Good Bones - General Discussion

[Kohola3]

Just started watching during our sheltering.  Do all of the home owners in Indianapolis leave the place in shambles when they walk away.  Some of those places are beyond disgusting.  I'd never set foot inside let alone clean up that trash!

I have to say that I do like the fact that the are tackling the most derelict places which certainly improved the neighborhood but I wonder how many of them actually sell for their projected prices.

[suebee12]

21 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

but I wonder how many of them actually sell for their projected prices.

Well, this one didn't! Originally Mina projected a 70K profit which would have been massive for them but they ended up with 25K which is their "normal" . They have never made a lot of money on any one house. Guess we are used to seeing the CA shows with the large profits(which I usually question). Guess we will never really know how much they make!

 

[3 is enough]

I think they do a fair number of houses every year, but appear only make $25-40K per house at best.  Not sure if every house is featured on the show though.  It does seem to take at least 6 months for their renovations to be completed, since you usually see a change of seasons on each episode.

I would imagine a fair amount of their profits have to remain with the business. I follow Mina on Instagram and it looks like she is launching some sort of store as well, which seems to be very common for HGTV stars.  She also promotes a lot of various products on her Instagram account.

 

[Kohola3]

4 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

I think they do a fair number of houses every year, but appear only make $25-40K per house at best. 

I guess that's not a bad turnaround if you are doing a lot of houses.  Obviously with the size of the places they are redoing, they are unlikely to make huge profits. Most of them are quite small by the standards of home buyers these days that all seem to want McMansions.

[Sarnia]

The layout of that last house was ridiculous. The master suite was bigger than the living areas, which makes no sense at all, and the living room was pretty much useless. I sort of liked the kitchen, but that's about it.

[tinderbox]

Unfortunately, I don’t have many positive comments about the final result of this refurbished home except I think the updated outdoor facade was quite lovely.

The first impression narrow site line, upon walking into the home, was unexpected and jarring.  As many of you have said, it was more of a hallway than anything else I can think of.  Simply awful.  It seems Mina sacrificed actual living space for sleeping areas.   I despised the chandeliers as they are not my taste but I do appreciate why others could love this style.

The living room and dining areas were pathetic and would never be super comfortable for a family of more than two people....if that.

I liked the dark kitchen cabinet paint choice but the backsplash simply didn’t blend with anything else in the room.  The drawer pulls aren’t my favorites for the same reason I didn’t like the chandeliers.  
 

IMO, Mina lost her spark while laying out the floorplan along with choosing finishes on this project.  It was I mish mash of ideas that probably came together during a stressful time in her life...which I completely understand.  Karen’s distressed wallpaper idea was a disaster.  Really horrendous!  Also, the overall final “dressing” of the home was overdone.  Claptrap everywhere.  

It seemed the son of the previous owners, and his wife, were more shocked (not in a good way) than happily surprised by the final result.  The look on his wife’s face spoke volumes.  

I hope Karen is happy and healthy.  Something seemed a tad off with her during this episode.  She seems to have lost some weight, which is usually a positive thing, but I hope her health isn’t the reason she’s going to be stepping back this season.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by tinderbox

[Gam2]

I just watched this episode this afternoon while baking cookies. Y’all were all right with your comments. It really is just a long hallway and I can’t figure out how a family or even a couple could live there comfortably. It was my least favorite house of all of the ones they’ve done. Sad.

[Scatterbrained]

They seem really intent on making these homes fit a multiple member household with more ample space for each individual than these old, (often shotgun style) dwellings were made for.

I appreciate that Home Town (another HGTV show) actually does homes for a variety of budgets and circumstances,  including single individuals living alone.

 

[chessiegal]

Good Bones made Jeopardy! this week. We are still catching up on this week's new shows (the last new ones in the can when they stopped filming because of corona virus), and they were a question in Home Improvement Shows.

[sheetmoss]

15 hours ago, Scatterbrained said:

They seem really intent on making these homes fit a multiple member household with more ample space for each individual than these old, (often shotgun style) dwellings were made for.

I appreciate that Home Town (another HGTV show) actually does homes for a variety of budgets and circumstances,  including single individuals living alone.

 

Growing up in working-class Chicago, those kind of house aren't/weren't uncommon w/housing a family  w/a couple of kids,

My house is one of those - LR/DR are 11.5 wide and 3 bdrms are about 8ft wide.

