Before and After: Rainn Wilson Transformed a Dated Ranch into a Bright, Airy Retreat

There are few things more rewarding than giving back to someone who’s always been there. In the latest episode of HGTV’s “Celebrity IOU,” actor Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute from “The Office”) surprised his longtime family friend Leslie with a renovation that exclaimed “thank you” through stylish-meets-functional design.

Leslie nannied Wilson’s son Walter for 12 years, and to show how appreciative he was for everything she’d done, he called up the Property Brothers to execute a major home renovation. Over the course of three weeks, they worked to transform her home to be more functional and at the same time design-forward for her and her three young children to enjoy.

To brighten up all the living spaces, Wilson and the Scott brothers decided to go with white walls and cabinetry as well as medium-toned hardwood floors to bring extra warmth into the rooms. They even painted the dark ceiling beams a creamy white to brighten and highlight the architectural details.

Since Leslie had young children, Jonathan and Drew Scott wanted to open up the kitchen to make it more kid-friendly while catering to Leslie’s love for entertaining. Above the countertops were floating shelves that partially separated the kitchen from the rest of the living spaces. To open up the room, the team removed the shelves and the cabinets below, then installed a center stone kitchen island to provide additional storage and seating.

Wilson explained that Leslie was so selfless, she gave away her former dining table to a family in need and used a collapsable table instead. Since family was so important to Leslie, the Property Brothers invested in a sturdy dining table and chairs to match where time can be shared over dinner.

The living room had a lot going on, and by the amount of toys, it was clear that this is space was used a significant amount. The Property Brothers replaced the furniture with pieces that did double-duty, providing a comfortable lounging area that had built-in storage for all those toys.

Additionally, Jonathan and Drew replaced the glass sliding doors in the living room with collapsable panels. That way, Leslie and her family could make the living room and deck into one large space where the kids can play (and the adults can see them).

Speaking of their backyard, the Property Brothers and Wilson also renovated the deck and built the ultimate playground for the kids—but you’ll have to watch the episode to see that part for yourself. You can catch it on HGTV (check your local listing for air times).

Celebrity IOU airs Mondays at 9/8 central on HGTV.