Here’s What Makes the Property Brothers’ ‘Celebrity IOU’ the Perfect Holiday Binge
HGTV
While property brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott have many shows under their tool belts, “Celebrity IOU” might be the best to get in the holiday spirit. After all, this series features famous folks bestowing home makeovers as surprise gifts to people who deserve a huge thank you for all of their hard work—talk about heartwarming!
In the latest episode, “Cheryl Hines Gifts a Garage Makeover,” the comedic actress best known for playing Larry David‘s wife on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” helps the brothers convert her longtime assistant and friend Sarita‘s garage into a backyard sanctuary.
Garage before the remodelHGTV
Sarita is in Florida for 3.5 weeks visiting her mother, so Jonathan and Drew have an extremely limited amount of time to “transform Sarita’s unused garage into a multipurpose personal retreat meets guest suite,” says Drew.
As always, they rise to the occasion, and as they work, they give some outstanding and surprising tips that could well elevate your own home. Take a look at what we learned.
A garage retreat needs a kitchenette and bathroom
Converted garage with a kitchenetteHGTV
“No full-service retreat is complete without a chic kitchenette,” says Drew. “Boasting tons of storage, sleek porcelain countertops, and compact appliances, this five-star space will offer a boutique vibe for Sarita’s visiting relatives, or for her own staycations.”
Then he adds another must-have component. “Speaking of five-star, we’ll add a spa-inspired bathroom, complete with porcelain tile shower and glass enclosure, as well as a spacious vanity.”
Don’t try too hard to match colors to the main house
Jonathan and Drew Scott consider exterior paint colors.HGTV
“I know that some homeowners like to match up the guesthouse to the main house,” says Jonathan while considering the exterior paint color of the detached garage.
However, “I would like to take Sarita outside of her comfort zone a little bit,” he continues. “Because at some point, I’m assuming, they’re probably going to repaint the main house.”
The house, it turns out, is yellow with green accents—a color scheme that will likely change. Jonathan wants to find “something we can do that will look good and ties in like an accent, but in the future allows them to modernize.”
By process of elimination, he and Drew decide to go dark.
Insulation turns a garage into a true living space
Adding insulationHGTV
Formerly, like most garages, this space was nothing but framing, tar paper, and drywall on a cement foundation. The property brothers are changing that, adding one of the most important construction features.
“It’s all about the insulation,” says Jonathan.
“This insulation we’re putting on the walls is a premium product. It’s a lot more dense, it’s got sound dampening, and it’s fireproof,” explains Jonathan as he presses it into place on the walls.
Then the Scotts turn toward the ceiling.
“This foam board insulation we’re using on the underside of the roof is backed with aluminum that provides a ton of insulation,” says Jonathan.
“The aluminum actually regulates the room’s temperature by reflecting the sun’s rays during the day,” adds Drew.
“Using science to create comfort,” confirms Jonathan. “I like it!”
Luxury vinyl flooring is easier to install
Installing luxury vinyl flooring in a herringbone patternHGTV
By now, anyone who’s ever watched a renovation show knows that luxury vinyl flooring is durable, beautiful, waterproof, and relatively inexpensive, but the property brothers point out that it’s also easier and faster to install.
They want to go with a herringbone pattern, which, if done in wood, would be impossible to lay down in their limited time frame.
“The only reason we’re going to be able to do it with this product is because it just clicks into place,” says Jonathan. “Because normally, like if I’m doing actual hardwood in a herringbone pattern, it’s a lot of work.”
“It’s nice when they’re precut and labeled,” says the worker helping him, as they easily and quickly slip the planks into place. “It makes it very user-friendly.”
Add pea gravel between patio pavers
On-trend patio paversHGTV
“Reimagining this current concrete slab into on-trend patio pavers won’t just give off chic California vibes, but it will also unite this guesthouse with the rest of the backyard,” says Jonathan.
What makes them “on trend” is that they’re individual square slabs laid in a checkerboard fashion with pea gravel poured into the spaces in between. Some people plant grass in the grid or use artificial turf, but the pea gravel is far lower maintenance.
Do the property brothers deliver?
Once Hines removes Sarita’s blindfold so she can see her newly renovated garage, she is astounded.
“I’m in love with it! It’s so inviting now,” she exclaims. “It’s amazing. It’s so beautiful. My mind is blown.”
Hines and Sarita get teary-eyed as they talk about all that Sarita has done for Hines over the years, and all that Hines has done in return. It’s the perfect dose of feel-good vibes that might leave you wondering: Is there anyone in your life who could stand for some improvements around their own abode, too?
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