Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
1 / 48
Easy Being Green
Mina and Karen pose for a pic in the completed living room in the newly remodeled home on Sanders Avenue. Green is substantially in evidence in the new color palette, including this forest green upholstered sofa and dramatically patterned wallpaper backdrop.
More photos after this Ad
Before
An Ugly Duckling. Though the sizable home is in a great location, close to Indy's fashionable Fountain Square district, it had previously been divided up into at least three separate apartments, had a confused, labyrinthine floorplan and was generally in disrepair. The outside has been painted in three separate (and all of them ugly) shades of brown, and the front porch had been enclosed as part of an earlier modification.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
3 / 48
After
A Graceful Swan. For the renovation, the enclosed front porch has been opened back up, recreating the home's original curb appeal. A side section is also opened back up, creating a wraparound porch with the front door offset to the right. Other improvements include a new concrete walkway, updated stairs, and new porch columns and railing. Exterior painted in pale blue with white trim.
More photos after this Ad
Floor Plan Fix
Strategic Arrangement. Mina and Karen ponder the modifications that will transform the home back from three separate apartments to a single-family dwelling. The interior of the house was an impressive 3350 square feet, but the cobbled-together floor plan would need to be thoroughly revised. To turn it into separate apartment units, the downstairs had been divided up into 10 individual rooms, including two kitchens, with an additional kitchen on the second floor. "And it's just a total hodge-podgey mess," said Mina.
More photos after this Ad
Before
Awkward Spaces. This narrow front room had originally been the home's front porch and, like much of the rest of the house, was lined with dated wood paneling. Immediately behind this space, what had been the original front living room had been divided up into two tiny bedrooms. "No one designed this floor plan," said Karen. "This floor plan 'happened' to this house."
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
6 / 48
After
A Pretty Face. The new take on the front porch includes this offset section with a vintage style bench seat and the new front entrance. "Porches make neighborhoods livable," says Karen.
More photos after this Ad
Before
This space had formerly been used as a kitchen. Old kitchen cabinets had been concealed by the wood paneling.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
8 / 48
After
A drop ceiling was removed to reveal the original high ceilings in this space — now converted to one of two spacious master suites on the ground floor. Throughout the house, a soft powder-blue was used for the walls, and accented with white trim. Mina and Karen went with bold visuals and an eclectic, global style in this bedroom which includes a bed with button-tufted headboard, brightly colored tapestry and custom made wall art.
More photos after this Ad
Living Room, Before
"We've got to knock down a ton of walls," said Mina, "so we can turn this wacko maze of a house into one grand single-family home."
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
10 / 48
Living Room, After
Decorated with a mix of contemporary and vintage inspired pieces in a green palette with earthy, red and orange accents. Walls are painted in pale blue. A feature wall with green patterned wallpaper in abstract gradient design evokes an outdoor feel and forms a perfect backdrop for the tufted velvet sofa in forest green. "It was different," said Karen, "It was intriguing and kind of went with the whole rest of the room."
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
11 / 48
Living Room, After
"We're putting all this amazing furniture in," said Karen, "to balance what is a very clean, modern house with things that make it feel approachable and cozy and livable."
A wall at one end of the space was removed to create a large, functional area and open the main living space onto the new kitchen.
More photos after this Ad
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
13 / 48
Kitchen, After
The new kitchen becomes a focal point for the home and features high ceilings, updated and recessed lighting, marble countertops and a double farm-style sink in stainless finish. The double-stacked upper cabinets, as well as the lower cabinets, are simple Shaker style and painted in buff gray.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
14 / 48
Kitchen, After
Another kitchen highlight is the gray and white tile backsplash in a bold and geometric chevron pattern.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
15 / 48
Kitchen, After
The signature piece in the kitchen is the large picnic style dining table that can comfortably seat up to eight. The table was custom made using reclaimed wood by
Purposeful Design, an Indy based organization and wood shop that produces handcrafted furniture pieces while teaching building and crafting techniques to homeless individuals, helping them to develop job skills that may help them find future employment.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
16 / 48
Downstairs Master Bedroom #1
In this master bedroom, with en suite bath, Mina opts for the "high skinny" side windows for added privacy.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
17 / 48
Downstairs Master Bedroom, #1
The master suite features high ceilings, hardwood floors in a medium dark stain and a color palette of earth tones and blues.
More photos after this Ad
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
19 / 48
Master Bath, After
An en suite master bath features pocket doors, double vanity and oversized tub.
