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Inside the Drama Behind “Home Work,” Which Magnolia Network Pulled—and Then Reinstated

Following a flurry of social media drama last week, the show was pulled—now it's back on.

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Home renovation shows are feel-good television, chronicling inspirational transformations many homeowners can only dream of. But are some of them too good to be true? Over the past week, several families featured on the new show Home Work— hosted by fixer-uppers Andy and Candis Meredith,as part of the starting lineup at Chip and Joanna Gaines 's new Magnolia Network —have stepped forward with deeply concerning allegations leveled at the show's producers. They report fraudulent promises, financial disarray, and unsafe (even illegal) labor conditions at their own home renovations, which were all filmed for the show.

On Thursday January 6, in response, Magnolia Network officially pulled Home Work from all its platforms.

So What Happened?

Three homeowners—Aubry Bennion, Teisha Hawley, and Vienna Goates—spoke out in a series of damning Instagram posts , condemning Andy and Candis for over-promising and under-delivering. The allegations range from the couple blowing budgets by tens of thousands of dollars (and then demanding additional funds to finish the work), to inexcusible lapses in work and communication, to hiring unlicensed contractors who created unsafe conditions.

"After our meeting and finding out about the blown budget we had multiple conversations via phone, text, and email," wrote Hawley. "We were told that we had to wire $10,000 immediately to have anything done."

For their part, the Merediths owned up to some shortcomings on the projects, including sometimes being “left with outstanding balances,” per their own Instagram post addressing the allegations on Saturday, “but we always pay, even if it takes some time for us to make arrangements.” In an exclusive interview with House Beautiful , Candis also confirmed that some of the timelines on the renovations in question were extended. “I'm only relaying what I'm being told by contractors about timeline. Unfortunately, I can't control that when I'm not the one swinging the hammer and running the wires, as much as I'd love to,” she says. “And I would love to budget more time for client projects in the future. If I ever do client projects again, that's absolutely something that I've learned.”

Another homeowner featured on the show, Jeana Quigley, voiced her support for the Merediths after the show was canceled, acknowledging that while her renovation did take longer than expected, she felt that “Candis truly wanted me to love that space,” per an Instagram story posted on Friday. “I’ve done other remodels in the past and have never had one go absolutely perfectly. Every project has issues,” she wrote.

What Went Wrong?

This is not the first time a home renovation show has presented a perfectly polished product only to have the veneer crack. In 2005, the Higgins family featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition sued the network for “fraud, breach of contract and infliction of emotional distress,” per the Los Angeles Times , though a judge ultimately dismissed the case. Then in 2017, after starring on HGTV’s Love It or List It, Deena Murphy and Tim Sullivan sued the show’s network, the production company, and general contractor for “breach of contract, faulty workmanship, and unauthorized retention of funds,” per the Triad Business Journal . They settled out of court.

TV aside, no renovation goes off without a hitch. Home renovations often go over budget—a 2020 Houzz survey of nearly 90,000 homeowners reports that 31 percent of respondents went over budget during renovations in 2019. And timelines are often extended : “It is not only common but also a guarantee that issues will arise on major renovations,” says Kentucky-based interior designer Isabel Ladd . “Instead of thinking, 'I wonder what issues will arise on this project,' I shift my thinking to, 'I wonder what solutions I'll conjure up during this project.' You simply don't know what will happen when walls start coming down.”

Additionally, Andy and Candis assert that some of the claims made by their clients are unfounded. In their own Instagram statement, they wrote, “We adamantly deny that we have ever stolen money from these clients, we haven't defrauded ‘so many families’. We worked with licensed general contractors.” While Candis wouldn’t elaborate on specifics, she did tell House Beautiful, “I look forward to sharing more details if and when I can.”

One of the bigger issues plaguing the production of Home Work is that the Merediths seem to have taken on far more roles than is typical for reno show hosts (and even real-world designers). “[Candis] was truly operating as a one-man band,” Bennion tells House Beautiful . “She oversaw the design. She oversaw the construction. She was on-air talent. She was the project manager.” Both Andy and Candis served as executive producers on the show, while Candis also served as director and design producer—all while managing eight or nine client renovations during Home Work ’s several-month production period.

“The reason for that is I'm so passionate about creating a different kind of show,” says Candis. “I was asked to make the full show that I wanted to make, and I was really excited to do that. So that meant that I took on quite a bit of the roles because it truly was my show, was my vision.”

But she also says that she felt less burdened by managing the production of the show than she did by managing the actual renovations. Prior to Home Work , she and her husband didn’t focus on client-driven work—their previous show, 2015’s Old Home Love on HGTV, saw the couple restore old houses with no clients involved. That lack of experience could explain, in part, why the Merediths’s expectations for the renovations didn’t square with reality.

“Oh my, do I feel for the Merediths. Reading about their situation has evoked so much empathy from me because I absolutely understand how things can go so wrong, especially when an extensive renovation is underway, supply chain issues are abundant, and surprises are beyond our control,” says Ladd.

Who's to Blame?

While it seems as if the Merediths did bite off more than they could chew, Bennion also questioned the role of the show’s production company in the mismanagement.

In unscripted television, networks typically outsource the day-to-day production of shows to third-party companies. For Home Work, Magnolia Network, which is owned by media giant Discovery, Inc., appears to have contracted a company called Linguine Pictures to produce the show, per the credits. Bennion confirmed that she was aware of Linguine and its owners and executive producers, Anne and Dan Fox, having met with Anne twice early on in the process. But as the renovation went on, she says, the Foxes were absent and the Merediths were the only point people.

Neither Magnolia Network nor Linguine Pictures has responded to a request for comment about the production of the show, though Magnolia previously issued House Beautiful the following statement by its president Allison Page regarding pulling Home Work from its programming: "Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith. Within the last few days, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove ‘Home Work’ from the Magnolia Network line up pending a review of the claims that have been made."

Magnolia Network launched its streaming services on July 15, 2021, and debuted on cable on January 5, 2022. As a relative newcomer, the network is clearly experiencing some hiccups as it figures out its workflow, perhaps especially because it has taken a unique approach to finding hosts.

In an interview with Variety last week, Joanna Gaines explained Magnolia Network’s atypical casting process. “It’s...talent that we’re just completely enamored with as far as what they do, what they’re passionate about,” she said, noting that they don’t ask for people to send in casting tapes, which is a more standard industry practice. “It’s been a little harder, honestly, because it takes a lot of time on the phone and hours of talking them into even wanting to do television.”

It’s an innovative method that’s particularly on-brand for the Gaineses. According to an interview with HGTV , the Gaineses—who before going on TV ran Magnolia Homes, a home renovation company—were originally approached for a show when a production company noticed one of their renovations on a "high profile blog," though at some point they did film a casting tape, which was released last week with the cable launch of Magnolia Network. That ultimately led to the extremely popular five-season original run of Fixer Upper on HGTV.

Andy and Candis, notably, followed a similar path, having gotten their start in the design industry by renovating their own home before they were approached to take their skills to TV. But there are two key differences between Fixer Upper and Home Work : The Gaineses had years of client-focused experience under their tool belts before getting a TV show, and they did not serve as executive producers on their show, meaning they likely had more capacity to focus on the renovations rather than the logistics of television production.

“All we wanted to do was do something beautiful together and put it on a beautiful television show that people could enjoy it," Candis tells House Beautiful. " And I'm so sorry for any of the experiences that have been less than ideal for these clients. My heart hurts for them. It really does.”

Being overburdened during a renovation is not an excuse for a designer to lie or dodge the client. All parties involved in shows like these, from producers to hosts, hold responsibility for the actual work being performed on real clients' homes. Hopefully Magnolia Network's investigation into the claims surrounding Home Work will shed more light soon on what went wrong.

From Bennion’s perspective, Magnolia Network has already done right by pulling the show—but she is concerned that their official statement is a little too open-ended. “I want them to be accountable for what they've done, and I also want them to stop doing this to other people,” she says.

The Merediths, meanwhile, are hoping for a second chance. “We will always stand by that this has been difficult for these clients, and I don't want to take away from anything that anyone has said,” says Mrs. Meredith. “We all make mistakes. That doesn't make it okay, but we have to be given the chance to learn from our mistakes and do better.”

Hopefully, this will become a lesson for future renovation TV endeavors, under the Magnolia umbrella and beyond. In fact, that sentiment is part of Magnolia’s DNA; per the company’s manifesto , “We believe that failure needn’t be a negative thing; rather, we learn from our mistakes and fail smarter next time.”

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Magnolia Network’s ‘Home Work’: Everything to Know About the Show Amid Controversy

In need of renovations. Chip and Joanna Gaines had high hopes when they launched Magnolia Network, but they were not expecting the controversy that stemmed from Andy and Candis Meredith ’s show Home Work .

The Fixer Upper alums left HGTV in 2018 after becoming some of the network’s biggest stars . The couple branched out on their own with Magnolia Network , which debuted on Discovery+ in January 2021. DIY Network eventually rebranded as Magnolia Network in January 2022.

Home Work originally premiered on the Discovery+ iteration of Magnolia Network in July 2021 before shifting to TV in January 2022. The show follows the Merediths as they transform a 20,000-square-foot school into their home while also doing projects for clients, overseeing rental properties and juggling their family of nine.

Two days after the series first appeared on airwaves, the network pulled Home Work amid allegations of shoddy work, expanding budgets and timelines, a lack of communication from Andy and Candis and unsafe conditions.

“I want Magnolia to be accountable,” Aubry Bennion, a Utah homeowner who was one of the Merediths’ former clients, shared via Instagram in January 2022. “It’s mind-blowing to me that they would put Magnolia’s name and reputation on the line or that they would allow these people to represent them without any sort of oversight or mentoring.”

Teisha Satterfield Hawley, another homeowner who worked with Andy and Candis, came forward with similar claims. “Hopeless is the word that comes to mind when I think of that day,” she wrote via Instagram in January 2022. “We had been living in our basement for months at this point, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays. We were exhausted, we had just been told all of our funds were used and our home was torn apart with bubbling floors laid.”

Amid the controversy, the Merediths denied scamming or lying to their clients but admitted to setting unachievable goals.

“I fully acknowledge how hard any renovation is, especially when it’s a renovation for television. The timelines that were set were too crazy, and I am an optimistic person,” Candis said in a January 2022 Instagram video. “I know better now that I should never have said these short timelines and set these expectations. That is on me, and I take full responsibility.”

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Chip and Joanna, for their part, have yet to react to the ordeal , but prior to the headlines about Home Work , they detailed how they curated the shows on Magnolia Network.

