with a rich, buttery yellow color for the walls. Finally, James kept his enormous TV and gained a storage cabinet surrounding it to store all of his equipment. Codette was also successful in keeping her books and chatchkes. The new sectional is an example of a perfect compromise and also creates a large seating area, great for entertaining guests. The room that was once overpowered by two competing pieces of furniture is now warm and i

Larry and Mary Py want to renovate their den and adjacent office and luckily, they both agree on changing the mirrored wall and fireplace. Michael Payne outlines the problem areas: selecting the fireplace stone, deciding on the room's color palette, the window treatments and the mirrored wall. He draws up a plan for the couple's den and office that will satisfy both Larry and Mary's needs. When finished, it's a warm and inviting living space.

Newlyweds Andrew and Robin Taylor are in a bind over their stuck-in-the-'70s master bathroom. Michael Payne discusses his designs for the bathroom, including the installation of a new whirlpool tub. Next, Payne takes them shopping at the Hydro Systems factory showroom for a new tub, and then on to Walker Zanger's to look for new shower and floor tile. Finally, Payne re-visits the Taylors, anxious to investigate the newly-transformed bathroom. The mix of contemporary and traditional styles is a welcome change from the dated, disco-era master bathroom.

Michael Payne meets with Bart and Tracy Carpenter to discuss the conflict regarding the condition of their old concrete driveway and overgrown shrubs. Payne takes the couple on a field trip to a flagstone yard while the driveway demolition and planning of plants begins. Finally, Payne makes his last visit to see the transformation--the yard is now open and airy featuring a low-maintenance water fountain.

Fred Beerstein, a middle school teacher and his wife, Denise, a geographer for the National Park Service have been married for five years and are both classical musicians. They moved into their 1964 ranch home three years ago and immediately began implementing major cosmetic changes. They have done most the work themselves, creating a home that reflects their traditional/contemporary style. Now it is time for them to update their guest bathroom, and they can't seem to strike a similar chord. Fred wants to do a major overhaul while Denise wants to keep the project simple. He wants a fun, colorful room with a skylight, while Denise wants clean white everything.

Jeff and Mary Wilson and their two kids have lived in a modest beach bungalow for the past two-and-a-half years. They want to update the existing family room without spending a lot of money. Having visited the Wilson home, Michael Payne sits down at his design table to come up with a new look for their family room. His plans include removing the sliding glass door and building a half wall, in which he will place a single French door and a window. When done, the furniture layout offers ample seating for quiet nights at home or festive get-togethers.

Penny Starr and Terry Ridgeway, newlyweds, just purchased a 492-square-foot single apartment in an historical building. They have the problem of how to make a small space suitable for one into a cozy home suitable for two. Michael Payne, knowing Penny and Terry's dilemma, draws a plan which optimizes their small space, creating a foyer by designing a small wall by the entry, also allowing for a hanging wall storage unit. With all the remodeling out of the way, Payne takes the couple shopping at Pottery Barn for furniture. He arrives to see Penny and Terry's finished project and what a transformation

Kathleen Marinaccio and Dana Moreshead are turning their garage into an office in order to accommodate Kathleen's graphic design business. Michael Payne takes Kathleen and Dana shopping at Ikea to look at industrial-style lighting fixtures for the space. Payne draws the plans for Kathleen and Dana's office and discusses the changes he designed on the closet and windows. Finally, Payne arrives to see Kathleen and Dana's finished office and is thrilled with the results of his design ideas.

Cathee and Ivan reach a compromise. He can have his five-foot TV in the family room if she can have the entire family room redesigned. First, they go to Restoration Hardware to look at cabinetry and mantels. Then they check out different fabrics for their new furniture. The tile is put down, the paint is applied and the TV finds a home in the custom-made cabinets and mantel.

Follow a couple as they agree upon decorating ideas for their home. The Romans are renovating their master bedroom and bath. Host Michael Payne assists the couple in reaching an agreement that both can be happy with.