From a media release:

Ty Pennington is bringing his design expertise to Canadian homes in a fun, informative and fast-paced new series that puts ‘armchair designers’ to the test in Inside the Box with Ty Pennington. Produced by Cineflix Productions in association with W Network, the series starts filming this month, with a broadcast launch set for fall 2010.

Lots of people think they know about interior design – and many are confident they could do better than the experts given the chance. In each 30-minute episode of Inside the Box with Ty Pennington, two keen amateurs who could be friends, relatives, neighbours or work colleagues, go head to head in an all-out design duel. They and their teams have just 48 hours to create a themed room in each of their homes – but there’s a catch: they can only use the materials that arrive in a mystery crate, complete with helpful hints.

The contents of each crate have been chosen specially and personally by Ty himself, based on his interpretation of the challengers’ design styles. But he’s not out to match their styles – he wants to stretch their design imaginations and push them into places they never imagined they would go. Design associate and celebrated Canadian designer Janette Ewan will also be on hand to check in on the rivaling design teams every step of the way.

Since first appearing as the quirky and creative carpenter on the groundbreaking home improvement series Trading Spaces, charismatic TV personality Ty Pennington has become a household name. A true believer in random acts of kindness, Ty has helped transform the lives of thousands – while inspiring millions more around the world – both as the star host of the People’s Choice- and Emmy Award-winning series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC), and of Ty’s Great British Adventure, the highest-rated series ever on UKTV Home. He is also the author of How Good Design Can Change Your Life (2008) and the New York Times bestseller Ty’s Tricks, he has a line of seasonal home décor called Ty Pennington Style (Sears), and recently teamed with industry leader Howard Miller to create his own signature line of furniture.

For over a decade, Janette Ewen has been reporting on the hottest design trends for style publications including Chatelaine, Canadian House & Home and The Globe and Mail. Janette is a regular guest on CityLine, Breakfast Television, Canada AM and Urban Rush.