“We don’t do it the typical way. We’re not the network that says, ‘Send in your casting tapes,’” Joanna explained to Variety in January 2022. “For us, it’s been this really authentic way of finding talent. It’s either talent that we’re just completely enamored with as far as what they do, what they’re passionate about. It’s been a little harder, honestly, because it takes a lot of time on the phone and hours of talking them into even wanting to do television. I’d say most of our talent didn’t come to us and say, ‘I want to do a show.’ We came to them and said, ‘Can we highlight what you’re doing? It’s so amazing and inspiring.’”

Scroll through the gallery below for more information about Home Work :

Credit: Lindsay Salazar/Discovery+

In need of renovations. Chip and Joanna Gaines had high hopes when they launched Magnolia Network, but they were not expecting the controversy that stemmed from Andy and Candis Meredith ’s show Home Work . The Fixer Upper alums left HGTV in 2018 after becoming some of the network’s biggest stars . The couple branched out on their own with Magnolia Network , which debuted on Discovery+ in January 2021. DIY Network eventually rebranded as Magnolia Network in January 2022. Home Work originally premiered on the Discovery+ iteration of Magnolia Network in July 2021 before shifting to TV in January 2022. The show follows the Merediths as they transform a 20,000-square-foot school into their home while also doing projects for clients, overseeing rental properties and juggling their family of nine. Two days after the series first appeared on airwaves, the network pulled Home Work amid allegations of shoddy work, expanding budgets and timelines, a lack of communication from Andy and Candis and unsafe conditions. “I want Magnolia to be accountable,” Aubry Bennion, a Utah homeowner who was one of the Merediths’ former clients, shared via Instagram in January 2022. “It’s mind-blowing to me that they would put Magnolia’s name and reputation on the line or that they would allow these people to represent them without any sort of oversight or mentoring.” [sendtonews type="float" key="Zd2FQr5xo1-3115706-14453"] Teisha Satterfield Hawley, another homeowner who worked with Andy and Candis, came forward with similar claims. “Hopeless is the word that comes to mind when I think of that day,” she wrote via Instagram in January 2022. “We had been living in our basement for months at this point, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays. We were exhausted, we had just been told all of our funds were used and our home was torn apart with bubbling floors laid.” Amid the controversy, the Merediths denied scamming or lying to their clients but admitted to setting unachievable goals. “I fully acknowledge how hard any renovation is, especially when it’s a renovation for television. The timelines that were set were too crazy, and I am an optimistic person,” Candis said in a January 2022 Instagram video. “I know better now that I should never have said these short timelines and set these expectations. That is on me, and I take full responsibility.” Chip and Joanna, for their part, have yet to react to the ordeal , but prior to the headlines about Home Work , they detailed how they curated the shows on Magnolia Network. “We don’t do it the typical way. We’re not the network that says, ‘Send in your casting tapes,’” Joanna explained to Variety in January 2022. “For us, it’s been this really authentic way of finding talent. It’s either talent that we’re just completely enamored with as far as what they do, what they’re passionate about. It’s been a little harder, honestly, because it takes a lot of time on the phone and hours of talking them into even wanting to do television. I’d say most of our talent didn’t come to us and say, ‘I want to do a show.’ We came to them and said, ‘Can we highlight what you’re doing? It’s so amazing and inspiring.’” Scroll through the gallery below for more information about Home Work : [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Andy and Candis Meredith/Instagram

Who Are Andy and Candis?

The couple tied the knot in 2013 and live in Utah with their seven children. (The Merediths share one daughter, while they each have three sons from previous relationships.) They have been flipping homes together since 2013. Before starring on Home Work , they appeared on a limited series called Old Home Love , which aired on HGTV and DIY Network in 2015, and produced their own Facebook Watch show titled Old Sweet Home . They also released their first book, Old Home Love , in 2017 and launched a YouTube series called Traveling Home in 2018.

What Are the Allegations?

Bennion claimed via Instagram that the Merediths began renovating her kitchen in 2019, informing her that the project would take three weeks and cost $20,000. The price allegedly rose to $25,000 while taping Home Work . It eventually cost more than $39,000 — with much of the sum allegedly going toward fixing the issues created by the project — and took five months to complete. Bennion also claimed that the Merediths created a drainage issue by building a deck over a sprinkler system, which cost $18,000 to repair. 

Hawley, meanwhile, alleged that she gave Andy and Candis $45,000 to renovate her home, but after 10 weeks (the project was only slated for four), little work had been completed. The Merediths then allegedly said they needed another $40,000. Hawley claimed that she told the duo not to come back after they asked for more money.  

Others who worked with the reality stars, including a local real estate agent, came forward with similar allegations via social media. 

How Did Magnolia Network Respond?

The network pulled Home Work from the air in January 2022 amid the controversy. “Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith,” Allison Page , the president of Magnolia, said in a statement at the time. “Within the last few days, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove Home Work from the Magnolia Network lineup pending a review of the claims that have been made.”  

Later that month, the show returned to the network. “After speaking with homeowners as well as Candis and Andy Meredith regarding renovation projects for Home Work , and hearing a mix of both positive and negative experiences, we do not believe there was ill or malicious intent,” Page said. “Our commitment now is to provide appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with Home Work fell short of our network’s standards. While Home Work will return to Magnolia Network, we recognize the responsibility we have to act on how we can better support not only our talent but those who put their trust in them and this brand.”

What Was the Merediths’ Response?

Andy and Candis shared a lengthy statement via Instagram amid the allegations. “We have always tried to give everything we have to make anyone we work with happy,” they wrote. “We will never take away their truth and how they are feeling. We can only say that there are two sides to every story and while we chose not to go public with our truth, because we know how hurtful this feels, we understand that only hearing one side can paint a negative picture. We have always kept lines of communication open, there have always been ways for people to recover any damages, there have been purchase contracts in place, legal avenues etc, but taking this public seems to be the easiest way to harm us personally.”  

They claimed that while it was “true that we are sometimes left with outstanding balances” on their projects, they “have paid every amount of money we could to [make] things right and have continued making payments when necessary.”

What Happened to Andy and Candis From ‘Home Work?’

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‘Home Work’ to Return to Magnolia Network After Probe of Renovation Complaints

By Jennifer Maas

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Magnolia Network has decided to return “Home Work” to its lineup after initially pulling the show due to complaints made by homeowners about the quality of work done by the contractors who host the unscripted series.

The probe by Magnolia, the joint venture of Discovery and lifestyle mavens Chip and Joanna Gaines, found no “ill or malicious intent” involved in the complaints and the show will begin airing again in a few weeks after the network helps resolve those complaints. “Home Work” is hosted by Utah-based home renovators Andy and Candis Meredith.

“Magnolia Network is dedicated to sharing hopeful and genuine stories,” Allison Page, president of Magnolia Network, said in a statement Thursday. “In doing that, we strive to meet people with compassion, and to cautiously approach difficult moments with honest understanding. After speaking with homeowners as well as Candis and Andy Meredith regarding renovation projects for ‘Home Work,’ and hearing a mix of both positive and negative experiences, we do not believe there was ill or malicious intent. Our commitment now is to provide appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with ‘Home Work’ fell short of our network’s standards. While ‘Home Work’ will return to Magnolia Network, we recognize the responsibility we have to act on how we can better support not only our talent, but those who put their trust in them and this brand.”

Magnolia Network temoporarily pulled “ Home Work ” from its lineup last Friday after several homeowners alleged that their homes had been damaged during renovations. Magnolia, the linear and streaming channel curated by the “Fixer Upper” stars, made a splashy linear launch on Jan. 5.

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“Home Work,” hosted by Andy and Candis Meredith, focused on renovating homes in the Utah area. But when at least three homeowners featured on the show came forward on social media this week with allegations of damaged homes, long delays and over-budget renovations, Magnolia Network decided to pull the show from its lineup.

The majority of the homeowners featured on the show were “thrilled” with their experiences, a source close to the network tells Variety . The source says the network committed to working with the Merediths and the handful of homeowners whose experience with “Home Work” fell short of the network’s standards and takes the claims very seriously, which is why the show was yanked so quickly last week.

(Pictured: Candis and Andy Meredith)

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Stars of Magnolia Network's 'Home Work' Speak Out After Clients Recount Renovation Horror Stories

Andy and Candis Meredith defended themselves against accusations of broken promises, busted budgets, and shoddy workmanship as their show was removed from the network Friday

Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team.

Andy and Candis Meredith have spoken out after several of their former clients detailed how they believe they were scammed by the couple.

"We've seen stories that has [sic] been circulating, and although we cannot speak for anyone but ourselves, we can say that we have always tried to give everything we have to make anyone we work with happy," the pair, whose show Home Work made its TV debut with the launch of Chip and Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network on Wednesday and was pulled off the network Friday, wrote in a lengthy Instagram post . The show follows the Utah-based couple as they renovate a 20,000-square-foot schoolhouse into a home for their blended family of nine and tackle room makeovers for clients.

They continued, "We will never take away their truth and how they are feeling. We can only say that there are two sides to every story and while we chose not to go public with our truth, because we know how hurtful this feels, we understand that only hearing one side can paint a negative picture."

"We ask that these threats and piling on without the full story stop, they are the same handful of stories spinning and spinning, looking like there are 'so many' hurt people in our wake,'" the statement adds. "So many believe that we are frauds, have hurt people intentionally, and that we are not who we say we are. That is simply not true."

At least three homeowners the Merediths recruited for their show, as well as a local real estate agent they worked with, have come forward in the last few days with stories of shoddy or incomplete work, unsafe conditions, ballooning budgets and timelines, and a lack of communication from the couple.

Magnolia Network president Allison Page addressed the accusations in a statement shared with PEOPLE: "Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith. Within the last few days, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove Home Work from the Magnolia Network line up pending a review of the claims that have been made."

Home Work first debuted on the Discovery+ streaming service in July 2021, when Magnolia Network launched digitally. No episodes are currently visible on the app.

Aubry Bennion, an acquaintance of Candis's whose kitchen makeover was filmed for Home Work, shared an 18-post Instagram series documenting the months-long process of the Merediths' remodel of her Utah kitchen that began in the fall of 2019. The posts include receipts, screenshots of text conversations with Candis, and emails with a flooring company claiming they had not been paid. In an interview with Today , published Friday night, Candis confirmed they had not paid the flooring company, Lemco Design. "We were advised not to pay another penny towards her renovation after we were threatened with lawsuits," she said.

Bennion, an engineering project manager who also runs the crafting company Hello, Maypole , says she was promised a three-week timeline and a $25,000 budget for her project, but after several months with little work done and a surprise increase in budget to $40,000, she still had an empty box where her kitchen had been.

She filed a complaint with the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Consumer Protection in September 2021. The Merediths told Today that they were aware of the filing and were in contact with the state. "We have dealt with every agency that has reached out to us," Candis said.

