Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
DREW: Marla and Adam are newlyweds
that need to start living like newlyweds.
MARLA: We've been living at my mother's house.
I'm definitely looking forward to a space
that we could just share as husband and wife.
DREW: That's where we come in.
I show people properties with promise.
[ Laughs ]
ADAM: Whoa.
JONATHAN: And I take on the renovation.
That one.
[ Both laugh ]
We know how to turn a dated dump into a dream home.
-- Captions by VITAC --
We are the Property Brothers.
Marla and Adam have taken a big step in getting married,
but now they're kind of stalled.
They want to buy a house,
but they're just not sure what's the best fit.
They never lived together prior to getting married.
They wanted to stay at home as long as possible,
save for the future, but now that moment has arrived,
and they just want to make sure
they're getting the right place.
I work in property management in a family-owned business.
ADAM: And I work in finance doing research.
Adam and I just got married,
and right now, we've been living at my mother's house.
She does the baking. I do the cleaning.
I don't know what I'm baking.
I mean, living with Marla's mom is nice.
You know, she's very sweet and welcoming.
He's very welcome here. Very happy to have him.
I think I'm definitely looking forward
to a space of our own,
a space that we could just share as husband and wife.
I think we'll be happy when we're no longer houseguests.
In our dream home, we'd really like a fair-sized kitchen.
I mean, we're kosher,
so we need two of everything for milk and for meat.
Location's really important.
We want a place that's not too far a commute for both of us.
And we'd also like an extra bedroom,
or maybe two extra bedrooms,
just in case we'd like our family to grow.
Our tastes are very different
and only merge as the price increases.
So, where they meet
is somewhere far too high for us to afford.
It would certainly be ideal to come home
and have everything ready-made
and just be able to move our furniture in
and start our lives together.
Our budget is $935,000.
It's quite high, more high than, really,
either of us is comfortable with.
It's a lot of money that we've saved.
It's even more money that we've gotten from our families,
which we're really lucky to get.
And we want to really make the most of it.
I imagine that once we do have our own place,
it'll feel like we're really starting our lives together.
DREW: They have a healthy budget, but they are expecting a lot.
And that is a tall order,
but we can do perfection, right?
Absolutely -- all of our work comes with
a happily-ever-after guarantee.
Well, I can guarantee one thing --
They're gonna love this house.
DREW: Come on in.
MARLA: Wow. This is really beautiful.
Wow.
Fully renovated, as you can tell.
I love how light it is and how open it is.
It's really beautiful.
You also have a passover kitchen downstairs.
That's great.
Yeah.
This house was built in 1957,
but you would never know, because they have
fully renovated this place, and it's stunning.
That's great. And for us, it's not just about appearances.
It's about comfort.
I know this is your ideal location,
and this house has everything else that you want --
parks close by, close to shopping, amenities,
you have a nice-sized yard.
What else can you ask for?
I love this house. I love how open-concept it is.
I love the big windows.
I love how much light it lets in.
I really think this is a house that could be one for us.
DREW: They've done a nice job on finishing off the stairs.
Yeah, it's really nice.
I do.
It's a little modern for me,
but I could get used to it.
We'll pull you into the new century.
[ Laughter ]
We really want to try to merge our very different styles,
so merge the vintage with the more modern, contemporary,
and just try to have a look that's our own.
Up here, you can see we have three bedrooms.
They're all a great size.
The master has its own master bathroom,
but this over here, a fully renovated bathroom as well.
I love the double sinks.
I love the countertop that they chose, also.
They've upgraded the fixtures, too.
And then, on the floor, having the nice, big, porcelain tiles
in an offset pattern looks really great.
Yeah, I like these tiles a lot actually.
Well, I can tell you right now that this house would work
because it's that location you want.
It's halfway between your work and halfway between your work,
gives you that central location.
There's a lot to love about this place,
but I have a sneaking suspicion
that maybe we're not gonna love the price.
Well, the price is something that's a little harder for you
because this house is on the market...
for $1,118,000.
That is more than we
can spend on a house.
We really want to look at these fixer-uppers.
We want you to open your eyes to the idea of a renovation.
It'll take some getting used to for me.
Marla's used to walking through construction.
Not used to living in it.
[ Laughs ]
I'm gonna find you a house.
Jonathan's gonna turn it into that dream home.
But just give these fixer-uppers a chance.
They're not gonna look like this.
I can tell you that much.
I guess that's the answer.
Great.
DREW: As expected, they love it all.
But now we need to find them a house
that's the perfect blend of both their wants and needs.
Well, this will be the first time
they're living together on their own.
First time they're buying a house, they're newlyweds --
This is a lot of added pressure on us.
Well, I know I can handle it. You worried?
I'm not worried. Are you worried?
You look worried.
How do I look worried?
You do. You have that worried-look face.
That is just my face.
This is the place. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms.
ADAM: Well, I like the neighborhood,
but let's see what it looks like inside.
MARLA: Thanks.
It's hard to really see much to love in there.
Just not sure if we can get the house of our dreams
out of this space -- it's just too old.
DREW: Marla and Adam's fantasy first home
includes a kosher kitchen and high-end finishes.
Our tastes are very different
and only merge as the price increases.
