met members dining room

(lively music) - for me what makes ahome are the people in it. a house is not a homeunless someone's there. the love is there. so it starts with who's in the house. but the people that ilove, i really love them and they know it. i'm taraji p. henson and this is my houzz. home for me is washington d.c., maryland,

the virginia that area. that was where i was born and raised. that's primarily where mostof my family still lives. that's gonna always be home for me. i met my stepmom, angie, when i was 16. she just made my daddy a better man. he was just lost 'cause mydaddy was homeless at one time, when i was really young. then she stepped into his life

and she was everything he needed. i was so happy. i just loved her right away. you need the meal, you needclothes, you need somebody to watch your kids, yourdog, whatever it is, angie's there for you. my dad always consideredhimself an artist. he's a metal fabricator. really a handyman, crafty with his hands.

i still incorporated allof the art that he gave me they're in my house in california. just makes me feel close to him. so his dream was topurchase a house and finally they found the house in maryland. and the house was always home. that was just the placewhere everybody gathered and it's always been that,'cause it's just that feeling. it's very nurturing.

it's something about thosewalls and my stepmom. unfortunately in 2006, mydad got sick and passed away. and my stepmother was justleft alone with the house. when i went home this past time, i went in the kitchenand pulled out the drawer and it just disintegrated in my hands, fell apart like in two or three pieces. and i was like, "we gotta do something." i wanna renovate mystepmother angie's house.

i think this house needs amakeover because it's time. it's a old house and alot of the things in it, it just needs to be updated. so the living room, it's justtoo boxy, it's too small. the dining room and kitchenseems a bit cramped. seems like it couldjust be opened up more. and the appliances are old. the cabinets are falling apart. it's a bit dark in theretoo, so i just wanna

bring more life and light into that house. because when my father first passed, it was really hard for my stepmom 'cause he was so still in the house and so we just kinda wannamake the house hers now. and still keep my dad in it. you know people whenthey give, give, give, they never expect. she didn't expect this.

(laughing) i have a really busy schedule,so i turned to houzz. houzz is a place you can go,to design your dream home. you can look for the interior designers, find product inspiration,shop and you don't even have to leave your house. i went to find a pro and ilooked up local designers. i found stephanie gamble interiors. there's something about her work

that just jumped out to me. so, we're gonna meet inperson and i can't wait. (upbeat music) well stephanie, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you in person. - it's great meeting you. i'm so excited. i can't wait to startworking on this project. how would you explain angie's style?

- i think she's very traditional. you know what i mean? - okay. - classic with hints of modern. her favorite color in thewhole wide world is red. - red, red, red. she loves red. - [stephanie gamble] that's great. - so this is what i find problematic

about the house when we gather: okay, you walk in the living room and then there's this wall. i'm really a feng shuiperson, i'm into energy. and the energy is stagnant. just knock that wall out andmake all of that area open. - [stephanie gamble]one big gathering space. - yeah. one big gathering spacebecause she loves to cook.

- okay.- we always entertain in the kitchen. i think it'll bring light in there. - [stephanie gamble] yeah. - so in the dining room,there's this big window. - [stephanie gamble}it doesn't seem to have a lot of light coming in? - [taraji p. henson] no, not at all. - so i had this idea of,in place of those windows,

we're gonna put a sevenfoot sliding glass door out to the patio.- that's gonna be amazing. i never even thought about that. - she's never gonna leave home. - yup. - [taraji p. henson] i love it. - now, i would love toshow you the ideabook that i've been working on.- great. an ideabook for me wouldbe like a fashion lookbook.

you can pull looks, you can pull ideas, and you can collaborate. - so the first picture is,this great two-toned kitchen. - i like that. light is an issue in the house and it'll brighten it up. - exactly.- the kitchen is pretty dark right now. - but i'm thinking that wedo the island and all of the

perimeter cabinets, in the dark finish. and then do all of the uppersin a white finish with glass. as you can see, we've gottwo pendants over the island. - [taraji p. henson] i love pendants. - which is very similarto what we're gonna do. but i'm gonna changethese a little bit because the metal finishes are gonnabe more of brassy bronzy tone. - yes. - and how i'm gonna do that isby using these pendants here.

