Good Bones (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - A Structure Worth Saving - full transcript

I'm Mina,
and this is my mom, Karen.

And we're renovating Indianapolis,

one house at a time.

Every rotten, nasty house
that we see...

- Oh!
- Holy moly.

...we try and buy.

Then with a little vision... And a lot of hard work...

...we create beautiful homes
for our neighbors.

- Oh, my gosh.
- Wow.

I don't want to build
crappy houses for my neighbors.

I just don't.



- Are you crying already?
- It looks amazing.

Every tragic house...

There's the bathtub!

...deserves a second chance.

Holy God.
This smells awful.

Because underneath
all that mess,

we might find
some really good bones.

What are you doing, lady?

Will you remind me never
to plant anything in a pot

that's narrower at the top?

Should I also remind you
not to plant things

in your work clothes?

Can you not get it out?

No, because this
is what happens--



you can't ever get them out
when they need to be re-potted.

We don't have time for that.

Dad is asking
when we're gonna get over.

He's saying he's actually ready

and now he wants us there,
like, yesterday.

Mina's dad has been
bugging her

about doing some work
on his house.

Except, he asks me and then
never goes through with it,

because I actually think
the idea of doing it

scares him a little bit.

He's a brilliant
orthopedic surgeon,

but he just doesn't
like change.

So, we're gonna strike
while the iron's hot.

We're gonna get over there.

Lock him in.
Lock him in.

How much time do I have?

Three minutes.

All right, we ready?

- Boom. Problem solved.
- Problem solved.

Today we're going to my dad,
Casey's, house.

He lives with his lovely wife,
Missy, and their two boys,

which are my half-brothers,
Steven and Johnny,

and their cat and their dog
and some fish.

I mean, it's probably been
at least five years

that Dad's been
wanting work done.

What are his ideas?

Like, he wants me to
"renovate" his kitchen for him.

My understanding,
that the cabinets

that are in the kitchen
are original from

when the house was built,

when you guys started
building it 30 years ago.

So, Casey and I had
three children together.

After all the children
were born,

we started building this house
because we needed more space.

Let's go check it out.

I want to do something
with these sunflowers.

But then we decided
we needed to get divorced.

Eventually, when
the divorce was final,

he moved into this house
and I moved out.

So this is the house where
Mina grew up part of the time.

Our family is a ridiculous,
complicated, messy pile of love.

Hello?

Hello!

- Hello!
- Hi!

- Hi, guys.
- Hey. How are you?

- Good. How are you?
- Good, good, good.

Missy's a hoot.
I love her.

She married my dad
when I was in high school.

She puts up with all of us.
Our family's absolutely crazy.

They're not her people.

And it's like, "Oh, and, hey,
hang out with my ex-wife."

Right.
"Do that, too."

And she's... nice about it.

And I--
we like each other.

We get along.

After 30 years
in the house,

you've decided
to make some changes?

- Yeah.
- Ready to mix things up?

Wait, wait.
That wasn't convincing.

- That wasn't convincing.
- A few changes, yes.

I'm ready for a change.

Yes! That's what
we want to hear!

Missy's ready.

We're gonna drag Dad

kicking and screaming
through the change.

So, Dad has wanted me to help
with his remodel for years,

but he keeps dragging
his feet

because he really is
afraid of change.

And, finally, he's decided
to let me help

with the update of the kitchen,
the great room,

and the dining room.

And it's great.

There's no structural work
that we need to do.

We just need to
freshen up the space

and get rid
of all that clutter.

If he can handle that.

But, yeah, we've got
a lot going on.

We got seven
buffet servers in one room.

We store a lot
of stuff on them.

And this is the table
I had my first birthday at.

Are any of these pieces
gonna go?

Working my dad
through getting rid of things

is a full-time job.

You need, like, six people
full time for two years.

Why do you have this?

Oh, why?!

Lookit-- he's so afraid
that you're touching that.

What do you mean?
Why not?

Whuh!

Don't do that.

What is this?

It's our wedding top.

The top of our wedding cake.

This is the top
of your wedding cake?

Yes.

You could use it
for your wedding cake.

I'll keep that in mind.

I'll save it for you.

I'm sure you're gonna
save it regardless.

I'll save that for you.

And that.
And that, and that.

As long as
I've known your father,

he really,
really, really likes

things that are sentimental
and traditional.

There's just
too much to enjoy it.

Just, we're gonna try
- to pare it down a bit.
- Right.

We've gotten
way off track.

This room, we got it, is kind of
like just a little makeover.

We're gonna make it
more functional.

Big project's
the kitchen, right?

- Right.
- Well, let's go talk about that.

Yes.

So, this is where the bulk of
the project's gonna be.

This is the main
motivating thing

for the whole project, yeah.

So, what are you guys' ideas
for this space?

Cabinets up to the ceiling.

