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After meeting 17 years ago at a prenatal yoga class, Mayim Bialik and Nancy almost instantly became inseparable. They’ve been pillars in each others’ lives since—raising their children together, sharing life’s highs and lows, and encouraging one another’s growth. Nancy has lots of different sides to her. She’s an inspiring yogi, a thoughtful writer, a warm mother, and a kind friend. And with how much she cares for everyone around her, Mayim wanted to gift Nancy with something special: A new backyard to make countless memories in, featuring a space specifically dedicated to her, her yoga practice, and her creative works.
This week on the Mayim Bialik Celebrity IOU episode, the former Jeopardy! host and Big Bang Theory star surprised her best friend with a backyard she could finally cozy up in. What was once a hazardous assortment of rocks and debris soon became a chic, organic backyard paradise. While Nancy was out of town, Drew, Jonathan, and Mayim took to the yard to immediately begin planning their excavations, landscaping, and redesigns. Their visions included tons of natural elements, organic shapes, and plants native to the area. They wanted to avoid cookie-cutter styles and instead create something that spoke to Nancy and her creative personality. What came from it is something truly magical.
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 | Room | Item Type | Product Name | Company | Product Code / Sku |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exterior | PERGOLA FOR LOUNGE/DINING AREA | BACKYARD DISCOVERY | BACKYARD DISCOVERY | |
| 2 | Exterior | OUTDOOR FIRE TABLE / BOWL | GRAND CANYON GAS LOGS | GRAND CANYON GAS LOGS | |
| 3 | Studio | CEILING | WOODGRAIN | WOODGRAIN | No. 1 x 8 |
| 4 | Studio | BASE | WOODGRAIN | WOODGRAIN | No. 1 x 6 |
| 5 | Studio | CASE | WOODGRAIN | WOODGRAIN | No. 1 x 4 |
| 6 | Studio | LUXURY VINYL PLANK | PROVENZA FLOORS | PROVENZA FLOORS | |
| 7 | Studio | DRAPE + ROD DRAPE + ROD SIDE FACING DOOR | SMITH & NOBLE | SMITH & NOBLE | Solace/Whisper White - SL21260 |
| 8 | Studio | DRAPE + ROD MAIN YARD FACING DOOR | SMITH & NOBLE | SMITH & NOBLE | Solace/Whisper White - SL21260 |
| 9 | Studio | STUDIO ART | BENSON COBB | BENSON COBB | |
| 10 | Studio | STUDIO | WELLMADE | WELLMADE | |
| Room | Item Type | Product Name | Company | Product Code / Sku |
Going Out With a (Big) Bang
The Big Bang Theory star isn’t just brilliant. She also knows her way around a power tool! From the moment Mayim got to the property, she was ready and willing to get Nancy’s yard beautiful, and she put in a ton of sweat equity to prove it. From uprooting a tree stump to helping install the pergola, Mayim was hands-on every step of the way. Each bit and piece of the backyard was planned out with intentionality, and designed specifically for Nancy.
More than anything, Mayim wanted the backyard to reflect Nancy’s interests and become an inspiring place for her to unwind. This included a backyard kitchen and dining area, a cozy seating spot for friends and family, and above all: A space just for her. As someone who takes her yoga practice very seriously and is also a very serious writer, it was paramount that Nancy have a specific place she could dedicate that to. So when planning out the yard, Mayim, Drew, and Jonathan decided on a prefab 120-square foot structure that could double as a writer’s den and yoga room. This became the heart of the design, and the most important piece of this backyard reno.
Before & Afters
Native Plants and an Organic Walkway
Mayim and the Bros knew that Nancy wanted a yard full of lush life and organic shapes and materials. A lot of planning went into building the yard, from the native plants and underground irrigation system to the type of pebble stone they would use to line the walkway. They wanted each element to provide something special, making the space feel cohesive, inspiring, and functional.
Chef’s Kitchen, but Make It Outdoors
May we introduce you to the outdoor kitchen of your dreams? Since Nancy loves being outdoors with friends and family, Mayim, Drew, and Jonathan knew that a dining area with all the bells and whistles would be a total hit. Think a state-of-the-art pellet grill, plenty of storage, stone counters, and a beverage fridge. The old pavers were also stained and repurposed to become the centerpiece to this beautiful chef’s kitchen.
A Pergola and a Yogi Writer’s Sanctuary
The easy-to-maintain steel pergola offers a sweet shaded chill zone to talk with friends around the fire pit and roast marshmallows. It sits as a stepping stone in between the outdoor dining area and Nancy’s writing and yoga studio. These three vignettes give the backyard some structure while still remaining interesting.
It’s All In the Details
Tune into a brand-new episode of Celebrity IOU every Monday night on HGTV at 8pm ET|7pm CT. Stream the Mayim Bialik Celebrity IOU episode on MAX.