So, I'm showing them fixer-uppers we can transform,
but I'm not sure they can see our renovation vision.
It's kind of a big, empty space.
We want to have a lot of room,
and this is actually not bad for that.
You sound doubtful, though, the way you're saying that.
Well, I mean, the carpet is --
it's very plush.
The seller was actually a carpet guy,
so he sells and installs carpets.
So, every room in the house has a different carpet.
Some very ***, which you'll notice --
this house has not been touched since the '60s.
All right, so, Adam and Marla are not loving
the design choices that were used in this house,
which obviously date back to the psychedelic '60s.
But this detached sidesplit has three bedrooms,
three bathrooms, over 2,000 square feet.
It just needs some design loving from the new millennium.
Why don't you head right through here into the kitchen?
You will see a lot of wallpaper.
[ Laughs ]
This is insane.
It has not been touched since this house was built.
ADAM: Well, that's what it looks like.
Look at this over here, though.
[ Laughs ]
Release, open.
This area is really small and tight.
I feel like, if I was eating in here,
it would feel more like
a really decorative prison cell than a kitchen.
That's why I suggest opening this up.
It will give you a lot more light in here, for one.
And it won't make you feel cramped.
It's hard to picture, once these walls are gone,
that it's gonna feel more open.
The kitchen is too small the way it is right now.
We won't be able to work with it.
We want to have a kosher kitchen,
so that's two of everything, so we need a lot more storage.
And we need everything to be updated and fresh.
It's just too old.
You wanted to have extra bedrooms for future children.
If you hang to the left, that's your master bedroom.
Huge.
[ Chuckling ] Look at the wallpaper.
[ Laughs ]
You have a master bathroom right over here.
Oh, it's very pink.
Very pink.
[ Laughs ] Wow.
And even the ceiling is wallpapered.
We've seen the whole place. What do you think?
I think there's a lot of work to be done.
I don't know if all of it could be done.
I can put every single detail that you want in your dream home
in this place and keep it under your max budget.
Well, list price on this house is well within your budget.
It's on the market for $749,000.
I mean, that's a lot of money for renovations.
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot to do.
There really is.
What could I say or do
to get you excited about a place like this
and the idea of doing a renovation?
I was gonna say, "Do a jig!"
[ Laughter ]
It would really convince me, as well.
I don't want to get you too excited.
No, no, we want this.
Will do!
[ Record scratches, music stops ]
All right, we'll look at some more houses.
BOTH: Okay.
MARLA: It's only the first house that we've seen,
and we'd like to see a lot more before we're ready to commit.
[ Bicycle bell dings ]
I really love the porch and the front door.
ADAM: Yeah, I think the yard's just a bit small.
We really want to have some more space.
Yeah, it looks like there's a lot of space.
It's not really what we're looking for.
Four bedrooms and actually a really nice office space.
The house definitely has potential,
but I'm really not sure about a corner property.
Definitely a bit of a fixer-upper.
I'm not sure if we'll be able to grow into it.
DREW: Kind of a long climb to get to the front door, too.
Let's keep looking.
This house is great.
It has a lot of space -- 2,200 square feet --
an over-sized, double garage.
Thanks.
This is really spacious.
JONATHAN: I will warn you that this
is probably the most updated
of any of the rooms in the house.
So, don't set your hopes high.
There's a lot of work that still would have to be done.
The seller is actually in a wheelchair,
and they needed accessibility.
So, there are a lot of ramps in this home
that may not work for you.
That's something Jonathan can fix,
but at least you have a lot of square footage --
over 2,200 square feet to work with.
Marla and Adam have saved up a lot of money
to buy their first house together,
and their family is helping them out.
And they want to make sure that it's the right home.
It's a detached sidesplit
with four bedrooms, four bathrooms.
It's over 2,200 square feet. It's a large house.
It has loads of space for a couple
building their lives together.
They just need to believe
that this house has the dream-home potential.
JONATHAN: You do like the parquet?
Yeah. It's really nice.
That's not usually the reaction we get to parquet flooring.
I kind of like the plan where we get rid of the parquet.
[ Laughter ]
DREW: I think that would be the best plan.
It needs to have some flowing hardwood
through the whole space.
MARLA: Yeah.
Kind of see what you mean about
not being quite as updated as the dining room.
The kitchen is definitely outdated.
It would need a lot of work.
It's a little small.
I would just be nervous because we need a lot of cabinetry,
a double sink, and two dishwashers.
So, I think it might be a lot to cram in.
There's an area at the back of the house
that would be an even bigger footprint,
and I think we could definitely fit the kosher kitchen there.
So, we just move the whole kitchen into the back.
We would basically turn this into anything.
It could be an office.
It could be a dining-room area, whatever you want.
And then, you'd have an even bigger living room over here.
I know we wouldn't be salvaging
any of the kitchen the way it is,
but certainly moving the kitchen to a whole different location
seems like it would be a lot of work.
DREW: Look at this.
I mean, this is a massive family room.
Yeah, this is really nice.
And what do you think of that yard?
Yeah, it's really beautiful.
ADAM: It's a nice, big yard,
which was definitely on our wish list.
Here's the other space we're talking about for the kitchen.
