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The kitchen remodel of Gregory and Natalie DeCuir will be featured on the HGTV series “America’s Most Desperate Kitchens” at 7 p.m. this Wednesday (July 27).  The episode is titled “French Country Kitchen.” The Decuir family home is in Covington. Gregory is a native of Marksville. Pictured, from left, are series host John Colaneri, Gregory DeCuir holding son Jude, Natalie DeCuir holding son Rowan and series host Anthony Carrino. {Photo courtesy of Genevieve Decuir}

Marksville native to appear on 'Most Desperate Kitchens' show Wednesday

 

    If someone offered to remodel your kitchen, free of charge, would you count your lucky stars or turn them down because there must be a catch?
   Marksville native Gregory Decuir and wife Natalie were presented that opportunity when “Most Desperate Kitchens” chose the kitchen of their Covington home for the Home & Garden Television series.
    The Decuirs said “Yes.” 
   Oh, the catch was they had very little say in what the remodelers did to their kitchen.
   If you get HGTV, you can witness the transformation this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the episode entitled “French Country Kitchen.”
  Although the Decuirs already know the final result of the crew’s three days of work -- and Gregory said they are pleased with what was done -- they will be sharing with other viewers the process involved in the project.
  “We will be seeing (for the first time) all the work that went into making our new kitchen when the show airs,” Gregory said. “They kick you out of the house for three days, then you see the new kitchen, so we have no idea how much work they had to get done.”
   Gregory is the son of Dennis and Genevieve Decuir of Marksville. 
   Gregory and Natalie auditioned for the show by submitting a 90-second video of their kitchen via the show’s website. They were hoping to bring their 1980’s style kitchen into the 21st Century.
   Some time later, they interviewed with program representatives in November.
   “They told us ‘Either the two hosts will show up at your door to film the show or they will not -- and thanks for submitting a video to us,’” Gregory said.
   On Feb. 22, series hosts Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri turned up on the Decuirs front doorstep to begin filming the upcoming episode.
   “We met them and then got sent to a friend’s house for three days,” Gregory said. “After the three days, we came back and shot the ‘big reveal.’”
   Decuir said the only outsiders on the set were the hosts and camera crew.
   “They use all local contractors and builders,” Gregory said. “They buy their supplies all locally.”
   A condition of being included in the show was to relinquish all design rights over the project.
  “They do ask you what are some things you absolutely do not want in your kitchen and what are some ‘must haves,’” Gregory said. “They do take your input into some consideration, but it is all up to the show.”
   Although they are contractually prohibited from sharing photographs of the new kitchen until the episode airs, the Decuirs are extremely happy with the outcome.
   “We had an idea of what we wanted it to look like, but they knocked it out of the park,” Gregory said. “The end result was better than what we wanted.”
   Gregory is a pilot and Natalie is a flight attendant. We mention the occupations only because they factor into the theme of this week’s show.
  HGTV states on its website that “A pilot and flight attendant’s 1980’s kitchen is brought up-to-date with a French country feel. John and Anthony remove a load-bearing wall to open up the space for wall-to-wall cream cabinetry, and add a custom surround hood and armoire fridge cabinet to keep the stainless steel hidden.”
    The summary also notes that the new kitchen includes an airline-themed bar cart.