Free House

Dallas-area house is up for grabs in HGTV's latest smart-home sweepstakes

If you're willing to click twice a day, you could be cooking in this kitchen.

Jennifer Boomer/Getty Images

Texas is where it's at for the latest HGTV "Smart Home," an annual sweepstakes in which the grand prize is a newly built, fully furnished home, along with a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE and $100,000 from LendingTree.

The 2019 Smart Home is in Roanoke, in a development called Fairway Ranch, a sustainable community with walking trails, greenbelts, a community pool, and parks.

To get your shot at winning, you go to HGTV's website and submit an entry, which you can do twice a day. The sweepstakes begin at 9 am April 24.

For perspective, the 2018 sweepstakes drew 95 million total entries.

The Roanoke house is a 3,400-square-foot, single-level Southern contemporary with 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms that blends top tech with Texas style.

Features include a media room, 3D movie theater, home office, playroom, master suite, and butler's pantry. An outdoor patio boasts a grilling and gaming area, movie screen, and covered spaces for dining and relaxing.

The house was designed by Tiffany Brooks, HGTV's go-to interior designer; she won the network's competition show HGTV Design Star in 2013. The HTGV website includes a video of Brooks explaining her process.

"I can't just put cowboy boots and hats up on the wall," she says. "I need to be not so cliche." Cliche is a noun. She clearly meant to say "cliched" with a D, which is the adjective form of cliche.

There's also a video announcing the location that relies on more cliches in its description of Roanoke. They call it a "Dallas-Fort Worth suburb," and show a panorama of images all focusing on Dallas, including the Dallas skyline and noted Dallas icons such as the Traveling Man sculpture in Deep Ellum.

HGTV launched the Smart Home sweepstakes in 2008 as an offshoot of its similar, long-running "Dream Home" giveaway. Prior Smart Home locations have included Scottsdale, Nashville, and Austin, which was home to the 2015 Smart Home. Many of the winners end up selling the house rather than moving into it.

Eligible viewers can enter to win on HGTV.com. The giveaway period runs through June 10. You can also sign up for daily email reminders.

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Closure News

Furniture chain American Freight to close all stores with 7 in Dallas

American Freight

There's a big sale going on at American Freight.

There's a huge sale on furniture going down right now, but for a sad reason: American Freight, a chain of furniture stores operating in dozens of states, is permanently shuttering all 328 locations, due to “sustained inflation and macroeconomic challenges,” according to its parent company.

That includes seven stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The closing comes after its parent company, Franchise Group, Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection, according to documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Store closing sales began on November 5, both online and at its 328 locations. Hilco Consumer-Retail is managing these sales for American Freight as the business winds down its operations nationwide. Significant discounts are being offered on the brand's full assortment of inventory.

Shoppers can save up to 30 percent off the lowest ticketed prices storewide. Available items include living room sets, bedroom furniture, dining tables, and a selection of scratch & dent and new in-box appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers.

New inventory is arriving and expected to move quickly, so customers should take advantage of this prime opportunity to enjoy exceptional deals before it's too late.

"Our goal is to deliver outstanding value to customers during this full chain closing sale," said Ian Fredericks, CEO of Hilco Consumer-Retail. "Everything is on sale and must be sold, and we recommend shopping early for the best selection."

During the store closing sales, select American Freight financing and delivery services will remain available to customers, presenting a unique opportunity to shop exceptional discounts with the convenience of flexible payment and home delivery.

The chain has 39 stores in Texas, including 7 in DFW, all closing as follows:

1825 Westpark Dr Grand Prairie
2964 W Wheatland Rd, Dallas
109 N Greenville Ave, Allen
1215 Marsh Ln, Carrollton
1418 N Town East Blvd, Mesquite
401 Southwest Plaza, Ste 105, Arlington
1265 Town Square Dr, Fort Worth

Sale Details
They're offering up to 30 percent off the lowest ticketed prices on furniture, scratch & dent, and new in-box appliances. Discounts are valid in stores and online. All sales are final, of course. Shop now for the best selection while supplies last.

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