- [taraji p. henson] i like this choice. this is more her. - [stephanie gamble] okay. - [ taraji p. henson] the bronzy tone. - okay, so why don't we just buy them now. - [taraji p. henson] yes. - [stephanie gamble] we canjust add them to the cart. - [stephanie gamble] and, that's it. - she's gonna love that.

- oh good. - i like that idea.- okay, good. awesome. - [stephanie gamble] sogoing into the dining room. i'm thinking that we doa really great wallpaper. - which i really- some texture. - [stephanie gamble] this is actually a grass cloth wallpaper. - [taraji p. henson] ohhh.

oh that is beautiful. - so i wanna do it in one of the lighter tones.- yes. thank you, because thatwas a bit dark for me. - [stephanie gamble] this is a picture that you had put in here.- yes. what did stick out tome is this chandelier. it's like art. it's reminiscent ofsomething maybe my father

would do with metal. - really great thingabout houzz is they do what's called a visual match. so if you click on that little tag, the visual match will pull up. - [taraji p. henson] oh. - [stephanie gamble] this one i think is a much better fit. - [taraji p. henson] are you kidding me?

- [stephanie gamble] it'llshow you the same product or a similar ones. it's so easy. it has the tones that we're looking for. - keeping in line withthe brass and the gold. - [taraji p. henson] add that to the cart. - [stephanie gamble] allright, you bought it. - yes.- it's ours. - [stephanie gamble]this is a rug that'll be

under the dining table.- okay. that is gorgeous. i thought it was a picture. - it looks like it, doesn't it? - it does. - [stephanie gamble] itbrings in all of the colors that we're looking for thosethe grays, the blushes. - i love it. - [stephanie gamble]we're gonna go with that.

- [taraji p. henson] add it to the cart. - stephanie gamble] add that too. let's talk a little bitabout the fireplace. i'd like to change out thesurround and have it be a same quartz that we'regonna be using in the kitchen and the countertops. - and so we're gonnacompletely modernize it. it does seem like a lot oftv viewing happens in there. so the tv has to stay.

- so my dad was quite an artist. he made these beautiful masksand there's this coffee table in the living room.- [stephanie gamble] okay. - he found a piece ofdriftwood and he saved it, dried it out, sanded it down, finished it, found a glass top toput over it, you know. - well we will definitely keep that. - [taraji p. henson] yes, please. - speaking of art, i'm looking at this,

it's actually 50 by 50. i'm thinking about using it on that wall where the mirrors. - [taraji p. henson] whereyou took the mirrors. - [stephanie gamble] exactly. that's a place whereyou can just daydream. well stephanie this has been great. you're thinking about things that i never even thought about.

unfortunately i can't bethere every step of the way. but my cousin, nikki, oh, you are going to love nikki.- great. - she's gonna be there. so i'm putting you in good hands. i'm excited. - me too. - i can't wait to seethe finished product. i feel incredible being able to do this.

my dad always said, "ifyou have been blessed, "then it is your dutyto go out into the world "and be a blessing." so i feel like i'm doing what my dad told me i should do. oh, i can't wait. - i can't wait too. - [taraji p. henson] todaynikki and stephanie are meeting each other to go overthe renovation plans.

- i had a great meeting with taraji. we have a really nice plan. so i just wanted to see the space and talk to you about whatyour thoughts are too. i don't know if you cantell, but there used to be a wall right here . angie had knocked down that wall and she's done a lot of work in here you know, herself.- okay.

- she was trying to open up the space.- open up the space. - it used to be carpet in here. so that's why the floor didn't extend into the kitchen.- okay, okay. - because they were two separate.- well that makes sense. but we thought it wasreally important to save the original floors.

- we're gonna thread in the new oak and then we're gonnarefinish all of the floors so that they all match. - yeah, i'm sure she willlove the wood to extend into the kitchen. - well we're definitelygonna finish the job. and then also with the china cabinet, it's a little too big for the space. but we're gonna be giving her so much more

extra storage in the kitchen, she's not gonna need it. everything in the dining room is gonna go. it's gonna be all new. - it's gonna be a totally new room. i mean the wall is gonna bedown, a total transformation. - total transformation. let's talk about the kitchen. i think there's a lot to be done in here.

