Marriage Under Construction

Gill and Ed are a young couple with some big dreams. They're looking to purchase their first house together. Georgia a Residential Mortgage Manager from TD gives them some good news; they qualify for the amount they were hoping for. Regina suggests Mimico and they're intrigued. A nice older area still in the city.

Their dream home must pass a home inspection before Gill and Ed can take ownership. It's a roller coaster ride but in the end, besides a few minor issues, the house gets a clean bill of health. At first Gill and Ed want everything but their ideas add up to over $150,000 in renovations.

Gill and Ed are set to begin the renovation. Vincenzo, the resident MUC contractor, shows up ready to work. Tara decides the bathroom is the number one priority. She wants to transform it from a closet-sized bathroom to an urban oasis. The bathroom comes together as Vincenzo pours the concrete floor but the foreign language instructions make assembling the vanity a challenge for Gill and Tara.

Gill and Ed are tired of sleeping in the living room so they insist on renovating the master bedroom. The plan is to enlarge the space by taking out the wall between their bedroom and the small adjacent room. Tara's plans include a built-in closet with frosted doors. It's becoming clear Ed is all concrete and steel while Gillian is classic contemporary.

The bonus of having a house with a backyard is the barbecues. But the summer is fading and the backyard is too overgrown for Gill and Ed to entertain. So Tara designed the perfect space for get-togethers. Her plan includes 2 patios; one by the house with a built-in barbecue, the other at the back nestled in the previous owner's wondrous garden.

Ed is sick of take out and Gill can't use the old appliances. So the kitchen is the next priority on the renovation agenda. Notoriously expensive, Ed and Gill have big ideas for their new kitchen. Tara's challenge is to balance Gill's traditional style and Ed's industrial taste, without blowing the budget.

Tara's on her way over with plans for the biggest renovation of the house; the living/dining room. Her designs for the huge job include new floors and ceilings, knocking down walls to open the space and installing a bar for entertaining. But Gill, sick of pounding, hammering, drilling and the chaos of construction, suggests they take a break before they start the work.

Gillian and Ed are halfway through their biggest renovation, but Ed doesn't think the stairs fit their style. So he decides to take on the project himself. With some scrap metal from work, he designs and builds an industrial-style railing. But there's lots more to do. They lay the floor, paint the walls and install the bar.

Gill and Ed decide to complete the house's interior and renovate the spare room. The challenge is its small size and sloped ceiling. Gill needs an office but they would still want a bedroom for out-of-town friends and family. Can Tara and Vincenzo create a room that addresses all their needs in this tiny space?

With the house's interior complete, Gill and Ed set to tackle the porch. Ed wants to tear down their old structure, put in a small stone stairway and stucco the front of the house. Gill wants to repair the existing porch. After a compromise, they agree on a plan but the high stucco price means some quick re-thinking.

It's the last official labour battle of the house and the weather is the enemy. Gill and Ed are wrestling with a dilemma; should they go with plants that have immediate curb appeal or that suit their long-term tastes? It's also time to goodbye to Tara and Vincenzo and they plan a special surprise for the hard-working pair.

After having a chance to live in and reflect on all the work that has been done, Gillian and Ed decide to make a few changes to some of the design decisions; new slate floor in the bathroom, new paint colour in the office, and new art in the living room. With the house now completely designed to suit their taste, they invite their friends over to enjoy their stylish new space.

Now, that all the work is done and the house looks great, Ed thinks they could turn a nice profit and should jump back into the real estate market. Gill wants to should stand pat. He believes they can get a hot deal but she is lukewarm to the idea. They look at some trendy homes in some upscale neighbourhoods. They bring in a professional appraiser to determine the value of the house.