Okay.

Window-- a bigger one
looking out.

And, of course,
Missy wants a dishwasher.

I want a dishwasher.

And we're gonna
get you a dishwasher.

I mean, you've--
what, 15 years,

and you haven't had
a dishwasher?

Poor Missy. All she wants
in the world is a dishwasher.

Dad ripped theirs out years ago
'cause when Tad was little,

he apparently used to start it
and flood the kitchen.

Tad ruined it for her.

How do you feel about
your cabinet space?

We always need
more cabinet space.

Unfortunately, the size
of their kitchen

isn't gonna change dramatically.

But we're gonna
take the cabinets

all the way up to the ceiling,

so we're gonna be able to give
them more functional storage.

There's a breakfast bar that's
really just taking up space.

So we're going to
get rid of that,

and then we're gonna put
a big picture window in.

We're gonna put nice,
new, big French doors

to give it a little more...

Grandness.
...grandness.

A little more drama.

All right, so, we're on
the same page with the kitchen.

So, let's talk about
these spaces--

the dining/living area
over here.

The main focus
is the fireplace, right?

Yes.

So, you want
the fireplace beefed up

so the mantel's deeper.

And then just make it beefier
so there's more--

More three-dimensional.

Yeah, it's like this thick.

I think we just need to
streamline Dad and Missy's

living room, get rid of
the clutter,

and give it a focal point.

And a new mantel
will be perfect for that.

And to make it balance,
we'll get rid of the window

on the left of the mantel
and then install

a high, skinny one on the left
to match the one on the right.

How long
has that been up there?

Oh, I think it's been
probably 15-years-plus.

Probably, yeah.

There's a window that Casey has
in the living room,

and by all reports,
he put that, like, snowflake,

frosting stuff on it
at Christmas 15 years ago.

15-plus.

And they decided
just to never take it down.

It's in the background of
the Christmas pictures, right?

Yeah.
There's the window.

The window's in it.

So, he has this tremendous
sentimental attachment

to this window.

So we need to get creative

and find a way
to save the window

but not have it on display
year round.

Exactly.

It's just, it's a kids house.
It's been a kids house forever.

And so, at this point,

we're trying to maybe
make it more like a--

- A grown-up?
- Adult, yeah.

Like adults live here?

He has kids-- the youngest
is 11, and the oldest is 31.

And now he's at a point
in his life

where he can have
a nice house.

So, what you want
to do over here

is just kind of
make these match.

Yeah, open up the wall
so the hall's

not so claustrophobic.

And then mirror them, yeah.

The entryway into the house--
right now,

it feels really closed in.

So we're gonna cut out
the wall between the staircase

and the hallway
so we just have spindles

instead of a solid wall.

And we will have to have a post
here to support the weight.

We'll put a header.

But you'll be able
to have the railing

like you do on this side.

I think that'll make
a big difference.

Is there anything else
we need to talk about?

The deck.

The deck? Okay.

Let's go look at that.

So, what's going on
out here?

Well, we're gonna
move the gas line

and move it over
to where the grill is.

That makes sense.

And then finish
the gray part of the deck.

Then, also, we have
some concerns--

when you're putting
the door in, this wall

is sort of separated,
and if you push on it,

it jiggles.

There's give
to your brick wall.

- 1/16th-- Oh! Oh!
- Oh, don't pull out!

We have some concerns-- when
you're putting the door in,

this wall is sort of separated,
and if you push on it,

it jiggles.

There's give
to your brick wall.

- 1/16th-- Oh! Oh!
- Oh, don't pull out!

Oh... Push in, don't pull out.

I think that might have
to be replaced.

- Okay.
- Yeah.

Today we are at
my dad, Casey's, house.

He's had kids for decades,
and now he's at a point

in his life where he can have
a nice house.

And I think I probably
owe him that

'cause I ruined a lot of stuff
when I was little.

We've got a lot of work ahead of
us, so let's get rolling.

- Get to work.
- Let's go.

I don't know if I trust
anyone else other than Mina.

I've seen all
of her other houses,

and all of them have
turned out beautifully.

What do you think?

I think
she does an awesome job.

So, I know outside
wasn't really in his plan,

but it needs some love.

- Do the few repairs, paint.
- Yeah.

I mean, honestly,
landscaping--

you're just gonna be
our indentured servant.

'Cause there's no money
in the budget for landscaping,

and this is out of control.

I know. But you know--

you know it's gonna hurt
his soul if I take these down.

Yeah, these got to go.

You can't even see
the bay window.

I know.

All right, so, where are we
on the money on this one?

I think we can get it done
all in for about $35,000.

The kitchen, with cabinets,
appliances, countertops,

that's gonna be
the biggest expense.

Then, the great room
and dining room,

we've got new paint, new floors,
windows, and a mantel.