- [nikki hopkins] well thisis where the project started. story goes, taraji washelping out in the kitchen. - opens the drawer, drawer falls. taraji was done. - well we'll make sure shegets drawers that work. - perfect. - my plan is to give angiesome more prep space. we are gonna extend thecounter top all the way over. - [nikki hopkins] wow.

- she'll have about a sixand a half foot island. and we're gonna be doingall of the countertops in an easy to clean quartz.- [nikki hopkins] okay. - this wall will be removed. the refrigerator will come over a little bit.- [nikki hopkins] okay. - and then the refrigeratorwill be built in and we'll have a finished side panel. - that sounds gorgeous.

- well my idea for thecabinet colors was to do a two-toned cabinet. all of the base cabinetswill be in a dark gray. - okay, gray is pretty. - and then the, all of theupper cabinets, including the hood, are going to be white. - [nikki hopkins] are yougonna take the cabinets up? - [stephanie gamble] we are. we're going to remove the soffit.

- [nikki hopkins] okay. - then we're gonna bring the cabinets up.- soffit, okay. i like that, soffit. - 'cause it's really dead space. that's really dead space up there.- and it could be used. - it could be used- it could be used for storage, so we'regonna take the cabinets

all the way up to the ceiling. - finish them off with alittle bit of crown molding. - oh, i love those. - so all the uppers are gonna have glass. so you'll be able to seeeverything that's in there. might as well use the space that she has. one really big thing thati thought was a big deal, was giving angie areally nice sized range. - wow.

- so we're gonna give her six burners and she's gonna havean oven in the bottom. i think it's gonna be a reallyreally great kitchen for her. really functional, lots of storage. - amazing. i'm gonna cry. - don't cry. hopefully good cry. - oh yeah, yeah.

- okay, okay good. - when is all of this gonna start? - it's starting tomorrow. - tomorrow? - we're gonna start doing demo tomorrow. - can i come? - of course. - i'll wear a hard hat. - you should.

- 'cause we're gonna haveyou do the first whack. - oh, i get to whack the wall. - you get to whack the wall. - yeah, we got it.- definitely. - we gonna hit the wall, let's go. let's do this! - we have a lot of work to do. we've gotta clear this space out. (energetic music)

- [taraji p. henson] todaywe're starting demo baby! - hey nikki, good morning. - stephanie. - are you ready? well want you to introduceyou to td from winchester. - hi nikki. - hi td, how are you? - nice to meet you. - thank you.- he's gonna help us

transform angie's home. - you ready to get some demo going? - yes, the wall must go. - i can adjust them if you need 'em. - glasses on. - safety first. here is sledgehammer for you. go to it. - go nikki!

- this is gonna feel so good. (loud bangs) - nice shot.- wow. - nice one!- woo! good job! - [stephanie gamble] thank you. (fast-paced music) (ripping and banging sounds) (light music)

- [taraji p. henson]it's been three weeks. today nikki is stopping by to get an update from stephanie. - you painted the door? - [stephanie gamble] we did. - that is so cute. - [stephanie gamble]we heard she loves red. - [nikki hopkins] she does. - big transformation.

the wall! where is the wall? - [stephanie gamble] thewall is, we tore it down. the wall is gone. - [nikki hopkins] thewindow is a whole door. - the soffit are gone. - you know i've been goin'around to everybody's house talking about soffit? - you have?

- [stephanie gamble] now the cabinets go - [nikki hopkins] wow,she gonna have to have some nice china up in here. - i want you to take a look at something. td and i were just talkingabout the dining room. there are a couple tablesthat i'm looking at. i just wanted to get your opinion on it. houzz has this really great tool. view in my room 3d.

so we'll go to our ideabook, click on that. and you hold the tablet like this. it shows up in the space. - what? - so what you can dotoo, is you can rotate it and you can move it around. what do you think of that table?

