Nicole Curtis is a sweet-talking, hammer-swinging whirlwind. Working in Minneapolis and Detroit, Nikki discovers historic houses once the pride of the neighborhood that have fallen on hard times. Pushing her rough 'n' tough crew, arguing with her family, wrangling with city officials and dealing with the usual litany of old house headaches, it's not always pretty. By the time the dust clears, a house that was ready for the wrecking ball is restored to its former glory.
Nicole is ready to tackle the 2nd floor of the house - but one rainy day proves just how damaged the 100 year old roof is. Severe leaks are threatening to destroy multiple rooms, so Nicole gets on top of the house to inspect the damage. Most people would tear up the original clay tile and do a complete replacement, but not Nicole Curtis! Despite the extra cost, new tile is blended with old to keep the original, unique look of the house. Once the roof is water tight, two upstairs bedrooms are ready to be restored. A fresh window seat, antique glass knobs, and a stairwell re-do get Nicole closer to finishing her Grand 2nd floor.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole battles against several sticky issues in this episode. After an improperly winterized basement bathroom springs some serious leaks, she remains determined to rebuild the bathroom better than ever. Improving the layout, adding mid-century tile and a custom vanity, Nicole creates one of her most appealing bathrooms yet. But she doesn't end there, adding an egress window to the basement, Nicole builds out a charming and inviting basement guest suite.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole Curtis tackles one of the hardest spaces in her grandparents' mid-century home, the basement. With space at a premium, Nicole must battle water, structural problems, dilapidated windows and poorly placed duct work to turn a neglected area into a much needed gathering space.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesNicole Curtis tackles one of her biggest challenges yet, all of the original bedrooms in the home built by her Grandparents. Nicole is faced with a dilemma, the previous owners trashed the original windows and design, now it's up to her to fix their mistakes. Will Nicole be able to infuse life, design and personality into these ruined spaces?
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesIn this episode, Nicole Curtis tackles the heart of her Grandparents' home, the living room and dining room. The most 'photographed' rooms in the house, these projects present Nicole with a very clear visual template to work from. Fixing the original fireplace and it's plaster moulding presents a relatively easy, if messy, challenge. Sourcing and replacing the iconic chandelier in the dining room with an exact match may prove an impossible task.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesNicole's grandparents house sits on a sprawling 5 acre parcel. This apartment has a lot of sentimental value to the family, over the years pretty much everyone has lived there at one point or another, including Nicole! Taking a break from the main house renovation, Nicole tackles the apartment with a series of fun, chic changes that don't cost a fortune: fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors and wallpaper all contribute to bringing this neglected space up to date.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesNicole Curtis saves the original Mid-Century bathroom in her Grandparents' house in her classic style; by preserving critical elements while updating tired design choices. The original blue tile, hand laid by her Grandfather, is saved, but working with the original tile color poses some challenges for Nicole. Rather than hiding from the blue tile Nicole embraces it wholeheartedly and bases her entire design around it. Finally Nicole removes a tacky 80s seashell vanity and replaces it with a much needed double-sink.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesNicole Curtis tackles the family room of her family's home! Off the pool lies a dated family room, covered in wood paneling and boasting a large mechanical room for the pool equipment. Nicole sees opportunity for a beautiful bathroom, and an updated, retro family room that pays homage to her Grandfather's original plans. It wouldn't be Nicole if some gorgeous wood, and not-so-gorgeous hunting themed paneling, is lovingly re purposed to update the room into a modern yet rustic haven.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesFor Nicole's next project, it's gonna be sink or swim! The indoor pool that Nicole's grandfather built by hand is getting a much-needed refresher. First up, the safety and mechanical systems of the pool need to be overhauled to meet modern standards. The beautiful cedar ceiling and aquamarine walls are original so there is no way Nicole will change those, they just need a good wash and some new paint. In the biggest design challenge of the entire project, Nicole boldly replaces the original doors, which had been ruined with age, with giant glass garage doors to let in light and views of the surrounding countryside.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesThis is one of the largest kitchens Nicole has ever tackled, and it's her grandparents' kitchen. Built in 1956, the kitchen itself has been around for over half a century, but was unfortunately redone in the '90s, eliminating it's mid-century modern charm. Nicole wants to restore the ugly kitchen to how it looked when she was a child. New hardwood floors replace linoleum and Nicole designs custom, vintage-inspired cabinets to provide a nostalgic feel to the treasured room. Right down to a salvaged green phone, the kitchen begins to be reborn as it was in Nicole's childhood memories.
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesIt's a family affair as Nicole tackles an old shack that desperately needs some loving restoration. With the help of her brother, her nephew and her son, Ethan, carpets come up, there's new paint and a new fence. Since this is basically a crash pad, Nicole tries to keep her costs to an absolute minimum. But at the end of the day, Nicole transforms this unlivable space into a cozy new home.
Watch Now:AmazonThe century-old Tudor house is one thing, but Nicole Curtis also wants to make sure the garage is up to par. Over the years, the structure has been neglected so there's a long road ahead: roof repair takes a lot of time, but Nicole is able to salvage some important tile and wood. By re-using original ceramic roof tile and finding new replicas, the look and feel is restored rather than forgotten. A restored porch is added off the solarium, as Nicole gets started on making the laundry room a warm and inviting space.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole's 1913 mansion in the heart of Detroit is topped with an old, dusty attic that was once servant's quarters. Though some homeowners might have just seen room for storage, Nicole sees the opposite: a master suite! A sitting room, dressing room and gorgeous master bedroom take form, thanks to a little salvaging and a lot of hard work. Nicole never wastes original fixtures, even if it's an ancient broken mirror or a period chandelier from a local commercial building. From gross to gorgeous, Nicole makes her master suite a million dollar space on a "Detroit budget."
