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He’s been nominated for an Academy Award and multiple Golden Globes; he’s won a Latin Grammy and a plethora of film festival awards; and played more iconic roles than we can even name! But friends and family know Andy Garcia even more for his caring heart. And on this episode of Celebrity IOU he proves that as he gifts his cherished late friend Julio’s family with a beautiful new entertainment space to enjoy.
Julio was Andy’s best friend—they met in Miami Beach during their first year of college taking an acting class together. “He’s as great an actor as I’ve ever worked with,” says Andy, “And I’ve worked with some great actors.” But a bit more than a year ago, Julio had suddenly and devastatingly passed away.
With their shared passion for acting, they were both either reading or writing something new, and bouncing ideas off each other all the time. They were like brothers, always together, and always looking out for one another. “I always wanted him to be by my side, you know?” Andy says. “And those memories, I cherish.”
Julio’s wife, Linda, and their children, JJ, CJ, and Melinda have always loved using the backyard. They play dominoes and darts, cook great meals, host parties, and share plenty of laughs together. But Andy has an idea to give the backyard a major upgrade. He’s turning their detached garage into a cozy living space where they can watch movies, relax as a family, and have a dedicated spot for hosting game nights—and honoring Julio’s loving, energetic spirit throughout it all.
Teary eyed, Linda says, “I’m just thinking of Julio, my husband, how much he would appreciate this.”
Before & Afters
Upgrading the Patio
Isn’t this just incredible?! Linda’s new backyard patio is now fully equipped with its own kitchen where she can cook all her best dishes for loved ones and guests, as well as an outdoor dining table and lounge furniture to create that cozy, welcoming vibe. They even included a pizza oven, since that’s one of Linda’s favorite meals to cook!
Letting the Light In
To double the space so it still accommodates their storage needs, Andy, Drew, and Jonathan created an attic-like structure in the ceiling, with a pull-down door for easy access and a more organized feel.
The addition of the French doors here completely transformed the space, too—now, the room is filled with natural light, and there is convenient access to the outdoor patio. On days where it’s beautiful out, they can simply leave the doors open for an indoor-outdoor vibe.
The Ultimate Chill Zone
Inside the garage, we find the ultimate entertainment zone, equipped with full surround sound, an 85-inch TV screen, and a soundbar below, as well as plenty of comfortable seating. It’s the perfect setting for game nights and movie marathons.
Andy also had the great idea of including a sleeper sofa, for that added benefit of a guest space if they ever had someone in town who wanted to crash for a couple nights.
Beautiful New Modern Garage Doors
Andy, Drew, and Jonathan swapped the old aluminum garage door with a beautiful solid wood accordion option that perfectly complements the new design. These carriage-style doors offer plenty of function, which allows Linda and her kids to choose the best fit for their needs at any moment.
“The one thing I want in my life is for him to come back,” Andy says. “That’s the nature of anything when you lose someone who’s dear to you. And he’d be happy about this—he’d want to be here.”
Shop the Look
Check out the decor, furniture, and more seen in this episode–and get it for yourself!
Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Room | Item Type | Product Name | Company | Product Code / Sku |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | Garage Door-Folding | Custom bifold door set with swing door Stain Grade: clear coast, low sheen Species: Red Grantis | RealCraft | CD-DOR-BIF-CU |
| 2 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | French Door with Sidelites | SF20F FLUSH-GLAZED SMOOTH FIBERGLASS EXTERIOR DOOR WITH FULL-LITE DOOR LITE | CODEL Doors | |
| 3 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | Sidelites | SFSL20 SMOOTH FIBERGLASS 12" EXTERIOR SIDELITE WITH FULL-LITE DOOR LITE | CODEL Doors | |
| 4 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | Side Door Exterior Full Light | SFSL20 SMOOTH FIBERGLASS EXTERIOR SIDELITE WITH FULL-LITE DOOR LITE | Trimlite | SF20F3068 |
| 5 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | French Door, Deadbolt | Urban Modern Keyed Deadbolt Singular Cylinder Color: Flat Black | Emtek | |
| 6 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | French Door Level | Select L-Square Hammered Lever Urban Rosette Color: Flat Black RH Outswing Passage | Emtek | |
| 7 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | French Door, Dummy | Select L-Square Hammered Lever Urban Rosette Color: Flat Black Dummy | Emtek | |
| 8 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | Side Door, Deadbolt | Urban Modern Keyed Deadbolt Singular Cylinder Color: Flat Black | Emtek | |
| 9 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | Side Door Lever | Select L-Square Hammered Lever Urban Rosette Color: Flat Black LH Outswing Passage | Emtek | |
| 10 | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Kelly K. | 04/02/2025 04:16 PM | Garage | RealCraft Door Deadbolt | DEADBOLT ENTRY LEVER (NON-KEYED) | Emtek | |
| Room | Item Type | Product Name | Company | Product Code / Sku |
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