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Good Bones: Mina Starsiak's Family-Focused Forever Home

By: David Haynes

Show: Good Bones

Mina Starsiak, along with her mom Karen, are known for rescuing and renovating at-risk properties in Indy’s historic neighborhoods, transforming them into stylized homes that appeal to the city’s forward-thinking urban pioneers. In a special episode of 'Good Bones', Mina gets to put her experience and expertise to work for herself and her husband Stephen, creating an all-new home that’s ideally suited for starting a new family.

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Mina, Stephen and Friends

Mina and her husband Stephen have had plans for some time to build their own custom-designed home. Now things are about to get real as Mina, with help from mom Karen, gets to work on designing a family-oriented dream home – not forgetting canine cohabitants Sophie, Frank and Beatrice.

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Tabula Rasa

Earlier, Mina had bought this lot right next door to her current home with ambitious plans for a ground-up new build. "I bought the empty lot next door in Fountain Square," says Mina. "This is the neighborhood that Mom and I do a lot of our renovations in, it's where we currently live, and the neighborhood is our home. I really can't imagine living anywhere else."

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Pen to Paper

The new home is planned as a three-story new build with 2900 square feet and a design inspired by the old-style architecture of Mina and Stephen's favorite vacation city — Charleston, South Carolina — where Mina's family spent summer vacations for years. "I'm a planner," said Mina. "I've had these floor plans in the works for almost as long as we've owned the lot. Now I just need to fill Mom in so we can get started on construction."

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A New Home Takes Shape

Now I get to take all of things I have learned and all the things I like and create the house of my dreams. I just want to make sure it's perfect.
—Mina Starsiak-Hawk

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The "Taj MaMina"

The finished home — dubbed Taj MaMina by Karen for its grand scale and meticulous planning — brings a touch of the Old South to Indianapolis's Fountain Square district. "We wanted to bring in a southern feel," said Mina, "with big columns, large balconies, porch fans and black iron fencing."

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The Entrance at the Starsiak-Hawk Estate

The ornate ironwork fencing and gate adds a classic and distinguished look to the home's exterior, as the bird-of-prey ornament on the front gate pays homage to Stephen's family name.

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Coming Attraction

During the course of Mina and Stephen's new-home build, Mina surprised Stephen with this housewarming gift — a visual confirmation that a new Starsiak-Hawk family member was officially on the way. (Check out the video.) Now it's truly a family affair. And the pressure's on. The challenge now is to complete the build and get the new home completely ready before baby Jack's arrival.

The deck of Mina's dream home that she built with her mom Karen, there are chairs for Mina, her husband Steve and their baby Jack as seen on Good Bones

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The View From Here

The finished home has a large balcony that spans the full width of the house and features white columns, black window trim, ceiling fans and outdoor furniture.

The rocking chairs on the deck of Mina's dream home that she built with her mom Karen, there are chairs for Mina, her husband Steve and their baby Jack as seen on Good Bones

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The View From Here

The balcony also comes with three stylized porch rockers — one for each family member.

The stairs in Minas dream home that she built with her mom Karen as seen on Good Bones

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Grand Entry

The foyer features an impressive stairway highlighted by a single massive vintage column. "Mina and Mom spend their days creating forever homes for other people," said Mina's sister Kelsy. "So it's really nice that Mina gets to be on the other side of things, this go-around."

The dinning space and kitchen in Minas dream home that she built with her mother Karen, with all the seating options in the home there is room for thrity five people to gather as seen on Good Bones

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Dining Room

The main dining area, with dark-stained table and blue velvet-upholstered chairs, has a formal feel but an open-concept design so that the spaces feel connected and are suited to large family gatherings. The flooring is highly durable engineered vinyl plank (EVP) laid out in herringbone pattern.

The new dinning area and doors that lead to the backyard dinning area in Minas dream home she built with her mom Karen as seen on Good Bones

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Dining Room

The open space — and plentiful seating both indoors and out — is designed to accommodate up to 35 guests.

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Living Room

Muted blues, reds and soft pinks form the color palette for the living room.

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Living Room

Highlights in the living room include a blue velvet sofa in modern design, a pair of matching wingback chairs and a statement chandelier.

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Hung by the Chimney With Care

Stephen's special request was that the house have a fireplace and mantel for a proper Christmas-stocking display.

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Kitchen

The kitchen features ceiling-height cabinetry and custom vent hood painted in white, brushed stainless appliances and a chandelier in a style similar to the one in the living room.

From: Mina Starsiak Hawk

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Kitchen

The massive kitchen island provides plenty of prep space as well as seating for five.

The large island in Mina's dream home will be a perfect gathering place for big family events

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Kitchen

The island countertop and backsplash are Carrara marble in solid pieces.

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Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen details include a farmhouse sink in white porcelain and fixtures in brushed nickel finish.

A marble backsplash is easier to keep clean than tile and grout.

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Kitchen, Detail

The backsplash is made from solid pieces of Carrara marble for a continuous surface and no grout lines.

The beautiful master bedroom that Mina and Karen designed and built together for Minas growing family as seen on Good Bones

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Master Suite

The palette in the master bedroom is purely Mina-esque and echoes that of the living room, with pale blues, pink and white grounded by natural wood tones.