My old neighbor raised 6 kids in one

Kids played in the attic or basement(unfinished)....or went outside to play

1 minute ago, sheetmoss said:

 

 

Edited June 14, 2020 by sheetmoss

[Kohola3]

2 hours ago, sheetmoss said:

Kids played in the attic or basement(unfinished)....or went outside to play

 

My parents would have rolled their eyes at the idea of a "dedicated play space".  We played in our rooms and put our stuff away at the end of the day.  On bad days, we ran around the unfinished basement as well - room to burn off some energy. The rest of the time our moms booted us out the door and it was outside from spring through fall and ice skating in the winter as well.  

Unlike some do like Karen.  Yeah, her laugh is a lot but right now I kind of enjoy hearing when things are so dire in the world.  And she seems like a fun person.  But I'm old so I might see things differently.

I don't like their decorating style much of the time.  I would think having tons of gee-gaws around would distract people from really seeing the house.  But maybe that's the point!

[CrazyInAlabama]

I've looked at a few of the online sales ads for their houses, and they look like they strip the extra stuff out of the house before they do photos, and showings.    I'm older than dirt, and the though of my mother having a play space for us (we had a fully finished basement, but it was nice) is laughable.    I don't see the point of having a 'chill' space upstairs too, when they could make the bedrooms bigger, or even add another one.    Just have a great room for the main living space, and if there's room, a smaller family room.  

I suspect part of the upstairs chill space (they've had it on a lot of episodes over the various seasons of the show) is that kids don't really play outside very much.   Indianapolis winters are awful, and people don't let the kids run loose the way we were raised (at least in my neighborhood).     

Edited June 15, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Grrarrggh]

4 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

  I don't see the point of having a 'chill' space upstairs too, when they could make the bedrooms bigger, or even add another one.    Just have a great room for the main living space, and if there's room, a smaller family room.  

The only good reason to have an extra public space upstairs is to get away from open concept. When open concept obsessed designers have one it's an admittance that, no, everyone does not automatically love open concept. There are people who want to watch tv and socialise without being able to see/smell/hear their kitchen. 

[dleighg]

I'm curious about the recent comments about an "upstairs chill space." Is this from some earlier season? The only new episode I can find is the Fountain Square "bowling alley living/dining room" house.

[RoxiP]

Most parents raise their children differently today than from the days when a lot of us were children (yes, I was one of those booted out the door (as soon as we finished cleaning the house on Saturday morning) and stayed outside until the street lights came on).  Children aren't allowed to play outside.  Children don't walk home from school unaccompanied.  Stressed children and stressed parents apparently all need their own space!

I only wish my house came with an extra living space!

[3 is enough]

I have a fairly large house, but now that my kids are grown and gone I can tell you that we spend 95% of our time in the open kitchen/family room.  The formal living room sits empty unless I want to watch something that my husband has no desire to see, and the dining room only gets used at Christmas , since Thanksgiving has moved to my daughter's house.  

When we do downsize I will not miss having 2 living spaces.

Most of the houses the Mina and Karen redo appear to be suited for younger couples, not families with children, even with the extra bedroom/bathrooms and "chill spaces".  Even if you have enough bedrooms for 3 kids, a postage stamp sized living/dining area is not going to work. 

I guess I wasn't paying attention, but how could last week's house have had a larger living room originally?  If they removed a hallway then it would have been even narrower, unless the living room was long and narrow, and they ate in the kitchen.

[Sarnia]

19 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

I guess I wasn't paying attention, but how could last week's house have had a larger living room originally?  If they removed a hallway then it would have been even narrower, unless the living room was long and narrow, and they ate in the kitchen.

There was a big living room area on the side, which they turned into a humongous master bedroom (the original master bedroom was turned I think into a walk-in closet for the master suite).

Edited June 15, 2020 by Sarnia

[dleighg]

19 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

I guess I wasn't paying attention, but how could last week's house have had a larger living room originally?  If they removed a hallway then it would have been even narrower, unless the living room was long and narrow, and they ate in the kitchen.

The original living room was where the new master is (closed off); the new living room was the "family room" before, and an old bedroom got turned into a MB closet/bath. I don't really recall how the openings went, but I don't think there was a "hallway"; I think the bedrooms just opened onto the living areas.

[Kohola3]

5 hours ago, dleighg said:

I'm curious about the recent comments about an "upstairs chill space." Is this from some earlier season? The only new episode I can find is the Fountain Square "bowling alley living/dining room" house.

I just started watching (Covid hibernation) so I have no idea about the year.  As I recall it was up on the third floor in what had been an attic area.  I think there as a young woman viewing it but I can't recall if it was a Realtor.