Jeff and Teisha Hawley also recounted their renovation experience in a series of Instagram posts . They allege the timeline also increased dramatically for their multi-room project, during which they lived in their basement with their kids. They also claim faulty work and unsafe conditions, sharing a video of an incorrectly installed wood floor that bubbles up when you step on it and claiming that a worker fell through their floor. The Hawleys ended up pulling out of the project altogether after they say the Merediths told them they needed to increase their budget of $45,000 and requested an additional $35,000 to $40,000 to finish.

The Merediths confirmed the budget increase Bennion shared to Today , but would not comment on the Hawleys.

RELATED VIDEO: Chip and Joanna Gaines Introduce the Magnolia Network

A third client, mother-of-five Vienna Goates, came forward on Friday.

She also shared an 18-post series on Instagram with details of her renovation — or lack thereof. Goates says she was approached for the show in the fall of 2019 as well. She and her husband took out a home equity line of credit and claim they paid $50,000 of a total agreed-upon budget of $100,000 to the Merediths for an addition, but no work has been done on the house to date. Goates says after her husband lost his job in May, they tried to end the project, but Candis convinced them to stay on and even paid back some of the money from their deposit, but still have not received back the full amount they are owed. The homeowners also say they had Candis sign over a "confession of judgement," by which, they hoped they would receive an automatic court award if Candis did not pay them back on schedule.

A former collaborator of the Meredith's has also shared his history with them.

Provo, Utah-based real estate agent and house flipper, Aaron Oldham of The Home Scoop , who says he worked with the Merediths as long ago as 2013, took to social media with his story on Wednesday, hosting a nearly hour-long Instagram Live that he later posted to his feed. He claims he partnered with the Merediths on a home flipping project that he then planned to sell, but upon touring the house, found numerous code violations that made it structurally unsound. Oldham claims he ended his business dealings with the couple and, with the help of a lawyer, recovered $15,000 he had invested in the property. He completed the project for a total of $65,000 and later sold it, he says.

One client has come to the Merediths' defense after hearing news of the show being pulled.

Jeana Quigley said she worked with the couple on her backyard "reading cottage," which was going to be featured on Home Work .

"I feel like I need to speak up reading all the attacks on them," she wrote in an Instagram Stories post that showed off the room. "Andy and Candis did beautiful work on my space, and while it took longer than I hoped, I ultimately feel that Candis truly wanted me to love the space." She continued by noting that no renovation she's done has "gone perfectly" and complimenting the series: "The first season of the show is one of the best home shows I've ever seen done. The world will miss out if we cancel them now."

In their statement posted on Instagram, Candis and Andy address some of the claims made by the homeowners.

"We adamantly deny that we have ever stolen money from these clients, we haven't defrauded 'so many families.' We worked with licensed general contractors. It is true that we are sometimes left with outstanding balances, but we always pay, even if it takes some time for us to make arrangements. To say anything otherwise is truly not ok. We have paid every amount of money we could to make things right and have continued making payments when necessary."

They admit that at least once, during the Goates family's project, "money we gave to a general contractor was misallocated." They call the situation "horrendous" but say, "We can't fully defend anything without taking down so many others and ruining their livelihood We have to be able to live with that, and again, wouldn't wish this on anyone."

Seemingly addressing the photos and videos posted by their clients, they continue, "We also have 'receipts' of things that have happened, working with general contractors can be so challenging and we have tried to carry as much of that burden from anyone we have consulted with at great personal cost to us financially, mentally and physically."

The couple also claims they "have not made a single penny" from these projects and have paid out of pocket for certain things "to create an overall positive outcome."

"One day we may have the courage to put everything out publicly to defend ourselves against the 'instagram mafia' that was called up. But in this moment, we know that anything we say will only be turned against us and hurt so many more."

The couple has turned off comments on the post.

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‘outlander’ gets season 7 return date & drops teaser; sets additional season 8 cast, ‘home work’ series reinstated by chip & joanna gaines’ magnolia network.

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A day after the hosts of reality renovation show Home Work took to Instagram to tearfully defend themselves about allegations of shoddy work and overcharging – which led to their show being taken off the Magnolia Network – comes news that the show will return to television.

People magazine broke the story of the unexpected turnaround in fortunes for the show and its hosts, Candis and Andy Meredith.

“Magnolia Network is dedicated to sharing hopeful and genuine stories. In doing that, we strive to meet people with compassion and to cautiously approach difficult moments with honest understanding,” Magnolia’s president Allison Page said in a statement.

“After speaking with homeowners as well as Candis and Andy Meredith regarding renovation projects for  Home Work , and hearing a mix of both positive and negative experiences, we do not believe there was ill or malicious intent. Our commitment now is to provide appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with  Home Work  fell short of our network’s standards.”

She concluded: “While  Home Work  will return to Magnolia Network, we recognize the responsibility we have to act on how we can better support not only our talent, but those who put their trust in them and this brand.”

Home Work debuted on the Discovery+ streaming service in July 2021 on the Magnolia Network tab. The series launched on TV on Jan. 5, but was pulled two days later. and was pulled off the air two days later Jan. 7.

WEDNESDAY : Andy and Candis Meredith, the hosts of the former Magnolia Network show Home Work , have responded to allegations made last week by former customers. The complaints caused the Magnolia Network to pull the show from its lineup just two days after launch.

Using their Instagram handle @andyandcandis, the couple posted photos of the work they did that’s been challenged by Aubry Bennion, the homeowner who first raised the complaints against them. They also had an 8-post video that talked about what happened.

“Although we are completely blindsided by the allegations made against us from projects of two years ago this week on a public stage, we are going to do our best to share more context to a one-sided narrative,” one post read.

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They added in a post showing the refinished kitchen at the heart of their dispute, “We are very proud of the work that went into this project. We revealed this space on February 20, 2020 and fully acknowledge that before this point in time there were hard conversations and misunderstandings about this project and budget, but we were absolutely under the impression that we had resolved those issues together. If Aubry was unhappy at this point overall, we had no idea whatsoever.”

After giving their side of the business dispute, the videos turned personal.

“While preparing these posts, we discovered that our children are being bullied at school. This is so extremely upsetting. We have received death threats, our home is under police surveillance for our safety, and these comments and judgments of us, stating that we are liars, thieves and con artists are so extremely hurtful and based on one narrative amplified by others who were not part of any of these situations.”

The posts concluded, “We fully admit that we took on too much at one time, and that this was a hard road for these 4 clients’ renovation projects. We also acknowledge that after working in an extremely difficult industry for over 10 years, working with hundreds of people, there are inevitably going to be some who are dissatisfied. Aubry’s public call for anything and everything people can share about us is not ok. We have the same phone numbers, and anyone we have worked with can contact us at any time.

“We realize that we have put ourselves out there for the world to make judgements and we have to accept that. What we will not accept is losing our livelihood and being put on public trial the way aubryeliz and teishahawley have done and the others who have piled on like thehomescoop @_megconley , rosiecard and so many more. We understand the frustrations, we really do. But these should have been resolved privately, through any means of communication, within the last two years and not in this malicious and salacious attempt to take away our means of living. We support many families with this show, we have balances with contractors we are actively working on, there is so much more to this than just us. By taking away all means of income, it is only making it more difficult for us to pay for anything outstanding and people are losing their jobs because of this.

We will protect our family and those whom we support with Home Work. We stand behind our work and our principles and are not here to take anything away from anyone the way it has been done to us. However, we are asking that any and all who have contributed to this toxic cancel mindset take a moment to review both sides before passing judgment on us.”

EARLIER: The new Magnolia Network, the vehicle fronted by Fixer Upper superstars Chip and Joanna Gaines , has taken one of its series off the schedule just two days after its launch.

Home Work has been pulled after allegations of shoddy work and overcharges by its hosts surfaced from two homeowners. The show was previously available on the Magnolia Network tab on Discovery+, but was elevated to the cable channel upon Magnolia’s launch this week.

The show stars Utah-based Andy and Candis Meredith, who renovate homes in their state. The series was reportedly originally Joanna Gaines’ idea, and was touted as the next Fixer Upper by at least one media source. Andy and Candis Meredith also appeared on the HGTV and DIY Network show Old Home Love. 

That all unraveled on Wednesday, when accounts surfaced detailing alleged overcharges and shoddy work by the Merediths on some prior renovations. While all of the shows on Discovery’s roster have demonstrated that renovation projects often can run into delays and overages, the specific charges against the Merediths also allege poor communications when things went south on their dealings.

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The Merediths have fired back, denying the accusations on Instagram. “We have always tried to give everything we have to make anyone we work with happy,” they wrote, adding, “We can only say that there are two sides to every story…”

Allison Page, the president of Magnolia Networks, also issued a statement.

“Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith. Within the last few days, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove “Home Work” from the Magnolia Network line up pending a review of the claims that have been made.”

The news that derailed Home Work  was posted to Instagram Wednesday.

Aubry Bennion, a Utah homeowner, shared an 18-post Instagram tale about her experience on Wednesday. Bennion contracted with the Merediths in 2019 to have her kitchen renovated. They originally told her that the project would take three weeks and cost $20,000. That was elevated to $25,000 during the show’s taping.

The project vastly overshot that projection, Bennion said. It wound up taking five months and cost her more than $39,000. She claimed much of that money was spent fixing issues created by the renovation.

Bennion wrote in another Instagram post that the Merediths added a deck onto the back of her kitchen. That went awry when they built it over a sprinkler system and created a drainage issue. Bennion’s home allegedly almost flooded because of the deck issue, an incident she claimed lowered the value of her home and cost $18,000 to repair.

That disaster was exacerbated by a lack of communication, Bennion said. She claimed she spoke to the Merediths about the issues throughout, and was often given excuses or promises of things arriving the following day that never happened.

Bennion said she contacted producers at the Magnolia Network for help. They allegedly gave Candis a “stern talking to” after her call, according to one of Bennion’s Instagram posts. But nothing changed, she alleged.

Ultimately, Bennion said her trust in the brand of Chip and Joanna Gaines was misplaced and damaged.

“I want Magnolia to be accountable,” she said. “It’s mind-blowing to me that they would put Magnolia’s name and reputation on the line or that they would allow these people to represent them without any sort of oversight or mentoring.”

Bennion was not the only complaint. After she posted her details, another homeowner, Teisha Satterfield Hawley, came forward with similar complaints about the Merediths.

Hawley wrote on  Instagram that she gave the Merediths $45,000 to renovate her living space. The project was slated for four weeks, but ten weeks later, little work had been done. The Merediths then told the Hawleys they needed another $40,000 to make the project work, according to a follow-up post  shared on Hawley’s Instagram account.

“Hopeless is the word that comes to mind when I think of that day,” Hawley wrote in the caption of the post. “We had been living in our basement for months at this point, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays. We were exhausted, we had just been told all of our funds were used, and our home was torn apart with bubbling floors laid.”

