The Kitchen Cousins leave no stone unturned as they tackle an old, beat up brownstone kitchen with no counter space and limited storage. Homeowners Shari and Carlito are tired of their impractical space and call in the cousins to see what they can do with it. Anthony and John immediately see the potential, but before anything can happen its got to be taken down to the studs. Then they build it back up, blending the old original brick walls and yellow pine floors with the new as they create a space with beautiful, modern Italian cabinets and a stainless steel island.
Meet the Orlandos, an Italian-American family living in a small condo. The main issue they're facing with their kitchen is one of safety: with three small children they have real concerns over an oven that opens all the way to the floor. Witih a baby about to start crawling, they needed to address that problem right away. The other issue is function, as the one-size-fits-all kitchen that the builders installed just isn't working for them. The Cousins realize that one way to open up the space is to remove the cheap granite countertop and substitute it with a one piece stainless steel one. But when the new countertop can't fit in the elevator, it almost derails the renovation. The next challenge is creating enough storage space. The Cousins plan to solve this problem with custom made Italian cabinets that reach the full height of the ceiling. Then to tie the living room to the kitchen, Anthony undertakes a special project. Early on, the Cousins learn that Claudia Orlando's father did some restoration work for Grand Central Station. That gives him the idea of taking a picture of the the exterior of the station, have it printed as a mural and use it to cover the wall that's visible from the kitchen.
Kitchen Cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri tackle a suburban kitchen that's desperately in need of a renovation. The appliances are older than the cousins themselves, the doorway from the dining room into the kitchen is tiny and storage is non-existent. One pet peeve of the homeowner? The limited storage means his spices are stored all over the kitchen, which is hard when he's making dinner. And with no air conditioning, this space is unbearably hot! Anthony and John start by tearing down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, creating a much bigger, lighter space. They rip up the multiple layers of floors, putting in beautiful hardwoods and build a custom spice rack out of reclaimed wood. They also refurbish a beloved a chopping block island, making it much more functional for the homeowners. And the final touch? An air conditioner to cool things off!
The Kitchen Cousins, Anthony and John, meet Nalini, a single woman living in Jersey City home she grew up in. As soon as the cousins walk in, they realize that the main obstacle to being able to design a functional kitchen is a huge built-in that's been there since she was a child. Nalini is against getting rid of this old family heirloom, so the cousins decide to come up with two different designs for the kitchen: one of them will preserve the piece of furniture, while the other will create more countertop space but get rid of the built-in. On the design meeting day, Anthony and John are hoping that she will choose the more functional one that allows them to remove the built in. Will she go for it? The cousins also run into trouble with the original subway tile. Their initial plan was to salvage it, but when there's an unexpected problem, they have to think fast to come up with a solution. On reveal day, will Nalini be astonished by the look of the new kitchen or wish she had her old space back?
Anthony and John meet Liz and Anthony Pino, a young family living in Hoboken, NJ. Anthony Pino is a successful local chef who aspires to have a more modern and functional kitchen at home, while Liz is all about having a space that looks like it's from the pages of a magazine. When the cousins suggest a plan of action, the homeowners don't seem to agree: they have a specific idea of what their dream kitchen should look like and they're not willing to compromise. Liz wants an all white kitchen, complete with a honed marble countertop, no matter the upkeep involved, and her husband wants to make her happy. Anthony and John have no choice but to follow their client's wishes. After warning them about possible staining and scratching, John and his Aunt Francine help Anthony and Liz choose a beautiful Carrara marble countertop. The cousins decide to come up with a creative solution that will help keep the marble countertop stain free for as long as possible. When the Pinos finally see the finished space, will they get their wish of a magazine kitchen?
Iliana Martinez lives in a beautiful home in New Jersey. She has redone the whole house, except for the unsightly kitchen. To convince her husband that they need to renovate it, she's taken matters into her own hands by knocking down parts of the walls to see what's behind them and allowing the cabinets to fall apart. Anthony and John must sieze the reigns of this project and give the Martinez family their dream space. Problem is, Iliana has already ordered state-of-the-art appliances and streamlined cabinets, so the cousins must work with what they have. Their design plan is big and bold, but the homeowner is up for it so it's onto demo they go! Once that's complete, Anthony and John get to installing the floor and cabinets and that's when the trouble begins. First, the customized oven cabinet is 4 inches too wide, then the lights are too big, and the countertop is missing a cutout for one of Iliana's appliances. The cousins have to work into the night to fix these problems. Exhausted from their day, Anthony and John still have to wrestle with a double oven to get it installed. It's a tough project, but will it all be worth it once the homeowners see their new space?