- maybe a little darker. i like a darker finish. - a little darker? okay, well that's great'cause i have another table in my ideabook. let me show you that oneand see what you think. so it's a little bit darker. it has extendable leaves. i think it would look great in the space,

especially with the wallpaper and everything else we have going on. - [nikki hopkins] yeah, i like that. - what do you think of this one? you like that one?- i like that one. - let's buy it. - [stephanie gamble]just click "add to cart". - well if you're good with that, let's go ahead and give taraji a call.

hey taraji. - hey! - hey girl! - let me see, i'm excited. - [stephanie gamble] iknow, i'm excited too. - that mirror's gone. - [stephanie gamble] the mirror is gone. - oh she's gonna be so excited. ohhh!

wooo! look at that. so open and light and airy and i love it. you like it k-ball? - [stephanie gamble] hey k-ball. i love him. - [stephanie gamble] okay,so now we are going to go over to the fireplace. - so much better.

very modern. i love it.- [stephanie gamble] yes. and you can see the door. - oh that is beautiful. my dad built that deckand took away a little bit of the sunlight. and you just brought it backby opening up that wall. that's amazing. - [stephanie gamble] okaywell there's more to show you.

we've got our cabinets withthe gray on the bottom, and the white on top. - she has so much morecounter space now that you got rid of that pantry over there. - [stephanie gamble] yes. - the other thing i wanted to show you is, we're getting ready to stain the floors. we did a little test spot'cause i was thinking that we would go darker, like a dark walnut.

we have the little testspot for you so you can see, to makes sure you like - [taraji p. henson] ilike the dark better. - [stephanie gamble] okay,great, so we're gonna go with that stain then. - yeah because since you haveso much light in the house now i think the dark is gonna be good. oh she's gonna be so excited. and i know, you're not finished but it,

i see where you're headed. it's really gonna be beautiful. - [stephanie gamble] oh good, i'm so glad. - well thank you for everything. take care, bye. - okay, bye. - love you guys, i'll see you soon. - we'll see you next month for the reveal. (exciting music)

- i'm finally back in d.c. and i'm excited because this is the day of the big reveal. i have to meet stephanie and nikki to add the finishing touchesbefore angie gets there. - ohhhh.- oh my god. oh my god. - and i match, we match. this is so different. it's a whole brand new house.

ah, i don't wanna step on the carpet. - thank you. - she's never leaving this house, you know that right?- [stephanie gamble] oh good. - never. - this is so much better. i love the colors. like an antique feel to it. i love it.

yeah, i'm overwhelmedbecause this is way beyond what i thought, what i ever expected. - high five. - ohhh, i'm sorry. - [stephanie gamble] it's allright, i'm already crying too. - my grandparents. it's so beautiful, look at this. - yes, six burners. - wow, although everything is new,

it still feels familiar. the essence is here, butwe just dressed it up. what is she gonna do in here? yes, gold utensils. looks pretty. i'm stealing some ideas. oh, these are the pendantswe ordered on houzz. - [stephanie gamble] yes.- i remember. - they look great.

so we have a lot of work to do. - [stephanie gamble] wannahelp me hang the art? here we go, let's hang them up. is it straight? there. let's see, let's see. to the left a little bit. that's great, perfect. i think this'll be really pretty.

i love that table. it matches the floors,brings everything together. - [nikki hopkins] looks justlike it did in the houzz app. - [stephanie gamble] yup. - that 3d imaging. - stephanie this is amazing. you've done a thank you, she's gonna love this. - thank you

- okay, so we'll seeyou later for the party. - go ahead 'cause angie's on her way. i can't wait to see angie's reaction when she sees the space. she really does deserve this. and this is gonna change her life. - i just feel very happy to have taraji think about me like this. - whew.

- hello. - hey boo. i know y'all been so sweet. - hey you. - i am so nervous.- wait a minute, come here, i want to tell you what's going on. so, i did this for you because,angie, you give so much. - daddy always said, "if youare blessing then you should

"be a blessing." so this is your blessing.- thank you. okay. - i love you so much. - love you too, thank you. - you ready? - i don't know, i don't know. - all my life, yourfavorite color has been red. - so there's your red door.

