Good Bones: A Stately Home on Sanders Street

Karen E Laine and Mina Starsiak-Hawk of HGTV's Good Bones.

Photo: Zack Arias/Usedfilm Studios LLC

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Back in Action

Mother-daughter team Karen E Laine and Mina Starsiak-Hawk kick off the fourth season of HGTV's Good Bones with the renovation of a massive four-bedroom turn-of-the-century home in the historic Bates-Hendricks neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Karen E. Laine puts screws into an antique radio that is to be converted into a wine rack as seen on HGTV's Good Bones.

Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Verbatim Agency

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Fanciful Dreamer

For the duo's home reno and house-flipping projects — aimed at rescuing dilapidated old homes and, over time, enhancing entire neighborhoods — Karen brings legal expertise and a can-do attitude to the partnership — along with a penchant for historic preservation and, on occasion, some really out-of-the-box ideas.

Mina Starsiak Hawk takes a window apart as she demos a home as seen on HGTV's Good Bones.

Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Verbatim Agency

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No Nonsense

Daughter Mina, with her astute investment instincts and real-estate know-how, always keeps her eye on the prize — and the financial bottom line — for each new project. She provides a grounding counterpoint to Karen's highly imaginative and whimsical bent. And she's not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Tad working on installing the joists between the first and second floor for the new addition to the home he is helping Mina and Karen renovate as seen on Good Bones

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Wild-Card Tad

Mina's half-brother Tad, who has helped out with the heavy lifting and dirty work on many of Mina and Karen's projects thus far, is back again this season — and unpredictable as ever. Good Bones fans know that things seldom get boring when Tad's on the scene.

The original front exterior of the home that Karen and Mina Starsiak are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Before

This sprawling three-story home on Sanders Street comes with four bedrooms, two baths and a large bonus space on the third floor. It has some captivating historic features inside, though some of the rooms are in rough shape or have been compromised by misguided earlier updates. The brick exterior, front porch and overall structure are in good shape but, with the dull brown brick and dated replacement windows, the outside is lacking in curb appeal. "Most of the houses we buy are in shambles," said Mina, "but this one on Sanders has some really cool original detail...The downside of its awesomeness is it's just massive. It's really big. This is gonna be a big project."

The new front exterior of the home that Mina and Karen renovated, featuring beautfiul white brick as seen on Good Bones

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After

The exterior gets all-new siding and windows, and the damaged sidewalk and retaining wall have been replaced. The brick is painted in bright white, and the new gray siding is highlighted with blue accent for the upper gable and ornamental relief. The new, brighter palette makes the home exterior shine and visually highlights the architecture and detail.

The original exterior of the backyard of the home that Mina is renovating with her mom Karen as seen on Good Bones

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Rear Exterior, Before

The rear of the house and add-on porch were in rough shape and the backyard was messy and overgrown. In contrast to many of the other newly restored homes on Sanders Street, Mina referred to this one as "the last ugly house on the block".

The original wooden staircase and battered white walls leading up to the second floor of the home the is being renovated by Karen and her daughter Mina as seen on Good Bones

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Before

The walls and ceiling adjacent to the front stairs were water damaged and cracked. The original ceiling in the living room and other spaces had been replaced with acoustic tile which was damaged and deteriorating.

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Before

In this first-floor bathroom off the kitchen, the ceiling was collapsing and, in an unusual design choice, former owners had covered nearly every surface in the bath with river rocks embedded in mortar — including the vanity top, walls and shower surround.

The entryway featuring hardwood floors, wooden staircase, and two large pillars leading into the living room of the home that Mina and Karen Starsiak are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Foyer, Before

When Mina spoke of the distinctive original detail, this is what she was referring to. The front foyer features an abundance of impressive woodwork in classic Victorian era style — including stairs, rails and bannisters, paneling and trim. Ornate wood columns separate the foyer from the spacious living room, though the wood base supporting one of the columns had damage to the corners, likely from a dog chewing the wood.

The newly remodeled entryway and family room featuring dark hardwood floors, light blue painted walls, and brown leather couch that Mina renovated with her mother Karen as seen on Good Bones

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Foyer, After

The foyer’s wood paneling, columns, staircase, railing and all the wooden ornamentation get restored, re-stained and refinished. Damaged portions of the column bases were professionally repaired by a trim carpenter using oak replacement pieces to match the original wood.

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Foyer, Detail

When we first got here, all of this beautiful woodwork was in pretty sorry shape, but it's so much part of character of this house. We just thought we had to bring it back to its former glory.
—Mina

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Foyer, Detail

The restored original woodwork, with all its detail and scrollwork, is a visually arresting highlight in the renovated home.