That can run maybe $7,000.

And the new deck outside,
some landscaping,

and all the exterior paint,
that's probably gonna cost

close to $3,000.

- That's a lot.
- If he's not happy,

I'm gonna
punch him in the face.

That's what
it's coming down to.

So...

I just have one question
about the budget--

Does it include
the cost of therapy?

Because he's gonna need
some therapy for this.

There's not enough budget
in the world for that.

He's going to.
This is gonna be hard for him.

Not enough
in the world for that.

My goal is to make
Casey and Missy happy.

And it terrifies me.

I'm not the least bit worried
about Missy not liking anything.

It's just my dad, because
he is so not into change.

Today is demo day
at Spicebush.

We're tearing
the kitchen out.

So, in theory, when we walk in
there, everything's out.

I told him he needed
to move everything out.

Yeah.

This house is not
going down to the studs

like most of our projects.

It's more of
a finesse renovation.

Yes, cosmetics.

Cosmetic.

What is all this stuff?

This room was supposed
to be empty.

He didn't move anything
out of this room.

Not a thing.

He took the table down.
That's it.

All the 30 chairs.

Couch is still here, table.

I remember specifically
talking to your dad

about
clearing everything out,

and I thought we had
agreement on that.

But there must have been
a miscommunication.

All right, so, most of
the demo's in the kitchen.

Let's just pull
this stuff out of the way.

When the guys come, I'll have
them take the couch out,

'cause I'm pretty sure
that's actually trash.

Luckily, demo isn't massive
on this project,

so I think we're still
gonna be able to get it done

in a reasonable amount of time
after we move all the furniture.

Of course, the fridge
is full of food.

I'm not even-- like,
I don't know what's going on.

It has to go
into the garage--

first thing
that has to happen.

I'm not putting this
in the garage full of food.

It weighs like
a thousand pounds.

So, I want this
slid out of the way

of the kitchen demo for now.

We'll plug it back in
over there.

I don't know why
he needs food

when he's not gonna
live here for a month.

See that right there?

That's from back in the day,
when I punched it.

That's a pretty
little dent.

My brother Tad
is super excited

to break some stuff
in his childhood home.

He grew up here, too,
but way after me.

What's past the refrigerator?
What are we doing after that?

Okay. Fridge out--

Are we gonna, like,
break this and stuff?

Just take it easy, bubba.

The kitchen comes out--
the countertops, the cabinets.

You're not busting through
any walls.

Yeah, yeah.
So let's go.

Teamwork on 3.

1, 2, 3!

Teamwork!

Nope, the whole thing's coming.
Hold on.

Yeah, you got
to wait a second.

Wait a second!

- Disposal.
- Hey, I got to unhook all that.

My dad would always tell me
I'm gonna break the counters

leaning on it, and today
I got to grab it

and just throw it
and chuck it up and down.

Tad, if you hit this,
Dad will murder you.

I understand,
I understand. I got it.

It was so much fun.

That's a real stabby piece.

It's a very special moment
to be here,

getting to tear down
what I grew up with,

but to build something better
that he can grow old in

with my step-mom.

The only thing
that's left

is some really
mildewy walls.

It was quick.

Demo's usually
three or four days.

Over at my dad's house
on Spicebush,

the crew's have begun
painting the exterior

while Mom and I get to work
on the ceiling inside.

This isn't coming off at all.

Trying to troubleshoot
the ugly textured ceiling.

But there's so much paint that
the mud is no longer porous,

so it's really hard to get it to
absorb the water and scoop off.

This one's
not doing anything.

- Hey, Leonard.
- What's up, girls?

Well...

Let's talk about options,
'cause this is...

wildly
inefficient-feeling.

I say skim this one,
and we'll hang this one.

Lenny's idea was just to hang
drywall over the high ceilings

in the great room,
and then push through

and finish scraping
the kitchen.

And then we'll just skim coat
over the whole thing.

So, that seems like the most
time-sensitive solution.

Boom!

Done.

We've finally got
the popcorn ceiling off

and the can lights in.

So, we're heading over to check
on progress inside and out.

So, what do you think
of the paint color?

Hmm.

Um, is it too late
to change it?

So, what do you think
of the paint color?

Is it too late
to change it?

No. I mean, we just bought
four gallons.

I'm not happy
with this, either.

Oh, good. Yay.

It's too, like,
dirty salmon pink.

It's so strange,
because the swatch we picked

with the trim color
looked lovely.

It did.

And then when
it got on the house

and it was next to the brick,

it looked like kind of
a bad piece of cooked salmon.

Yeah.
It just wasn't--

Like it had been
out in the sun too long

and it didn't smell good.

- It's not good.
- No, it's-- it's not good.

So, we decided we were gonna go
to a little bit darker brown,

and I think Dad and Missy
are gonna be happier with it.