The Hawleys said they told the Merediths not to come back after the money request.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andy and Candis Meredith (@andyandcandis)

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Magnolia Network's 'Home Work' won a Daytime Emmy following allegations from homeowners that the hosts damaged their homes

• Magnolia Network's "Home Work" renovation show has won a Daytime Emmy award.
• Homeowners previously said projects weren't completed and cost them thousands of dollars.
• The series was temporarily pulled from Magnolia Network in January; the hosts deny the allegations.

Magnolia Network's "Home Work" won a Daytime Emmy award on Saturday. 

"Home Work," an original series for Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network, stars Utah-based couple Andy and Candis Meredith , spotlighting their renovation of a school into a home for their large family, as well as their transformations of other people's homes in their area.

On January 5, the day Magnolia made its cable debut, some homeowners said that the Merediths had gone over budget by tens of thousands of dollars and damaged their homes during the renovation process. 

The Merediths denied the allegations to Insider and on Instagram in January before going quiet on social media for months.

A post shared by Andy and Candis Meredith (@andyandcandis)

Magnolia Network temporarily pulled "Home Work" from its lineup on January 7 as a result of the controversy, returning it to air on January 31 . 

In a statement provided to Insider on January 13, Magnolia Network President Allison Page said, "After speaking with homeowners as well as Candis and Andy Meredith regarding renovation projects for 'Home Work,' and hearing a mix of both positive and negative experiences, we do not believe there was ill or malicious intent." 

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Page said the network was now committed to providing "appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with 'Home Work' fell short of our network's standards." 

"While 'Home Work' will return to Magnolia Network, we recognize the responsibility we have to act on how we can better support not only our talent, but those who put their trust in them and this brand," she added. 

The Merediths returned to Instagram after their months-long hiatus on June 3 to announce that "Home Work" had been nominated for two Daytime Emmy awards: Outstanding Instructional and How-To Program, and Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design.

On Saturday, the series won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Instructional and How-To Program. The Emmys did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. 

The Merediths took to Instagram again to celebrate the win with a photo of themselves holding their award, saying they were in "shock."

"The walk up to the stage was a blur," they captioned the post. "We made the lady back stage show us the paper just to make sure, and we are on cloud nine…probably forever."

"Thank you @daytimeemmys for having us and thank you to all of you for you LOVE, your SUPPORT and your kindness," the Merediths added. "This is a moment we will never forget for the rest of our lives. To our team who gave EVERYTHING for this show — we love you ❤️ To our kids who sacrificed so much for this show—we love you ❤️ And to everyone who has been with us through it ALL—we love you."

Magnolia Network had not posted about the series' Emmy win at the time of writing.

Chip and Joanna Gaines announced they would be launching their own network on Disovery+ in 2019 , two years after their hit series "Fixer Upper" stopped airing on HGTV. The network originally became available for streaming on Discovery+ in 2021, but when Magnolia Network launched on cable in January, it combined the network's original shows with series from the pre-existing DIY network, which were rebranded as part of Magnolia Network.

Despite the "Home Work" controversy, Magnolia's cable debut was largely a success, with 3 million people tuning into the channel on the day of its launch, according to a Magnolia press release shared with Insider. 

If you want to get in touch with Insider regarding Andy and Candis Meredith or "Home Work," email [email protected].

• Main content

Utah couple’s home renovation TV show will return after complaints of shoddy work, cost overruns

Magnolia network say there was no ‘malicious intent.’ candis and andy meredith call some clients ‘malicious.’.

(DIY Network) Candis and Andy Meredith's home renovation show will return to TV after the Magnolia Network pulled it because of allegations of shoddy work, long delays and big cost overruns.

A home renovation show hosted by a Utah couple will return to the Magnolia Network after an investigation found no “ill or malicious intent” was behind shoddy work, delays and cost overruns some of the couple’s clients claimed they experienced.

However, “Home Work” stars Candis and Andy Meredith are calling some of their unhappy clients “malicious” for making their complaints public. Episodes of their show are scheduled to resume airing on Feb. 1.

Magnolia Network president Allison Page issued a statement acknowledging that some of the Merediths’ renovations had gone awry. “After speaking with homeowners as well as Candis and Andy Meredith regarding renovation projects for ‘Home Work,’ and hearing a mix of both positive and negative experiences, we do not believe there was ill or malicious intent,” Page said.

On Jan. 6 — two days after the Magnolia launched on cable and satellite systems — the network pulled “Home Work” after at least four Utah homeowners went public with claims that they signed contracts with the Merediths, but had experienced monthslong delays, ballooning costs, substandard work and a lack of communication. Magnolia did not dispute any of those claims. Page said the network has committed “to provide appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with ‘Home Work’ fell short of our network’s standards. While ‘Home Work’ will return to Magnolia Network, we recognize the responsibility we have to act on how we can better support not only our talent, but those who put their trust in them and this brand.”

Magnolia is a co-venture of Discovery and Chip and Joanna Gaines, the hosts of the popular “Fix Upper” home renovation show. It launched online in July 2021 — all 13 episodes of “Home Work” had been streaming for months. The Gaines have made no comment on the show getting pulled from and restored to the Magnolia schedule.

“Home Work” is the Merediths’ second TV series. In 2015, they hosted four episodes of “Old Home Love” on the DIY Network. (Magnolia replaced DIY on Jan. 4.) Their home renovations caught the eye of Joanna Gaines on Instagram, leading to their current series. The Merediths have been compared to the Gaines – both married couples who work together to renovate homes; both parents with a lot of children. The Gaines are the parents of five; the Merediths, a blended family, have seven — Candis and Andy each brought three children into their marriage, then had a seventh. The Merediths are Utah natives — she’s from American Fork; he’s from Bluffdale.

In social media posts, the Merediths “adamantly” denied that they had “scammed, stolen or lied to any of these clients. We have paid our own personal funds on every client project for our show and did not charge anything for the hundreds of hours we put into the projects.”

The Merediths said they “took on too much at one time” while producing episodes of “Home Work,” but placed much of the blame for their troubled projects on contractors. They also claimed that one of the unhappy clients who went public “has made false claims and is purposely trying to take anything she can from us.”

The couple posted on Instagram that they had been “warned that the ‘Instagram mafia’ would come for us, and we are in an extremely difficult position defending ourselves while not attacking or diminishing the feelings of others. At this point, due to the literal threat to the safety of our family, we have no choice but to share these things.”

The Merediths said their children had been bullied at school, and they had received death threats. They said they “understand the frustrations” of their dissatisfied clients, but — despite the fact that the renovations were undertaken for a television show — added that the disputes “should have been resolved privately … and not in this malicious and salacious attempt to take away our means of living.”

Although the Merediths have been working on additional episode of “Home Work,” Magnolia has not confirmed that there will be a second season of the series.

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They thought they were getting a home makeover. It turned into a fiasco

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Four years ago, Aubry Bennion bought a 1950s house on half an acre just north of Salt Lake City. It was small, but she was smitten with the red brick facade with its scalloped trim.

“It’s, like, my little baby. I love it so much,” said Bennion, who shares pictures of home DIY projects on her relentlessly cheerful Instagram account , alongside pictures of popsicle-color manicures and vibrant bouquets. She even gave the house a hashtag, #thewallsthatballsbuilt, a nod to the felt ball business she runs in addition to her day job in public relations.

Bennion, 40, hoped to fix up the generic kitchen, with its laminate countertops and vinyl floors, but figured she’d need to save at least $40,000 to do the job right.

Then, in August 2019 came an exciting opportunity: Andy and Candis Meredith, a local couple known for renovating and flipping older homes, were looking for clients for a new TV show they were making for Magnolia Network , the cable venture being launched by Chip and Joanna Gaines . The show, called “Home Work,” would document the couple as they juggled work for clients with the renovation of a 20,000-square foot, century-old school building into a family home for their seven children.

Did she want to be a part of it?

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The Merediths promised they could complete the job in three weeks on a budget of just $20,000. Bennion thought this figure seemed unrealistically low, but she had been instantly charmed when she’d met the couple a few years earlier at an event for their one-season HGTV series, “Old Home Love.” “I remember joking with people like, ‘They’re my best friends. They’re not your best friends,’” she said. “That’s still haunting.”

Even more compelling to Bennion was the imprimatur of the Gaineses, the telegenic couple that had leveraged their popular HGTV show “Fixer Upper” into a lifestyle empire, including a lucrative home goods line at Target and a series of bestselling books. In the process, they transformed Waco, Texas , once synonymous with the fiery demise of a messianic cult leader, into a theme park of farmhouse chic. In April 2019, Discovery Networks formally announced that the Gaineses would undertake their biggest renovation to date by overhauling HGTV’s neglected sister network, DIY, and relaunching it as Magnolia .

Bennion implicitly trusted Magnolia; she had a relationship with the brand dating back several years. She had been invited to events at Waco’s the Silos, the cotton mill-turned-shopping complex owned by the Gaineses, and had started selling her felt balls at their store there, Magnolia Market.

“For a lot of reasons, I felt like I was part of the Magnolia family,” she said recently by phone. “Probably not anymore.”

Days before Magnolia Network officially launched in January, Bennion set off a frenzy when, in a lengthy series of Instagram posts, she shared the fiasco she’d experienced behind the scenes on “Home Work.” That “three-week” job ultimately took five months, during which she cooked on a hot plate in her guest room. Weeks went by with no contact from the Merediths, except when they asked her to wire money while they were on vacation in Europe.

The Merediths eventually completed enough work to make the kitchen camera-ready, and Bennion feigned excitement as they filmed a reveal for the TV show. (She ultimately paid the Merediths $13,000, and her renovation was not featured in “Home Work.”) Within days, paint on the laminate cabinets had begun to chip. Bennion said she later discovered that a deck the Merediths had persuaded her to add had been improperly installed over sprinklers, leading to drainage issues she says she has spent $18,000 to repair.

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Bennion coordinated her posts with those of two other women whose renovations were intended to appear on “Home Work,” Teisha Hawley and Vienna Goates, who came forward on Instagram shortly after Bennion did and whose ordeals followed a similar pattern. (Neither Hawley’s nor Goates’ renovations aired, either.)

Hawley said the Merediths promised to renovate her family’s kitchen and living area for $45,000. She didn’t mind the inconvenience of living in the basement with her husband and kids, “because we were told we had been hand-picked by Joanna Gaines,” she said on Instagram.

The job was marked by long delays and mishaps, including a worker who fell through a hole in the floor and flooring that visibly bubbled when anyone stepped on it. To complete the job properly, the Merediths said they would need an additional $35,000 to $40,000. The Hawleys walked away from the show and finished the renovation on their own.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by aubry bennion (@aubryeliz)

Goates, a mom of five, had the most harrowing tale of all. She and her husband paid the Merediths a $50,000 deposit — half their $100,000 budget — to build a much-needed addition to their small home, but work never started. When Goates’ husband lost his job in May 2020, they tried to back out of the show and get their money back so they could repay a loan. They say they are still waiting.

