So which house did they choose? Wichita couple, their new home star on ‘House Hunters’
They didn’t choose the “Forever Victorian’ — a historic mansion in Wichita’s Midtown neighborhood.
They didn’t choose the “Modern Starter,” a west-Wichita house with stone accents on the exterior.
When Wichita newcomers Robert and Lara Brooks starred on a new episode of “HGTV’s “House Hunters,” which aired on Thursday night, they picked their third option — a “Traditional Compromise” with a basketball court in the back yard on Wichita’s east side.
The episode, titled “Getting Started in Wichita,” aired on Thursday night and showcased the couple locked in a typical his-and-her disagreement over what kind of house they wanted.
Lara insisted she wanted a house they could live in forever, and she really wanted a place with 12-foot ceilings where she could erect her massive Christmas tree and a big kitchen where she could do her holiday baking.
Robert, who took over in August as the new director of jazz studies at Friends University, said he preferred a house that was good enough for now and that was turnkey so he wouldn’t be stuck with lots of home projects.
The couple wasn’t cleared by HGTV producers to talk about their experience on the show with the media, but they did confirm that the house they eventually chose — the two-story “Traditional Compromise” with a wood-burning fireplace and a big kitchen — was on Wichita’s east side.
The show, which was filmed over the summer, featured lots of footage from Wichita, and viewers got to see a shots of Exploration Place, downtown and Friends University. In one scene, the couple was interviewed sitting on a bench on Friends’ campus, the grounds green and lush behind them. At the end, they’re shown having coffee and scones at Wichita’s Common Grounds Coffee House, 2812 E. Douglas, as they mull over their options.
The episode also featured lots of screen time for Wichita Realtor Darcie Campell, who works with The Christy Needles Team of Berkshire Hathaway. Needles also appeared in the scene where Robert and Lara were listing what they wanted in their house.
The Brooks have been married for two years, and Lara is a soprano opera singer who teaches at Washburn University. The episode showed off their musical abilities, too. In one scene, Robert plays the saxophone. In another, Lara tests a room’s acoustics but belting out a high note.
The “Forever Victorian” home featured in the episode is the Noble House, an 1888 Victorian home at 1230 N. Waco that was once a bed and breakfast. Crews were spotted filming there this summer. It’s still listed for sale.
The Brooks’ episode should eventually air again on HGTV. In the meantime, it can be seen via the HGTVGo app. It’s episode 11 from season 168.
Wichita’s first-ever “House Hunters” appearance was back in November 2018, when the network featured an episode with Wichita transplants Alex Novotny and Christopher Roberson.
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