I'd be happier
with anything.

Okay, so, we're on the same
page-- go with the dark brown?

Yeah.
Okay.

- Awesome.
- Okay.

So far at Spicebush,
we have gutted the kitchen,

we've got
the flooring repair.

We need to open up
the staircase.

There's painting.

Fireplace/mantel.

But super exciting,
because we have

the new French doors,
and they are going in.

This frame needs to come out.

My guess is
there's a Sawzall involved.

Sawzall?
That's all Mikey or you.

When we got to Spicebush,
the old French door

was not removed yet,

so that was the first step--
taking that out.

Are there even
nails over there?

And we got that out.

- That was easy.
- Fairly easy, yeah.

That is crazy.

They just used foam insulation
to hold the door in.

'Cause there were only screws
on one side.

Ay yi yi. It was like some
foam and a nail or two.

- Here's 81 at the bottom of--
- So you're just under 81.

- 2x4 has to come out.
- 2x4's coming out.

So, this 2x4's coming out,
this 2x4's coming out.

And that brick
will have to come out.

All right.
Tear it out.

Okay, door's out.

Theoretically, the new one
just slides into the framing.

But the hole for the door
is smaller than the new door.

Don't be scared, Mom.

Yeah, there you go.

We had to take brick
off the outside,

take some framing
all around the inside

to get it probably within like
1/16th of an inch

of getting
this new door to fit.

It's a real pretty door, boys.

Because ordering a new door
is not an option.

That's a special-order door.

- All right.
- There is a good way.

It fit.

So, this door is fitting
no matter what we have to do.

- There we go.
- Yay!

There was a lot of things
that had to be figured out

to make the new door fit.

But it did.

Demo's done,
French doors are in,

and today we're heading
over to my office

to discuss design details
for dad's house.

So, I really want
that first room--

the dining room that you walk
into-- really to set the tone

for we know who you are.

And we know
he loves pink.

He does love pink.

It's so odd, isn't it?

The dining room
is currently pink.

And we want to honor
his love for pink,

but channel it
in a slightly different way.

I don't
hate the idea of pink.

What about do the whole base
maybe a nice soft pink

and do a pattern on
just one of the walls?

I think a big, wide stripe,
if we do it

in soft enough corals,
and then just do

the rest of the walls...

Just the lighter color....just the lighter.

Yes. And I know
when we talked to him,

he wants the floors
to stay the color they are.

So, can we talk him
into a dark floor?

We can try.

Here's the problem, is if
we're not getting a dark floor,

we need a dark granite.

What color granite
do we want to do?

'Cause I'm always drawn
to the light ones.

I love a nice,
pretty light granite.

So, even though
I'm not usually drawn to dark,

I think that's gonna be

a really grounding factor
in the kitchen.

I think that we should
take him to look at granite

and help him see
how it'll work in the space.

Okay.

I really think,
regardless of the granite

we end up doing, though,
a really simple, traditional

subway backsplash
is the way to go.

Yeah.
Perfect.

And I think what's gonna
help the most

on the dining room side
is taking all--

Taking the 7,000 pieces
of furniture out.

Taking all the furniture out.

Let's tighten it up
a little bit,

and let's clean it up
a little bit.

We're going to
take everything out,

put some nice pops of color,

and then put about
15% of what he has back in.

Really? You were giving 15%?
I was going 10%.

Give him 15%.

So, we're going to just
take what he has, clean it up,

put it back in
in a really nice way,

paired with some new pieces

to make it a little bit
more updated.

We have to be
gentle with him.

That's probably not gonna work
for me, but I'll try.

- Want a spatula?
- She doesn't want it.

So, originally, my dad and Missy
were staying in a hotel,

but there was a convention
that was coming in,

and they didn't have
the room anymore.

So they moved in with me.

The whole kitchen's
gonna be new.

It's gonna be completely
different paint.

Well, hopefully
you're happy with it,

'cause it's coming
together well.

Now if only you would let me
change the floor color.

I like the light oak floor.

But you love the country home,
and it has dark, dark floors.

I like a light oak.
Dark floors are nice, but...

Do you think, maybe, like,

you would change
your mind over time?

No.

And, you know-- no.

It'd be a change.
Something different.

Hi!
What?

You're late.
We ate it all.

- Apparently!
- It's all gone.

You're here just in time.

I was trying to again--

convincing Dad
to darken his floors.

I just think of
the country home,

that has
beautiful dark floors.

That's what I said!

Oh!

That's the country home.

This is the Spicebush home.

I-- there's no point
in arguing with him.

I mean, I'll do it
every once in a while

just 'cause it's entertaining,

but I know it's not
gonna go anywhere.

So, this is
the negotiation.

You get your light floors,
we get to redo your landscaping.

Okay.

So, we've got it.
Everyone's witnesses.

