Although Stacey and Karen McGhee had planned to remodel their Arkansas home several years ago, life prevented them from being able to do so. Now, after living in the 1,500 sq. ft. home for 17 years, the couple is finally able to tackle a renovation. In the latest episode of “Fixer to Fabulous,” the McGhees called on Dave and Jenny Marrs to help them bring their home into the 21st century.
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One of the most important parts of the renovation was the living room, which was an open, outdated space. Built in 1999, the room was stylistically behind the times but structurally up-to-date. The room was very dark, with harsh wood floors and a notable lack of natural light. The furniture was mismatched and the large back wall was filled with random photos and frames. The existing fireplace was aesthetically appealing and the only thing that the McGhees requested was that the team find a way to get it working. Stacey and Karen were seeking a timeless look that could last another 20 years, so Jenny vowed to “give this whole space a cozy, kind of curated, modern-meets-vintage feel.”
The front door opened directly to the living room, so Dave and Jenny quickly decided that they needed a new door. Karen had recently found an antique front door, so they were able to resize it and use it in the renovation. The wooden door featured a glass oval, which helped bring additional natural light into the space. The team removed the picture frames from the large wall and instead added a raised panel, which provided a simple focal point to the room (while also concealing the door that led to the garage).
The team ripped up the old, dark flooring and brought in flooring with a warmer tone to help make the room lighter and cozier. They painted the shelves next to the fireplace white and crafted an arched wooden feature to complete the built-in look. Jenny placed several pieces of Stacey’s coffee mug collection on the shelves for a personal touch. She also added stylish lava stones to the fireplace for a cool, modern look and incorporated a few evergreen accessories throughout the room. They completed the space with timeless furniture (including a brown couch, neutral chairs, and a wooden coffee table).
Jenny wanted to do something special for Stacey, who had given back so much to the community through his breast cancer awareness work, so she decided to install a stealth ice cream cabinet in the living room. The light wooden cabinet featured an ice cream machine, toppings, bowls, and cones. The doors shut, so the machine could easily be hidden away or put on display for company.
“…[It’s] just an ode to the fact that this house has been with you guys for so long, and you knew it was your house but it didn’t feel like your house,” Jenny said. “And I hope that now it really feels like you guys.”
“Fixer to Fabulous” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.
After years of redesigning the houses of others, HGTV star Hilary Farr decided to put her skills to the ultimate test. In the latest episode of “Love It or List It,” the designer opted to renovate her own recently purchased home. Along the way, she had to impress co-host David Visentin, who was skeptical of the cramped house and encouraged her to list it and buy a different property nearby.
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“I want to consider a different lifestyle,” Farr said, “And I like the idea of living in a smaller but fabulous space.”
Although Farr was initially looking to simply renovate and keep some of the house’s classic cottage charm, structural issues and a termite infestation led her to eventually demolish the entire property and build from the ground up (and add in a second floor). She kept a similar footprint to the original house, in an effort to use the same permit and avoid further delaying the project, which helped her maintain some of the property’s original aesthetic appeal.
Even before she started the renovation, Farr knew that she wanted a total brick home. The original exterior was a one-story structure with green-gray siding and a simple porch. The yard was expansive and lush, with a few massive bushes that shielded the front of the property. After laying the foundation and building the structure of the house, Farr chose a lighter brick that would complement her black roof and windows.
“I chose this specific spray foam insulation, along with natural bricks for the exterior, both of which will help reduce energy consumption,” Farr explained.
Inside the house, Farr went for a modern white look with a few strategic pops of color. In the kitchen, she opted for contemporary luxury and ease. The countertops were entirely white (with a black, storage-filled base). Farr had her team add a kitchen island and four chairs for casual mealtimes (outside of the dining room). She included a fridge, double ovens, a stovetop, sink, dishwasher, freezer, and small wine fridge to help get the most out of the large space. “This kitchen is a huge selling feature for people who love to cook,” Visentin remarked, upon seeing the final reveal. Farr also chose light wood herringbone flooring, which extended from the kitchen into the living room.