It's kind of hard to picture this as a kitchen.
JONATHAN: The old kitchen location --
we could close part of that off into a powder room,
make the rest of it a big office,
and then, here, this would all be kitchen,
all the way around.
Tons of room to make it kosher.
It's hard for me to really get a sense of Jonathan's plan
just looking at the rooms and talking about it
because it'll be such a drastic difference.
Well, this is dated.
Yeah, it's a nice size.
Definitely.
Big bedroom here. This is your master.
It's a great size.
I think it's a really great house.
It's definitely large enough for us.
It's just that there's a lot of reconfiguring.
You're saying to move the kitchen maybe.
We need to change all the flooring in the house.
It just seems like it could be a lot of work.
It sounds like a lot of work,
but the best thing is the price of this home.
It's on the market...
for $849,000.
[ Both laugh ]
Is that a hysterical laugh, or is that --
you're excited about the price? Tell me.
I guess it's just the price is --
It seems like it's a lot to pay
for how much work still needs to be done.
Keep in mind, this is a really great neighborhood,
it is a great-sized lot, and you're also paying for that.
It's not just the inside of the house.
It just seems like there's a lot of work to be done.
I don't know -- all of the ramps,
rejigging major rooms like the kitchen and the washrooms.
I guess I'm just a little bit nervous.
I know exactly what you guys have on your wish list,
and I know we could turn this into your dream home
and keep it within your budget.
It seems like a big job,
moving a kitchen, but it really isn't.
Well, I don't want to doubt you
because this is not your first rodeo,
and I know that you've surprised people before.
But I guess, for us, it's just still a lot to swallow.
So, we'll put it on the "maybe" list.
Wow. That is gorgeous. It's really beautiful.
It's modern. It's elegant. It's warm and inviting.
JONATHAN: Marla and Adam have narrowed their list
to a dated sidesplit and a shabby stone bungalow.
It's hard to picture, once these walls are gone,
that it's gonna feel more open.
Hey, guys. You look like you're in a good mood.
Yeah, I mean, it's a big day today.
These two houses have a lot of potential.
There's the '60s sidesplit,
and then, we have the shabby stone house.
JONATHAN: I know that we're asking a lot of you
to have that creative vision,
'cause they were in pretty rough shape,
but, yeah, let's take a peek first at the '60s sidesplit.
JONATHAN: I'm gonna start by taking out
that awful, old carpet.
I'll refinish the floors,
refresh the living room with a contemporary color,
and furnish it with an eclectic mix
of traditional and modern pieces
that bring together both of your styles.
MARLA: I love the floors.
ADAM: It feels very warm.
The room itself looks so much bigger.
I can really see us having a lot of people over.
We're not finished yet, so why don't we shift over
to the kitchen into the dining room.
I'm gonna take down the wall
and use the whole back of the house
to create a stylish, kosher kitchen.
You'll have a room with two of every appliance,
making it perfect for you to cook
and to celebrate with family.
The island will have a double sink and a breakfast bar,
so you'll have lots of workspace and seating for casual meals.
And the kitchen will flow into the dining room,
where a modern table and contrasting, traditional chairs
will reflect your combined tastes.
Wow. That is gorgeous.
ADAM: It's just so open.
It makes so much better use of the space
than what's there now.
It really does.
I love the fact that there are two dishwashers.
That's a huge plus for us -- having a double sink.
Now, you can have huge family get-togethers at that table.
[ Laughs ]
All right. Numbers on this place.
The house is listed for $749,000.
That is under market value,
because they want to create some interest.
I would actually say that a market value for the home
is $775,000.
So, if we really want to be competitive,
let's make our target price $765,000.
Renovations?
There's a lot of work to do.
So, it's gonna cost quite a bit.
It's gonna be about $160,000.
But I will get this done so fast for you,
we'll have you moving in in five weeks.
And the best part -- that brings us in at $925,000,
which is $10,000 below your max budget of $935,000.
Yeah. For sure.
And this renovation would also include that master suite.
You'd have a brand-new master bedroom and bathroom.
It would be luxurious and comfortable.
You'd never want to leave.
Sounds pretty great. [ Laughs ]
We just want to make sure that you have
everything you want in your dream home,
and we also want to make sure you have options.
All right.
I'm gonna make that main-space bathroom smaller
but much more elegant.
With a separate shower stall, soaker tub, and double vanities,
it'll be a spa oasis beside your enlarged, master bedroom.
I love the tile and the shower.
It's really beautiful.
DREW: It's modern. It's elegant.
It's warm and inviting.
It feels like a spa.
I know that you're gonna fall in love with this kitchen.
I'll reconfigure the layout to make it kosher,
outfit it with two sets of stainless-steel appliances
and double sinks.
The mix of modern fixtures
with more traditional furniture and color treatments
will make it a warm and friendly family space.
That's a gorgeous kitchen.
I love the island.
It's a really beautiful design.
ADAM: I think everything before
just looked really old and outdated.
And seeing it updated like this,
it's barely recognizable.
I'm gonna make the most out of this living space
by creating two separate seating areas,
one oriented around the new fireplace,
and the other, the elegant French doors.