We get to do the landscaping.

The magnolia trees?

Magnolia can stay.

We're doing the best we can
on the project

with the parameters
he's given us,

and we're still gonna have
an awesome product.

How's it been
staying here?

It's been really nice.

I don't think
we're gonna leave.

I'm sure they're ready
to get home.

I'm ready
to have my house back.

House guests and fish
smell after three days.

I've never heard
that saying before.

Oh, that's a saying.

For more behind-the-scenes
footage of our renovations

and our walk-through
of the homes...

Foundations that just
don't exist, maybe...

Amazing graffiti...

- Oh, that's nice.
- A welcoming committee.

The most disgusting refrigerators

you've ever seen...

Today we are at Spicebush,
my dad's house,

and we have gutted the kitchen,
torn up the floors,

and we've got the deck repaired
and the French doors installed.

And we're gonna install
the kitchen cabinets finally.

It's a lazy Susan, stove,
18, fridge.

Right now it's just
an empty room

and doesn't look like anything.

And once cabinets go in,
then maybe it's a kitchen.

It's the start of a kitchen.

These are gonna look awesome
once the uppers are in

and we've got the 42 inches
all the way to the ceiling.

They're beautiful cabinets.

And the important thing about
kitchen cabinets is what?

Three things.

Plumb, level, square.

Yes! That's what's important
about kitchen cabinets.

Got it right.

And now they've got all
this extra storage space.

Nice.

Like, if nothing else
makes Dad happy,

if he hates me, at least he's
got a functioning lazy Susan.

That's nice.

We got a lot to do here.

Backsplash, flooring,
get the window in.

You don't have time
to stand around

and look at how pretty
the cabinets are.

We'll get going.

Having these
kitchen cabinets installed

really makes me feel like
we're making some headway

on this house.

Now we need to pick out
some granite countertops,

so we're gonna go check out
our options with Dad and Missy.

Erin has all the answers for all
the pretty things in the world.

Tell her what
you think you want.

- Do you know what you want?
- Sort of...

We don't want black.

Casey has said a bunch
of things about what he wants.

That change frequently
and are nonsensical.

Sort of gray with a lot of--
but on the darker side of gray.

'Cause originally he wanted
black granite.

That was it--
black granite.

On the blacker
side of gray.

- But not black.
- Not black.

Now it's not an option.

Before,
it was the only option.

Now it's not an option.

Why don't we take
a little walk around,

and why don't you show her
something that you like

so she has an idea
of what you mean.

So, I'm gonna let you guys
just take a look.

Come get me whenever you guys
find something you like, okay?

Thank you, Erin.
Appreciate it.

This looks like
"Starry Night"

so I want to
a Van Gogh kitchen.

And we could.

It's a possible.

It's a little gray
and a little black.

- You like that one?
- Yeah.

It's white, black,
a little gray.

You know, it's not
an idea I had exactly.

It kind of looks
like a Dalmatian.

But it looks--
yeah, like a Dalmatian.

All over the place.

I can't keep up.

None of these
are in the budget.

That's probably not.

- No, no.
- That one.

It's easier to get
someone on your page

if you find a way to let them
think it's their idea.

'Cause these are
kind of the options.

So, you've got darkest.

A little bit lighter,
but still dark.

You've got the speckley one.

That one
was in the running.

And I believe that one is, like,
at a reasonable price point.

I kind of like
that one back there.

The black one?

Okay, you probably
talked me into this one.

That's where we wanted to be
from the beginning.

There's really two options
he could have picked

that I would have been
happy with.

And her happiness
is of paramount importance.

'Tis.

He wants a 90-degree-angle edge
with the corner cut off.

- A 45-degree edge.
- Is that standard?

- It's not.
- Told you--

They'll throw it in.

"They'll throw it in."

Like father like daughter, right?

- See where I get it.
- Now I know, yeah.

We'll have the guys come pick
that up and start cutting on it.

Let's do it.

I'm glad Dad finally made
a decision on the granite,

because things are moving along
fast at this house.

The kitchen cabinets are in.
The wiring is almost done.

Staircase is almost done.

And now it's time to take out
the sunflowers...

Yes....which could be a death wish,

but it has to happen
at one point or another.

There's no time
like the present.

I'm excited about getting
these out of here.

Yeah.

Holy moly,
these guys are heavy.

Those sunflowers
in front of Casey's house

are hiding his house.

He has that pretty bay window,
and you couldn't even see it

because there's-- I mean,
some of those sunflowers were

like 15 feet tall.

- They're ridiculous.
- They're huge.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's it!

I think the curb appeal
is so much better,

'cause there really
wasn't any before.

It was just
a wall of sunflowers.

But once they were all pulled
out and you stood back,

there was such
a dramatic difference.

Yes. With just that one little
change, a vast improvement.