The living room, which was built off of the back of the house, featured lots of natural light. Farr added large glass doors, which led out to the deck and yard. Like the kitchen, the walls were a bright white, but the fireplace (the focal point of the room) added a simple gray to the room. Farr brought in a blue couch, blue accent chairs, a white coffee table, and a bare-bones rug. The simple, minimal layout of the room was designed so that Farr’s grandchildren could run around with ease during big gatherings.
Although she was displeased with some of the developments, Farr ultimately decided to “love” the property and stay in it — for now.
“Love It or List It” airs Mondays at 9 pm E.T. on HGTV and discovery+.
From “Fixer Upper” to “Good Bones,” beloved HGTV shows have made their way into millions of homes, influencing design, empowering armchair DIYers, and spurring large-scale obsessions with shiplap walls and subway tiles.
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Back in 2020, Zillow analysts even took a look at the popular TV trends that moved the needle on home sales, discovering that things like board-and-batten designs or rattan helped homes fly off the market — and listings that mentioned freestanding tubs and Moroccan tiles sold for a premium.
But some of these trends appear to be, well, nearing their final season. Here’s what HGTV-inspired styles are on their way out, according to real estate agents.
Scandi style is all about clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic, incorporating items that are functional yet beautiful. But Lauren Reynolds, a Connecticut-based Realtor with Compass, says she’s seeing a shift towards a more modern-traditional aesthetic (and it may have less to do with personal preference and more to do with logistics).
“I’ve been seeing a lot of thrift store finds and antique gems in home decor now,” she says. “I think a lot of that also has to do with the supply chain issues we’ve been experiencing, so people are seeking out alternatives.”
With that in mind, people are still embracing minimalistic design choices and overly accented design is less desirable, she says.
“People are looking for ‘breathing room,’ and to not feel cluttered, especially as we continue to see work from home take root,” Reynolds says.
While white kitchens are classic, the white-on-white trend seems to be falling out of vogue and being replaced with bolder, warmer colors, Reynolds says.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of taupe cabinetry with dark counters, and even deeper jewel tone accents like emerald and deep blues,” she says.
Subway tiles in bathrooms and on backsplashes have become so dang popular that they’re not as exciting anymore, says Jennifer Okhovat, a Realtor at Compass in West Hollywood, California. While they still have their fans, these glazed ceramic tiles are being used as a backdrop for design.
“For example, in the kitchen if there is subway tile backsplash, clients are accessorizing with jars and cutting boards leaning against the backsplash,” Okhovat says. “In the bathrooms, I am seeing more succulents and wood decor to warm up the tiling.”
Wallpaper (the permanent stuff, that is) is kind of like a tattoo, says Elizabeth Sugar Boese, a Boulder, Colorado-based Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. It’s pretty personal — and not always favored when you go to resell your home and you discover it’s hard to remove. If you want to play with wallpaper on an accent wall, she recommends going for a peel-and-stick option that has good reviews. Confirm it really does remove easily, which you’ll appreciate if your own tastes change or you decide to list your house.
Many contractors and buyers are leaning away from granite and more towards stones that make more of a statement, says Josh Stepling, a broker associate with Josh Steppling Group at EXP Realty in Stuart, Florida.
“A uniformly colored piece of Corian can be a better option when paired with colorful surroundings,” he says. “While granite still has its place in certain decors, it can come off as a loud focal point — which can easily be subdued by making sure there isn’t a strong contrast between your granite and cabinet colors.”
Inspired by the 1970s, macrame wall hangings made a big comeback. But, the thing is, these decorative items don’t fit into a lot of people’s homes or broader designs, says real estate agent and designer James Judge. The good news is, if you tire of this trend, it’s easy to replace with another tapestry or wall art.
When Bobby and Ann got married, they decided to call Ann’s house of 10+ years their home. While the space worked for Ann during her single years, the couple were looking to give the house some practical upgrades that made it better suited for two people. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “No Demo Reno,” the newlyweds called on Jenn Todryk to help them turn their house into a home where they could entertain their friends.
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With a budget of $85,000 and timeline of seven weeks, Jenn got to work with her team. The focus points of the renovation were the kitchen and the main bathroom, which were both in need of several updates.