A few days later, the Merediths tearfully responded to the women’s horror stories on their shared Instagram account. They claimed that an unwarranted internet pile-on had led to death threats and bullying. They admitted making mistakes but denied being consciously deceitful or using their clients’ money to foot a lavish lifestyle. They also shared a supposedly exculpatory video of Bennion squealing in delight at the sight of her finished kitchen.

The back-and-forth quickly consumed a certain corner of the internet, like “Bad Art Friend” recast with Utah influencers.

Were the Merediths simply working parents who took on too much by trying to make a reality show while raising seven kids and renovating a dozen or so properties during a pandemic? Or were they running “the equivalent of a construction Ponzi scheme,” as Kyle Adams, a lawyer for Bennion and the Hawley family, said in an interview with The Times? (The Merediths did not respond to multiple interview requests.)

The debacle went viral at the worst possible time for Magnolia, the launch of which had already been delayed by more than a year because of the pandemic. The network initially pulled “Home Work” from its lineup, pending a review, then announced a week later that it would return to air.

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“We do not believe there was ill or malicious intent,” network President Allison Page said in a statement. “Our commitment now is to provide appropriate resolutions for those whose experience with ‘Home Work’ fell short of our network’s standards.”

The Gaineses have remained silent throughout the matter, despite a slew of negative comments on their personal Instagram accounts. The couple weathered an earlier controversy over their affiliation with a church whose pastor opposes same-sex marriage and espouses conversion therapy for LGBTQ people .

When asked whether the “appropriate resolutions” included compensation for the aggrieved parties, or if there were plans to make future episodes of “Home Work,” a spokesperson for Magnolia declined to comment. The network also did not respond to questions about when it became aware of the issues on “Home Work.”

Adams, the attorney, says he sent a letter on behalf of the Hawleys to the Merediths’ lawyer, copying Magnolia Network, in June 2020. In her Instagram posts, Goates said she heard from a lawyer representing Discovery after she submitted a complaint online in a desperate attempt for help. Bennion also says she was in contact with Magnolia’s in-house counsel in November 2021 to discuss the terms of her nondisclosure agreement with Magnolia Market.

Bennion says that she, Hawley and Goates heard about one another’s troubles through the grapevine and started to hatch a plan last year over dinner at a Salt Lake City sushi bar. They decided to take their complaints to social media only after exhausting other channels, including opening a claim with the Utah Department of Commerce.

“I wanted the Merediths to be held accountable for what they did to people,” Bennion said. “And I don’t want them to be given more rope by which to hang, not themselves, but other people.” In October, she drove to Waco and cleaned out her storage unit there, figuring her relationship with Magnolia was done. With help from her dad, she sanded and repainted her cabinets, from a womb-like pink to “the sweetest, creamiest white,” she said. “I had to, for my well-being, not be in Candis’ kitchen.”

It is easy to see why Bennion and others felt duped, especially if they caught any of “Home Work,” which followed the Merediths as they renovated a cavernous schoolhouse in rural Utah using a studiously high-low approach.

The Merediths applied inventive strategies to realize their luxurious old-world style on a budget — for instance, creating a Renaissance-style wall tapestry out of an inexpensive photo blanket.

But they also splurged on lavish antiques, hand-painted wallpaper and Dutch Masters-style oil portraits of their entire family dressed in period costume. The couple traveled to Europe for design inspiration, ultimately painting their family room in a dusty pink inspired by Queen Victoria’s ballroom at Kensington Palace in London. (“Victoria’s our homegirl,” says Candis.) Budgets and timelines are kept vague. The only time we hear the specific cost of an item is to celebrate when Candis has found a bargain.

Each episode focuses on a different room in the schoolhouse and begins with an earnest voice-over, in which Candis and Andy riff on themes of family and community to a jangly acoustic soundtrack. Their reflections always tie into the room they’re working on: In the episode about their master bedroom, Andy likens their blended family to a home improvement project.

“Our life together is something beautiful that we’ve renovated and built and put together,” he says. “We took the antiques of our past that were good and added new family members, new skills, new relationships and just built something really beautiful.”

This blurring of the personal and professional is also a hallmark of “Fixer Upper,” which often shows the Gaines family at home, as well as its many copycats — a reality subgenre so prolific it has spawned a “South Park” spoof called “White People Renovating Houses.” (Shows including “Property Brothers” and “Windy City Rehab,” both on HGTV, have been slapped with lawsuits from unhappy homeowners.)

The Merediths’ relationship has always been integral to their wholesome yet hip brand. They each had three boys from a previous marriage, then married in 2013 and had a girl together, bringing the total number of kids in their blended family to seven. The couple started flipping houses together and, by 2015, the year “Old Home Love” launched, owned 16 properties .

HGTV had found the couple — where else? — on Instagram.

“The fact that we have a big family with seven kids was appealing,” Andy said in an interview at the time . “People want to see couples doing this that really do it — so reality TV that’s more real.”

For the Merediths, the possibility of becoming the next Chip and Joanna may have been dangerously seductive, said Adams: “I think they probably had bigger eyes than brains. They saw a shot at fame and publicity, and took way too much on.”

Watch L.A. Times Today at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 on Channel 1 or live stream on the Spectrum News App. Palos Verdes Peninsula and Orange County viewers can watch on Cox Systems on channel 99.

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Meredith Blake is an entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Times based out of New York City, where she primarily covers television. A native of Bethlehem, Pa., she graduated from Georgetown University and holds a master’s degree from New York University.

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Magnolia Network pulls 'Home Work' after homeowners share 'nightmare' experiences

Families featured on the Magnolia home renovation show “Home Work” are alleging that their remodels turned into “nightmares,” sharing experiences like months of delayed construction, tens of thousands of dollars   in unexpected additional high costs and a lack of communication from the show's hosts.

At least three Instagram users have shared posts detailing their experiences with Candis and Andrew Meredith, a Utah-based couple who restore and renovate homes. Candis began her career restoring and selling homes at 21, and Andrew joined her in the work shortly after the couple wed in 2013. In 2015, the duo began hosting "Old Home Love" on HGTV before launching "Home Work" on Magnolia Network, run by Chip and Joanna Gaines , in 2021.

The 13-episode series, which finished airing its first season in October, showed the Merediths renovating their own home, a 20,000-square-foot former schoolhouse, while also remodeling the homes of other families.

Two homeowners whose remodels were part of the show both shared similar stories on Instagram and with TODAY.

Aubry Bennion, a Utah-based project manager, had just finished renovating her own bathroom when she applied to the show and was contacted in October 2019. Her kitchen needed a renovation, and she was willing to do it on a budget. On Instagram on Jan. 5, Bennion shared her experience across 18 posts and in journalist Meg Conley's newsletter .

“On the eve of a Magnolia Network cable launch, the well-edited version of the story will show only their side of October 2019 and beyond," Bennion wrote in one caption. "People, bank accounts, livelihoods, families, our health, sanity… all of us have been left on the cutting room floor.”

In an interview with TODAY, Bennion further detailed her disappointment, explaining that she was eager to work with the Merediths. “Candis is a great designer,” Bennion said. “I thought ‘This is a good chance to have a room ... look like something Candis Meredith would do.’”

Homeowner Jeff Hawley shared a similar story with TODAY. “Two times, somebody fell through the floor into our basement,” he alleged, sharing photos of a hole being patched up in the basement ceiling where he says one of the incidences happened. 

In response to the allegations, Candis and Andy Meredith gave their first interview to TODAY, in which they said they were “upfront” about the risks of a home remodel at the beginning of the process.

“We were very upfront in the beginning that this is hard,” said Candis, emphasizing that this was the first time she and her husband had taken on client projects. “It is extremely difficult to pinpoint everything that’s going to happen or things that might change."

When asked about the incident with the floor, Candis told TODAY that she wasn’t there when that happened. “I do know that the contractor patched the ceiling,” she said. “During construction I know a lot of things can happen by accident, and I do not want to condemn the contractor for that happening.”

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity"

Jeff Hawley's wife and mom of three, Teisha Hawley, told TODAY that she and her husband were thrilled to be chosen for the show after they submitted to an online casting call in 2019. The two had purchased their Utah home a few years earlier and the chance to have their home remodeled by the Merediths was too good to pass up.

"I've followed Candis and Andy forever. They've worked on HGTV, they have worked with the Bucket List family ," Teisha told TODAY. "I was like, if we're lucky enough to get this, it's like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The couple told TODAY that they initially had goals of renovating their family room, living room and kitchen, emphasizing the kitchen. Candis, they said, suggested more changes, like knocking down walls and moving the kitchen from one side of the house to another.

"It sounded so wonderful. But I also was like, 'I don't know, I don't think we can afford it.' I was like 'Can you really do that?' on tape," Teisha said. “And (Candis) was like, 'I know all the secrets ... I've never gone over-budget on anything.'"

"We thought it would be really cool to take our style and our lower budget the way we do renovations and try and save money and be creative if we could take that out to some people," Candis told TODAY.

The couple said they agreed on a final budget of $45,000, with $35,000 being wired to the Merediths and $10,000 being used to purchase furniture and appliances. The couple said they had planned to take out a home equity loan to fund the remodel, but then they said a producer called wanting to start the work the next day, so they wound up using their own funds.

The Hawleys — as well as Bennion — said they believed they could still live in their homes while the renovations were ongoing, though it was not encouraged by the Merediths. Since the Hawleys said Candis promised a turnaround time of three weeks, they decided to live in the basement with their three children. Teisha told TODAY that she thought the renovation might take longer, but was still comfortable staying in the basement for up to six weeks, more than double the time the Merediths initially outlined. Bennion said she had also been told that her kitchen renovation would take three weeks.

"Hostages in our house"

Jeff Hawley said that minor frustrations, like missed appointments by contractors and limited contact from Candis and Andy, began quickly, but he and his wife soon became concerned about larger issues with the demolition process.

"There was another point where they started cutting a hole on a wall that was on the corner of where another door was, so two doors would be going into each other. ... My wife was basically noticing something was wrong, calling Candis and saying 'Hey, I think they're doing this wrong.'"

Teisha said that she and her children were home for much of the day, confined to the basement, leaving them “emotionally drained” as the "nightmare" remodel continued. The Merediths told TODAY that they regret letting clients live in their homes while the renovation went on.

“We didn’t make the people move out of their houses, which looking back, that was probably a mistake,” Andrew said.

Bennion said that she also noticed escalating issues in her home, especially as new entrances were suggested, a deck was installed and her backyard was leveled. Like the Hawleys, work stagnated and she sometimes had difficulty contacting the Merediths. Concerns, she said, Candis attributed to the oddities of creating a television show.