At any rate, who wants to climb 2 flights of stairs like that?  I guess if you are desperate enough to want to get away from the kids but I can't image it would get used very often.

[Rhetorica]

Watching the episode where Karen made cute small side tables from corbels. I think sometimes Mina doesn't give Karen the respect and thanks she deserves. I think I notice this because I think Karen and I are close to the same age. I'm 5'2" and must be cute as the dickens because some people either talk to me as a child or a little old lady. I am neither. I would like Mina to give her mother credit. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm watching the reruns (tonight's the season premier, so they're having a marathon), and I've really been enjoying it.  

However, I don't like the macrame, and other arty touches.   The one I'm watching now has a lamp made up of eight or nine wooden spindles, attached to a wooden base, with bare light bulbs sticking up, and right in front of the window.    

I really didn't like the wall paper they left as an accent wall in the Woodlawn house on last week's episode.   I liked the refurbished light fixtures though.   

I wish with tonight's home they wouldn't pack way too much stuff in the house.   Less would look so much better, instead of looking like a showroom for furnishings.   I don't like the back splash in the kitchen.  I think they could have achieved a better look with porcelain tile with larger sizes, and a plain grout.    Also, I would put quartz counters, and porcelain tiles throughout the bathrooms, showers, etc. at a lower cost, but still a high end look.  

Edited June 17, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[readheaded]

I've tried to watch this show and wanted to like it, but find Mina kind of obnoxious.

[dleighg]

So I know Mina and Karen have a complicated family, but I thought Tad was Karen's son? Maybe I'm wrong and Tad is Mina's half brother on the dad's side...

I was surprised to hear Karen say she'd only been in the house once (that Tad had been renting for 3 years).

I thought the kitchen floor tile was way too busy.

Was that a DOUBLE bed they put in the master?

Edited June 17, 2020 by dleighg

[3 is enough]

As I understand it, Tad is Mina’s half brother through her father.  His mother died when he was a teenager and Karen took him under her wing.

Anyone please feel free to correct me if I have the details wrong.

[Kohola3]

1 hour ago, 3 is enough said:

Anyone please feel free to correct me if I have the details wrong.

I don't know how they keep it straight!

 

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

That's right.   And when Tad's parents divorced, and after his mother, Cheryl (?) was sick, and died, Tad lived with Karen (yes, his father's ex-wife, and Mina's mother).    Lennie, the contractor from the first season, is Tad's stepfather.

The house last night was nice, but I think they could have saved a lot going with porcelain tile back splash, and bathrooms, instead of marble.    I would have preferred a porcelain tile back splash, instead of the granite or marble they used.    Since they're going to keep renting it out, at least for a few years, I would have put a full tile back splash, to cover all of the wall under the top cabinets.  I also would have put everything in the same metal, and something more classic like brushed nickel.    I think that will prevent having to redo finishes when they do go to sell the house.  

Edited June 17, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[dleighg]

I'm not sure I agree with the logic of waiting to sell. I guess I'm conservative when it comes to long term investing (meaning I have a diversified portfolio yada yada), but that was a nice hunk of change to have for Jack's college fund, especially given his age. I'm not sure the potential upside of a few 10s of k more in 3 or 4 years is really a good choice. But hey, it's their money.  Also, that 100k+ they put into the house came from SOMEWHERE, right?

[Kohola3]

14 minutes ago, dleighg said:

I'm not sure I agree with the logic of waiting to sell. I guess I'm conservative when it comes to long term investing...

Yeah, all I could think of when they were discussing it was the mess we are in right now and its long term effect.  I'm more of a 'bird in the hand" kind of person myself.  Who knows 3 or 4 years from now where the economy will be.

[suebee12]

21 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Since they're going to keep renting it out, at least for a few years, I would have put a full tile back splash, to cover all of the wall under the top cabinets. 

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the "sorta' tombstone" looking backsplash! I remember when Erin(Home Town) did one similar and everyone commented!!! I do think this one looks better but still, I would want a backsplash to cover all of the back area! I was also surprised at how little Tad had done while he was living there. Just a mattress on the floor and a ratty couch. I know they probably took out some furnishings but it sure looked like he just lived there with not much going on.(I was also glad that the pipes had just been undone to check on something and had not been there for the whole time!)

I actually like what they did with the house and that it was not a shotgun style house. The work they did on the outside was really nice although I am not sure how they came up with the coastal Hampton part of the design!