I'll decorate with classic furniture
offset with bright pops of color
to give the whole space a polished look.
Oh, that's beautiful. I love the flooring.
Really amazing. It looks so nice.
And really big.
Yeah, the hardwood flowing through the whole space.
It kind of incorporates the things that we want.
So, this house is on the market for $849,000.
They are overpriced.
I would say it would be about $840,000.
They've just done a price reduction.
It's been on the market for three months,
so it's a bit of a stale listing.
But with the amount of work that has to be done,
I think we can still make our target price, $820,000.
Renovations?
Renovations -- surprisingly,
not as much to do on this house.
So, it's gonna be around $100,000,
but it will take a little bit more time
'cause there's more detailed work,
so it will take us six weeks to complete.
That's a total of $920,000,
so that's pretty great, because that's $15,000 below
your max budget of $935,000.
That's still great, and six weeks still is not bad at all.
You know, I'm glad that you guys are confident
in what you want in a home,
but I want you to be confident in the decision you make, too.
So, why don't we give you
a little bit of time to discuss it,
and when we come back, maybe you'll have a decision for us.
MARLA: That's great. We'll work on it.
Thank you.
I really like the layout of the '60s sidesplit.
I really love how open it is.
Yeah, I think the location of it is a little bit better.
It's closer to our friends and family, and --
But at the same time, the shabby stone house --
it's a much bigger house.
It's definitely something that we could grow into.
I really like the kitchen of that house, too.
You know, the budgets of both are just about the same.
I think it's just kind of small details at this point
Mm-hmm.
We went in at your max price, and there were two other offers.
That's the problem.
They actually had all of us come back to the table.
DREW: Marla and Adam are torn between two fixer-uppers.
Jonathan has presented designs for both homes.
Will they pick the '60s sidesplit for $765,000
with a reno budget of $160,000,
or the shabby stone house for $820,000
and $100,000 in renovations?
It's time to make a decision.
All right. So, I'm hoping you have a decision.
Break the news.
I think they're both great options,
but we decided to go with the '60s sidesplit.
Nice! I was hoping you would choose that.
Now, why did you go with the '60s sidesplit?
First of all, we love the location.
We know no matter what you can do to a house,
you can't change the location.
And that was really our ideal location.
So, that was the main factor.
But we really love the design.
We love how open it is.
And it's merging of both of our styles.
Well, keep in mind that they are taking offers tomorrow.
It's listed below market value,
so we have to get in there with a strong price.
I'm gonna prep the paperwork.
You guys chat design, and we'll meet up in a bit.
Now, Marla and Adam wanted to come in
at list price with their offer,
but after I discussed it with them
and talked about market value,
they agree that we should come in
a little bit higher at $765,000.
And they will have a condition for home inspection.
But, with all this said,
the seller has actually rejected our offer,
along with two other offers,
and has asked everyone to come back to the table
with our absolute strongest offer.
BOTH: Hey.
Can I join you?
Please, do.
Ohh, this has been stressful for you, I'm sure.
Definitely.
Yeah, no small talk. Let's...
[ Laughs ]
We went in at your max price,
and there were two other offers.
That's the problem.
They actually had all of us
come back to the table with higher offers.
You're enjoying torturing us right now, aren't you?
You know, I'm just -- I'm laying out the facts.
Oh, come on. So, what happened?
I know you guys are maxed out at $775,000
because we know the amount of work
that has to be done to this place.
And I'm happy to say that you got the house.
Yes, you did!
[ Laughing ] That's great!
Ohh. Look out.
You're that excited.
This is a good thing.
That was me.
You know, it's all right. Hey, you got the house.
You can afford to dry-clean those pants.
No, not anymore. We spent our max budget.
[ Laughs ] True. That's all our money.
That's all right.
I have to live with chocolatey pants forever.
We feel amazing.
I can't believe we got the house.
It's a huge relief to finally feel like
we have a place and we're moving forwards and...
Yeah.
Marla and Adam are newlyweds anxious to start living
like a married couple in a house of their own.
Well, we have the house.
Now it's up to Jonathan to make it a home.
They paid $775,000 to beat out the other offers,
which was more than they initially wanted.
Now, with the reno budget set at $160,000,
Jonathan has his work cut out for him
to make sure that the overall budget
and emotions stay solid over the next five weeks.
It's kind of rainy and gloomy outside.
But inside, this place is gonna shine.
We've got a tight timeline
for this challenging renovation ahead of us,
which includes building a kosher kitchen
and finding some way of working Marla's traditional taste
and Adam's modern flair.
And it all starts now, because...
today is demo day, and that's exciting.
It is a big job, so I brought a couple extra guys on my end.
Marla also said she's handy, so we're gonna
give her a sledgehammer and see what she can do.
Why don't we pull the carpet back before we start
and just see if we can actually save the hardwood?
ADAM: Great.
[ Grunts ] Look at that.
That's really nice.
That is in really good shape.
I'm pretty happy with that.
Hopefully, it's the same all the way through.
So, we'll cover it up right now
to protect it with the carpet
while we tear the wall down,
and then, all of it's gonna come out.
Perfect.
I think it's really exciting finally starting the demos
and feeling like now we're on the path
to really having our dream home.