Watch Now:AmazonIf Nicole is going to turn the entire third floor of her Grand Blvd. estate into a master suite, a custom new bathroom will have to be the first step. She starts with an overcrowded, neglected bath that doesn't fit her grandiose plans. By knocking down a wall and changing some angles, the floorplan is expanded to include a double vanity, claw-foot tub and walk-in shower. Despite a small plumbing mishap, Nicole's new bathroom is shaping up to be one of the most original and inviting spaces in her 1913 auction home.
Watch Now:AmazonWhat's Nicole Curtis' favorite kind of bathroom to renovate? One with almost entirely original fixtures! With the help of a 1920's mint condition porcelain sink, Nicole is able to transform the Jack and Jill bathroom in her Grand Blvd. home without sacrificing its antique integrity. Two bedrooms - one girl's, one boy's - lay on either side. After stripping the wallpaper, restoring the original oak floors and adding some new paint, the rooms are almost move-in ready. All that's left is for her son to stage the room with personal touches, and clean the unique Inglenook that provides a centerpiece for the boy's room.
Watch Now:AmazonOnce a boarded-up eyesore, Nicole's first-floor solarium has the potential to be the best room in the house. With the help of her dad and a yard-sale crockpot, Nicole starts with an often overlooked detail: window hardware. Boiling the hardware removes years of paint and leaves them shiny and new, a great first step in making the solarium a bright and welcoming entryway to her Grand Blvd. estate. Some antique mirrors and light fixtures go a long way to make the room feel cozy and fresh, while maintaining the antique-feel of the 100-year old home. Nicole takes a much needed break with her son to celebrate a Thanksgiving parade in her home city, Detroit.
Watch Now:AmazonAs the renovation of Nicole's grandparents midcentury home winds down there is just one major obstacle left: the exterior. Nicole's grandparents literally built the home block by block so nothing short of perfection will do for the curb appeal of this property. Nicole adds gutters, a new driveway and entirely does the house in stucco, just like the original. To complete this magnificent transformation Nicole restores the original brick front porch and tops everything off with some tasteful, but stunning landscaping.
Watch Now:AmazonWhen it comes to restoring kitchens, Nicole Curtis' rule is that it should look old and work like new! In her Grand Blvd. home, she has to work with a large kitchen that offers little wall space. After a couple of re-designs and some custom woodwork, she finally settles on a layout that allows for new, modern appliances while maintaining important design elements, such as the original upper cabinets. Despite some setbacks - including a literal hole in the wall - Nicole combines the old with the new to create a gorgeous kitchen that maintains its original charm while offering the comforts of the 21st century.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole's newest home is 100 years old, and unsurprisingly the living room needs work from top to bottom. Despite major setbacks, Nicole is up for the challenge. The outdated textured ceiling is ripped down for electrical and water line repair while the ugly green walls are given a fresh update. Nicole sees the beauty in the original hardwood flooring by polishing and staining the existing oak. By utilizing as many of the original details as possible, the living room begins to finally take shape as a classic example of restoration done right.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole rebuilds a basement using salvaged goods.
Watch Now:AmazonHard working mom, Nicole Curtis is on a mission to create a master bedroom for mom Melanie in the final episode of the Lebron James Family Foundation house. The attic room turns from an overheated dumping ground to an air-conditioned oasis in just a few short days. Nicole comes up with a genius and inexpensive storage solution in the awkward space and in just one week, the whole house is finished. Time to bring the family in, this is a reveal you don't want to miss!
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesNicole, LeBron and the LeBron James Family Foundation continue with their project to renovate a needy family's home into a renovated beauty. 11 year old Mariah deserves a room fit for a princess, just not a pink one! And her brothers will no longer share a room and get to pick their own colors for their own rooms. To finish on time LeBron's army of volunteers steps up, the family lends a hand and Nicole puts her personal touch on each room for these special kids. What will they say when they see their rooms?
Watch Now:AmazoniTunesWhat do you do when thieves have stolen priceless windows and hardwood flooring from your twentieth-century estate? If you're Nicole Curtis, you adapt and recreate! As Nicole tackles the spacious dining room of her tudor home, she must use custom leaded glass and modern oak flooring to mask the missing details. In order to restore her formal dining room to its former grandness, Nicole makes sure that the new elements blend seamlessly with the original style of the home. A combination of antique and reproduction furniture, glass, and flooring leave the space stately and polished.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole knows that a ground floor powder room will see a ton of guests, so what will she do with a broken window, paint-covered floor tile, and an out-of-commission toilet? Avoiding the impulse to demolish and replace everything, Nicole restores the tile and sink fixture with elbow grease and an all-nighter. She adds dramatic wall color for flair, as well as a toilet and original glass that matches the classic style of the home. Nicole proves that when it comes to restoration, it's better to leave it, clean it, and make it functional again.
Watch Now:AmazonNicole makes a spur-of-the-moment bid and wins a house sight-unseen at auction. Will this Grand Boulevard tudor be a case of buyer's remorse? Nicole visits the 6-bedroom, 3-bath manor and falls in love with its historic details and rustic charm. With some new paint, a landscaping overhaul and custom woodwork, the former eyesore begins to look revitalized. By working with the home's original style, Nicole is able to enhance its curb appeal without losing any of its early-Twentieth Century grand beauty.
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