This week, it's all in the family! Kitchen Cousins John and Anthony renovate a kitchen that is close to their hearts and stomachs. John's parents, Denise and John, have raised three boys in their home, and the kitchen has always been the center of their family life. Now, the cousins want to surprise Denise with a kitchen she's been looking forward to for years. The cousins will have to move quickly though to get the kitchen installed in time for Thanksgiving. On demolition day, things get off to a slow start when the cousins tackle an unlabeled electrical panel. Eventually they get through the demo and John is left with only his childhood memories. Just when they think things are going to start moving along, the kitchen is stalled when an unexpected snow storm tears through New Jersey, knocking a tree down on Denise and John's house and killing the power. Combine that with the Italian cabinets getting stuck in customs and it's the perfect storm! It comes down to the wire and the guys are racing to nor only finish, but give John and Denise the kitchen of their dreams.
Avril and her two children recently moved into Devin's home with him and his two children. With these two families coming together, the kitchen in Devin's 40-year-old house is not up to the task. Devin also wants the new kitchen to fit Avril's taste, and hopes the cousins can make it a really special space. John and Anthony are determined to make a kitchen that fits the new family comfortably makes better use of the small space. Although Devin is hesitant about color and modern flair, it's Avril's favorite aesthetic so he lets John and Anthony get creative. They come up with a plan that blows both Avril and Devin away -- a picture window that opens the kitchen and makes it a focal point of the whole house while also allowing for a cosy breakfast bar. Will the guys make the claustrophobic kitchen a knock out?
Jamie and Gabe Ollins have had a lot on their plate over the past two years with a new baby and a new house. They've already added an extension to their place and a new roof, but they've been stumped by what to do with their cookie-cutter kitchen and the adjoining living room. The kitchen is badly in need of updating as well as a better work flow. The corner sink that Anthony describes as a waste of space will be gone, and their bland color scheme will be a thing of the past. Their new kitchen will be given a splash of modern pop and flair, and the cousins will give the couple expert advice on how creatively connect it to the living room.
This week, Kitchen Cousins John and Anthony take it to the floor (guy that is). They are renovating Rich and Shane Svorec's home. Rich does the floors for their company, Brunelleschi Construction, so the Kitchen Cousins want to give him a great kitchen. John and Anthony meet up with eager Rich and Shane at their house and discover that Rich took on a DIY kitchen renovation that went sour! In his defense, the kitchen had a wall that blocked off the entire space so Rich took matters into his own hands and knocked it down. Now he and his wife live in a kitchen that depends on a ceiling made of plastic wrap to keep the insulation from falling in their children's breakfast, not to mention struggling with ancient appliances that barely work. The knocked down wall gives the cousins a completely clean slate but the Svorec's have a pretty intense wish list. They want a space for their children to do their homework that is integrated into the design of the kitchen and they want to close off part of the fireplace and give its tacky white brick an update with a proper mantel. Their number one goal though is to unify the newly opened space. John and Anthony develop a plan to tackle Rich and Shane's wish list. The kitchen will have a unique layout, with a reverse island that divides the open space without obstructing the view of the rest of the home. Dark countertops will make a copper sink sing and a double door pantry and tons of prep space should satisfy the Svorec's needs. Top it off with two breakfast bars and a brand new entrance to the home and the kitchen design is complete. This is the most complex renovation the cousins have done so far. Will they be able to make all the Svorec's dreams come true?
This week, it's all about texture! Lisa Rivera loves to entertain and have her girlfriends over for bubbly cocktails. But her parties can fall flat because of the dark and boring kitchen. It's up to Kitchen Cousins John and Anthony to revive the dead space and breathe life into her drab kitchen. Knocking down a wall helps brighten the room and make it feel more spacious. But that's not all: John and Anthony have some funky ideas up their sleeves that will add depth, texture and lots of color.
The Kitchen Cousins have a fight on their hands, and it's with a beautiful brownstone with an unfortunate kitchen catastrophe. From the closet-sized room itself to the old appliances, the kitchen has seen better days. But what gives the homeowner, Michele, the biggest headache are the weird stairs that lead from her kitchen to her back deck. They're unsightly and in the way. John and Anthony have a master renovation plan but first, they have to get down and dirty with one dusty demolition. The brownstone refuses to go down without a fight and Anthony has to call in the architect to help get the job done. Once the construction is done and there's an open floor plan, the guys face a design challenge to marry the formal antique dining area with the modern kitchen design Michele wants. Will they win this battle of the brownstone and give the homeowner the kitchen she wants?