JONATHAN: The wall's down between the dining room
and the kitchen, and so far, so good --
we haven't come across any problems.
In fact, a little added bonus, underneath the carpet,
the hardwood is in great shape.
So, for the bedroom -- I guess,
big thing, too, we want to find out if it's gonna have
the same great hardwood underneath.
That's gonna save us quite a bit of money, so...
ADAM: Yeah, fingers crossed.
[ Grunts ] Got a different underlay.
Stuff that breaks away.
It looks to me like it's in pretty good shape.
BOTH: Okay.
We should be able to sand it down and refinish it,
BOTH: Great.
MARLA: [ Laughs ]
Let's get the toilet out of the way
Sure.
Jonathan asked us to carry the toilet out.
MARLA: [ Laughs ]
And I guess I've never carried
a toilet out of a bedroom before.
I don't think Marla has, either.
[ Porcelain clanks, scrapes ]
ADAM: It's not all the way.
JONATHAN: Just keep in mind -- anything that you dribble out of it
is probably not something you want all over your house.
[ Laughs ]
So, we just kind of tried to wing it, and...
[ Porcelain clatters ]
You okay?
[ Both laugh ]
I want to replace all of these windows.
That's something that we're gonna have to do.
It's never nice to hear that you have to spend
more money than, maybe, we originally anticipated.
JONATHAN: Marla and Adam bought a dated house
that I can transform into their dream home.
MARLA: Oh, gorgeous.
But these newlyweds are barely into the demolition
and finding it more challenging than expected.
[ Porcelain clatters ]
Oh, guys.
I'd say the failing was a group effort.
Marla might say that it was a bit more my fault.
[ Whispering ] Adam took off his hands.
Sorry?
His side.
JONATHAN: Adam, Adam, Adam.
That is gross. What happened?
Uhh... it's hard to say.
It was a bit of a blur.
[ Laughs ]
I blacked out for a second, and here we are.
Well, all I can tell you is you put
one other thing on your task list.
You're pulling this piece of carpet out. [ Laughs ]
JONATHAN: Usually, homeowners are more focused on the finishes
and want to hand over the details
of the construction to me, but Marla,
she's a little more hands-on.
MARLA: Because I work in construction,
I know what sites are like often.
And I always just like to be here.
I always like to check in, see what's going on,
just have my eye sort of on everything,
ask questions.
Sometimes, things are missed accidentally.
I always felt that this room was a little cold.
Even when we were doing the home tour,
I noticed that this room was a lot colder
than the rest of the house. Why would that be?
I can tell you exactly what's causing that.
One is this beautiful feature of these windows.
You have a whole bank of them, but they're original windows,
so they're not very efficient.
And in addition to that, below us, you have your garage.
So, you basically have this cold zone within your house,
and that's affecting the temperature up here.
That's why I want to replace all of these windows.
That's something that we're gonna have to do.
But downstairs,
if we wanted to improve the temperature of the floor,
we'd have to tear out all the ceiling in the garage,
tear out the walls, and spray-foam everything.
And that's not cheap.
So, can all this work be done within our budget?
Uh, it's --
it would be an additional job that we didn't count on.
I mean, if we don't need the contingency for something else,
then we can start to use it for stuff like this.
It's never nice to hear that you have to spend
more money than, maybe, we originally anticipated.
But something like new windows and spray foam --
we know it'll make a world of difference to the house
and for our own comfort.
So, we know in the long run, it'll be to our benefit.
JONATHAN: Marla comes by pretty much every day,
so I figure I might as well put her to work.
Do you want to throw a couple screws in there?
[ Drill whirs ]
What?!
You're so demanding.
[ Drill whirs ]
MARLA: I think it's amazing to actively be involved
in building our dream home.
I don't think many homeowners are able to
be a part of that experience,
and I'm really happy that I'm able to be a part of it
and Jonathan is letting me be a part of it.
JONATHAN: Marla hadn't shown up yet today,
and I was starting to wonder what was up.
Nice to see you again, Marla.
You, too. How's it going?
I feel like she's part of my crew now
'cause she's here all the time.
Yeah, she's been kind of reporting back.
She's been here a lot more than I have.
I just like to take a look.
[ Laughs ]
I'm your eyes and ears on the job.
That's the nice way of her saying
that she has a little bit of trouble letting go.
[ Laughs ] That's all right.
Well, you know, everything that you've seen
when you've been here so far, I hope you like.
Okay, good.
There's actually some things in the car
Okay.
So, these are some furniture pieces
Oh, okay.
So, they are a little bit of sentimental value,
and I'm hoping that you can incorporate them in the design.
JONATHAN: Oh, wow. There's some old pieces.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here
and guess this is something you are not okay with.
Well, I know that they're important to Marla,
but they're not my style.
I think that's safe to say.
You know that we actually have to do a shopping trip, too,
and go find new pieces that are gonna blend both your styles.
And I'm anticipating that's gonna be a bit of a challenge.
[ Laughs ]
You're okay with new. I know that.
I will definitely trial anything and everything
that you want to have included.
We'll see if we can fit it into the design.
That would be great.
And if it has to go
in the corner in the basement,
[ Laughs ]
But why don't we throw these inside,
and we'll see what we can do with them.