Today at Spicebush,

we're putting a brand-new window
in the kitchen,

we're taking out an old window
in the living room,

and I'm just here
to get the Christmas window.

That's what I'm here for.

Did I get here just in time
to see this window come out?

You are right on time.

Perfect. Because I have
some plans for Santa.

So, my plan for the window
is to make his original design

more permanent
and more flexible.

You got the frame off
all on the outside

so we can just push it out?

Yep.

So they can have
their Christmas window

at Christmastime ever year.

And then, the rest of the year,

they don't have
to have a Christmas window.

Push the corner.

Try pushing just a tap out.

Got it?

Yep.

Yay!

Beautiful.
That's it.

I'm gonna come down
and grab it.

Oh, I'm so relieved it came out
without getting broken,

because I think it would just be
heartbreaking to Casey.

He's so sentimental, and he gets
so attached to things.

Here's Santa Claus.

Yay! Santa Claus!

Now we don't have to look at
Santa Claus in July anymore.

So, things
are really moving along now.

The outside is getting
repainted a dark brown,

floors are going down,

the back deck
is nearly finished,

and finally all the new windows

are up in the great room
and the kitchen.

But it turns out
my dad snuck over for a peek,

and now we've got a problem.

So, we need to
talk about the window,

because Dad called me
this morning

and is not happy
with the window size.

He thinks it's too small.
He wants it bigger.

He doesn't know why we have
so much space around it.

And he knows he okayed it.

He wants it different.

He wants it bigger.

It's all gonna be fine...

- or not.
- I'm glad you're being optimistic.

I don't know.
Or not.

It'll be fine.

Or it won't.

One of the two.

Dad called me this morning

and is not happy
with the window size.

I feel like this
is a catastrophe

we could have seen coming.

And there's really no way
to do this job

without some dissatisfaction
on his part.

So we can make
a bigger opening.

But he just needs to be
aware that he's gonna

incur the cost
of a new window...

And this window....because this one
can't be returned now

with some additional framing

and possibly
some additional electric.

That's what he wants.

That's what he's gonna get,
even if it costs me my sanity.

Do we think we can find
an in-stock window?

'Cause my guess is
special order,

we don't have time for.

I mean, we'll check into it.

Going that big now, I've got to
go outside and change things.

I mean, I've got brick out there
that's gonna have to be cut.

So now we're talking about
way something different.

Okay.
All right.

So I need to talk to dad
and let him know about the cost.

We need to figure out
if we have a window,

and then we kind of
go from there.

- Okay.
- All right.

All right.

We're ordering
a picture window

'cause that's the only thing
we can get

in a reasonable amount of time
in the size they want.

Because this window project is
setting us back a little,

we have no time to waste.

Today we're installing
the old antique mantel

dad bought to match
the new floors,

and I actually think they're
gonna look really good together.

Another big step--
The countertops have arrived.

Theoretically,
we're in the home stretch.

- Oh!
- That's a good color.

- Dad's gonna like that.
- That's pretty.

- The color is perfect.
- It's beautiful.

I think dad's
gonna be super-happy.

- You like that?
- Yeah, except I have a question.

Yes, ma'am?

He wanted the beveled edge.

Okay.

And then Debbie Downer over here
is like, "Oh, but the edge."

I promise you,
if we installed

that whole piece of granite
and I kept my mouth shut,

it would have been
a huge mistake.

My dad would have
blown a gasket.

Exactly.

And I'm sure there was
just a miscommunication.

It's a simple process of
taking it back to the shop,

putting it back
on our table saw.

It cuts a 45.
They have to re-polish it.

How quickly
can that happen?

Should be a day or two turnaround.

I don't know what's
on schedule right now.

I'm gonna find my phone.

I'm gonna
give dad a call.

I'm gonna give Aaron a call
really quick.

So it delays everything.

We had our Tyler coming to do
the backsplash tomorrow.

You can't do the backsplash if
you don't have countertops.

The granite is here,
and it is gorgeous.

You guys are gonna love it.

I'll call them and see
if they're okay with this.

I called Missy, not dad.

My question is how wed are you
guys to the small beveled edge?

Hold on.

Homeowner renovations,
period, are difficult.

Homeowner renovations
for my father is probably

the most difficult challenge
I will ever face in my life,

more than marriage,
child birth--

Does it get worse
than that?

Everything gets easier
from here on out.

Yay!
Yeah.

Look at the upside.

He says
he wants the edge on.

That's what I figured.

Okey-dokey.
Yeah.

It all resulted in,
"Take the granite back."

We don't get granite today.

All right, tile guy.

My dad loves this 20-year-old
fake snow Santa Claus,

but that window
had to get replaced.

Well, I really want to honor
Casey's sense of tradition

but make it less permanent.

I'm gonna take the old window,
and I'm going to transfer

the pattern of Santa,
"Merry Christmas,"

and the little ball on to a new
piece of glass with acid.

