Casting calls for HGTV’s newest hit series, Showhouse Showdown, stipulate only professional designers with tons of personality and a unique design perspective need apply. Enter Jason Champion of JKL Design Group in Sarasota, whose "showdown" with Miami-based Mark Michaels will air in December. "They built two identical houses in Dade City, gave us identical budgets and identical time to complete the interiors," says the former contestant on HGTV’s Design Star, revealing only that he’ll be introduced on air as "Jason, the auspiciously named Champion." Here at home, Champion lives in a 1956 atomic ranch on Tulip Street, which contains his own quixotic mix of mid-century modern icons. "I love the size and open floor plan of Sarasota’s ranches; they’re very comfortable, with lots of Old Florida charm," he says.

Want to see Jason’s Design Star audition tape? Watch below!