The couch in the master bedroom that Mina and Karen designed and built together for Minas growing family as seen on Good Bones

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Master Suite

A sectional sofa in off-white linen and clean, straightforward design makes for a nice corner-nook for reading or relaxing.

The new master bathroom in the home that Mina and her mom Karen built together for Mina to live in with her growing family as seen on Good Bones

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Master Suite

The new master bath features a twin vanity with gray marble top and matching sconces.

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Master Suite

The large walk-in shower features two rainfall showerheads, glass doors and floor-to-ceiling tile in a striking Moroccan style design.

The new walk in closet in the home that Mina and her mom Karen built together for Mina to live in with her growing family as seen on Good Bones

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Master Suite

The master suite incorporates this massive walk-in closet with integrated modular closet system.

The nursery in the home that Mina and Karen built together for Mina's soon to be born child as seen on Good Bones

From: Mina Starsiak Hawk

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The Nursery

Chandeliers are a theme throughout the home's decor, including in the new nursery that will soon be home to baby Jack. The nursery has a warm and inviting feel with neutral tones, soft fabrics and pale blue window treatments.

The coathangers that spell out JACK in the room that Mina created in the home she built for her growing family to live in as seen on Good Bones

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Nursery, Detail

Coat hooks just outside the nursery spell out the name of the newest family addition, and colorful fabric tassels in pink, white and blue continue the established color theme.

One of the childrens rooms in the home that Mina and her mother Karen designed and built together as seen on Good Bones

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Kids' Bedroom

Looking further down the road, the floor plan includes additional bedrooms, including this one that's decidedly stylish but also cozy and well suited for youngsters.

The dog shower that is in the garage in Mina's dream home that she designed and built with her mom Karen as seen on Good Bones

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Doggie Spa

Perhaps the most distinctive touch in the new home is the luxuriously appointed dog bath located in the attached garage — complete with marble tile surround, recessed lighting and brushed stainless shower fixtures.

The gym in the home that Mina and her mother Karen build together for Mina's growing family as seen on Good Bones

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Home Gym

Another dream-home amenity is this home gym, fully outfitted with a variety of fitness gear including free weights, bench press and rowing machine.

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Home Office

The top floor maintains plenty of open space and includes this home office for Steve as well as a kids' play area.

The back exterior of the home that Karen and her daughter Mina built together for Mina and her family tp live in as seen on Good Bones

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Picture-Perfect Backyard

The backyard is strictly utilitarian and low-maintenance, with artificial turf, Adirondack chairs and window boxes for a bit of floral color.

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Picture-Perfect Backyard

Kid friendly amenities include a white canvas teepee tent...

The back yard playing area that Mina set up for her soon to be born Son Jack to play with as seen on Good Bones

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Picture-Perfect Backyard

... and a kid-sized three-leg table with a tabletop made from a timber cross-section..

The back porch dinning area in the home that Mina and Karen built together, with all the seats in the home thrity five people can gather as seen on Good Bones

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Picture-Perfect Backyard

The back-porch dining area has a large outdoor dining table with seating for 10.

Mina and her husband Steve in the home office of their new home that Mina and her mom Karen build together for their growing family as see on Good Bones

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Forever Home

With the home-build complete (and baby still on the way), Mina and Steve pose for some pics in the home office of their newly completed home.

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Forever Home

"This is our forever home," said Mina, "because we're not going anywhere."

Mina and Karen showing Mina's husband Steve the home office in the new house they built together for them to live in as seen on Good Bones

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Forever Home

"I just feel so grateful that Mina took all this time and effort and energy into this house for our new family," said Stephen. I feel like [she] thought of every detail...It's perfect."

Mina and Karen showing Mina's husband Steve the kitchen in the new house they built together for them to live in as seen on Good Bones

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Afterword

Completion of the house was finished just in the nick of time. Just one week after this photo was shot, Mina, Stephen and Karen would be introducing baby Jack to his new home.

Minas mom, dad and stepmom in her new home holding ber newborn son Jack as seen on Good Bones

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Introducing Baby Jack

Watching my daughter become a mother has been one of the most wonderful things in my life, so I'm glad we'd even been able to play a small role in creating this new home for Steve, Mina and the baby.
—Karen E Laine

(Do you know baby Jack? Go here to read more about his illustrious arrival, see baby pics and watch exclusive videos.)

Good Bones: Mina Starsiak's Family-Focused Forever Home

Mina, Stephen and Friends

Tabula Rasa

Pen to Paper

A New Home Takes Shape

The "Taj MaMina"

The Entrance at the Starsiak-Hawk Estate

Coming Attraction

The View From Here

The View From Here

Grand Entry

Dining Room

Dining Room

Living Room

Living Room

Hung by the Chimney With Care

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Master Suite

Master Suite

Master Suite

Master Suite

Master Suite

The Nursery

Nursery, Detail

Kids' Bedroom

Doggie Spa

Home Gym

Home Office

Picture-Perfect Backyard

Picture-Perfect Backyard

Picture-Perfect Backyard

Picture-Perfect Backyard

Forever Home

Forever Home

Forever Home

Afterword

Introducing Baby Jack

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