More photos after this Ad
Master Bath, Detail
The tile tub surround features subway tile with dark grout and an accent band in a geometric chevron pattern echoing the one found in the kitchen backsplash.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
21 / 48
Master Bath, Detail
The master bath comes with plenty of storage including this large armoire with arched doors, shelving and lower drawers.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
22 / 48
Downstairs Master Bedroom #2
For the second downstairs master, Karen and Mina went with a bright and colorful garden theme, including two preserved-plant wall hangings custom designed by Karen and Mina.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
23 / 48
Downstairs Master Bedroom #2, Detail
Karen's wall piece (L) focuses on dimensional foliage arranged to mimic thick, natural forest growth. Mina's wall-hangning (R) drew inspiration from Van Gogh's Starry Night, using branches and leaves to create a pattern of dynamic curves and swirls.
More photos after this Ad
Stairwell, After
The newly rebuilt staircase leads to a second floor with two guest bedrooms and an upstairs bonus room.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
25 / 48
Upstairs Landing, After
This narrow nook tucked to the side of the stairwell on the upstairs landing makes for an ideal space for an open shelf unit for displaying books and decorative accessories.
More photos after this Ad
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
27 / 48
Guest Bedroom #1, After
A space that had formerly been an upstairs bath is converted to create this comfortable guest bedroom. The angled ceilings coupled with a muted color palette, green accents and dark patterned area rug make for a cozy ambiance.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
28 / 48
Guest Bedroom #2, After
The second upstairs guest room is larger and offers lots of closet space.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
29 / 48
Guest Bedroom #2, After
A contemporary blue bedroom with a green velvet chair is shown, as seen on HGTV's Good Bones.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
30 / 48
Upstairs Bath, After
The new upstairs bath has a double vanity and full tub/shower combination.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
31 / 48
Upstairs Bath, After
Above the double vanity, a high window lets plenty of natural light into the bathroom space.
More photos after this Ad
More photos after this Ad
The Finished Attic Space
The low, angled ceilings in this space offered some design challenges, but judicious placement of furniture, with seating areas toward the perimeter, this becomes a functional space which could potentially be repurposed as a fifth bedroom.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
34 / 48
Bonus Room, After
Mina and Karen staged the upstairs space as a bonus room with his-and-her work desks at either end and a sectional sofa for a casual seating area.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images.
From:
Good Bones and Eyesore Overhaul
35 / 48
Bonus Room, After
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
36 / 48
Behind the Scenes, The Reveal
Mina and Karen show prospective buyers Ashley and Joshua the new upstairs bonus room.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
37 / 48
Behind the Scenes, The Reveal
Josh and Ashley check out the newly remodeled main living area and kitchen.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
38 / 48
Behind the Scenes, The Reveal
"So we love what Mina and Karen are doing with this neighborhood. [It's] definitely getting revitalized," said prospective buyer, Ashley. "I think it would be a really great place for us to buy our first house."
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
39 / 48
Behind the Scenes, The Reveal
"I love how open it is, but for how big it is, it feels so cozy inside," said Ashley. "I think that we could definitely host all the holidays with both our families. Everybody could stay."
More photos after this Ad
Behind the Scenes
During construction, Mina does her prairie dog impersonation as she helps with installation of the floor joists.
More photos after this Ad
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
42 / 48
Behind the Scenes
Karen stages the game table in the upstairs bonus room with oversized dominoes.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
43 / 48
Behind the Scenes
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
44 / 48
Behind the Scenes
Karen and Mina pose next to their respective custom art pieces hung in one of the downstairs bedrooms.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
45 / 48
Behind the Scenes
Karen's affinity for velvet sofas has been well documented throughout the first two seasons of Good Bones.
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
46 / 48
Behind the Scenes
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
47 / 48
Behind the Scenes
Another house down and, hopefully, another awesome couple to join the neighborhood.
—Mina Starsiak Hawk
More photos after this Ad
Photo: Mary Ann Carter/Getty Images
48 / 48
Afterword
According to a recent issue of the Indianapolis Business Journal, Bates-Hendricks is Indy's best-kept secret and the next up-and-coming neighborhood. Adds Mina: "I don't think it's really a secret anymore, but it's definitely up-and-coming."
If you enjoyed this Good Bones project, we'll bet you'd also like: The Orange Street Duplex Conversion. And keep checking back here for more new galleries, exclusive video and show updates.
