On “Celebrity IOU,” Drew and Jonathan Scott help Camryn Manheim, who has starred in shows like “The Practice” and “Law and Order”—along with her son, Milo Manheim, who starred in the Disney hit “Zombies”—give back to their longtime friend Mia.
In the Season 7 episode “Camryn and Milo Manheim’s Surprise for Mama Mia,” the brothers meet up with the mother-son duo who explain that Mia has always been there with a helping hand and positive energy for 17 years. She’s even become like a second mother to Milo. To thank her, Camryn and Milo want to surprise Mia with a kitchen and laundry room renovation.
Camryn says that Mia’s Huntington Park, CA, kitchen is “extremely undone and unfinished,” but adds that when she’s previously offered to help improve the space, Mia refuses.
Milo adds: “She just gives, gives, gives, and she doesn’t take anything, which is why [we’re] going to sometimes take the initiative.”
That’s where the property brothers come in.
In just 3.5 weeks, the brothers redo the kitchen and laundry room, making the most out of the small footprint and creating a much more modern space that Mia can enjoy for years.
Read on to learn how Drew and Jonathan make this petite kitchen more functional. Plus, pick up plenty of tips for making the most of your own small space.
Replace a wall with a peninsula
When Camryn and Milo first show the brothers Mia’s kitchen, they admit the space is small.
“I just feel like the whole kitchen is so closed in,” Camryn says, gesturing to a kitchen wall and revealing that her “dream” would be to knock it down and open up the space.
“Mia lives with her boyfriend, Ramone,” Camryn adds. “And I think having a peninsula with just a couple stools, so they could talk to each other in the morning when they’re cooking, would be great.”
The brothers are able to open up the kitchen wall and add a peninsula with space for two seats.
Removing this wall makes a big difference for the kitchen, giving it a larger feel and creating a functional dining space.
Don’t be afraid to use black, even in a small space
Even without that pesky wall, the kitchen is still small. Camryn wants to keep the space feeling light and bright, so when Jonathan suggests two-tone cabinets, she seems interested in a wood-tone and white design.
However, Jonathan recommends using dark colors, pairing black cabinets with the wood tone. He also proposes dark stone slabs to cover one section of the countertops and the backsplash above it.
The black is “going to add a little bit more dimension” and “make this kitchen more dynamic,” he explains.
When the cabinets and counters are in, Camryn acknowledges that the dark color was, in fact, the right choice.
She explains she was worried the tiny kitchen couldn’t handle the dark colors.
“But it can!” she admits.
Drew says: “We have brought Camryn over to the dark side.”
Floating shelves keep a space looking open
To add extra storage, Milo helps Drew install some shelves around and in front of one of the kitchen windows.
When Milo says he hasn’t seen shelving units placed in this way, Drew agrees that the look is “not typical.” Still, he insists these shelves are a stylish route to more storage.
“IYou’ll see a lot of high-end homes, like in New York, a lot of high-end lofts that will do something like this because they’re really limited on space,” Drew explains. “It makes this a bigger space.”
Once the shelves are up, it’s clear that these were a smart addition. While another cabinet in this corner could have added the same amount of storage, these shelves provide space without making the room look heavy.
Panel-ready appliances give a small space a cohesive look
Another way the brothers keep this small kitchen from looking cluttered is by choosing appliances that match the cabinets.
“Panel-ready appliances are a great option for small kitchens like Mia’s because they can help create a seamless look that makes the space feel larger and less cluttered,” says Drew.
It’s a beautiful upgrade that makes this space look elegant and cohesive.
Simple finishes add elegance
The team talks about completely reimagining the laundry room, adding cabinetry, beautiful Carrara counters, and a new stacked washer and dryer. They even plan to redo the floors, but Camryn isn’t thrilled with the “busy” patterned floor tiles Jonathan picks out.
“I would just like to do something a little bit more natural—not too busy, not too fussy,” Camryn says. “Mia is not that way; she’s just salt of the earth.”
She ends up choosing two tiles in beige and gray and cuts the gray tile to create an alternating pattern on the floor. The design adds some interest to the laundry room without being overwhelming. It’s a good reminder that sometimes simpler designs are better, especially in a small space.