The Merediths told TODAY that construction errors were the fault of contractors who had been hired, though they declined to name the general contractor they used in the renovations.

"Our agreement stated that we were consulting on the renovation, we were not performing the work," Andrew said. "We worked with contractors. We were not swinging hammers at their property ... We hired a general contractor, and he was in charge of all hiring."

Bennion said that as a project manager herself, she felt that the Merediths’ approach was flawed.

“I truly don’t know if (Candis) understood the concept of her role as a project manager to manage her clients scope and schedule and budget,” said Bennion. “I do that for a living. It’s like 101.”

Throughout the process, both homeowners said that it was impossible to get a fixed budget or breakdown of costs, despite multiple requests. In response, the Merediths told TODAY they "did (their) best to communicate" quickly throughout the process.

Andrew continued that the first four clients the couple had worked with —including Bennion, the Hawleys, Vienna Goates (who shared her experience on Instagram ) and an unnamed fourth party — had been their first-ever clients, which led to bumps in the road. However, six other clients whose homes were filmed for other episodes of the show “went wonderfully,” Andrew said. One client named Jeana, who runs the Instagram account HotCocoaReads , posted to her stories on Friday a reel of the space the Merediths did for her:

"Andy and Candis did beautiful work on my space and while it took longer than I hoped, I ultimately feel that Candis truly wanted me to love my space," it read.

Both the Hawleys and Bennion, however, said that things took a turn for the worse as construction continued: The Hawleys were left with floors that were uneven and had been installed incorrectly, while Bennion said she was living "in chaos" and raising concerns about the work being done as the renovation carried on. In the end, both homeowners had what Bennion called "tough" conversations with the Merediths, only to find that they were significantly over-budget for their projects.

On a heated call with Candis in early February 2020, Bennion said she was told that her $25,000 renovation was now $40,000.

“I said, ‘Tear it out. Tear it out and take it back,’” Bennion recalled. “Like, ‘I can’t pay you, do what you need to do to get done, and then take it all out and take it back.’ This is not my kitchen anymore. I have asked you about (cost) at every turn and you've always told me that it was going to be OK. This is not the appropriate time to tell me that's what you've already (spent.) You've had times to tell me, I've been begging you to talk to me and you haven't."

At around the same time, the Hawleys say they were being asked to double their budget after having been told that their initial $35,000 only covered the cost of demolition.

When TODAY asked the Merediths about the price increases, they confirmed the numbers Bennion presented but would not comment on what the Hawleys gave.

Teisha said that she considered paying another $20,000 to finish the work, but the couple decided it was too risky based on the work process that was already completed.

"In my head, it was like, 'We're already stretched. If we stretch that far, we're going to be stretched beyond what I felt we could repair,'" Jeff recalled. "For us to stretch that much further, we would have just been beyond a point where we could actually return and fix this and not be just hostages in our house."

Final results

Jeff said that on Feb. 20, 2020, he and Teisha decided not to send any more money and instead quit the show. A family friend later helped them repair the home for a deep discount, but repairs still cost about $25,000.

Bennion had her project finished by the Merediths, but didn't pay Candis the extra money she had asked for. Candis said that she paid "tens of thousands" of dollars out of her own pocket to finish the work, but declined to specify a number, citing legal advice she received. Bennion confirmed that she only paid the Merediths about $13,000 of the initial project, but had made it clear to Candis that she couldn't pay for any more work.

"(Candis) turned it into like, 'Well, I have been spending my own money, and I'm totally happy to, we can work this out afterwards and you can pay me back,' and I was like 'Hell no, I'm not mixing my finances with you forevermore,'" Bennion recalled. "I don't even want to do this right now, let alone more or longer."

Later, Bennion said that she found out the Merediths had not paid the flooring company, Lemco Flooring, that had laid the floors. She said that she paid the company immediately once they contacted her. The Merediths confirmed to TODAY that they had not paid the company.

"We were advised not to pay another penny towards her renovation after we were threatened with lawsuits," Candis told TODAY. "It’s not that we didn’t want to pay Lemco.”

Bennion said that she was told by Lemco Flooring that the floors had not been properly sealed, leaving them prone to damage, and looking at the paint used on her laminate cabinets, she found that they had been painted with a material that wasn't designed to be used on them. She also said having a landscaper fix her yard after it was leveled for "Home Work" also cost about $18,000."

The Hawleys and Bennion both said that they have connected with other homeowners impacted by the "Home Work" series, and have considered pursuing legal action, but aren't taking any steps at this time. Complaints have been filed with the Utah Department of Commerce's Consumer Protection Division. The Merediths confirmed that they were aware of the complaints and said that they had been in contact with the state.

"We have dealt with every agency that has reached out to us," Candis said.

The couple shared a seven-page statement on Instagram Friday with their response to the Instagram allegations made this week.

“Watching a single sided narrative unfold and these hateful comments from said narrative is extremely painful,” it reads. “We have always done what we could to to remedy anything within and outside our control.”

In a statement, Magnolia president Alison Page told TODAY that the network was "aware" of the situation.

“Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith," Page said in a statement emailed on Thursday. "Within the last day, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove Home Work from the Magnolia Network line up pending a review of the claims that have been made.”

The Merediths told TODAY that they are no longer taking on client projects.

" We have not spoken to these people and we have not looked for new clients in over two-and-a-half years. We don’t go out looking for people to work with," Andrew Meredith said. “Our living is not doing client projects.”

"We don't want to do this ever again," Candis added. "We never intended to hurt anybody ... It's just impossible to share a full truth without hurting people."

Update 1/7/22: This story was updated to include the positive experience Jeana posted on the @HotCocoaReads Instagram account.

Update 1/12/22: The Merediths posted a series of videos and statements on Instagram on Jan. 12, 2022. TODAY covered their posts here.

Update 1/13/2022: Magnolia Network announced that it would return to airing “Home Work.” TODAY wrote about the announcement here.

Kerry Breen is a reporter and associate editor for  TODAY.com , where she reports on health news, pop culture and more. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University. 

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Candis And Andy Meredith Dish On Their Relationship With Chip And Joanna

When it comes to couples in home renovation, Chip and Joanna Gaines are probably the first to come to mind. But the brilliant minds behind " Fixer Upper " are ready to show you they're not the only family in the home restoration game. Enter Candis and Andy Meredith, the stars of Magnolia Network's "Home Work."

"Home Work" follows the Merediths as they juggle professional endeavors, spend time with their blended family of nine, and tackle their most ambitious project yet: turning a 20,000-square-foot historic school into their family home. "We knew that a big building would be just like taking on a big family," Candis shared during a Magnolia Network press conference attended by The List. "It's what you don't anticipate that becomes challenging, like our structure and things like that."

The process involved a whole redesign of the space. "Basically, to get some of the livable space we needed, we had to re-engineer most of the building, and that just took a lot of time and effort we hadn't planned on," Andy added. "But seeing our kids come into this space, and seeing them do something for us, because mostly we restore historic homes that we're selling or renting out, but to see them walk into a space and realize, 'This is for our family,' has been really rewarding for me — and having more than one bathroom for nine people."

Candis and Andy can remember when Joanna first followed them on Instagram

Candis and Andy Meredith were thrilled to first connect with Chip and Joanna Gaines . "I can tell you that I vividly remember when Joanna Gaines followed us. I thought, 'Maybe she did it by accident. I'm not sure. Did she do it?'" Candis recalled. "And Andy's like, 'No, no, no. We're doing a thing. We're doing this home thing. I think she did it on purpose.' We were doing a show in Hawaii, we were renovating a kitchen for one of our digital shows, and she commented or she DM'd us."

"From then on, we kept reaching out. They would do something and we'd be like, 'Guys, that's really neat.' And we'd do something, they'd be like, 'Guys, that's really cool,'" Andy added. "We have this schoolhouse project and this show and this idea to do this, and when Magnolia Network was announced with Chip and Jo, we all thought, 'Oh my gosh, what if we could do this together?' We ended up working together."

Chip made Candis and Andy feel seen from the beginning

Chip Gaines made Candis and Andy Meredith feel understood from their very first conversation. "He said the words, 'I want you to tell your story authentically. I want to see everything about that. I don't care if it feels boring or slow,'" Candis recalled. "He said, 'Just tell that story authentically as you can and die on that hill,' and that's what we've done. I mean, I don't think it's boring or slow. It's obviously very exciting, but it just felt like they really understood what we were trying to put out there, because that's also what they're trying to put in the world. Just beauty and beautiful things."

"The first time we met in person, it was just like we walked into their office and we're like, 'Okay, what are we doing about this?' It was very natural," Andy added. "They're very casual, warm, loving people, and we're so thrilled to be working with them."

"Home Work" premieres on discovery+ on July 15.

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When Aubry Bennion's kitchen renovation process began in October 2019, she had high hopes. It was the last big project in her Bountiful home, which she purchased a year earlier.

Bennion was told the renovation, which would be captured on film for a television show, would last a few weeks and cost around $20,000.

However, she said those hopes soon gave way to stress, anxiety and higher costs.

Bennion is one of a handful of Utah residents speaking out on social media and sharing how Candis and Andy Meredith, a Utah couple behind the television show "Home Work," left them hanging. The show was set to debut as part of the new Magnolia Network, the brainchild of "Fixer Upper" stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, which officially launched last Wednesday.

Magnolia Network president Allison Page announced on Friday that the network was removing the show from their lineup.

"Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith," Page said. "Within the last day, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove 'Home Work' from the Magnolia Network lineup pending a review of the claims that have been made."

The show never aired on Magnolia Network, according to the company's TV schedule, though it appears episodes were available to stream through the Discovery+ service. As of last Friday, a web page with information on the show had been removed from Magnolia Network's website. Prior to its removal, 13 episodes of the TV show were available for streaming.

Despite the Magnolia Network's attempts to scrub their pages of the show, a post on Instagram featuring the Merediths was still active as of Friday. The post — which features the Merediths in the Sanpete County home they renovated as part of the show — has numerous comments from people who support Bennion and others who have also told their home renovation stories on social media.

How it began

Bennion had known the Merediths for a few years after meeting them at a DIY Network launch party, and the three stayed in contact over the years. After Bennion bought her Bountiful home, the idea of the three collaborating on a project was a no-brainer, especially with the prospect of the television series, she told KSL.com.

When they met to discuss the project, Bennion said she worried that a full kitchen renovation would cost around $50,000 — a price tag she could not afford. However, she said she was reassured it would cost much less.

"Candis said, 'Oh gosh, we can do it for 20 (thousand),'" Bennion told KSL.com. "In my wildest dream it didn't seem doable for $20,000."

Candis Meredith had been buying and renovating homes since she was a young adult. She later met and married Andrew Meredith and the two worked together on various projects, including the HGTV program, "Old Home Love," which debuted in 2015. At that point, the couple told People magazine in October they didn't think they'd ever do TV again.

