Allison Janney Surprised Her Assistant With a Stunning Renovation

Actress Allison Janney teamed up with Jonathan and Drew Scott to give back to her assistant and close friend of 20 years, Ilana. They flipped her kitchen and dining room to create a stylish and functional space to cook and entertain.

By: Chelsey Bowen

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Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Allison Janney + Her Assistant, Ilana

Allison worked with Jonathan and Drew Scott to surprise her assistant, Ilana, with a renovation of her kitchen, dining room and living area. Allison met Ilana around the time she did the pilot for The West Wing, and her manager suggested she might need an assistant. "I laughed and said, 'No, Rob Lowe has an assistant. I don't have an assistant,'" said Allison. "Cut to 20 years later, and I can't live without her. She has become more family to me than anything else."

The women have helped each other through good and bad times, and Allison wanted to give her a home that functions better for her family and her love of entertaining — including continuing to throw parties for Allison. "It's not just a 9-5 job Ilana has. She's there for me in so many more ways that go beyond being an assistant. She's there as a friend in more ways than one; so to do this for her, it's just nice to give," said Allison, "I'm very lucky to have her in my life."

Ready for Demolition

Allison was looking forward to helping Jonathan and Drew tackle the renovation of Ilana's home. "Allison is completely dedicated to transform this house," said Drew. "Maybe too excited to smash stuff though," added Jonathan.

Before: The Dining Room

The space was nice but not optimized for family and entertaining needs. The kitchen was way too small, and the dining room was too big for the dining table. The solution for this makeover: flip the kitchen and dining room.

After: The Kitchen

The living spaces were completely transformed. They took down the walls between the dining room and kitchen and flipped the spaces to create a much larger kitchen, complete with custom cabinetry and an oversized island. The kitchen now opens up to the living room to create an easy flow between the spaces, perfect for entertaining.

Before: The Kitchen

The kitchen is supposed to be the heart of the home, but this cramped space didn't have the room for everyone to gather. For the number of parties that Ilana and her family like to throw, they needed a kitchen with a better flow that allowed whoever is in the kitchen to be a part of the gathering, rather than stuffed in a corner.

After: The Dining Room

The former kitchen was turned into a cozy dining room with banquette seating for family meals. The built-in seating pulls the table to one side so that the dining area doesn't block the walkway. Solar tubes were installed overhead to pour natural light into the space.

The Finishing Touches

Jonathan turned to Allison to figure out which finishes and materials Ilana would love the most. Starting with a base of white Shaker cabinets, they opted for a medium-blue island and range hood, as well as impervious countertops that will stand up to kids and entertaining.

Before: The Dining Room

The layout of this home felt backwards with a small kitchen and a too-large dining room. While the house had original character, the family entertains and spends a lot of time in the kitchen.

After: The Kitchen

White Shaker cabinets set the light and airy scene for the family-friendly kitchen. The centerpiece of the space is the blue island clad in a waterfall countertop with classic veining that brings in movement and texture.

Walking In

Allison planned this surprise along with Ilana's husband so he could whisk her and their children away for a three-and-a-half-long week vacation. Ilana had no idea Allison was working with Jonathan and Drew to completely renovate all her living areas.

The Ultimate Gathering Spot

Allison, Jonathan and Drew wanted to focus on Ilana's passion for cooking and entertaining with a kitchen that had sleek style and unmatched durability. The space checks off all the boxes for entertaining but also holds up to family life.

Before: The Living Room

Since they were renovating the kitchen and dining room, a refresh of the living room was a necessity. New floors were in order, as well as updated furniture and a reimagining of the built-ins and fireplace facade.

After: The Living Room

Light-toned engineered European oak was laid in the living room, dining room and kitchen to create sophistication and cohesion throughout. The built-ins were removed to make way for a cleaner, more open aesthetic.

Before: The Living Room

The living room had an enormous sectional (handed down from Allison) and a simple arrangement of furniture, all in warm taupes and browns.

After: The Living Room

Centered on a plush gray area rug, the new seating area — a cushy low sectional, overstuffed armchair and sleek coffee table — is a welcoming spot for watching movies with the kids, as well as the ideal place to entertain and visit with family and friends.

Totally-of-the-Moment Fireplace

Structurally, the fireplace was in good shape, but it needed a facelift. The Scott brothers showed that you don't have to completely rip out an original feature. You can just modernize it. After demoing the textured stone facade, they created a smooth front and added a sleek modern mantel.

Before: Disjointed Spaces

To open up the home, they had to remove the wall between the dining room and kitchen. In demo, they discovered that it was a load-bearing wall and had shoddy joist work. They had to put in a massive steel beam and have it carry the load down to brand new footings because of the substantial weight.

After: Contemporary Wine Room

Though the biggest part of the renovation (the installation of a steel header beam) is hidden away, it made a huge difference in the open layout of the rooms and made way for an incredible focal point — the glass wine room.

Wine Storage in Style

Ilana and her husband have a collection of hundreds of bottles of wine, so the Scott brothers created this stunning glass wine room — perfect for the in-house sommelier. The actual refrigeration system is hidden in the bottom to keep wine at the right temperature without having to see the mechanics.

Revel in the Makeover

Ilana and her family were surprised and wowed by their home's transformation. Allison had one last surprise — a cake (and wine, of course) — to celebrate the unveiling. "Our house was so dark before, and this is so light. It's beyond any expectation you can think of, and I'm overwhelmed by this whole experience. This is such a gift," said Ilana.

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