The kitchen’s biggest issue was a lack of function. The room began as a yellow, slightly outdated cooking space with no table. Bobby and Ann were able to eat at the countertop, but it was hard to find seating for any additional dining guests. The room was crowded by a wine rack and fridge, and two bulky trash bins. Bobby also noted the lack of storage in the space, which kept them from properly storing their smaller appliances.
Jenn and her team began the renovation by removing “pretty much everything except for the walls.” They gutted the old counters and cabinets and replaced them with all new products. The countertops were a simple, clean white and the cabinets came in two colors. The top cabinets were white and the bottom cabinets were navy blue. Both sets of cabinets provided a wealth of additional storage. The team also painted over the yellow walls with a white-gray color. After asking the newlyweds about pattern preferences, Jenn opted for an intricate tile backsplash.
“I went calm on the countertop because I wanted to give you all something fun, funky, and geometric on the backsplash,” she shared during the reveal.
Jenn installed a polished nickel light fixture to give the room some additional brightness (while still matching the gray tones in the room). She also brought in a new dining table and black chairs that matched the black counter stools. The room was finished off with a nook by the table, which allowed for additional seating for extra guests.
Like the kitchen, the bathroom lacked a natural flow. Although there were two sinks in the vanity, Ann’s stuff had slowly overwhelmed the space and made it difficult for her and her husband to get ready at the same time. The beige and tan room was also outdated, with old tiles on both the floor and countertop. The shower was also an issue for both parties, since it was too small to comfortably fit Bobby and didn’t have a convenient place for Ann to shave her legs. The duo requested a bright space that was calming, serene, and easy on the eyes.
Jenn and her team started by painting the walls green-gray and adding new patterned tiling to the floor. “I want something fun and funky, because it’s such a small bathroom floor that we can get away with, like, a really cool marble cut,” Jenn explained. She had her team move the shower to another part of the room altogether, which allowed them to elongate the vanity and install two new cabinet spaces for extra storage. The additional space made the bathroom, and the home as a whole, more functional for the day-to-day lives of two people.
“No Demo Reno” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
After having their first child, California residents Megan and Jeff realized that they wanted to be closer to their family and began looking for property in New Hampshire. Following an intense online search, they purchased a 1798 Pelham, New Hampshire farmhouse sight unseen. The young couple called on farmhouse expert Jonathan Knight to help them bring the home into the 21st century (while maintaining some of its historic charm) in the season 2 premiere of “Farmhouse Fixer.”
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While most of the house needed some work, the bulk of Jonathan’s renovations took place in the kitchen. The space began as a wood and brick-filled room. The darkness of the old wood floors matched the kitchen cabinets and ceiling. The space was cramped by the peninsula-shaped countertop and the inclusion of a washer and dryer. The entire flow of the space was thrown off by the brick pillar chimney that was built in the center of the room. Megan’s main hope was for an island countertop, rather than a peninsula, and Jeff requested that they remove the chimney to help open up the room.
With the help of designer Kristina Crestin and the rest of his team, Jonathan gave the room a neutral, modern makeover. After removing the peninsula and bringing in a massive kitchen island, the team added white walls, white trim, white countertops, and taupe cabinets. They also painted the ceiling white, but kept the dark wood beams. Jonathan re-finished the wood floors, which gave them a lighter and cleaner look (rather than the original orange hue) that was more complimentary to the brightness of the room.
“I love that you kept the beams,” Jeff said, upon seeing the final product. “It ties into the rich history of the home and the character.”
The team removed the brick chimney, which wasn’t structural, and the space immediately opened up. They also brought in a wooden dining table, curtains, and two accent chairs to help flesh out the room. In an effort to help give the room some pop without introducing major colors, Kristina picked out black counter chairs and black fixtures. She said that she categorized the color as a neutral that was still able to add contrast to true neutrals. “It feels appropriate to the house, but it can also feel kind of modern,” she explained.
The highlight of the kitchen was the new pantry that Jonathan and his team built. The white and light wood pantry was created in an effort to discreetly house the washer and dryer, but it also became a beacon of extra storage. In addition to subtle shelving, Kristina added eight reclaimed pickle boxes for easy, classic storage (and as a tribute to the home’s origins).
“All this old farmhouse needed was a family who wanted to take a chance,” Jonathan said, “And now, that leap of faith is paying off.”
“Farmhouse Fixer” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