That was before the Magnolia Network reached out with a new idea to host a new version, beginning with the Merediths' renovation of a 20,000 square-foot schoolhouse into a home for their large, blended family, as well as renovations for other Utah families.

The idea that Magnolia was behind it excited many of the show's prospective homeowners, including Bennion. She even wondered if the addition of television money meant special perks like a price break or free labor, but the price seemed like a deal too good to pass up. She said she was told the gutting and remodel would last three weeks, starting in October 2019, so the project went ahead with a budget of $25,000.

However, construction persisted through March.

Bennion said there were long stretches of time without work being done on her kitchen or hearing updates from the Merediths. She received a bank transfer request Thanksgiving morning in 2019, for half the intended budget — $13,000. She happily paid the request, she said, as it was the first time the Merediths had asked. Bennion said she later learned that the couple had made the request from their vacation spot in Paris. She expressed she had also been frustrated that the remodel was in its sixth week, though only a handful of working days were spent in her home.

At one point, Bennion said the Merediths proposed an idea to knock out a window for a door leading to a brand new deck in her backyard, while also moving an egress window near her back door. Bennion's first question was about the price, and she was assured it was within the budget. She ultimately approved the deck, but the suggestion ended up decreasing her home value, she said, and would need a costly fix.

She later learned that the deck was built on top of existing sod and sprinklers in November. When spring rolled around, and she nearly avoided flooding in her basement, Bennion saw that the construction crews had changed the leveling of her yard. Fixing the drainage issue, she said, would ultimately cost her $18,000 — long after the renovation crews were gone.

After a late crunch to finish her kitchen, construction crews made the kitchen camera-ready, though more work was needed to make the kitchen functional. The last day of filming was the last time Bennion spoke with Candis Meredith in person, she said. The footage of Bennion's home would end up not being used.

Months after the construction was finished, there were still more costs. A flooring company told Bennion that they tried to contact the Merediths about an unpaid flooring bill, and the last option they had available was to put a lien on Bennion's home. So, she paid the bill.

In the end, Bennion only paid the Merediths the $13,000, but the fixes to her yard far exceeded her previously established budget of $25,000. She also purchased her own appliances for the renovation, which cost around $6,000.

Amid the scrutiny, Candis and Andy Meredith took to social media Friday to defend themselves. The couple denied defrauding clients and said they have always paid outstanding balances.

"Watching a single-sided narrative unfold and these hateful comments from said narrative is extremely painful," the couple wrote. "We have always done what we could to remedy anything within and outside our control."

Candis Meredith spoke to KSL's Matt Gephardt on the allegations made about their work, and conceded that they took on too many projects at once. She also said they purchased many things out of their own pockets, and tried to right any wrong that she and Andy Meredith knew about.

"We were feeling very overwhelmed and doing our best to communicate, but I can understand how, when it's your home, that feels frustrating when things take longer," she said.

Through this experience, Candis Meredith said she and her husband have no plans to work for clients in the future.

"I will say we were naïve about the inner workings of it all, but we've spoken with the state and what we can do, what we could have and couldn't have done, and we have very much learned that was walking a line," she said.

It was time

Bennion has been quiet about her home renovation issues for nearly two years, but decided to share her story now because of the Magnolia Network launch and the spotlight being put on the Merediths.

"I share it because after two years, they're being celebrated and promoted while the people they hurt along the way have gotten nowhere," Bennion wrote on Instagram. "And, on the eve of a Magnolia Network cable launch, the well-edited version of the story will show only their side of October 2019 and beyond."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by aubry bennion (@aubryeliz)

"People, bank accounts, livelihoods, families, our health, sanity ... all of us have been left on the cutting room floor," Bennion said in an Instagram post last Thursday.

Since she shared her story on social media earlier this week, several more homeowners in Utah have reported similar, tumultuous experiences with the Merediths and the prospects of the “Home Work” show. Many had the same problems with their budget not making ends meet, shoddy workmanship and unfinished issues. One family said they were told by the Merediths to double their renovation budget in order to finish the project.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Teisha Satterfield Hawley (@teishahawley)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vienna Goates (@thelatesew)

The developing story has been picked up by national news organizations, including the “Today” show and Insider , among others, as renovation and do-it-yourself programs on TV have long been popular with homeowners, particularly involving Chip and Joanna Gaines. Though, except for their Magnolia Network signing the “Home Work” show, the Gaines couple had nothing to do with the Utah venture.

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HGTV: 12 Shows Renewed at the Network for 2024

When it comes to HGTV , there are so many wonderful shows to scratch that home reno itch, whether you’re tuning into Home Town with Ben and Erin Napier , or following New Kids on the Block singer Jonathan Knight on Farmhouse Fixer , there’s something for everyone.

Thankfully, these shows and more have already been renewed for new seasons set to air in 2024. Below, scroll down for a peek at what shows are set to return for new seasons, and stay tuned for updates on other favorites.

Home Town - Season 8

Ahead of the show’s seventh season premiere, HGTV renewed Home Town for Season 8 which, according to Erin Napier’s Instagram , has already started filming in Laurel, Mississippi. The husband-wife duo’s efforts to make over their town one house at a time will continue into the new year as Season 7 resumes on Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Down Home Fab - Season 2

The series starring Chelsea and Cole DeBoer will be back for 8 all-new episodes in early 2024.  Down Home Fab had a successful series premiere at the beginning of 2023. The show follows the couple’s renovation business which operates out of their hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Rico to the Rescue - Season 2

Rico to the Rescue , led by builder Rico León and his team made up of designer Poonam Moore and chief estimator Matt Plowman will be back for eight new episodes in early 2024 as the series was renewed for Season 2. Together, Rico and his team help Denver homeowners resolve issues from previous contractors as they work to salvage unfinished renovations.

Married to Real Estate - Season 3

Real estate broker and designer Egypt Sherrod and her husband, expert builder Mike Jackson will be back to help families buy and renovate their dream homes in Atlanta during a new season of Married to Real Estate . The 12 episodes will arrive sometime in early 2024.

Farmhouse Fixer - Season 3

New Kids on the Block singer Jonathan Knight will return for more New England-based farm renovations in a third season of his fan-favorite hit Farmhouse Fixer alongside his designer Kristina Crestin.

Fixer to Fabulous - Season 5

Dave and Jenny Marrs will be back for 16 all-new episodes of Fixer to Fabulous , which will see the husband and wife continue home renovations in Bentonville, Arkansas. HGTV also ordered a new series from the duo Fixer to Fabulous: Italiano which will see the pair tackle the renovation of a centuries-old Italian villa.

Christina in the Country - Season 2

Christina Hall ‘s Tenessee-set series will see her work on renovations for eager clients while also making life-long memories with her husband Josh Hall and kids as the series has been picked up for six new episodes.

Christina on the Coast - Season 5

Picked up for 12 more episodes, Hall will continue her South California-based renovations with her family by her side.

The Flipping El Moussas - Season 2

The Flipping El Moussas , Tarek and Heather , will be back to their real estate power-couple ways with 14 all-new episodes in early 2024.

Celebrity IOU - Season 7

Property Brothers favorites Drew and Jonathan Scott will be back with more starry installments of Celebrity IOU as the show was renewed for Season 7. Additionally, two new series from the duo have been ordered at HGTV as Backed by the Bros (working title) and Don’t Hate Your House with the Property Brothers  (working title) were picked up for 2024 .

Rock the Block - Season 5

Ty Pennington will be back to host a fifth season of Rock the Block which will see teams compete as they renovate different homes in the same neighborhood. This time, the action is set to take place in Treasure Island, Florida.

Windy City Rehab - Season 4

Alison Victoria is set to return for additional episodes of her hit series Windy City Rehab as the Chicago-based show was picked up for Season 4.

Celebrity IOU

Christina in the country, christina on the coast, down home fab, farmhouse fixer, fixer to fabulous, married to real estate, rico to the rescue, rock the block, the flipping el moussas, windy city rehab.

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3 Conn. homes, including a Putnam house, featured on HGTV's 'Ugliest House in America'

If you've ever watched the HGTV show, "The Ugliest House in America," you know that it features the comedian known as "Retta" traveling around the country, looking for the ugliest houses she can find.

After "crowning the worst of the worst" in each season , the winner is given a $150,000 renovation on their ugly house. The renovation is done by designer Alison Victoria.

In a recent episode, Retta visited three homes in Connecticut, picking the ugliest house in the region.

The HGTV website states , "It's between a house that was once a men's club, a home with an obsession for all things Italian and a crazy place with way too many shelves."

Here's what to know about the episode.

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What is the episode called?

The episode is called "The Nasty Northeast." It is the last episode that aired in the show's fifth season.

What homes does the episode feature?

The episode features three different homes:

• A 3,319-square-foot home in Coventry built in 1955.
• A 4,102-square-foot home in Wethersfield built in 1976 featuring retro kitchens.
• A home in Putnam (square-footage not specified) built in 1895, which boasts an overabundance of shelving.

Where can the episode be seen?

You can check out HGTV on demand with your local cable provider, but you can check out the show on MAX , which carries a number of HGTV shows. Just sign into MAX , scroll down on the home screen to find the HGTV channel and you'll be able to find "The Nasty Northeast."

Who won the episode?

It's a spoiler, but the winner was the home in Wethersfield, CT featuring the retro kitchens.

'Good Bones' is ending after eight seasons on HGTV

After seven years and roughly 100 episodes, Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine are hanging up the proverbial hammer on their popular TV show, " Good Bones ," which follows the daughter-mother duo as they renovate houses around Indianapolis.

Starsiak Hawk made the announcement on a Tuesday episode of her podcast, " Mina AF ."

"It's the end of an era," Starsiak Hawk said, adding that production for the show had wrapped months ago. "I had to say goodbye to some people that I have spent my last, almost ten years with."

More: What to know about 'Good Bones,' the HGTV show based in Indianapolis

What began as a home renovation project in 2007 between mother and daughter blossomed into a home renovation business called "Two Chicks and a Hammer." In 2014, Laine and Starsiak Hawk were approached by HGTV to create a pilot episode that premiered in May 2015.

The show became one of HGTV's most popular shows, attracting an audience of more than 21.7 million total viewers by its seventh season in 2022, according to audience figures from Nielsen.

On her podcast, Starsiak Hawk delved into the personal hardships of having to renovate multiple homes at once under a heavy production schedule. There was stress, she said, juggling both her family and professional responsibilities while appearing on a show watched by millions.

"I think what's helpful to understand is that all our seasons have overlapped," Starsiak Hawk said. "As we start finishing the homes from one season, we're usually starting up the homes for the next season, so we never had less than, you know, five, six, seven, eight projects going on at once."