MARLA: Great.
JONATHAN: I can tell that Marla and Adam are concerned
about their clashing styles,
so before we get too far into this renovation,
I have a fun challenge for these newlyweds
to loosen them up and get them seeing eye to eye.
All right, I want to have some fun with you guys.
I want to get a sense of what your style is,
who prefers what, so, I'm gonna ask a question,
I'm gonna give you a couple options,
and you just pick which is your favorite,
Okay.
New York or Paris?
Didn't even have to think about that.
You guys went straight to it.
[ Laughs ] That's a bad start.
You're already on opposite ends of the globe.
All right.
Would you like to soak in a cast-iron, claw-foot tub
or party in an eight-person hot tub?
Ohh, he chose the hot tub, so, yeah.
[ Laughs ]
You're not going for the claw-foot?
Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton?
All right. One, two, three.
[ Laughs ]
You wrote "Egypt," and you wrote "cotton."
Black and white or bold, primary colors?
There you go. You're on the same page again.
Nice.
Lake house or ocean-view condo?
Nice. So, again, you guys were on the same page.
The reason I did this is because I want show you
you have a lot more in common than what you think.
I think we'll get along.
I don't think we're gonna be fighting.
We're gonna deliver something you guys are gonna love,
and we will be able to find something that blends
both your styles and find the common ground.
Great.
JONATHAN: I think the game really got Marla and Adam on the same page.
Now they have some ideas about the kitchen design
they actually agree on.
We were wondering if maybe it's possible
to do an eat-in kitchen after all.
Like, in addition to the breakfast bar,
or you want to eliminate the breakfast bar?
I think we want to get rid of the breakfast bar.
I don't like the idea of having breakfast
and sitting next to Adam.
He's a great guy!
Why wouldn't you want to sit next to this guy?
I want to look at his face.
I want to be across the table from him.
We've been going back and forth for a while
trying to decide on the eat-in kitchen,
and we knew that if we didn't bring it up now,
it was gonna be too late.
Keep in mind, we're gonna still have the dining room here.
So, you'll have, you know, the dining room table,
and then, you've got your living room at the front,
dining room here.
And then, the breakfast bar
was just an add-on area.
So, what if we switch the rooms,
and we had the dining room in the front
and then the living room here?
It's a little... [ Sighs ]
odd for me to have your dining room right at the front.
Usually, you want to have it somewhere near the kitchen.
So, you're saying that you would want to swap our living room
and dining room locations
and then add more of a casual dining setup in the kitchen?
Yeah, I think so.
I think it would be unusual
for us to have a smaller table here
right next to our big dining room table.
So, we're eliminating, then, the breakfast bar completely?
I would love to have an island of just a continuous surface
to cook and to bake on -- that would be ideal.
Oh, so, you want to remove the sink, as well, from the island?
So, maybe we'd actually just put the sink where it used to be.
We could do it any way that you want.
If that's your preference, we'll move the sink over there.
I guess for me the challenge is, now, if we do,
you know, a casual dining area in the kitchen,
we're losing all of that space.
So, now I have to fit two kitchens,
to do the kosher kitchen, in this area over here.
That's gonna be a lot tighter.
In order to accommodate a kitchen table,
we'd lose some of that square footage.
And then, you know, we've still got to fit two of everything
into their kosher kitchen, and I don't know if we can do that.
So, I'm gonna have to go back to the drawing board
and really work on the design to see if I can deliver on this.
I really like the curvature of these headboards.
ADAM: I think I like that this is a little bit simpler.
Way too firm.
JONATHAN: Marla and Adam are concerned
about every detail of their first home.
I always felt that this room was a little cold.
And with their disagreements about design
and major changes with the layout...
So, now I have to fit two kitchens,
to do the kosher kitchen, in this area over here.
...I'm worried they're not gonna let it go
and just trust me to pull this together.
MARLA: It's a new experience for me to give over a project
and let someone like Jonathan just have complete control.
So, I have been checking in once in a while.
It's not that I don't trust Jonathan,
but I just like to be on top of things.
JONATHAN: It's great that Marla likes taking
an active interest in project management,
but we're installing the beam today,
so we really don't need an extra person underfoot.
And I know she knows her stuff, but I do have it under control.
MARLA: I've been checking in on Jonathan.
I hope he doesn't mind too much.
I know he's a very experienced contractor,
and I have every confidence in him.
I think it's just for my own self-assurance
that I've been checking in.
After all, it is our first house together,
and we want to make sure that everything turns out great.
Oh, hey. How are you?
Good.
Trying to tie in the upper structure
into what we have for our new beams.
Yeah, it looks really good actually.
So, are you gonna blow in some more insulation in the roof?
Yeah, we had to push a lot of it back, and then,
some of it had to be removed just to make room for this.
The biggest thing is the new insulating value
Mm-hmm.
I like that you're putting an emphasis on
not just making the house beautiful
but also making it comfortable.
So, you'll feel a big difference having those old windows gone.
Yeah, they already look amazing.
I know it'll make a big difference,
especially in combination with the spray foam.
I like that you think it's coming along fast,
because most people look at this and say,
"What the heck have you done?" [ Laughs ]
So, it's the stuff inside the walls that we're completing.
