Over the past 20 years, Oscar winner Allison Janney has formed a tight bond with her assistant Ilana. The pair have celebrated (and mourned) life’s many ups and downs together. As as sign of gratitude for both her hard work and friendship, Allison enlisted the Property Brothers to help overhaul the outdated main floor of Ilana’s Los Angeles home. Take a peek at how it all came together.
Season 2 of Celebrity IOU airs Mondays at 10PM on HGTV Canada and will Stream Live and On Demand on the new Global TV App, and on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels. HGTV Canada is available through all major TV service providers.
Group Hug
Allison Janney and her assistant Ilana have maintained a professional and personal relationship for the last two decades. The duo – who met back in 2000 when Allison took on her Emmy-winning role in The West Wing – have only grown closer in recent years after each suffered tragic losses: Allison’s brother died, followed by Ilana’s sister. The deaths of their siblings only made their bond stronger, and as a thank you for all her hard work and support over the years, Allison wanted to surprise Ilana (her “sister, muse and confidant”) with a complete overhaul of the main floor of her Los Angeles home.
Related: Zooey Deschanel Surprises Her BFF With the Open-Concept House of Her Dreams
Before: The Living Room
In order to keep the plan a surprise, Ilana’s hubby Itay took her and their two daughters on a three-week trip, giving Drew and Jonathan Scott a quick, but manageable, timeframe for renovating the main floor. This narrow living room featured outdated flooring and hand-me-down furniture (the couch used to belong to Allison!).
Related: Brad Pitt Surprised an Old Friend With a Stunning Guest House Renovation
After: The Living Room
Lighter hardwood floors, modern decor and a deep blue colour palette instantly breathed new life into the formerly tired, dated living room. Find more minimalist design style ideas, room by room.
Related: Rebel Wilson Turned Her Friend’s Barren Backyard Into an Outdoor Oasis
And Scene!
Allison wanted in on the action and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. It’s not every day a major Hollywood A-lister wants to help with all the tedious details of home renovations.
Related: Viola Davis Renovated Her Best Friend’s Home Into a Chic and Relaxing Retreat
Before: Open-Concept
Although spacious, the open-concept floorplan felt awkward and dated. The Property Brothers wanted to bring more cohesion to the main floor, and that would have to start with swapping the dining room for the kitchen.
Related: Jeremy Renner Renovated His Mom’s Condo Into a Modern-Meets-Cozy Oasis
After: Open-Concept
The living room and kitchen areas are more functional after a complete overhaul of the floorplan. It’s hard to believe the kitchen wasn’t there the whole time. And the see-through fireplace was given a major facelift.
Related: A Stylish (and Functional!) Renovation for Melissa McCarthy’s Aunt and Uncle
Dressed to Impress
Allison had zero qualms about throwing around a hammer. In fact, she even dressed for the occasion in a floor-length red-orange gown that Jonathan likened to the iconic Jessica Rabbit dress. The work boots complete the ensemble. Check out the Celebrity IOU sneak peek to find out what other stars are partnering up with the Property Brothers.
Before: Wasted Space
The wall dividing the kitchen and dining room featured an unused cabinet and not much else – a waste of potential, according to Jonathan and Drew. When the Property Brothers learned that Ilana and her husband are avid wine drinkers, they brainstormed the perfect idea for the load-bearing wall.
Related: Michael Bublé Surprised His Grandpa’s Caretaker With a Renovation
After: Wasted Space No More!
This floor-to-ceiling glass wine cabinet is everything. Not only do the reflective surfaces offer the illusion of more open space, but it’s also ideal for hosting family and friends for holidays and special occasions. We can raise a glass to that!
Going Through Samples
After 20 years as friends, Allison knows a thing or two about Ilana’s preferred home decor aesthetic – and it involves a lot of warm shades. So it was a no-brainer that Jonathan ask Allison to weigh in on floor and cabinetry selections. Check out the top kitchen trends for 2021.
Before: The Dining Room
Originally, the dining room had lots of space for movement – which is great, except that it meant the kitchen (where Ilana’s husband Itay loved to spend time cooking) was shoved off to the side in a narrow, cramped corner. It was Jonathan’s idea to swap rooms, which involved tearing down a wall and adding a load bearing steel beam across.
After: The Dining Room
Now where the kitchen once was, this chic dining banquette is both stylish and functional with additional storage space underneath. Although it doesn’t feature windows, there’s plenty of natural light that pours in from the newly renovated kitchen. Check out our favourite Property Brothers dining rooms.
Before: The Kitchen
Speaking of the kitchen, it was initially a tiny, outdated space with limited countertops – and a nest full of critters. When Jonathan tore up the range above the stove, it was revealed to be riddled with mice and shoddy craftsmanship. We also break down how to create a realistic reno timeline and budget.
After: The Kitchen
The grand reveal of the new-and-improved kitchen was what moved Ilana and her husband the most. From the sintered marble island to the extra storage space, this blue and white beauty is a marvel. Clean lines abound in a space Allison knew Ilana would love.
Related: Inspiring Property Brothers Kitchen Transformation Trends to Keep an Eye On
Allison Janney’s Big Surprise!
Ilana got the surprise of a lifetime when she returned from the airport with her family to find Allison waiting for her on the doorstep. Ilana and Itay were almost moved to tears over the experience.
Related: Quiz: From Plaid to Magic Tricks, Which Property Brother Are You?
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