- okay, close your eyes. - i'll guide you. come on, keep your eyes closed. keep 'em closed, keep 'emclosed, keep 'em closed. okay, now open 'em. - oh, this is so pretty. thank you. oh wow. - [taraji p. henson] i know, right?

- [angie henson] oh my god. - [taraji p. henson] this has always been you and dad's house.- [angie henson] right. - now you need to enjoythis house for you, angie. so we tried to put feminineelements to make it yours. brighten it up some. we refaced the fireplace. we left daddy's art in here. - and the table's still here.

oh this is so pretty. - [taraji p. henson]the table's still here. - oh, look at my kitchen. - [taraji p. henson] thekitchen, i know that's what you want to hurry up and get to. you're still in shock, aren't you? - yeah, i just, i love everything. - [taraji p.henson] oh my. here, you need a tissue.

- the tears fell and that'sexactly what i was going for. tears of joy. before the kitchen just felt so small. i felt like it needed to be open. so, we took the wall out. i thought that was great. - this is really nice. - [taraji p. henson] andlook at your new range. you got a for real oven.

this is like top notch. - i love cooking. so i'm in love with the kitchen. i'm really in love with the kitchen. - isn't that great?- this don't even look like - it's a different house right?- yes. - and for ambience, youcan turn your lights on. - yeah that's nice.

- isn't that beautiful? and i picked these pendantsout myself on houzz. - [angie henson] oh wow. - it gives me so muchjoy to see her so happy. you have the sliding door now. remember this was just the window. - oh boy, i am so overwhelmed. i don't even know what to do. i just don't know what to do.

this is beautiful. i love the lights. - i love this wallpaper. i kinda want this in my house now. - y'all really did a great job. whoo, i don't think icould, i need to sit down. - sit on this way. - oh god. oh it's so pretty.

i don't think i'm gonnatake it in in one day. 'cause i'm gonna keepcoming out here to look at oh wow, they brought the pictures up huh? - that is so, taraji, idon't know what i'm... you know how i am. i'm a low, calm person. but after this, i don't know. it's just, it's justtaking my heart, really. it's cozy, you know what i mean?

- i was very adamantabout keeping it cozy. 'cause this is where the family convenes. - right, everybody does come here. - now everybody's beenanticipating this day. - okay, all right. the way the house is, isvery comfortable to me. because the artwork my husbanddid is still in the home. deep down in my heart, ireally really appreciate it. i'm sure he'd appreciate it too.

what she had done for us. - hey. - gorgeous. - isn't this beautiful? - love it, i really love it. - i'm gonna move back home. do you like it? - that looks like your kitchen. - right?

yeah, right. - angie, own it. - so look, look, easy access to out back. - look soccer, look at soccer. - love was put into thisplace and you can feel it. - stephanie and tdbring a beautiful energy with their work. - you did a beautiful job. - i can't believe i evenwore the color theme.

it was meant to be and then i show up and stephanie has on the same color. - and the champagne! - the champagne. - wooo. - yeah, look at that. i was an amazing waitressbefore i became an actress. - i just feel very blessedfor taraji thinking about me. - who's doing the toast?

- you, you do it.- me? - and i'm really reallygoing to enjoy the home. - here's to new beginnings. - everybody. - [all] cheers. - i'm blessed enough to have two moms. she never treats me likea step daughter ever. and i love her. i love to cook.

- well you always did. must say, you did cook. - you taught me a lot about cooking. - now we don't put thegreens on top of the stove. we put them in the oven. that'll only take like 40 minutes. so you gotta know - 40 minutes? - right at home.

- gonna try that. i'm just happy that i wasable to help her enjoy a place that means so much to her. this is the most stressfree renovation i've ever experienced in my life. using houzz. - i'll probably be stillcrying tomorrow morning when i get up. - you're going to cry first thing.

'cause it's gonna stillbe peaceful and quiet. it's hoooo. i wish i was a fly on the wall. - but i'm bein' a littlebit selfish for two weeks. - nobody in my space. - as you should. i'm sure there's gonnabe more parties in here, after she enjoys it first.

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