Michael Bublé Surprised His Grandpa’s Caretaker With a Renovation

Michael Bublé gifted a life-changing home renovation to his late grandpa’s former caretaker, Minette, who not only cared for Michael’s grandfather, Demetrio — but became a special part of the family. With help from Drew and Jonathan Scott, Michael honored the last wish of his grandpa by giving Demetrio’s former home to Minette to call her own.

May 04, 2020

By: Michelle Regna

Show: Celebrity I.O.U.

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Photo By: DENNYS ILIC

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: DENNYS ILIC

Photo By: dennys ilic 2019

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: dennys ilic 2019

Photo By: Dennys Ilic

Photo By: DENNYS ILIC

Michael Bublé + Minette

Many artists credit some of their success to the love and support of at least one person. For Michael Bublé, that person was his grandfather, Demetrio. “My grandfather was my best friend growing up. He was my hero,” Michael said. As his grandfather became older, it was important that he receive the best possible care in his own home that he himself had built. That’s where Minette comes in. “I came from the Philippines working as a community health worker. Then I got hired by Michael’s family to look after grandma and grandpa at the same time,” Minette said. Minette cared for Michael’s grandparents for almost eight years and sent almost every dollar she made back home. By the end, it was safe to say that Minette had become one of grandpa Demetrio’s best friends and an honorary member of the Bublé family.

Grandpa Demetrio's Legacy

To Michael, renovating the home and giving it to Minette was an obvious way to honor his grandfather’s legacy and final wish of wanting to keep the house he built in the family. “Minette never does anything for herself, and I think my grandpa would be thrilled knowing we could maybe lessen her burden a little bit,” Michael said.

While Minette was visiting family in the Philippines, Michael teamed up with the Property Brothers to renovate his grandfather’s home in Vancouver, Canada. Modern updates to the kitchen, living room and parlor left Minette speechless — especially when she learned it was all for her.

Construction Crooner

Time was of the essence with less than four weeks to complete the renovation. A total newbie to demo and reno, Michael admitted that he once tried and failed to paint his house. “I know I look like I’m ready for it, but inside I’m just tender,” Michael joked as he, Jonathan and Drew prepared for demo.

The Entryway + Parlor, Before

Michael’s grandparents’ house brought a new meaning to white on white. From the second you walked in, you were greeted with white tile in the entryway, white shag carpeting in the parlor, a white brick fireplace, white walls and the list of white goes on and on.

The Entryway, After

To bring the staircase into 2019, Jonathan and Drew updated it with glass and a wrought iron railing. A black front door makes a bold statement and contrasts nicely with white walls. Most noticeable is the gorgeous oak slat wall — an idea Drew came up with in order to create separation between the entryway and parlor.

The Parlor, Before

Between the carpet, fireplace and furniture, Michael’s grandma’s love for white was very apparent. “We were not really allowed to do much in this room. The couches were covered in plastic,” Michael said. He credited the design style partially to the fact that his grandparents were immigrants from Italy.

The Dining Room, After

By converting the parlor into a dining space, the Property Brothers were able to give this room purpose. Medium-toned oak floor replaced the shag carpeting; and the previous popcorn ceiling was smoothed out and covered. New windows and recessed lighting keep things bright, while a sleek new fireplace unit adds a touch of cozy.

The Kitchen, Before

White floors, white cabinets, white walls: it should come as no surprise that the kitchen was as white as the parlor. Not only that, but the space was also quite small and hadn’t been updated in years.

The Dining Area, Before

The small kitchen allowed room for a dining table and chairs. “This was our hang space,” Michael said of the area. He could still remember sitting there and drinking coffee with his grandfather.

Hitmaker

Although Michael was a little out of his comfort zone with demo, he eventually got the hang of things. “Smashing things is fun,” he said. His vision for Minette’s new kitchen was a more open space that was bright and "felt alive."

The Dining Room + Kitchen, After

For the front parlor to make sense as the main dining space, the Property Brothers created an opening in the wall between it and the kitchen. To create continuity, they used the same medium-toned oak flooring throughout. This additional angle also shows off the island seating which nicely complements the black cabinet wall.

The Family Room, Before

Like the rest of the house, the family room was white and in need of updating. Nothing like a mirrored wall to immediately make a room feel dated! Regardless, the renovation of this space was bittersweet for Michael. “The greatest moments of my life happened here,” he said. “We would sit cross-legged and [grandpa] would play me all of these great old songs and old records.”

The Family Room, After

Several updates were made to create a modern yet cozy space. For starters, the mirror wall had to go, as well as the trellis and arched exterior door. The same floors from the kitchen and dining room continue into this space and another new fireplace unit is sure to keep things toasty during Vancouver winters. Although you can’t see it in this photo, the Property Brothers had one of grandpa Demetrio’s favorite quotes lightly etched into the fireplace. It reads: “Today’s curse is tomorrow’s blessing.”

The Family Room, Before

Although the original family room had its issues, one thing was undeniable: the views of Vancouver were absolutely gorgeous. On a clear day, these windows offered an overhead view of the city and its surrounding mountains.

Setting the Stage

Michael and the Property Brothers had some fun putting the finishing touches on Minette’s new home. “I am the worst at what we’re doing right now,” Michael said, in reference to furnishing the space.

The Family Room, After

To modernize the space and really highlight the view, the Property Brothers replaced the previous windows with sleek black ones. This minimal grid pattern allows the view to go mostly uninterrupted. Not to mention, these windows will provide much better insulation than the previous ones. One of Michael's favorite pieces in the room is the artwork hanging over the sofa and how its subtle nature doesn't distract from the rest of the room.

The Reveal

Michael and his sisters had told Minette that some minor renovations were being done to grandpa Demetrio’s house. When she and Michael stepped inside, Minette couldn’t believe her eyes — or the fact that the white brick fireplace was gone. When Michael revealed it was all for her, she was speechless. “I have no words right now,” Minette said. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s beautiful.”

Celebrity I.O.U.

Michael Bublé Surprised His Grandpa’s Caretaker With a Renovation

Related To:

Shop This Look

Michael Bublé + Minette

Grandpa Demetrio's Legacy

Construction Crooner

The Entryway + Parlor, Before

The Entryway, After

The Parlor, Before

The Dining Room, After

The Kitchen, Before

The Dining Area, Before

Hitmaker

The Dining Room + Kitchen, After

The Family Room, Before

The Family Room, After

The Family Room, Before

Setting the Stage

The Family Room, After

The Reveal

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