No demo, no problem! This week, Anthony and John get to avoid some of the dirty work as they design two kitchens for two different clients in a brand new condo building. The Cousins have a clean slate to work with and they use all their design tools to put a unique spin on similar layouts. It's hard work, but creating the spaces is what they love to do. Will their clients be happy with the results?
Dori is a shoe designer who has been slowly remodeling her LA bungalow to fit her funky tastes. But when it comes time to redo her kitchen, she doesn't even know where to begin. Luckily, the Kitchen Cousins are in LA filming Design Star and decide to pop in for a visit. The Cousins have a ton of ideas, including a 3D-looking backsplash, an island inspired by a dining room table, and opening up the adjoining rooms to create more space. But they want to keep a few things as surprises - including a totally wild pink countertop. Will Dori put on her dancing shoes, or will the guys get the boot?
Mama Lee's Soul Food Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas is starving for attention and is the project for Food Network Star Chef Robert Irvine's show, Restaurant Impossible. Chef Irvine is shocked by the horrendous state of the kitchen and calls in the only guys for the job -- the Kitchen Cousins. John and Anthony saddle up and head to Texas to save a kitchen that is in serious need of some love: the bare sewage pipe runs right over the food prep station and 4 years of piled on grease oozes over the appliances and the floor, making the restaurant a comfortable home for the infestation of roaches and rats. The kicker? The guys only have 24 hours to demolish, gut, install, streamline and transform this kitchen before the restaurant reopens for business. Can the guys handle the pressure and deliver a kitchen that is ready for some country cooking? Or will this kitchen be impossible?
Michael has a big surprise in store for his wife Kimberly and is enlisting the help of Mom Cave's Beth Stern and the Kitchen Cousins to make it happen. Kimberly has sweet childhood memories of cooking authentic Italian dishes with her father in their Tuscan kitchen. And now that her father is in a nursing home, Michael wants to bring Kimberly back to her childhood by resurrecting that kitchen in their Long Island home. Kitchen Cousins John and Anthony are the perfect guys for the job. They love the idea of recreating the Tuscan kitchen from Kimberly's youth while adding new elements to make it even more unique. Built-in wine barrels with flowing taps fit Kimberly's adult side while the must-have terra cotta floors bring back all the memories of cooking with her dad. The cousins have a big job ahead of them. Will the kitchen live up to Kimberly's dreams and properly commemorate her father?
A home renovation project ends in disaster, leaving Lynn kitchen-less for over 8 months. Trying to maintain a sense of home for her 11 year old son, Lynn manages to prepare three meals a day and a complete Christmas dinner in a bare room with exposed studs, holes in the floor and only a microwave and toaster oven for appliances. As Lynn's patience wears thin, Anthony and John step in and vow to complete the renovation in just one weekend. But with french doors that lead from Lynn's kitchen to a several foot drop, John and Anthony feel the need to add on to the project - building a massive deck from which Lynn can relax and watch her son play. Lynn is a supermom struggling in a construction-site kitchen and the Cousins transform her life in 48 hours.
Jarred and Leah have a wonderful two-story row home in New Jersey. The home has a great classic charm with original hardwood floors, crown molding, and amazing turn of the century features throughout. The kitchen is another story - it's tiny, poorly laid out, and totally uninviting. The Cousins come up with some creative ways to make the space feel bigger and function better, including a custom window over the sink, a mirrored backsplash, and a breakfast bar that folds away against the wall.
Sometimes it's what's behind the walls that makes all the difference. When John and Anthony take a look at Joel and Maria's kitchen, the first thing that stands out is an unusually thick wall. After a little exploratory demolition they discover an incredible hidden fireplace which completely changes their original design. But as construction progresses, the fireplace they fell in love with becomes their biggest nightmare. Will this hearth be the centerpiece of the home, or will the whole job go down in flames?
