Siblings Gift Their Parents a Living Room Reno on ‘House Shock’

Sonia and Dinesh always put their kids first, even if that means no Christmas gifts or trips back home to their native India. Their children, Sahiba and Kuvar — whose names translate to “Princess” and “Prince,” respectively — haven’t missed these selfless acts and want to repay them in a grand way. To do just that, they reach out to House Shock’s designer Arielle Vandenberg and contractor Steve Lewis for help updating their Long Island, New York, home’s living room.

As Sahiba shows Arielle around the ground floor, she notes the ever-present reminders of India, set against stark white walls. When the tour ends at the living room, Arielle instantly understands why Sahiba and Kuvar asked for her assistance. The room is sparsely furnished, with only one daybed for four people, making movie nights an up-close-and-personal affair. Overall, it lacks a level of coziness mandatory for a living room and, while Arielle is up to the task, she knows that honoring the family’s culture and Sonia’s style is important — especially after Sahiba shares that Sonia can be picky.

Sahiba and Kuvar know that the only way to get their parents out of the house and out of their routine is to get them out of the state. After Sahiba drops them off at the airport for a visit to see family in Atlanta, she heads home and deactivates the doorbell camera so there are no sneak peeks.

Before getting to work, Arielle reveals her final design and eagerly awaits the siblings’ approval as their mother’s proxy. They think it’s the perfect marriage of Sonia’s existing style with just enough to push her out of her comfort zone. For a personal touch, Arielle proposes turning some of Sonia’s private poetry into hanging art, with her Hindi and English words surrounded by Indian block printing. This could be a risk for the super-private Sonia, but Sahiba and Kuvar think it’s worth it to show their mom the value of her art.

Two days might not seem like enough time to make a drastic change, but Arielle and Steve prove that idea wrong with every renovation. In this case, Arielle was working with an almost blank canvas and was ready to design a space that was every bit as comfortable and cozy as the family feels when they’re together. While modern touches can be seen throughout, so can Sonia and Dinesh’s Indian heirlooms, more reminders of the heritage they hold so close to their hearts.

A picky parent mixed with construction issues — an inaccurate wet saw and a possible roof leak — has Steve and Arielle feeling the pressure as the minutes tick down to Dinesh and Sonia’s arrival. Even with the confidence of Sahiba and Kuvar, the House Shock team can’t help but be anxious about mom and dad’s reaction to their transformation.

While Kuvar picks up his parents from the airport, Sahiba and Arielle nervously await their return. Once Sonia and Dinesh enter the home and see the camera crew, she asks, “Are you in a movie?” and instantly starts tidying up their luggage. Just one example of her putting her children first — and the exact reason why Sahiba and Kuvar wanted to surprise them. After the shock wears off ever so slightly, Sonia and Dinesh are led to their revamped living room by their children and the crew.

Where before there was only a daybed, a large television atop a dresser and a chaise lounge, set amid a plain brick fireplace, now there’s an inviting space fit for fun family nights. Sonia and Dinesh are blown away by the upgrade, which perfectly preserved their preference for muted tones and heritage pieces. Arielle even made sure to include a karaoke machine front and center, as Sonia and Dinesh love to sing together with their friends and family.

Arielle shares that her inspiration was the simplicity of the rest of the house mixed with the beautiful details in Sonia’s traditional Indian furniture. Marrying both resulted in a space surrounded by off-white walls with custom-trimmed linen grass cloth panels, ornate and subtle at the same time. While before the focal point of the room might have been its lack of furniture, now it’s the mosaic-tiled fireplace, directly influenced by the chairbacks of the family’s dining room table.

Where there was once a daybed sits a cushy couch with a complimentary table, perfect for stashing drinks and popcorn during a movie night. And to frame the viewing area are Sonia’s poetry, beautifully crafted by Sahiba and Kuvar to honor their mother and her talent. “To see my poetry on the wall, that’s something I’ve held very close to my heart,” Sonia says while shedding happy tears.

To tie the room to the rest of the house, Arielle stained and Steve hung up an Indian-inspired wooden archway, a thoughtful embellishment that instantly enriches the space. In place of vertical blinds, Arielle selected drapes to brighten the room and provide privacy and minimize glare during film screenings. Screenings will seem much more theatrical now that the television is mounted on the wall and karaoke nights will be that much easier with the lyrics at eye level.