Finishing Our Parents’ New California Home

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.

On last week’s episode of Don’t Hate Your House, Drew and Jonathan got to work on their parents, Jim and Joanne Scott’s, new California home. After some major hiccups with permits and zoning delays with the city, they decided to use the time to fully transform the guest house ADU above the garage. In part 2 of the Don’t Hate Your House special for Mom and Dad, Drew and Jonathan finally tackled the main structure. Jim and Joanne were eager to finally move into their new space, and the Bros were trying to make everything absolutely perfect for them before they officially called it “home.” However, they kept getting hit with setback after setback—truly, the Bros couldn’t catch a break!

After months at a standstill, permits were finally approved, and Drew and Jonathan got to work making their parents’ dream home a reality. They wanted to prioritize Mom’s favorite place (the kitchen), provide both of their parents with a separate spot for them to enjoy their hobbies (Mom loves painting and Dad loves the guitar!), all while making the rest of the house functional and beautiful.

Reno Delays Subside At Last at Drew and Jonathan’s Parents’ House

Between a 600-square-foot addition, replacing every utility in the house, and the top-to-bottom design that Drew and Jonathan planned, it’s needless to say they had a huge project on their hands. Mom and Dad had waited almost a year to move in, and were ready to start making a home in this new space.

“We’ve been living out of a suitcase for a year now, and I’m just anxious to see it all done,” Joanne says.

The Bros worked as fast as they could without compromising the integrity of the structure or the quality of the reno and reconstruction. They wanted to make sure Mom and Dad had a space they love, but it also had to be safe and well-made. It took a while to get there, but they did everything in their power to make this home Jim and Joanne’s favorite place to be.

Bringing Banff to California

Drew and Jonathan know how much their parents miss Canada already, so they styled tons of photographs, mementos, and reminders of their parents’ life in Banff, Canada inside their LA home to make the new adventure feel more comfortable. Knowing their parents’ style, the Bros also included plenty of rustic elements that speak to the beautiful mountain landscape—like wood furniture and accent pieces, plenty of soft natural colors, and a large garden filled with beautiful flowers and greenery. Incorporating these elements seamlessly into the Spanish-style build took some creativity, but ultimately, they made it look organic.

It all paid off in the end, when they got to see the look on Jim and Joanne’s faces! Their parents love the house, and are so excited to start their lives there. After the big reveal, the Bros even surprised them with a sweet backyard barbecue, inviting everyone’s spouses, partners, and partner’s parents to ring in the space and celebrate their big move.

“Nothing is more important than family, and this family’s done it right,” Jonathan says.

Before & Afters

Cozy Area to Connect and Unwind

Jim and Joanne really wanted to bring in that rustic style with a bulky fireplace that mimicked the one they had in Banff, but the Bros knew it would look too out-of-place with this style of house. They decided to compromise, creating a more burly white stone facade but adding in a plaster feature on top that speaks to the curved arches and Spanish influence throughout the rest of the room and home.

Perfectly Open and Ready for Hosting

The kitchen was Joanne’s top priority. She loves to cook, and their Scott family dinner parties deserve the perfect place to celebrate! Drew wanted to make sure Mom had tons of natural light coming in, so they opted for windows on all sides, letting that gorgeous sunlight shine through and making it easy for Joanne to look out into the backyard while the grandkids play.

Space to Prep for Big Family Dinners

A huge island at Drew and Jonathan’s parents’ house will make family meals, Thanksgiving dinners, and holiday get-togethers a breeze. New, top-quality appliances and a highly functional layout provide Joanne with the space she needs to be able to host and cook without having to run around the whole kitchen.

She and Jim were excited to make the switch from their usual dark wood found in their Canada home to a lighter wood tone that’s seen throughout the house. This, combined with the blue cabinetry, makes the kitchen feel welcoming and modern.

Comfy Place to Gather and Eat

A well-constructed and thoughtfully designed kitchen deserves a dining room to complement it! The long wood table here is the perfect centerpiece for cozy family meals together on weekends and holidays. An area rug grounds it in the space and makes the table the highlight of the room.

Dad’s Music Den

Jim is a fantastic guitar player, and he’s been playing his whole life—including for his family since the Bros were little. Having a room all his own to strum and sing in is the perfect way to encourage Dad to keep playing. All of his guitars are hung on the wall, along with old photos of him with his favorite instruments. 

Mom’s Art Room

Mom finally has a place to paint and be creative, with a whole room dedicated to her craft. They filled it with easels, paints, brushes, and craft supplies. She’s loved art for so long and has such a creative mind, so the Bros are hoping that having this space will inspire her to pick up the paint brush and spend more time doing what she loves.

Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!

We’re Renovating Our Parents’ House!

It’s the most important project of all time.

Read More