Hello, fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog!
While at the 2015 Birmingham Home & Garden Show, John and Whitney Spinks from HGTV’s Flipping the Block sat down with the VIP to chat about how Whitney’s blog, Drab to Fab Design, changed their lives. In addition, we chatted about the couple’s time on the show + big design must haves + Whitney’s obsession with skinny jeans *wink*
Meeting the Spinks and hearing their story (and not just the one from Flipping the Block) was such a fabulous experience, and now I am ready to share all of the details with y’all, the VIP readers. So, without further ado, I introduce to y’all John and Whitney Spinks! Yay!
VIP: What was y’all’s experience like on HGTV’s Flipping the Block?
Whitney: Flipping the Block is probably one of the most intense and one of the most rewarding renovation projects that we’ve ever done. The timelines are crazy, the rules of the show are very strict, and you only have a few days to get these major projects done. It was so crazy, but at the same time, it was so much fun.
John: And the cool part about it is it all came from Whitney’s blog. They [creators of Flipping the Block) sent her an email inviting Whitney and myself to apply to be on the show. Out of all the teams on the show, we were the only ones not to go to a casting call–mainly because we did not even know it was going on! Other people had been interviewing and going to casting calls while Whitney was over there blogging and got an email about it.
VIP: I think that’s awesome! Such a lucky opportunity!
John: Yeah, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Almost everything that we learned from the experience was captured on camera, and that’s one thing I think was really great about Flipping the Block. It didn’t just highlight dramatic moments, it also showed the troubles and the good times.
VIP *to Whitney*: So what is the name of your blog?
Whitney: My blog is called Drab to Fab Design!
VIP: That’s a super cute name! How long had you been blogging when they contacted you about applying for the show?
Whitney: Well, I started the blog in November of 2011, and they contacted us about November 2013–so, I had been blogging for two years.
John: And who knows–we will see you [talking to the VIP] on TV soon! Like Bravo or the Style Network!
VIP: Hey…I would not reject to that at all! I love the Style Network! *giggles*
John: In all seriousness, a lot of people like you, me, and Whitney get the opportunity to be on channels like HGTV because the shows need good talent and good personalities!
VIP: Y’all have your design company 27 South Design Group–what can y’all tell me about that?
Whitney: Well, 27 South is our design business, and we started it immediately after we were done with Flipping the Block. We always knew that we wanted to open some type of design business, and Flipping the Block was sort of that push to make us actually do it. The show gave us the confidence we needed to start our dream and launch our business….We live and run our business out of Jacksonville Florida.
VIP: Ooo! Warm down there! I live in Northeast Tennessee now, and it has been a bit since I have seen any warm temperatures.
John: Oh, where at [in Tennessee]?
VIP: Johnson City, Tennessee–up towards the Virginia line.
John: Johnson City!
VIP: It is warmer here [Birmingham, AL] than when I left Johnson City on Friday.
John: Well, where we are from in Indiana is about two hours from Nashville, so we go through Tennessee all the time. We take family vacations to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
VIP: What color would you say best describes each of you?
Whitney: That’s a great question! I am really into blues in design–
John: *motions to Whitney’s outfit*
Laughter among everyone
Whitney: …but I also love grays too. A big part of me really likes deep, sort of moody blues, but I really love bright greens as well.
John: Man…what color? It is so hard to pick one color because when I think of “color”, I think of pink or other bright colors, but when I work with colors, I think more along the lines of leather or steel.
Whitney: He likes a lot of industrial elements.
John: Yes! Industrial–like deep grays. I also like a lot of natural color or color from nature.
Whitney: Think of like natural textures and the colors that those textures have.
John: Oh, texture is a great thing from a design standpoint…then add some color.
VIP: So, what got y’all into doing design?
Whitney: I think it really evolved when John was in the Navy. He was deployed, and I was home by myself. I have always been creative and hands on, so I sort of just dived in with the blog trying new things. And after I started my blog, my love for interior design just sort of blossomed, and I started learning more and more about the processes. I got a lot of inspiration from online and other bloggers, and it all sort of went up from there!
John: Yeah, my thing was like we grew up in a little farm town in Indiana where guys are expected to be a “man’s man”. I was in construction working for a custom-home home builder, but I have always been sketching and designing so the seed was already planted, so to speak. Whitney’s blog and the show just watered it and made it grow. I always felt like designing “wasn’t cool” to do, and as I got older, I realized that I have to do what makes me happy–that is what design does for me.
VIP: Whitney, what is one item in your closet you would never toss out and why?
Whitney: I am a huge, huge fan of a good pair of skinny jeans, so I could never toss out my skinnies! If I find a brand or a style that I really love, I will buy two or three pairs of them. Skinnies are pretty much my staple fashion piece–I am almost always in a pair of skinnies!
John: *joking with the VIP* What? You’re not going to ask me about my favorite clothing piece?
VIP: *joking back* Okay, John–what’s one item in your closet you would never toss out and why? *wink*
John: Well…these worn-out boots I have on right now…and…Ah, who am I kidding. Whitney still dresses me most days.
Whitney: *joking with John and the VIP* It’s true…but his style is evolving haha I don’t care what he wears though. I like him just the way he is.
*awh moment–John and Whitney are pretty much the most adorable couple ever*
CONNECT WITH JOHN & WHITNEY:
Facebook | Instagram (John) (Whitney) (27 South) | Blog | Website
Stay tuned to the sister blog for the rest of the interview with John and Whitney coming soon!
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