Before and After: HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” Turned This Decaying Space Into an Airy, Modern Kitchen

updated May 27, 2021
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Before: Dark and dated dining room with bay window
Credit: HGTV

In today’s competitive real estate market, it’s common for people to buy homes sight unseen — with low inventory and high demand, you’ve got to act fast. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop,” that’s what Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack did when they stumbled upon a house for sale that had serious flipping potential. And while the house ended up needing a lot more work than they were hoping, the end result proved that the risk can definitely be worth it. 

From the moment El Moussa and Haack walked into the home, it was obvious that it needed some serious TLC. In the first room, the duo was greeted with a dated interior — from the crumbling floors to the stained walls and the boxed-in layout. After initial examination, the first step became crystal clear — to knock down some walls and create an open layout for the kitchen and dining space to coexist.

Credit: HGTV

Once they had the additional room to work with, El Moussa and Haack decided to go big with a nine-foot kitchen island that created a focal design moment and a bountiful amount of storage. Haack went with darker cabinets that would contrast nicely with the white countertops, and the black and white geometric backsplash married the palette together. Combine all that with freshly painted white walls and new light wood floors, and their modern kitchen was complete.

Credit: HGTV

Another room that was in desperate need of a renovation was the bathroom, which was literally falling apart. The toilet seat was broken, the vanity damaged, and the overall style of the space was dated. Oh, not to mention there was major water damage due to the broken water bed in the adjoining room.

Credit: HGTV

After fixing the water damage (first things first), they updated the space with brand new bathroom fixtures, including a glass corner shower with a rain shower head. As for the design, Haack leaned into a black and white palette that was similar to the kitchen — from the black vanity with white surface, to the geometric bathroom tile. It’s safe to say that by the end of the reno, this room, along with the rest of the house, was unrecognizable.

To see all the other rooms get transformed and the full reveal, check your local listings to catch the episode on HGTV or stream it on Discovery+.

Flip or Flop” airs every Thursday at 8/9 central on HGTV and Discovery+.