And then, we'll start doing the cosmetic.
I think that's about it for today.
So, I guess I'll check in tomorrow?
[ Laughs ]
As soon as I leave the house,
I actually call Adam and report to him,
and I end up talking to him.
Usually, after work, Adam comes by the house,
and we end up chatting about what's going on.
JONATHAN: We're installing spray foam in the master bedroom
to make sure the space is warm and toasty all winter long.
These two have really come together
through all the construction challenges,
but we're about to raise the bar
and deal with some design decisions.
Marla and Adam are a newlywed couple,
and we're here to buy probably one of the most important
purchases of their life together,
and that is their first-ever bedroom set.
I definitely like either black or like a dark wood, I think.
I really like the curvature of these headboards.
ADAM: I think I like that this is a little bit simpler
than some of the other ones.
What about this one?
Yeah. I kind of like it.
JONATHAN: It's got the detail that you like.
You can also do it with the complete set.
So, if we wanted an armoire and the side tables,
things like that, we can get it all to match.
In a black.
You good with that?
That sounds really good, yeah.
I think it'll make the bedroom look amazing.
JONATHAN: And now for the hard part --
getting them to agree on mattress.
It's a little too soft.
Yeah, I think it's too soft for us.
Way too firm. [ Laughs ]
Too firm? [ Laughs ]
[ Laughs ]
What do you think? A little bit too soft?
Yeah, this is really nice.
Okay.
This is great. I think it's just right.
Yeah.
Whoa!
JONATHAN: It was really difficult to reconfigure
the kosher kitchen to add an eat-in area.
I had to be really creative about how to fit in
two sets of appliances -- ovens, dishwashers,
side-by-side fridge, and a double sink --
in half the space.
But I like a challenge.
We had a lot of fun before with that game we played
trying to find common ground between them,
not just in their style but just in general.
Today, we have a similar game to play but a lot higher stakes.
We're gonna pick a couple different materials.
We need some backsplash tile,
some bathroom tile, and some hardwood.
First impression. Ready? One, two, three.
This one.
[ Laughs ]
Again, opposite ends of the spectrum.
So, the problem we have is we need to pick a material,
and I need to know who is willing to compromise.
Like, is that too busy for you?
You know, I do like them both,
but it's hard for me to envision that in our kitchen.
Well, let's flip it around.
Would you be willing to go
with something simple like that?
It's also really nice, but I guess the flooring's
really simple and really clean-lined,
so I guess I was thinking that a contrast of something
with a more interesting tile would go well
with sort of a more clean-lined tile.
Well, that doesn't really help
because we're still not agreeing on something.
Let's pick the tile for the bathroom.
Yep.
One, two, three. Point.
That one.
[ Both laugh ]
He knows better.
It's a little disheartening to each choose
the different option from the two.
In this case, I actually do kind of like both of them.
And keep in mind, Marla, too, if we did something like this,
we don't have to do it in this exact shade.
We could do it a wider, a little thinner.
Okay. I mean, I guess that could work.
Then leave it with me, 'cause I have a compromise
for both the kitchen and the bathroom
Nice. Great.
All right. Hardwood.
[ Laughs ]
I don't know. [ Laughs ]
I've stumped you. All right.
I'm usually drawn to a darker wood,
so I like the color of this one.
I could see them both in the space.
You're right. Either would work.
Why don't you leave it with me,
and I'll find something
that just blends both your styles.
So, we're getting there.
Yeah, it's coming along.
Baseboard's coming in. Patching's happening.
I think it looks good.
So, you made sure that everything's been spray-foamed?
This is all done underneath here,
the garage, replacing the window, insulating --
Great.
I guess it's just hard for me
to turn the manager off in my head
and just let you take the reins.
That's okay. I am willing to take those reins.
In fact, I'll take them away completely,
because I don't think that you should
stop by the site anymore.
I think that you should just stay away because think --
this is the last that you'll see it right now,
kind of chaotic.
And then, when you come in the next time,
it's gonna be completely done.
You'll have a bed. You'll have paint on the walls.
It'll be a huge surprise.
I think it's a good idea,
and I will make sure that she stays away.
JONATHAN: I do have Marla's checklist in mind.
We replaced all the windows and the French doors,
which will be a big savings
on the heating bills in the long run.
And I've also included everything she asked for in the kitchen.
She got the continuous work surface on the island for baking
and the double sink, which is under the window.
That's where she wanted it.
There's absolutely nothing for her to worry about.
We were lucky with the floors.
Not having to replace them saved us about $4,000.
And it's the one finish that I do feel confident about.
Through this whole renovation,
it's been a challenge finding some common ground for them,
and really, they just don't see eye to eye.
But I have a trick up my sleeve.
I say either go bold or go home.
So, I'm gonna mix and match their styles,
combine both of their choices
to create an eclectic overall design.
They're either both gonna love it,
or they're both gonna hate it.
I can't wait to see what they did to our house.
I know. This is the longest we've gone without seeing it.
I know.
JONATHAN: Marla and Adam didn't agree on any of the finishes,
so I've combined their styles to create an eclectic look
for the re-designed eat-in kitchen.
