Before and After: Jeremy Renner Transformed His Mom’s Kitchen From ’70s Cramped to Modern and Spacious
Early on in Jeremy Renner’s career, he fell into the home renovation biz to make money while pursuing his love for acting. And on the most recent (and final!) episode of “Celebrity IOU,” Renner put his old skills to good use for a special project: creating a new home for his mom.
Valerie wanted to move to Los Angeles to be closer to her kids and grandkids and purchased a dated 1970s house that needed a lot of work. So the Property Brothers stepped in to assist Renner in creating a traditional-meets-modern condo where Valerie could have countless memories with her family.
“This will be a place for my momma, a beautiful hub for our family, for all the grandkids—for all of us,” Renner said. “She’s the rock of the family and she deserves it.”
Renner and the Property Brothers got to work updating the rooms while preserving the bones of the house. Their goal was to create a traditionally elegant style that was also functional and durable (translation: kid-proof) for all her grandkids to hang out in.
For the living room area, they removed the old mirrored walls that dominated the space and replaced it with a Tuscan-inspired fireplace with a glass front. The Property Brothers also had the great idea of distinguishing the entrance by covering it in tile that contrasted against the oak hardwood floors of the living room.
Jonathan and Drew Scott also redid the staircase by installing a black railing and replacing the floors with the same oak hardwood, which matched the new dining and kitchen area that created an overall flow between the two floors.
Speaking of the kitchen and dining area, a big chunk of the renovation was done up there. They knocked down a wall that divided the dining room and kitchen to make it an open concept, then built a wall on the side of the kitchen to create a guest bedroom for the grandkids to stay in for sleepovers.
The kitchen—which Valerie said was originally the worst room—was transformed into a spacious cooking and dining area dominated by porcelain touches. The new countertops and island were covered in porcelain slabs, and cabinets were painted in white and navy blue to give it a fresh, classic look.
Additionally, they added in new stainless steel appliances that included a stove with a custom-made hood, plus a farmhouse-style sink that Valerie always wanted. Did she like it, you ask? Let’s just say upon first glance, she was ready to prop all her grandkids on the island and get to baking cookies.
“We express our love with action and not so much with words all the time in our family, starts with this strong strong piece of granite, sort of trickles down in our family,” Renner said alongside his mom during the grand surprise. “I can say I love you momma, but this is another way of expressing.”
Please excuse us while we grab our tissues.