The original wooden staircase and entryway leading up to the second floor of the home the is being renovated by Karen and her daughter Mina as seen on Good Bones

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Foyer, Before

The foyer was carefully protected and preserved while the full down-to-the-studs demo was taking place in the surrounding spaces throughout the first floor.

The remodeled entryway and foot of the stairs featuring newly polished wood staircase after renovation by Karen and Mina as seen on Good Bones

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Foyer, After

The detailed craftsmanship in the foyer reinforces the home's elegant vibe and, in dark stain, stands out sharply against the newly painted pale blue walls.

The original living room front entryway of the home that Mina and her mom Karen are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Living Room, Before

The walls in the living and dining rooms had been sponge-painted in a mottled brown and white pattern (an effect Karen described as “tragic”), and the trim and baseboards painted in reddish brown.

The original family room, including a green tile fireplace and gold spunged walls, in the home that Mina and her mom Karen are renovating together as seem on Good Bones

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Living Room, Before

The living room included an original, though no longer functional, fireplace with green antique-tile surround.

The newly remodeled family room, featuring a new giant window to let a lot of natural light in as seen on Good Bones

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Living Room, After

For the fireplace, Mina recommended keeping the original green tile but adding a new Carrara marble hearth and a new mantel that matches the original trim.

The newly remodeled family room of the home featuring light blue-painted walls, green fireplace tile, and brown leather couch after renovation by Karen and Mina Starsiak as seen on Good Bones

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Living Room, After

Mina and Karen's staging for the living room included an antique style china cabinet, Persian area rug and a leather Chesterfield sofa with blue, white and gold accent pillows. "The wood paneling in the entryway has an antique feel to it," said Mina, "so we wanted to mimic that in some of the [living room] furnishings. We've got a blend of traditional and eclectic pieces."

The original green tile lined fireplace that Mina and Karen saved durring renovation as seen on Good Bones

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Living Room, Detail

After some creative differences between Karen and Mina over fireplace and brick chimney, Mina suggested covering the worn mortar and brick with fresh drywall, then painting it in white and installing trim to create a frame-and-panel effect known as judge’s paneling. The new look is in keeping with the period of the home and the classically elegant feel of the space.

The original dinning room, featuring a wooden built in china cabient, in the home that Mina and Karen are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Dining Room, Before

The dining room had an original built-in hutch with glass-front doors. Karen and Mina’s original plan was to restore the salvageable portions of the unit and paint the drawer fronts. Much of the front face, however, had been water damaged from a chimney leak.

The newly remodeled dining room of the home featuring decorative blue and white wallpaper, dark hardwood floors, and a long wooden dining table as seen on Good Bones

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Dining Room, After

Unfortunately, the dining-room built-in was too far damaged to be repaired. However, a new bookcase is added in its place, painted white to match the trim. The bookshelf is actually on a track and moveable so it can be slid to one side to reveal a hidden serving bar behind. It’s surrounded by blue and white wallpaper, installed by Mina and her sister Kelsy, with an Arabesque pattern and subtle metallic highlights.

Close up of the dining room table within the newly remodeled dining room of the home as seen on Good Bones

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Dining Room, After

The combination of the shelf unit and wallpaper creates a visually striking accent wall, and well-chosen area rug in the same colors and similar pattern helps create a unified look.

The kitchen in the home that Mina and her mother Karen are renovating together, the previouse owners attempted to renovate the kitchen with black cabients and avacade green walls as seen on Good Bones

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Kitchen, Before

The kitchen – the victim of an unfortunate earlier update – had walls painted in chartreuse green, black cabinets and trim, stone floor-tiles for the backsplash and countertops, and dated graphic wallpaper borders.

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Kitchen, Before

As in the “offbeat” adjacent bathroom, in the kitchen rocks had been attached with mortar to the backsplash and cabinets to fashion a border.

The newly remodeled kitchen, featuring white cabinets, tile backsplash that goes all the way to the cilieing and a blue island in the home that Mina and Karen renovated together as seen on Good Bones

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Kitchen, After

The kitchen gets wraparound countertops and a large island painted in muted blue. Barstool seating at the island provides informal dining space in close proximity to the more formal dining room. Large windows provide plenty natural light into the now bright and contemporary kitchen. The tile backsplash in a white and gray pattern extends all the way to the ceiling.

Closer look at the sink and gas stovetop in the kitchen of the newly remodeled home as seen on Good Bones

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Kitchen, After

The hammered-copper farm sink is perhaps the kitchen’s most distinctive standout feature, and the white granite countertops and white lower cabinets make the piece even more of a visual standout. "Mina and I decided on a copper farm sink in the kitchen," said Karen. "I love that it has a sort of weathered patina that makes it look like it's been part of this old house for years."