Will they love it or hate it?
We're about to find out.
I can't wait to see what they did to our house.
I know.
I just want to move in and have a space of our own.
[ Laughs ]
Welcome home, guys.
BOTH: Wow!
This is amazing.
This is beautiful.
ADAM: It's amazing.
This is like a dream come true, I think.
I can't even recognize the space.
I know. It's like a different house.
You have a completely brand-new floor plan.
JONATHAN: It's come a long way
since that boring, old living room with the dated carpet.
You two wanted to change the design
and move the dining room to the front,
and I chose a stain for the hardwood
that combines both of your preferences
and gives the whole floor a more cohesive look.
Yeah.
[ Laughs ]
DREW: Yeah, a big change -- this original hardwood,
restained, looks amazing.
It looks phenomenal.
JONATHAN: You guys wanted to have a good blend
of some of the slick and some of the character,
and I think, you know, adding features like
ADAM: Really nice.
MARLA: Yeah, it's really, really beautiful.
It's definitely cozy, though, and intimate.
And I think we'll have so much fun
entertaining friends and family here.
Yes, they are. All kinds of them.
ADAM: That's so nice.
Well, it's officially our home.
JONATHAN: [ Laughs ] I'm glad you enjoy it.
And it really reflects both of your styles.
When you decided to make the kitchen an eat-in one,
we moved the living room to the middle of the main floor.
It's an unconventional layout, but it really works for you two.
MARLA: This is a dream kitchen. This is gorgeous.
The hardware, the cabinetry, the backsplash --
This is, like, really, really gorgeous.
Yes.
ADAM: Mm-hmm.
But don't worry, you got yours, as well,
because if you look across to the back,
I incorporated both of them.
Also a winner.
I know! It's so great!
You both have to be happy here,
so we had to find elements that both of you enjoy.
JONATHAN: You couldn't imagine creating a kosher kitchen
in the original, cramped footprint,
and I admit it was a challenge re-designing it
to accommodate your eat-in kitchen, two of everything,
and both of your design choices.
But I think it came together well in the end.
I really like the mixtures of the light and the dark.
I think it is really classic
and will just take us through for years to come.
So, would you say that I managed to find some common ground
between your very different opinions on stuff?
I think so, yeah.
Not an easy task.
You're telling me.
I really think it's everything we could have asked for.
And we're just happy that we followed your vision,
and you guys just put everything together for us.
This open concept is functional, it's beautiful,
and I think you guys are gonna never want to leave.
I already never want to leave.
Well, we're gonna leave to let you guys enjoy the house
after we show you your new master suite.
MARLA: Yeah.
Head upstairs.
JONATHAN: Your first master suite together.
Wow.
This is beautiful.
This is really nice.
This is your first master bedroom of your own.
No more living in your mom's basement.
Yeah, it feels great.
MARLA: That's already a huge step up.
[ Both laugh ]
I really love the bed. I think it looks great in black.
It's really, really beautiful.
And if you look right behind you,
it has a lot of history, as well.
Oh, that's so beautiful.
You'll notice, too, that the space is very comfortable,
and that's because we did upgrade the insulation,
the ceiling of the garage, and...
that's a whole new bank of windows across the back there.
You know, years from now, we're not gonna feel like
we have to start over again.
Especially the framing on this wall
because the specialist I brought in to do it --
I mean, she knows what she's doing.
I heard you threw on the tool belt,
you got in here and were framing this wall. Amazing.
I put up a stud or two with some help.
You have a beautiful master bedroom
and now this master bathroom.
MARLA: Oh, this is so beautiful.
ADAM: This is great.
It looks so much bigger.
I want to take a shower.
Can you guys give me a few minutes?
If you can wait till we leave, that would be amazing.
It looks a lot larger now with the glass shower door
and just the light tiles.
And I also like that you merged both of our tiles,
the more intricate of the floor
and the more sleek on the walls.
It's a blend of both worlds.
You guys have great taste.
You both wanted something slightly different in the tile,
so we were able to help with that.
Yeah, it actually looks great all together.
So, having a beautiful bathroom like that
and then a master bedroom like this,
do you feel that you can actually enjoy this space,
you could relax here every night?
To have a place of our own
and to have it designed the way that we want it.
You guys did an amazing job.
Well, you guys deserve this. You really do.
So, congratulations on the new space.
It's time for me to leave. Handshakes or hugs?
[ Laughs ]
Thank you.
Thanks so much.
And enjoy your home for a long time to come.
Bye. Thank you guys so much.
Bye.
Yeah!
I know.
Today, married life changes for Marla and Adam.
They can finally move out of the in-laws' place
and start living together as husband and wife
in their own home.
They paid $775,000 for the house, and from the start,
they were looking for perfection from Jonathan.
It was a big job with a lot of challenges, but in the end,
he managed to balance both expectations and budget.
Five weeks later, this couple now has a home
and can live happily ever after.
Well, we did it.
Finished not only on time but on budget,
and I think that's primarily thanks to having
such a great second project manager.
No problem.
I'm obviously talking about Marla.
No, I know, but I got your back, too.
I am here for you by not being here with you.
Sadly, that actually made some sense.
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.