Brady Buzz: Look Who’s Talking About the Renovation!
In early August, the 'Brady Bunch' House became HGTV’s newest, splashiest renovation project — and fans can’t wait to see it undergo the oh-so-retro makeover it deserves.
The listing agent for Studio City’s 11222 Dilling Street — better known as the Brady Bunch House — called it “the second most photographed home in the United States after the White House.” The official fact-check on that one could take a while, but if social media is any indication, we’re believers: America can’t get enough of the ‘70s-TV icon.
Trivia buffs know that the show’s interior scenes were filmed on a studio lot, but when HGTV’s all-star renovation team is through, the whole property will be ready for its close-up. So, what’s the word on the street so far? Here’s the story…
After just a few weeks on the market — the first time it’s been up for grabs since 1973(!) — 11222 Dilling Street joined the HGTV family. “You many have heard that the house from the iconic series was recently on the market in California,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced. “I’m excited to share that HGTV is the winning bidder and will restore the Brady Bunch home to its 1970s glory as only HGTV can.” The Internet had a lot to say about that.
TMZ speculated that HGTV would “make the inside of the house 1973 authentic, cottage cheese ceilings and all…” As you might imagine, our editors have strong feelings about how real is too real.
Realtor.com observed that the reno team will have to do some heavy lifting to bring the home in line with what Brady scholars remember: “[W]e’d wager that fans of the show will take note if anything (and we really do mean anything) is off base.” Challenge accepted, Realtor.com.
As a furniture designer and firsthand expert on the house, Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) jumped in to crowdsource updates to Brady Central. His respondents zeroed in on additional bathrooms, but we can’t rule out a last-minute cottage-cheese-ceiling enthusiast — Twitter is unpredictable like that.
Entertainment Tonight chimed in with a renovation brainstorm from Brady Bunch cast members and HGTV’s “dream team” (including the stars of Property Brothers, Good Bones, Restored by the Fords, Hidden Potential, and Flea Market Flip). Barry Williams (Bobby Brady) has serious plans for Mike’s den: “beaded curtains, for sure, and a lava lamp has to go in there. And then the swirling colored lamp going around [the room].” Good Bones’s Karen Laine, ever the optimist, keeps her predictions simple: “We’re magical,” she said.
Mina Starsiak Hawk might be the more practical half of the Good Bones team, but she’s pretty giddy about the project as well.
Building Brady 18 Videos
Go behind the scenes to see what it was like when 'The Brady Bunch' cast and HGTV hosts saw the house, and each other, for the first time.
Christopher and Barry aren’t the only cast members doing a happy dance over the renovation, as People reported a few days later. Each of the six Brady sibs will team up with designers to put his (or her) stamp on the space. “You know when there are times in your life where everything comes together and it just feels like it was so meant to be and everything feels right?” Maureen McCormack (aka Marcia Brady) said. “That’s how this feels. It’s so perfect.”
How excited is Maureen? So excited that she’s game to revisit one of Marcia’s less-successful renovations. You’re an excellent sport, Maureen.
