‘Good Bones Risky Business’ Uncovers the Worst Waste of Cash Eating Away at Your Renovation Today
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On the latest “Good Bones: Risky Business,” Mina Starsiak Hawk lays bare her soul by admitting she’s more than a little disappointed by the project she once called her dream: converting a decrepit Victorian mansion into a bed-and-breakfast and event center.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs in the project,” she confesses in the episode “Can Mina Pull This Off?” “Honestly, a lot more downs than ups.”
Ever the optimist, she adds, “But phase one, which is the carriage house, is complete. Phase two, which is the bulk of the main house, we’ve got some good progress on. And phase three, which is the outside of the house and the speakeasy, we haven’t even started yet.”
It wouldn’t be an issue if Starsiak Hawk hadn’t promised a friend she could hold her wedding there in eight weeks. Holy moly, what was she thinking?
The answer: “The pressure to finish is going to be a mess.”
As she races to beat the clock, Starsiak Hawk comes up with some great advice on getting a renovation done in record time with limited funds. Take a look at the top tips she learned the hard way!
Find inspiration from other buildings
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Starsiak Hawk’s first stop with her designer, MJ, is a local speakeasy. And it’s not because she desperately needs a drink, but because she’s looking for design ideas for her own speakeasy that she hopes to build in her basement.
“MJ and I are visiting a finished speakeasy to get some inspiration,” she says. “I’ve never designed anything like this before. It’s all new.”
She’s encouraged by the fact that they already have exposed brick walls in her basement, and she loves the custom red velvet booths, curtains, chandeliers, and the “moody and Gatsby-esque” atmosphere. It’s exactly the encouragement she needs.
Don’t wait until the last minute to change direction on design
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Starsiak Hawk has hired a skilled woodworker to come up with a design for the oak staircase. She says she wants it to be a real statement piece.
The master craftsman shows Starsiak Hawk and MJ a sample carving on a newel post that he’s come up with, featuring oak leaves and acorns. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go over well.
MJ and Starsiak Hawk think it looks a little too rustic for their modern Victorian aesthetic.
“I feel bad saying this isn’t what we had in our head, but I would feel worse having them continue to do the work and get to a more finished product thinking it might work, and it’s still not working,” says Starsiak Hawk. “So now is the time to have the conversation. Because they can do what we want. I know they can.”
Luckily, the master craftsman has no problem changing it. He’ll just sand it down and carve something else in its place.
Keep walls neutral to help unique features pop
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As Starsiak Hawk discusses paint options with MJ, she tells him, “We’re going full speed ahead with the white walls and trim in the foyer, the parlor, and the dining room.”
And she explains why: “I’m hoping keeping everything neutral will help some of the Victorian features, like the custom handcarved railings for the staircase, really stand out.”
It’s a smart reminder that when deciding on a color scheme for your own house, think about how the walls will complement or showcase the art, furniture pieces, or other features.
Dark walls look great if there’s plenty of natural light
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Most of the downstairs rooms are white on white, so Starsiak Hawk decides to change things up in the downstairs bedroom suite with a very dark navy blue.
“The color we have on the wall for the downstairs room looks black,” she says. “We have very high ceilings and lots of natural light, so it’s not going to make the room feel small. It’s just going to make it feel a little cozy and very cool.”
Don’t break the bank on original artwork
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When Starsiak Hawk goes to an Indianapolis studio in search of art for the walls, she is introduced to the work of local portrait painter Marie Goth, who lived in the area until her death in 1975. Her original oil paintings set just the mood Starsiak Hawk wants.
But those originals are pricey! In fact, when budgets are tight, original artwork may be the worst waste of cash a renovation can have today.
Starsiak Hawk wisely turns toward the prints, which are far more reasonable. She can have many, many prints that she can display on walls throughout the house for the price of one original painting. Given her budget constraints, it’s no contest.
Progress report
With only two weeks until the wedding, Starsiak has to finish the kitchen, the speakeasy, and the entire exterior, which includes lawn, sidewalk, siding, paint, and a copper-colored steel roof.
Will she make it? The bride and groom are doubtful. We’ll keep you posted.
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