The Property Brothers Let the Emotions Flow on Season Premiere of ‘Celebrity IOU’
HGTV
Property brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott have returned with Season 5 of “Celebrity IOU,” and the premiere may be their most moving episode to date.
In “Leslie Jordan’s Renovation,” the Scott brothers meet with comedic character actor Leslie Jordan, who won an Emmy for his iconic role as Beverly Leslie on “Will and Grace.” He’s hoping Jonathan and Drew can make over the home of his friends Rosemary and Newell Alexander, Hollywood producers who helped start Jordan’s career. The Scott brothers are game, and the renovation unfolds smoothly.
Yet, a few months after filming on this episode wrapped, Jordan died on Oct. 24. He was 67.
“We’ve known Leslie Jordan for years,” Drew says at the beginning of the episode. “And working with him wasn’t just a highlight for the show, but really of our careers.”
“Just the most gracious and kind human being who you’d ever meet,” adds Jonathan. “He was over the moon to give back to Rosemary and Newell.”
Actor Leslie Jordan with his friends Rosemary and Newell AlexanderHGTV
Jordan wants to help remodel their dated North Hollywood ranch house into a modern showpiece—a comfy and functional space where their children and grandchildren can gather.
As always, the brothers are full of good advice and useful tips that can help make our own lives easier and more comfortable. Read on to see how this poignant renovation unfolds, which might inspire you to spruce up your own digs (or the abode of a beloved friend or family member).
Keep features you love—even if they interrupt flow
Double-sided fireplaceHGTV
The first thing the property brothers think of when they enter the living room is to get rid of the double-sided fireplace, which blocks the flow toward the family room.
But Jordan isn’t sure about that. He knows the Alexanders love their fireplace, and that it makes the home feel warm and cozy. So the Scotts decide to keep it, albeit with some modifications.
“We could do this incredible two-sided feature where we could do a plaster application or something just to make it feel updated,” says Jonathan, “but still bring in a lot of wood tones just to make sure it feels warm and inviting.”
Update Southwestern decor
Visible wood grain helps with an updated Southwestern style.HGTV
It’s obvious the Alexanders love the old West and would like to somehow keep a part of it. But the Southwestern style went out a couple of decades ago. What to do?
“Rosemary and Newell love that Southwestern style, and we’ll lean into that vibe in the kitchen,” says Drew. “We’ll use earth-toned accents like wood cabinetry and an adobe-style vent hood.”
“I love that you’ll see the wood grain,” says Jonathan. “It still has that warm tone to it. But when it’s all done and we have the stone counters on, it’s going to be spectacular.”
In the other rooms, they’ll use weathered leather furniture with an open stitch, fabrics reminiscent of burlap, and other updated Western-style pieces.
Donate old cabinets
Carefully removing cabinets to donateHGTV
“The kitchen cabinets are actually in great shape, so we are not going to demolish them. We’re going to gently take them out and donate them,” says Jonathan. “They’re just not going to work in this space.”
In addition to helping his friends, Jordan is thrilled that he gets to help gift the old cabinets to a recipient. It’s a win for everyone.
Sometimes it’s OK to eliminate a window
A hearth where a window used to beHGTV
There’s a window in the kitchen that lets light in, but it eliminates valuable cupboard and storage space. When Jonathan mentions eliminating it, Jordan wonders if it will make the room too dark.
Jonathan explains that since they’ll be breaking down walls on the other side of the kitchen, and light will flow in from the rest of the house, the kitchen will be lighter than ever when they’re done.
“We can get rid of that old kitchen window to accommodate that chef’s range for Rosemary,” says Jonathan, and Jordan is convinced.
“Everything will feel so much more open when they have a lot more natural light anyway, so we can eliminate this one window,” Jonathan affirms.
Let hardwood floors acclimate
Covering the floorboards so they can acclimateHGTV
“As planned, we’re keeping the original flooring in the front room and lacing in new matching hardwood throughout the rest of the space,” says Jonathan. “Once done, we’ll cover it and let it acclimate before adding stain,” he concludes.
What does that mean? Acclimation involves letting your hardwood floorboards sit in their new environment so their naturally occurring moisture content is at or near the moisture content of the environment.
Acclimation allows your new floorboards to adjust to the climate conditions of your home.
Do the property brothers deliver?
The Alexanders are thrilled with the home makeover that Jordan (and the Scott brothers) worked so hard to gift them.
The new kitchen could be one of Leslie Jordan’s biggest hits.HGTV
“I didn’t think it was possible that I could love it so much,” says Rosemary. “I always thought that this house had so much potential. We’ve moved into the 21st century—we were stuck in the 1950s in this house.”
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