[CrazyInAlabama]

The other realtors agreed, that selling now means the low 300's, but waiting 3 to 5 years for the neighborhood prices to go up means a selling price just under $400k.    So if they get a great rental price, and then sell for more, they will make out much better.   

In a rental house, I don't like marble.    If someone stains it, or hurts it, you will have to replace or fix it, and quartz would have looked the same, but been totally maintenance free.    For tile, I can see splashes hitting above the kitchen back splash, and you will need to repaint.   I would have chosen less trendy hardware, and faucets, because you don't want to replace everything if trends change when they do try to sell. 

Edited June 17, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Sarnia]

If they rent it out for a few years it will generate income which they can start putting in the college fund.

I liked it as well, except the beds in front of the windows, why would you do that? But that's just staging. Not sure the marble was necessary, but it looked nice, not too over the top. The tombstone backsplash was weird (and also very small for a kitchen backsplash). Other than that I really liked the kitchen.

The baby is adorable, but Mina and Steve smooching in front of the demo team was so staged it was actually cringe-inducing.

[RoxiP]

I wasn't a fan of the tombstone either (and I thought about Erin's because I thought that one was silly also), and I didn't like had they had that bed that Karen made angled into the room - it minimized the size of the master bedroom.  Plus, what is the point of making a piece of furniture like that for a home that you are going to sell?  Oh well, it was a cool headboard and footboard.

[3 is enough]

I really hope that tombstone backsplash does not become a trend.  I disliked it when Erin did it on Home Town, and I have not changed my mind.  The only positive to Mina's is that there was not a lot of contrast between the granite and the paint colour so it wasn't so obvious.  

Backsplashes should go from the counter to the bottom of the cabinets or vent hood.  Otherwise you just have a lip which will be a magnet for dust and grease.

[dleighg]

4 minutes ago, 3 is enough said:

Backsplashes should go from the counter to the bottom of the cabinets or vent hood.  Otherwise you just have a lip which will be a magnet for dust and grease.

and the idea of no backsplash at all? That paint is going to be gross and uncleanable very soon.

 

[outtahere]

I have white cabinets in the kitchen and both bathrooms.  Love them, I can see the dirt and grease and clean them accordingly.

 

[mojito]

I liked this home. Open, but not too open. I think they pulled too many of the kitchen cabinets, though I would've wanted more.

I'm guessing that there weren't a whole lot of options with a bed with headboard would have to partially block a window. Maybe I would opt out of having a headboard or at least have a low one.

I liked how accommodating Jack is. He seems easy to get a smile out of and he can sit quietly and watch the activity around him and be entertained. My kind of kid.

I couldn't put my finger on it last time, maybe it's weight loss. Karen definitely looks younger. 

[Kohola3]

4 hours ago, dleighg said:

and the idea of no backsplash at all? That paint is going to be gross and uncleanable very soon.

 

Not necessarily. I never had a backsplash in my house and I managed to keep it clean for 35 years.  Just wiped it up as needed.

[buttersister]

HGTV, stop trying to make tombstone backsplashes a thing!

Another no-backsplash person here--planning on one in the mini-remodel, may extend counter top up because of my hatred for grout. But for now and in the future, cleaning products work!

[CruiseDiva]

3 hours ago, buttersister said:

HGTV, stop trying to make tombstone backsplashes a thing!

Another no-backsplash person here--planning on one in the mini-remodel, may extend counter top up because of my hatred for grout. But for now and in the future, cleaning products work!

My husband hates tile backsplashes with grout and we had none when we bought our home. The kitchen was wallpapered and had a clear vinyl square mounted above the stove to protect it. Actually, the vinyl coated wallpaper wiped clean quite well and when it was removed we had it painted with semi-gloss, which cleans up fine. When we redid the counter tops with granite we had it extended all the way up to the cabinet bottoms. I like the look and it's easy to wipe clean.

[RoxiP]

My bed - with a headboard - is currently in front of my bedroom window.  I didn't realize it was an issue?  The only one who hates it is my older cat, because he used to love to hang out in that window - which he can still get in - just takes him a little more effort.

[Kohola3]

8 minutes ago, RoxiP said:

My bed - with a headboard - is currently in front of my bedroom window.  I didn't realize it was an issue? 

I'd say it's only an issue if it's something that you don't like. Personally I think the back of headboards in a window look weird from the outside. It also blocks light and it blocks airflow. I would never ever put a headboard in front of a window. But that's just me.