Ellen Degeneres has a big surprise for one of her viewers, and she calls in the Kitchen Cousins to help her accomplish it! During a taping of her show, she surprises Julie and her family with much needed vacation in Miami. But there's another part of the suprise they don't know about! Ellen has sent the John and Anthony to their home in Pittsburgh to redo their kitchen while they're gone! But once John and Anthony learn more about how the family's recent job struggles, they decide that a kitchen is not enough for the young family. So while John and Julie play in the ocean with their two little girls, John and Anthony demolish the interior of their old home and start over. They demo the walls in the kitchen, living and dining areas, creating an open floor plan that's perfect for spending time together as a family. Then they set about designing a kitchen that will no doubt exceed the family's dreams! They completely redecorate the whole living space, and also create a playroom where the girls can literally write on the walls. And they still wanted to do more, so they gave them two brand new beautiful bathrooms. You don't want to miss the look on their faces, or Ellen's, when the cousins reveal their new home to them.
Sean thought he was saving the day when he snaked the tub in his upstairs bathroom. Unfortunately, his heroic efforts ended in disaster when he broke a pipe and caused the ceiling above his kitchen to literally come crashing down. His wife, Dewanna, seized the opportunity to get the kitchen of her dreams. Enter the Kitchen Cousins. The guys open up the walls and rearrange the rooms to create a unique open floor plan and a design that incorporates Sean and Dewanna's classic and chic style.
This week the Cousins create a rustic luxe kitchen for fashionista Jeannie Mai of the Style Network and Freddy Harteis, Sportsman Channel's Hollywood Hunter. This husband and wife want to marry their opposite and unique styles. Jeannie takes Anthony and John to one of her favorite restaurants on the Sunset Strip for inspiration and the guys get back to nature with Freddy on an archery range to get those design juices flowing. John and Anthony mix up some crazy ideas to combine rustic and luxury including a modern quartz countertop with a crocodile pattern and an ancient take on wood paneling. They bring in some raw California redwood to top a one-of-a-kind bar and even put their own twist on taxidermy. The finished product feels like a cozy cabin in the woods with sexy Hollywood style.
This week is all about surprises. Vanessa Williams wants to surprise her brother Chris with a new kitchen in his beautiful LA home. While he's away, the Cousins sneak in to transform the outdated kitchen. Their plan is to add space by removing what may be the world's tinniest bathroom and opening up a wall. But a structural surprise during demolition proves to be a major headache for Anthony and John. To utilize Chris' courtyard and make the kitchen an indoor and outdoor entertaining space, the Cousins get creative and install a feature we promise you've never seen in a kitchen before. Will the guys complete the kitchen to Vanessa's standards before her brother comes home?
Although the 1980's was a good decade for Alfonso Ribeiro who played Carlton on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he and his girlfriend Angela are tired of taking a blast to the past every time they walk into their kitchen. They asked Anthony and John to gut and update the space with a contemporary and warm design. But when Angela hesitates about the grey shades in the cabinets, the guys have to find creative ways to incorporate tones to brighten the kitchen and please their client. Will Alfonso and Angela be dancing at the reveal? Or will the greys in the kitchen leave them feeling flat?
With a little one on the way, Mike and Danielle have a kitchen with some BIG design problems. The layout is anything but functional - there are doors that lead to nothing, strange cabinet configurations, and a useless standalone dishwasher. And hidden inside the cabinets is a radiator that makes the countertops hot to the touch and has the homeowners steaming. John and Anthony come up with a beautiful design that opens up the first floor and ties the overall design of the home together. Rustic black cabinets with a weathered look show off the home's colonial style. But the real design feature is the use of copper... everywhere. A copper tile backsplash and a beautiful copper range hood in the center of the room add a warm feeling to the space. And a custom wrapped copper countertop for the bar area is a one-of-a-kind showpiece. This is a home built for a growing family that they'll be enjoying for years to come!
After her 30th birthday, Seida decided to bite the bullet and buy her first house, a fixer upper in the neighborhood she grew up in, with or without Prince Charming. But her fairy tale dream home turned into a renovation nightmare when a wicked contractor walked out on the job, leaving Seida kitchen-less and lost. Jersey's Knights in Shinning Armor come to her rescue and promise to give Seida the open floor plan of her dreams with a long run of countertop space and an island to match. Seida is also visited by Fairy Godmother Kathie Lee who waves her magic wine glass and completely redesigns Seida's living room, giving it a girly yet mature feel. As for the kitchen, John and Anthony design a space that embodies the new homeowner - a North African backsplash gives the kitchen an old-world feel that reminds Seida of her childhood while light beech wood cabinets and a custom shelving unit with a high-gloss finish give the kitchen that modern touch she craves. It's a construction fairy tale that will make you believe in happily ever afters.