Did you know you can etch
glass with acid?

You can.

You just get a paintbrush,

you dip it in the acid,
and you put it on the glass.

And wherever you brushed
with the paintbrush

now just looks like frosted
glass instead of clear glass.

Chemistry.

Oh, it did come out good.

I'm pretty pleased with that.

Casey has no idea
we're doing this,

so we're gonna surprise him
and give it to him,

and I think
he's really gonna like it.

Nice.

All right.

Let it dry.

We got the dream team.

I see a small bevel.

- That's what I see.
- Small bevel.

We are at round 2
granite install at Spicebush.

All that work
for a little 45.

- All right, cool.
- Okay. Bring it in.

Bring it in.

Yesterday the granite came,
and it's beautiful,

but it didn't have
a beveled edge.

It's gonna happen
come hell or high water.

Granite is getting installed
'cause our tile guy

is coming tomorrow
to do the backsplash.

Nice.

Installing granite...

It's a lot of moving pieces.

It's a lot of moving pieces,
and they all have to move

in the right direction together
to have a quality install.

And one of those moving pieces
is getting the sink

seated properly so the granite
has a perfect fit.

We're hitting right here
in the corner,

and we're hitting right here.

The sink has to fit
into that cabinet

or the granite won't come up
to the sides of it.

Now what the issue is now
is this is too tall.

Gorgeous granite,
lovely beveled edge,

and our sink doesn't fit.

So that's a problem.

All of our pieces moved
in the wrong direction.

Every single one of them.

So, yesterday the granite came,
and it's beautiful,

but it didn't have
a beveled edge.

So the granite guys
had to take it back.

They cut the beveled edge.

Then they brought it back
today to install it,

and our sink doesn't fit.

We're hitting right here
in the corner,

and we're hitting right here.

Now what the issue is now
is this is too tall.

This has to be--
We just need to figure out

whatever the depth is
we need to cut down.

Let's take a little off there
and see what we get.

The sink base
that you order is kind of

a generic apron sink base,
and then you have to

cut out the apron
to fit your sink in it.

I think we're where
we need to be, Mina.

It doesn't need to be
all the way down.

It needs to be...

- Inch and a quarter.
- Inch and a quarter?

Ohh!

We have
an inch and a quarter!

I'm gonna go tell the guys.

We got to
an inch and a quarter,

and that was all we needed
for the granite.

Watch what you doing?

Nice job, gentlemen.

Granite got in.
Sink got in.

Moving on to backsplash.

I love a happy ending.

I love a happy ending.

Now that the granite
and the sink are in,

we can make a final push
at my dad's house.

We're really excited because
the glass for the picture window

came in, so that's getting
installed above the sink.

To be fair to Casey,
that window's awesome.

I know
he kind of fought for it.

I'm glad he did.
It looks great.

Next up,
we're tackling the floors.

So, while one person operates
the upright orbital sander,

I have two orbital sanders
in my hand,

and I'm going around
the edges.

You had two
at the same time?

Yeah, I was
double-fisting it. I was.

Man.
I really like sanding.

Sanding is one of those
Zen things.

Like, I think people
find golf very soothing.

It's like meditation.

And then, much to our dismay,

we're just going
with the polyurethane.

No dark stain.

Now that the floors
are sanded

and the poly coat
is down and dry,

the painters are coming in
with full force

to knock out
all the painting.

I feel like the stripes
on the wall

add a little whimsy to a room
that could otherwise be

a little too serious.

Yeah.

Today it is all hands on deck
at my dad's house.

The electrician is doing some
finishing touches.

There's some painter's stain
going on the deck.

There's staining
on the fireplace.

Plus there's a lot of planting
and mulching happening.

There's a lot going on
over there today.

Now that all the punch list
stuff is getting finished up,

next up is cleaning
and then putting the furniture

back into the house.

Before we did the renovation,

dad has decades and decades of
collectibles and just stuff.

And now it's a much more
clean everything.

Like, for the eye,
it's not as hectic.

These are so pretty.

They are.

I think they're perfect.

It's a cleaner,
more pleasing environment.

I don't know
if he can handle it.

And I think if he
gives himself a minute

to, like, live with that,

I think
he'll really appreciate it.

It's not nap time, Karen.

Oh, this is nice.

This is, like, perfect.

This is perfect?
Yeah.

Back to work!

Snuggle up.

The style of the house now
is traditional.

Like the pink vertical stripes.

Like, that's pretty old-school.

I would call it eclectic.

I think it has a very
eclectic style to it.

Which is probably the perfect
word to describe my father.

Now that we have
the house all staged,

I think
the inside looks amazing.

Hopefully,
dad thinks it does, too.

I think the outside
looks amazing, also.

We're just gonna
have to wait and see.

