It seems that lightning does strike twice in Elmhurst. The good kind of lightning, that is. The kind that causes Elmhurst residents to get new rooms from HGTV.
We about this cute Elmhurst couple who won a complete kitchen makeover from an HGTV program called Meg's Great Rooms. They told us the whole story, about how their kitchen had water damage and they loved color and out-of-the-ordinary design. They were selected for Episode 6, which aired last Saturday, June 16, and if Facebook is any indication, a lot of people watched it.
End of story, or so we thought.
No sooner did our story run than we received an email from another cute Elmhurst couple. (They even appear to be about the same age.)
"We're the second homeowners in Elmhurst who were chosen for Meg's Great Rooms. Our episode airs June 23!" Jenny Longardner said in the email.
Wait, what?
"We don't need a whole story, but it would be cool to announce that another episode will (feature Elmhurst residents)," Jenny wrote.
So, we'd like you to meet Jenny and Kent Longardner, who live in a 1920s bungalow on Willow. They are first-time homebuyers in Elmhurst and they are a cute, young couple, but that's where the similarities to the Wunderlichs—Elmhurst's other Meg's Great Rooms participants—ends. The Wunderlichs needed kitchen help, the Longardners needed living room help.
"When we moved in, we put a lot of our time and money into re-doing the kitchen," Jenny said. "After we finished the kitchen, we knew our living room needed some TLC, but we we really couldn't decide what to do with it in any aspect: furniture, hanging things on the wall, etc. It was literally a blank canvas, which is why we think it was so appealing to Meg's Great Rooms."
The Longardners applied for the show in October and were chosen in January.
Here's part of what the Meg's Great Rooms web page has to say about their home. (Be prepared. It's not for the faint of heart):
"Their large, open living room is completely devoid of personality with only one lonely picture, hand-me-down furniture and an office recliner awkwardly making up the room. [Ouch!] The problem is that they can't make up their minds about what to do, so they don't do a thing!"
Meg adds architectural detail like crown molding and a chair rail, a custom-fit built-in, a blast of color and a "fun passageway that you'll miss if you're not clued in."
Who doesn't love a fun passageway?
"To top it off, a large photo collage and vintage tiki bar make this space chock full of personality and a great space to entertain."
There you have it. We wish we could tell more, but the HGTV contract forbids it. You'll have to tune in to the show at 8 p.m. Saturday. Again.
And this time, Jenny assures us that no more Elmhurst residents will be showing up on Meg's Great Rooms any time soon.
