Ike Barinholtz Gifts Sonia a Warm Retreat for the Whole Family

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You might recognize him from The Mindy Project, The Studio, or even for his stint on MadTV back in the early 2000s. For Ike Barinholtz, the laughs come easy—but what comes even easier is the way he takes care of the ones he loves. Ike and his wife, Erica, met Sonia almost 10 years ago, and since then, they’ve become like family. Ike and Erica’s daughters, Payton, Foster, and Eleanor, all love being around Sonia—and likewise, Sonia and her husband Juan’s children, Gilbert and Charlie, have a great relationship with Ike and Erica.

“She truly is the nicest person I’ve ever met,” Ike says. “She is family now—she’s like a friend, a sister, an aunt—she’s just an absolute beautiful person inside and out.”

Sonia’s home is very important to her, and she wants it to stay in her family for generations to come. In order to help make that happen, Ike is teaming up with Drew and Jonathan on Celebrity IOU this week to gift her with a renovation that will make the house function better and feel warmer. Ike wants to give her home a second life, so it can continue to be a sacred place for her and her family, and improve the quality of their everyday life.

The house was built in 1908, and though the bones are beautiful, the interior needs work. The floor dips, and there are cracks in the tile. The lighting is also subpar, which makes the main living area feel dark and cold. Sonia loves the original character of the home, like the woodwork and the detail. But she wants it to be fixed up and have more modern elements brought in while keeping that historic charm intact.

Before & Afters

Dream Kitchen

Ike and Sonia love to cook together. They share recipes and secrets to their dishes. And one of Sonia’s favorite things is cooking for her family. However, her kitchen left much to be desired.

Sonia didn’t want to part with her beautiful fireplace on the opposite side, so instead of breaking down walls, they expanded the footprint width-wise to provide better storage opportunity and easier movement throughout the space. New appliances, two-tone cabinets, and a pass-through to the dining room adds functionality and beauty to create a space she now loves.

Space to Gather for Meals

The new dining set is the perfect place to share meals and stories, with added cabinetry for storage and dinnerware, as well as a fresh facade for the gorgeous original fireplace. With updated lighting and more fitting window treatments, the dining room is now a light and bright hub that will become the perfect spot to gather at the end of a long day.

Serene Living Space for the Family

There were a few things that needed work in the living room. They fixed the foundational issues, and then chose beautiful plank flooring to bring out the charm of the century-old Craftsman. They refreshed the molding and trim as well, and with a brand-new front door that better fits the original style of the home, created an updated feel that makes this the ultimate gathering space. They also brought in comfortable modern furniture to fit the style she loves while enhancing the original beauty of the space.

Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!

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