[RoxiP]

4 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

I'd say it's only an issue if it's something that you don't like. Personally I think the back of headboards in a window look weird from the outside. It also blocks light and it blocks airflow. I would never ever put a headboard in front of a window. But that's just me.

You really can't see it from outside because I have blinds and light blocking curtains, and the windows are huge so on the rare occasions they are open (we have very few days in Texas where having the windows open are an occasion - I wish we had more!) I actually do get air flow (and my headboard isn't a floor to ceiling model).  It's only been this way since April - just trying something new for a little while.  I will probably get tired of it soon enough and move the bed to another wall.  Rearranging rooms is one of the chief forms of entertainment for me...LOL!  (It also means I have to clean up all the clutter that tends to accumulate.)

[Sarnia]

28 minutes ago, RoxiP said:

My bed - with a headboard - is currently in front of my bedroom window.  I didn't realize it was an issue? 

If it's not an issue for you, it's not an issue 😉 I for one really don't like that it blocks the light, and that you cannot open the window. I also feel that when staging a house if you have to put the bed in front of the window it says that the room has a weird configuration and is complicated to furnish. But that's just me.

[Sarnia]

25 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

I'd say it's only an issue if it's something that you don't like. Personally I think the back of headboards in a window look weird from the outside. It also blocks light and it blocks airflow. I would never ever put a headboard in front of a window. But that's just me.

Oops sorry I missed your post and see that I've posted pretty much the same thing! (so that's not just me 😉 ).

Edited June 18, 2020 by Sarnia

[RoxiP]

23 minutes ago, Sarnia said:

If it's not an issue for you, it's not an issue 😉 I for one really don't like that it blocks the light, and that you cannot open the window. I also feel that when staging a house if you have to put the bed in front of the window it says that the room has a weird configuration and is complicated to furnish. But that's just me.

I think it is also significant to note that if my windows were open my neighbors across the street and all the people who walk in my neighborhood would have a perfect view inside my bedroom - which is why the blinds are rarely open.  Small houses in small neighborhoods, right?  It works for me right now and I kind of like the way the headboard looks against my pretty blue curtains so I'm good and like I said - I could decide to rearrange at any given time (honestly, my bed has been on 3 of the 4 walls at one time or the other in my room).

[bilgistic]

I didn't understand all the consternation about the house being "Mina's personal property". Tad, not Mina, had been living there (paying rent) and it obviously was being kept to just liveable standards, not any kind of upgraded/updated state. Mina owns all of the houses they renovate (buys for the specific purpose of renovating to sell), and they are all in some state of disrepair when they start renovation.

Further, they took this house down to the studs/framing. They kept the staircase and precious picture rail (but painted them, instead of restoring them), so again, I don't get the "sentimentality".

The tombstone "backsplash" was hideous. Also, I HATE gold fixtures. They look like 1970s-1980s, and will always look like that to me. There's no redeeming them. I don't care if there's a new "trend". Keep them away from me.

[mojito]

My guess is that Mina's corporation owns the other homes. She and her husband owned this one as a personal investment. Big difference.

[tinderbox]

5 hours ago, bilgistic said:

....The tombstone "backsplash" was hideous. Also, I HATE gold fixtures. They look like 1970s-1980s, and will always look like that to me. There's no redeeming them. I don't care if there's a new "trend". Keep them away from me.

You, are me.  That backsplash reminded me of bed’s headboard made of stone.  Ugly and impractical.  

I did like the changes they made to the house....especially the outside.  The original door placement was very odd.  

I would have sold it immediately.  

[3 is enough]

I am not a fan of the gold fixtures either, but I have to say they are better looking than the highly polished and lacquered ones that were popular in the 90's.  The newer ones are brushed and have more of a matte finish.  They look more like real brass.  However, since I just spent the last few years obliterating all traces of gold in my house, I am not about to bring it back.

[CrazyInAlabama]

19 hours ago, buttersister said:

HGTV, stop trying to make tombstone backsplashes a thing!

Another no-backsplash person here--planning on one in the mini-remodel, may extend counter top up because of my hatred for grout. But for now and in the future, cleaning products work!

My kitchen back splash has a type of (expensive) grout that will not stain, discolor, or any of the other issues with regular grout.   I will never have to seal the grout, it won't stain.    I've been able to see some older tile jobs by the same people, and it still looks wonderful.  It's the only kind the installers will use, and I love it.  If I didn't have a back splash, then I would paint the back splash area of the kitchen with a semi-gloss or other durable paint.    Using flat latex paint for everything isn't my choice.  

Edited June 19, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama