HGTV’s “Good Bones” Transformed a Deserted Biker Bar Into a Modern Home

It’s one thing to turn an abandoned home into a livable one, but it’s an entirely different story when that home was a business that needs a totally new layout. On the latest episode of “Good Bones,” Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak stumbled across a former biker bar and took on the challenge of making it into a residential piece of real estate—but not without highlighting its history.

Located in the Old Southside neighborhood of Indianapolis—where many of “Good Bones” renovations have happened—the mother-daughter duo purchased this house for $35,000. The 530-square-foot abode formerly functioned as a biker bar, and it had the 0-bedroom, 1-bathroom to show it. And so, they decided to add a second-story expansion that added 2,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths.

From the beginning of the massive renovation, Laine and Starsiak knew they wanted to run with a refined industrial style. The design payed homage to the biker bar, which allowed old memorabilia to coexist in the new home, but the refined part softened the overall theme with warm woods and soft grays.

In the old part of the house, Laine and Starsiak knocked down walls and made room for an open concept in the living spaces. Since the layout was awkward from the beginning, they decided to tear it all down and make it breathable and inviting—the opposite of what it felt like when they arrived.

They carved out a modernized dining area in one corner of the room, surrounded by windows with dark gray trimming that complemented the cloud-patterned backdrop that hung on one side of the wall. The leather chairs, woven rug, and wooden table added warmth and texture to the space, and the light fixtures that contributed to that industrial vibe.

Then, there was the kitchen. Laine and Starsiak added dark cabinets and shelving that harmonized against the gray walls, and they added a wrap-around butcher block to add some warmth. With an updated take on the subway tile and exposed pipe support for the shelves, they successfully married the industrial with the refined in the new culinary area.

And these two areas are only skimming the surface of how the “Good Bones” team modernized and expanded this former bar while elegantly exposing some of its biker charm. Tune in to see the rest!

Good Bones airs Tuesdays at 9/8 central on HGTV.