Howie Mandel Surprises His Tour Manager With a Complete Condo Makeover

With the help of Drew and Jonathan Scott, Howie Mandel remodels the outdated home of his tour manager and friend of 30 years, Rich. Sophisticated updates transform this bachelor pad into a space where Rich can easily entertain friends and family.

By: Emily Fazio

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Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Howie Paterns With the Property Brothers to Transform His Tour Manager's Home

Howie Mandel, comedian and television host, and his long-time tour manager, Rich, don't have a traditional employee-employer relationship. Together they've navigated ups and downs, marriages, breakups and children. They truly consider each other family. Motivated to transform his best friend’s bachelor pad into a well-deserved retreat, Howie recruited the help of Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott. “He’s had the toughest year,” said Howie of Rich. “Last year his father passed away. Now not only does he takes care of me, but he also cares for his his mother and his daughter. He takes care of everybody but himself. I don’t know anyone that equals the goodness that comes with Rich.”

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Howie Gets His Hands Dirty

The best part is Rich had no idea the makeover was going down. Howie had Rich's girlfriend take him out of town, so Drew and Jonathan had just three weeks to get the condo completely updated. To make the project move faster, Howie tapped into his former carpeting career and helped remove the original, musty flooring. He also helped demolish the kitchen cabinetry, paint and make critical design decisions. "Whenever you're frustrated, go into a close friend's home and just [mess] it up," said Howie.

The Living Room, Before

Rich’s condo was outdated and underwhelming. His beer can collections and old, rehabbed furnishings made the space feel like a frat house. While Howie was quick to acknowledge he and Rich are on on the road a lot, he said, “I’ve never been invited over. He’s never felt at home in his condo, even though he’s lived here since his divorce 15 years ago.”

The Living Room, After

Howie loves pranking and surprises, but this transformation is no joke. Modern furnishings replace old, hand-me-down accessories. A leather couch faces a new fireplace and offers Rich a sophisticated area to kick back and watch television. The designers make the most of the height of the living room by installing long, gray curtains for privacy. The scale of the room also made it possible for oversized accents, like the paintings behind the couch and a large, lush houseplant.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Living Room, Before

Collections of pennies, beer cans and rock 'n' roll memorabilia were scattered throughout Rich’s bachelor pad. The old fireplace was installed on an angled wall and felt dated to the brothers, but Howie made it known that the fireplace was Rich’s favorite feature in his home. Together, they devised a plan that would modernize, update and better organize the living room so it could be a space that Rich could really enjoy.

The Living Room, After

The designers opted to eliminate the angled wall and install an updated, modern gas fireplace. Open on two sides, the new fireplace allows Rich to enjoy its cozy ambiance from both the kitchen and the living room. The old carpeting was replaced with modern vinyl wood floors. New pendant lighting, seating and accessories transform the living room into a grown-up retreat.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Stairwell, Before

The open staircase, with its dated white railing, limited storage and seating space. To make better use of the real estate, Drew and Jonathan decided to remove the railing and use the wall in a different way.

The Stairwell, After

The team rebuilt the stairwell wall to improve the banquette seating area. They replaced carpeting on the stairs with wood-look vinyl flooring. Then the team added sleek iron railings to the bottom two steps for unique definition.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Kitchen, Before

Rich’s old kitchen offered space for no more than one person to maneuver. The cabinets were dark and cumbersome; the appliances were poorly oriented, and despite a large window, the kitchen wasn’t inviting or bright. The brothers looked to change everything about the space in hopes of making it more functional and modern.

The Kitchen, After

The brothers completely revamped the kitchen and eat-in areas. Now, they're welcoming and functional. A new dining room table with green banquette seating transforms the small area into a space where Rich can realistically entertain friends. The peninsula behind the banquette has a secret storage unit, so Rich can keep bar items or small appliances nearby. Reeded wood paneling behind the banquette adds contrast and texture. Black wall paint and black banquette furniture intentionally contrast with the light-colored kitchen to add dimension.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Kitchen, After

Behind the banquette seating, the kitchen itself shines modern and sleek — completely remodeled for functionality and usability. The brothers removed the existing dividing wall and the window, which opened up the room and offered more space for cabinetry and appliances, respectively. Fresh white cabinets, modern stainless steel appliances and a white paneled refrigerator bring the bright. Drew and Jonathan installed a marble backsplash and complementary gray porcelain countertop. The new hood vent is also wrapped with marble to blend into the now-modern space.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Bedroom, Before

Howie knows Rich spends more time in hotels on the road than he does in his own bed, but he wanted to make sure his friend had a retreat to return to between tours. The brothers looked to update the bedroom and make it more mature. Aside from tucking away the teddy bears and leveling up his dorm room comforter, Drew and Jonathan reviewed other ways they could transform the design of the room.

The Bedroom, Before

A dated, tufted leather headboard, old carpeting and poor storage begged for an upgrade. Howie stressed that Rich gravitates toward contemporary designs, so the team vowed to make the space into a modern and relaxing, age-appropriate retreat.

The Bedroom, After

New vinyl floors flow throughout the condo and extend into Rich’s redesigned bedroom. Moody, soot-black paint sleekifies the once-light walls. Tall curtains add privacy. An accent chair brings comfort to one corner of the room, while a low-profile bed and matching bedside tables give the space an upscale, mature feel.

From: Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott

The Bedroom, After

Painted shiplap paneling acts as an accent wall behind the headboard. A statement pendant light adds ambiance over the bed. Matching light fixtures on either bedside table balance the room, mimicking the luxurious hotels Rich enjoys staying in while on the road. The brothers added a sliding barn door in front of the closet and painted it black so it would blend seamlessly into the space. "This (project) is about giving back," said Howie. "This is a symbol of how much we care about him and how desrving he is."

Celebrity I.O.U.

Howie Mandel Surprises His Tour Manager With a Complete Condo Makeover

Related To:

Shop This Look

Howie Paterns With the Property Brothers to Transform His Tour Manager's Home

Howie Gets His Hands Dirty

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Living Room, Before

The Living Room, After

The Stairwell, Before

The Stairwell, After

The Kitchen, Before

The Kitchen, After

The Kitchen, After

The Bedroom, Before

The Bedroom, Before

The Bedroom, After

The Bedroom, After

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