New HGTV Series Featuring a Pagosa Springs Couple
Husband and wife duo star in "Building Roots," premiering Sunday, April 10th
Ben and Cristi Dozier interview and portrait at the Straub family home. | Photos courtesy HGTV
HGTV’s newest home renovation show Building Roots takes place in Pagosa Springs, CO. Hosts and husband and wife duo Ben and Cristi Dozier hail from Austin, Texas. After deciding they needed a change of scenery, the now family of six recently fled for the hills. Specifically, for a 100-year-old Victorian riverfront in Pagosa Springs. Their business Root Design Company which began as a landscaping company has since expanded to a full-service design brand. With several stunning projects in the San Juan Mountain under their belt, their long-awaited TV show is sure to impress.
Building Roots aims to transform houses into homes. “I hope it’s less about what we build and more about who we build up,” Ben told HGTV. “These families are taking risks with these projects and find it rewarding. I hope other people get inspired by that to get outside and take that risk or make that move, whatever it is.”
Ben and Cristi Dozier portrait in home studio.
Co-Executive Producer and Showrunner of the series Michelle McDonald tells Colorado Homes & Lifestyles that hosts “Ben and Cristi are the real deal. True salt-of-the-earth people. Their designs are very architectural and high caliber, yet attainable. They are inspired by their surroundings and love using natural materials, plus Ben’s designs always tell a story. The relatability of what they are doing both in their personal and professional lives, mixed with beautiful imagery of the rugged Rocky Mountains and flowing streams, are the perfect ingredients for a TV show.”
As production took place over the course of the pandemic, “[the show] was hit with rising costs of construction materials, labor and material shortages and long lead times on orders/deliveries, says McDonald. “The nationwide omicron outbreak also forced us to shut down filming for a few weeks.” Despite the holdups, the show came together in time for its April 10 premiere on HGTV.
When asked what the most unique part of filming was, McDonald explains that “watching firsthand how [Ben and Cristi’s] minds work and seeing their designs evolve was truly remarkable. First, Ben has to walk the space, hear the clients’ stories and really understand their desires before he goes back to his design barn and sketches for hours, sometimes days. As the builds get underway, even up until the very end, those designs continue to evolve and change. Meanwhile, Cristi and her team are so busy selecting furniture and decor. Living in a small mountain town means incredibly limited resources for finishes, staging, and styling, and oftentimes they have to get creative because something isn’t available. For the most creative build elements, they turn to their community, tapping a local welder, woodworkers and artisans for help.”
Whilst filming the show, Ben and Cristi impressively found time for another passion project. In 2019 the couple purchased a local coffee shop and thus Root House Coffee + Shop was born. With a selection of coffee, cocktails and homemade baked goods, the Doziers aim to give locals fuel for their adventures. “During production, I developed a love for Ranch Waters and the House Latte,” McDonald boasts about Root House.
Tune in to HGTV on Sunday, April 10, 9/8c or stream episodes same-day on HGTV GO.
