House Hunters Renovation

Partners David and Barry want to take advantage of the buyer's market and purchase their first home together. They are looking in some very desirable areas of Los Angeles so their $500,000 budget won't get them as much space as they hoped. After seeing what their money can get them in the neighborhood of their dreams, they decide to downsize in favor of location and walkability. After closing they have just enough money left over to hire a designer and renovate a cramped kitchen into an open, modern craftsman kitchen that will make this house the home they were looking for.

Ruth and Michael bought their Craftsman home before they had children. Now, with two growing kids, the couple is in dire need of more space. They may not have much money,but they have plenty of style and creativity. In fact, Ruth is an interior designer and Michael is a graphic designer. He has plenty of big ideas, which aren't always realistic, but Ruth has practical know-how. These two aren't afraid of fixers, and they look at homes with great bones, in need of updating. Finally, they settle on a house that feels just right. And with Ruth lending her expertise and Michael coming up with big ideas, they turn a small kitchen into the kitchen of their dreams.

Sonia and Sean have a family of five. They rent in a part of town they love, but they've just found out their rental is being sold and they have 60 days to clear out. The couple launch into a house search, but it's hard to find a large enough home in their price range, in their ideal location. And while Sonia grew up doing handy work around the house, Sean never has and he's reluctant to tackle a real fixer. But the couple finds a good-sized home and Sean gets his first taste of renovation work. And with some professional help, they give their outdated master suite a modern makeover.

Newlyweds Jason and Shannon have run out of room in their rental. Jason has experience working as a general contractor, and he's not afraid of big renovation challenges. Shannon, however, feels overwhelmed by the scope of what Jason is willing to take on. They tour houses that range from decent to shabby condition, but Jason's keen eye for detail finds problems in every home no matter how updated. Finally, the couple zero in on the ideal home. And once they get it, they gut the main living areas and create a new kitchen and living room.

Beverly and Lester love the neighborhood they live in. Not only are there great activities nearby, but they also live within walking distance of Beverly's parents. The only catch is they've been living in a rental. Now they feel it's finally time to buy. They hope they can stay close to her family, so they enlist a real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhood. After looking at a number of houses, they finally make their choice. But when it comes time to renovate their new house, Lester feels very strongly about design choices. He especially wants a modern kitchen. Will Beverly be able to get a word in edgewise and put some of her beachy, rustic taste into their home?

Ben and Mashanda are an artistic young couple looking for a house that offers them creative space and that matches their colorful, vintage style. Ben is a musician and Mashanda is an artist, so they'd each like their own separate studios in their new house. To get enough rooms in their price range, they need to focus on fixers. Their real estate agent shows them homes with historic character, but they're all in desperate need of repair. Mashanda and Ben aren't afraid of renvations, and they make their choice. With two months before they have to move in, the couple gets to work fixing up their house?only to discover one unforeseen problem after another. They race to get the house ready, focusing on a stylish living room redo, before time runs out.

Tara and Charles live in a townhouse with their two young boys. The neighborhood is great, but there's just not enough space. In fact, when the boys want to play outside, Tara and Charles turn their garage and driveway into a makeshift play area. The couple works with their realtor to find just the right house in just the right neighborhood. But after looking at one fixer after another, that turns out to be an impossible dream. So they decide to pick a house they can turn into the home they've been looking for. After the purchase, they launch into a massive renovation, taking out a big section of the back half of the house and redoing the kitchen, living room and entry.

Carmen and Johnny are tired of squeezing into a one-bedroom apartment. They love being in the heart of the city, but they're willing to give it up for more space?especially more land. Their house search takes them out to the suburbs, where they look at one fixer after another. They even look at a pricier home in good shape, but they don't care for the style and realize they'd have to fix it up anyway. Finally, they make their choice and dive into a big renovation, focusing on the old rec room that they want to spruce up into a hip game lounge for entertaining.

After moving to the big city and spending some time in the hustle and bustle, Elisabeth and Roger are ready to move somewhere that feels a bit more like home. Elisabeth grew up in the South, and Roger grew up in the Midwest. But they both agree that the bedroom community of Santa Clarita, California would feel like the right fit. Roger grew up doing renovation projects with his father, and he's eager to dig into redoing whichever house Elisabeth and he ultimately settle on. They tour one fixer after another, and finally settle on a house they feel they could make their dream home. Roger tackles the bathroom himself, and he wants to redo the kitchen too. But he soon discovers that some of the work previously done was not up to par, so the couple covers their bases by bringing in some professional help.

Tyler and Ari are ready to buy their very first house together. They want more space, and a neighborhood where they can walk the dogs. Plus, Ari would love a pool and Tyler has always dreamed of having his very own teppanyaki grill. They're hoping that as they put their own stamp on a new home, they can find some room to make Tyler's dream come true. The couple's real estate agent shows them several homes, any of which could fit the bill when it comes to renovation. Tyler and Ari make their decision and then dig into the renovations. Tyler is determined to do the work himself, but when it becomes clear that his expertise doesn't quite match up to his ambitions, the couple decides to bring in professionals to redo the kitchen.

Josh and Mac are done with apartment living. They long for something that feels more permanent and that offers more space...especially more closet space for Mac. But where she wants a home with clean, modern lines, Josh prefers the warmth of Craftsman homes. After looking at affordable homes that meet their needs and wishes, including close proximity to restaurants and coffee shops, it becomes clear that neither Josh nor Mac is going to get the perfectly styled home of their dreams. So they make their choice, and dive into renovating the entire house to suit their taste, with a big emphasis on a modern master bedroom suite.

Newleyweds Dax and Ashley are looking to upgrade from their rental house and find a place they can call their own. They're hoping to find a place near Eagle Rock, CA, where they've been renting. Ashley wants a charming Spanish style home, while Dax prefers a historic Craftsman. Once they find a house, Ashley and Dax jump into a massive overhaul of the master bath and kitchen. And while the renovation tests their patience and their budget, watch how a little hard work pays off once it all comes together.

Janice and Brett just moved from Seattle to Southern California with their two young children. Brett is an avid surfer, and the whole family enjoys spending time at the beach. They've been renting and now they're ready to buy a house. But they want to be less than two miles from the beach, and in the seaside real estate market, that's no easy feat. With help from their real esate agent, Janice and Brett comb through the available homes. Every house they see needs some kind of significant work, but they finally make their choice and get to work turning their new house into a warm, cozy retreat. They also put in a top-of-the-line kitchen, with help from a designer.

Karen and Diana are ready to buy a place of their own in California's San Fernando Valley. Diana wants a Craftsman-style place, while Karen has her heart set on something with Spanish flair. They also have different priorities for what's important in their house hunt: Diana is focused on finding a kitchen to accommodate her new refrigerator, while Karen's more concerned about finding a backyard with a pool. When it comes time to renovate their new place, the learning curve is steep for these first-time homebuyers. They focus on re-doing their kitchen and master bedroom, but second guessing their design plan throws a wrench in the renovation. Watch as they work together to create a house they can call home.