Before and After: On HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Cheryl Hines Transforms a Run-Down Garage into an Upscale Guest Suite

In the 20 years that Cheryl Hines has known Sarita, their relationship has transformed from assistant/nanny and boss to that of best friends. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” Cheryl wanted to show her appreciation for Sarita by giving her detached garage a full-blown renovation. Cheryl teamed up with Drew and Jonathan Scott to transform her former assistant’s run-down garage into a multi-function guesthouse and workspace. 

The original garage was a bare-bones, dilapidated single room. The room was dark, with concrete floors, weak wooden walls, a lone window, and no real door. More than anything else, the garage served as a temporary storage space. Jonathan noted that the structure seemed “shady” and that he would hesitate to even park a car in the space, out of fear that it would collapse. Cheryl requested a multi-function makeover that prioritized eclectic simplicity. She wanted the area to serve as both an office space for Sarita or her husband and a guest suite (complete with a bed, bathroom, and kitchenette).

With a tight three-and-a-half-week timeline, Cheryl and the Scott brothers kicked off their renovation. Their first focus was making the garage more structurally sound, which they accomplished by adding new rebar in concrete footing (which was especially important, since the home was in an earthquake zone). After adding in the concrete, they brought in light tone luxury vinyl flooring in a herringbone pattern. They also installed a new support beam on the ceiling and knocked down some of the flimsy wooden wall features, which they later fixed with premium, fire-proof insulation and drywall.

The team installed sliding glass doors to the entrance of the garage, which helped bring in lots of natural light and brighten the place. They also expanded the small window on one wall and turned it into a kitchenette area. Cheryl picked out dark cabinetry and dark porcelain stone for the countertop to create a “rich and sexy look.” To help balance out the dark kitchenette, Cheryl selected light, warm window treatments and clear acrylic hardware. The team installed compact appliances to help create “boutique hotel vibes” and erected a wall to separate the kitchen from the new bathroom.

Cheryl, Drew, and Jonathan opted to have custom built-ins in the living and working space in order to maximize storage. In addition to a desk and shelves, they picked out a Murphy bed, which could easily fold up when not in use. They brought in a comfortable cream couch, two different accent chairs, a coffee table, and a small black dining area to help tie the whole space together. Among the many decorations in the room, Cheryl had Sarita’s kids’ drawings transferred from paper to framed glass, for several personalized shelf adornments.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re in a garage,” Jonathan said. “It literally just feels like a separate structure that was built with the intention of it being a guest space.”

“Celebrity IOU” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.