The newly remodeled kitchen, featuring white cabinets, tile backsplash that goes all the way to the cilieing and a blue island as seen on Good Bones

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Kitchen, After

I went with tall white cabinets to really make it feel open, but added some warmth with bronze appliances, a copper sink, and the brushed gold hardware on the blue island.
—Mina

One of the original bedrooms that Mina and Karen refer to as the blue room in the home they are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Master Bedroom, Before

In the reconfiguration of the second floor, this blue bedroom with sun-and-moon border gets incorporated into the newly defined master suite.

The newly remodeled master bedroom in the home that Mina and her mom Karen renovated together as seen on Good Bones

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Master Bedroom, After

Two bedrooms at the rear of the second floor are combined to create this large master suite with a new full bath and a huge walk-in closet.

Closeup of the winodow and head of the bed inside the master bedroom of the home that Mina and her mother Karen renovated together as seen on Good Bones

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Master Bedroom, After

The new master suite has a midcentury feel with a king-sized bed with modern iron frame and with a cool blue, white and gray palette playing off the dark of the hardwood flooring.

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Master Bedroom, After

Generous windows provide plenty of natural light for the master suite, and the bedroom is furnished with stylish but masculine touches.

The original second floor bathroom of the home that Mina and Karen Starsiak are renovating together, featuring a turquoise bathtub and a separate toilet as seen on Good Bones.

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Master Bath, Before

The upstairs bath was in partially demoed and another casualty of an earlier update – turquoise tub, pink tile with black border, and mirror wall-tiles in lieu of a vanity mirror.

The newly remodeled second floor bathroom in the home that Mina and Karen renovated together as seen on Good Bones

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Master Bath, After

The new master bath features a double vanity and large walk-in shower with integrated window, glass surround and pale gray tile. The floor has the look of hand-painted tile in an ornate gray and white graphic and a slightly distressed finish giving the impression that they are of the same era as the house.

One of the original tiny bedrooms in the home that Mina and her mother Karen are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Guest Bedroom, Before

The renovated second floor retains two existing bedrooms at the front of the house, including this one.

One of the homes newly remodeled guest bedrooms featuring light blue walls, a blue carpet patterned with stars, and three large windows after Karen and her daughter Mina renovated as seen on Good Bones

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Guest Bedroom, After

The new guest bedroom features enlarged windows, walls in cool blue-gray, a contemporary bed and a color palette playing of the US flag — with red accents set against navy and white furnishings and a dark blue area rug with starburst pattern.

The original third floor bonus space that Mina and Karen plan to turn into another living space and a fourth bedroom in the home they are renovating together as seen on Good Bones

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Third Floor, Before

The third floor had was bonus or storage space with sloped ceilings, wood paneling and a lot of square footage.

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Third Floor, After

The attic is turned into usable and functional space with new drywall, fresh paint and two separate rooms that are suitable for either home office or additional bedroom.

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Third Floor, Before

The newly remodeled third floor that was turned into a living space and a beautiful office after Karen and Mina renovated as seen on Good Bones

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Third Floor, After

So we were able to take what was essentially just the attic and turn it into really usable space including a bedroom which adds both function and value to the home.
—Mina

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Third Floor, After

The third floor also has a new bath as well as additional common space left over in a central area.

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Before: A Risky Proposition

"We're taking a big expensive risk with this huge house," said Mina prior to the start of renovations, "and I'm a bit concerned about getting our money out of it."

"Mina and I are in complete agreement," added Karen. "There's no skimping on this dignified old house, but spending this much money is not for the faint of heart."

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After: A Stately House on Sanders Street

No longer "the last ugly house on the block", this vintage home has been transformed and modernized but in a manner that managed to retain and accentuate the home's grandeur and period appeal. After purchasing the house for $65,000 then, by the end, spending around $300,000 for renovations, Mina and Karen listed the house at $409,000. It sold for the asking price, netting proceeds of around $44,000.

Karen E. Laine (l) and Mina Starsiak Hawk pose in front of a home before demolition begins as seen on HGTV's Good Bones.

Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Verbatim Agency

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Another Win for the Team

Keep checking back here for more new galleries, exclusive videos and Good Bones updates.

Good Bones: A Stately Home on Sanders Street

Back in Action

Fanciful Dreamer

No Nonsense

Wild-Card Tad

Before

After

Rear Exterior, Before

Before

Before

Foyer, Before

Foyer, After

Foyer, Detail

Foyer, Detail

Foyer, Before

Foyer, After

Living Room, Before

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Master Bedroom, Before

Master Bedroom, After

Master Bedroom, After

Master Bedroom, After

Master Bath, Before

Master Bath, After

Guest Bedroom, Before

Guest Bedroom, After

Third Floor, Before

Third Floor, After

Third Floor, Before

Third Floor, After

Third Floor, After

Before: A Risky Proposition

After: A Stately House on Sanders Street

Another Win for the Team

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