I think
he's gonna love it.

I'm partly excited,
partly just I want

to go back home and be done.

I don't want to do it anymore.

I think
there are some things

that are making
Mina really, really nervous

about how her father is going
to respond to what we've done.

But you just never know
with him.

You just never know.

Okay, then I just want to
remind you of one thing--

that your daughter worked
really, really hard on this.

- I know.
- Okay, open your eyes.

- Wow!
- Oh, my God!

- Great job, Mina.
- It's really good.

It looks really good.
- I love it.

It's beautiful.
- It is.

- I like the door.
- It's cleaner-looking.

You like
the front door color?

Front door color pops.

You can see the house.

- I'm glad you like it.
- This is gorgeous.

This is really-- I like this.

Do you like the new
paint color we landed on?

I do. I love it.

And I know you love
the sunflowers,

but they blocked
the entire view of the house

'cause they were
15 feet tall.

Just well done.

I love it.

I want to see the inside.

You want to go inside?

- I want to see the inside.
- Let's go inside.

The outside's nice,
but I want to see the inside.

Keep going.
The light fixture's distracting.

- I like the door.
- Oh, my God.

- This is nice.
- Wow!

Oh, I don't even
want to touch anything.

This is
your dining room.

You like pink.

No, I like that.

It gives pizzazz.

I love the colors.

The coral is perfect.

I love the stripes.

It's modern but traditional,

and it goes well with
the furniture in the room.

I like it.

I want you to
think about this room

when we stood in it
about five or six weeks ago,

and I counted
all the pieces of furniture.

Where are they?

Exactly. Exactly.

Look how open it is.

- The room looks so much bigger.
- It does.

I think we have
plenty of room in there now.

And I don't want it cluttered
like we had it cluttered before.

All right, well, do you guys
want to check out the kitchen?

Yes, that's what
I want to see.

- Let's come this way.
- Yeah.

On the way,
notice the new open...

Ta-da!
Oh!

I mean, it makes
a pretty big difference, right?

I'm surprised we didn't
do it in the beginning.

Huge difference.

30 years ago, you mean?

Yeah.

Opening the stairs
on the one side

I think makes a major difference
in that hallway.

The kitchen's my baby.

- Kitchen.
- Oh, yeah.

- Oh, my God.
- Geez!

It might be
outside is brought inside.

I was annoyed when you
switched the window, dad.

But this looks incredible.

It's huge.

- Yeah.
- I love that.

Thank you. Thank you.

That's all he wants.
He just wants the window.

I mean, this is beautiful.

All right,
that was all it took?

A window?
Okay.

- Yeah.
- Yay!

I mean, this is beautiful.
I love it.

You have a dishwasher.

And I've gotten practice.

She's re-learned how
to use one at my house.

She'd forgotten.

The big sink.

- Yeah, I love it.
- I love the sink, yeah.

Yes.

Well-put-together.

I think they did a great job.

The cabinets
go to the ceiling.

I like the glass doors,
the countertop.

The granite-- They sort of
helped guide us to that choice,

which I think
was the right choice.

The kitchen is perfect.

What do you think
of the fireplace mantel

now that it's installed?

- I love it.
- I didn't know
how it would look in here

or how it would fit in,
but it looks nice.

I like it.

We did a little bit of custom
work on it to install it right.

So you've got a little bit of
extra trim around the sides

and on the inside to make it fit
your fireplace perfectly.

Yeah.
Love it.

So, do you remember the window
that used to be up there?

How could I forget it?

I saved that old window.

- Oh, look!
- Oh, thank you.

And touch it.

It's not gonna rub off.

It won't rub off.
It's permanent.

To do that was
quite nice of Karen.

That's a nice touch.
I like that.

It respects history.

Ooh!

- Oh, this is nice.
- Ooh! Cool.

I love it.
It opens it up with the window.

Oh, wow, this is nice.

Oh, my.

You like it?

- I love it.
- I love it.

Let's see.

Try it out.

Here, you sit. You sit.
I'll stand.

I absolutely love this.

I love the orange
against the teal.

- Oh, look!
- Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

I'm so happy that dad
is liking what he's seeing.

I was definitely
stressed out about this one.

I'm almost as excited
here as my dishwasher.

I mean, really, 'cause
I love my seats out here.

Well, a glass of wine
to celebrate?

- Yeah. Sounds good.
- I think that's a good plan.

Let's go.
All right.

We started with
a budget of $35,000.

We spent around $25,000
on the construction elements,

about $7,000 on the design
elements of the renovation,

and then about $3,000 on
landscaping and the deck.

It worked with what I liked.

And maybe at times, it wasn't
exactly what they wanted,

but we compromised,
and I think it turned out great.

I was really worried
about this project,

and I'm so happy
dad liked it.

So that's awesome.

It makes me feel good.