Starsiak Hawk said the show ending was both a "happy and a sad thing" and said she's looking forward to whatever chapter comes next in her life.

While "Good Bones" has remained a popular series on HGTV, the show has not been without its share of controversies.

In April 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc. had been fined $40,000 after the show allegedly violated a federal lead paint law.

The EPA said renovations at three Indianapolis properties — two in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood and one in Fall Creek Place — failed to properly contain and transport lead dust and debris from homes that were built prior to 1978, when the federal government banned lead-based paint.

More: HGTV show 'Good Bones' reaches settlement for alleged violations of federal lead paint law

Residents frustrated by a lack of affordable housing in Indianapolis in recent years have lambasted the show, saying it contributes to rising property taxes that displace lower income residents who can no longer afford to live in gentrified neighborhoods .

In a previous IndyStar article, Laine defended "Good Bones" from its detractors.

“If there is vacant housing stock in a neighborhood that is being inhabited by raccoons and possums and drug dealers and prostitutes, what better thing is there to do with that vacant housing stock than rehabilitate it and put families in it?" she told IndyStar . "I can't think of a better thing."

Season 8 of "Good Bones" begins airing Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 9 p.m. Eastern on HGTV.

Columnist Opinion: HGTV's 'Good Bones' is not ruining Fountain Square

John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at  [email protected] . IndyStar reporter Ko Lyn Cheang contributed to this report.

HGTV Makes Unexpected Announcement on Star Scott McGillivray

A fter weeks of speculation and fan questions, HGTV has announced that Canadian real estate investor and renovator Scott McGillivray‘s show will air in the U.S. after all. The fifth season of “Scott’s Vacation House Rules” has been airing in Canada since April, but there were no details on plans to air it in the U.S.

The network typically spends weeks teasing upcoming show premieres, HGTV surprised fans via social media on May 30, 2024, revealing that a new season of “Scott’s Vacation House Rules” would begin airing two days later, on June 1.

The network’s post read, “Attention, U.S. audiences! The wait is finally over—a new season of #VacationHouseRules with @scott_mcgillivray premieres stateside Saturday, June 1, at 8/7c on HGTV!!”

The show will kick off a busy month of premieres for HGTV, including a new show from Drew and Jonathan Scott and a new season of “Battle on the Beach.”

Fans Express Relief Over Scott McGillivray’s Show Finally Airing in the U.S.

A fifth season of “Scott’s Vacation House Rules,” in which McGillivray, 46, renovates vacation getaways with designer Debra Salmoni, began airing on HGTV Canada on April 22. As he promoted its premiere on social media, his U.S. fans loudly complained that they couldn’t see it.

In response to one who asked on Instagram whether it would ever air stateside, McGillivray responded, “It’ll be coming soon to the US, I’ll make an announcement when it does 🙌”

At the time, according to Country Living, an HGTV rep said they couldn’t confirm a date for the show to air in the U.S. So the sudden announcement that the show will return on June 1 thrilled many fans.

One commented, “Woohoo 🎉 best news of the day! 👏”

Another wrote, “Yes 🙌 finally it’s about time Love 💕 the show”

McGillivray has been a top rated HGTV star in the U.S. and Canada since 2008, per the network. In addition to “Vacation House Rules,” he’s been the star and executive producer of multiple hit shows including “Income Property” and “Buyers Bootcamp.” In the summer of 2023, he also co-starred with his good friend and fellow HGTV star Bryan Baeumler in “Renovation Resort Showdown.”

Not all of McGillivray’s shows have aired in the U.S. though. He has also served as host of HGTV Canada’s “Moving the McGillivrays” and “Scott’s Own Vacation House,” plus a 2020 digital series that can still be viewed online, titled “Scott’s House Call.”

June 2024 Will Be a Busy Month of Premieres on HGTV

McGillivray’s June 1 premiere kicks off a busy month of premieres on HGTV.

On June 2, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ return to HGTV in celebration of the 10th anniversary of “Fixer Upper.” The first five series aired on HGTV before the couple left the network in 2018. They went on to create their own Magnolia Network with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of both networks. Two half-hour episodes of the Gaines’ new “Fixer Upper” spin-off, “Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse” will air simultaneously on Magnolia and HGTV starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

After the Gaines’ premiere episodes air, the first of four new “Celebrity I.O.U.” episodes starring Drew and Jonathan Scott will premiere on June 2 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The new episode features them teaming up to help actress Patricia Arquette execute a life-changing renovation for a longtime family friend. Other new episodes will feature two Academy Award winners — actor Laurence Fishburne and Marlee Matlin — and Emmy Award winner Camryn Manheim with her son Milo, per the brothers’ website.

The next night, on June 3 at 9 p.m. Eastern time, “Battle on the Beach” returns for its fourth season with Taniya Nayak, Ty Pennington and Alison Victora helping three teams of competitors remodel beach homes located in a new destination — Oak Island, North Carolina. The winning team, judged by HGTV stars Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, will receive a $50,000 cash prize for adding the most value to their home.

Then, on June 5, the “Property Brothers” return with a brand new show called “Backed By the Bros” at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The twins have said this show is nothing like any other show they’ve done, following them as they advise and provide resources to different real estate investors trying to create revenue-generating properties.

On June 18, HGTV will also premiere Jonathan Knight’s spin-off series, “Farmhouse Fixer: Camp Revamp” at 9 p.m. Eastern, tracking the ups and downs of him refurbishing a New England resort for his family to run.

Finally, on June 30, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt return to HGTV for their fourth season of “100 Day Dream Home” at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

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The post HGTV Makes Unexpected Announcement on Star Scott McGillivray appeared first on Heavy.com .

Your Detailed Guide to Tarek El Moussa & Christina Hall’s ‘Flip Off’ Showdown

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When is 'the flip off' coming out, is there a trailer for 'the flip off', who are the cast in 'the flip off', what happened between tarek el moussa and christina hall, what is 'the flip off' about, who is making 'the flip off'.

It’s the battle of the exes in HGTV’s latest series , The Flip Off . A new competition show unlike any other, The Flip Off pits longtime HGTV hosts, designers, and real estate experts Tarek El Moussa and Christina Hall against each other, competing for the most financial wins and ultimate bragging rights. Best known for their stint on the 10-season series Flip or Flop , this former married couple went their separate ways after a highly publicized divorce in 2016. But their creativity and love for all things home design remain alive and well in The Flip Off .

To spice things up even more, they’re joined by their current spouses, Heather Rae El Moussa and Joshua Hall . Together, they'll battle it out to find, buy, renovate, and flip a house, with the hopes of emerging as the true flipping champion.

It’s time to give the finger! Here’s everything we know so far about The Flip Off .

Flip or Flop

The Flip Off is slated to air on HGTV in early 2025, premiering with a whopping two-hour debut episode. Stay tuned for future updates!

Since development for the show was recently announced, currently, there’s no trailer available yet for The Flip Off . However, HGTV released a sneak peek of the cast on their official accounts. The brief clip shows the two exes entering the studio, officially reuniting for the first time along with their respective spouses. Never would it occur to Hall that she “would be doing something like this.” Meanwhile, Moussa sees this opportunity in a more positive light, calling it “one of the defining moments of his life.” As both exes are back with a vengeance, it’s only a matter of seconds before the two teams get carried away by the spicy competition.

Tarek El Moussa Reveals What Led to His Failed Marriage to Christina Hall

The ‘Flip or Flop’ stars experienced their fair share of drama off-camera.

Tarek, renowned for his co-hosting role on HGTV’s Flip or Flop , now shares his expertise on Flipping 101 w/ Tarek El Moussa . Drawing from his extensive experience in flipping properties, he guides aspiring renovators into the field, sharing the necessary knowledge so that they can achieve the same level of success. Alongside his wife Heather, they’re set to star in the HGTV series The Flipping El Moussas . Tarek’s journey began at 21 when he obtained his real estate license, quickly establishing himself in Orange County, California. While initially selling multi-million dollar mansions during the housing boom, he quickly shifted gears to focus on flipping rundown properties when the market took a hit for the worse. Beyond his television ventures, Tarek loves spending time with his children.

Christina is a real estate and design pro starring in her own HGTV series, Christina on the Coast . In between her personal and professional journey, as she expands her design business in Southern California, Christina also juggles her responsibilities as a working mom all while trying to maintain her health. Together with Tarek, the former couple hosted all 10 seasons of Flip or Flop . In addition to her hosting and designing abilities, Christina also penned her book “Wellness Remodel” and is responsible for her furniture line Christina @ Home, which consists of over 35 home furnishings like sofas, end tables, and accent chairs. Her most recent show, Christina in the Country , features her family’s new adventure in the beautiful Tennessee countryside.

Heather is a top real estate agent with The Oppenheim Group, known for selling luxury homes to wealthy buyers in Los Angeles. She stars in the hit Netflix reality series Selling Sunset , together with Tarek, the two dive into the flipping business in The Flipping El Moussas and Flipping 101 . A dedicated wellness enthusiast, she’s also a huge fan of fitness and fashion.

A realtor from Austin with ties to California, Joshua used to work for Spyglass Realty, focusing on buying and selling properties in the Greater Austin area and Hill Country. Josh also joins Christina on her HGTV spinoff, Christina in the Country , getting a taste of both the cost and the country.

For nine years, fans have been tuning in to watch Tarek and Christina’s journey on TV. But their relationship goes way back before the two became Flip or Flop ’s famous couple. The two first crossed paths in 2005, when they both worked as real estate agents at Prudential. Fast forward to 2009, and they tied the knot in California. Flip or Flop officially hit the screens in 2013, slowly garnering a strong fanbase and becoming a big hit on HGTV.

But in 2016, after seven months following an altercation , Tarek and Christina announced they were splitting up. Although they didn’t dive into specifics, they made it clear that separation was the best move for their relationship. They also emphasized their commitment to co-parenting their children , no matter what.

Even after their off-screen divorce, Tarek and Christina kept up their hosting duties together. In 2018, viewers saw their first episode of Flip or Flop post-divorce. But all good things come to an end. After a decade of the show, in 2022, their long-term series wrapped up, with the final episode airing on December 1, 2022, on HGTV.

After their divorce was settled in 2018, the two moved on to new marriages. Tarek married Heather in 2021, while Christina married Joshua (Christina was previously married to Ant Anstead from 2018 to 2020).

The Flip Off features iconic flipping exes Tarek and Christina as they compete against each other in this new home renovation series. This time, they’re not alone. Along with their new spouses, Heather and Joshua, the four will compete in a throwdown to find, buy, renovate, and flip a house for the biggest financial gain and, of course, bragging rights. The Flip Off marks the first reunion between Tarek and Christina after a two-year hiatus since the final episode of Flip or Flop aired.

The Flip Off is brought to you by HGTV, the ultimate destination for home renovation and design enthusiasts. Known for its reality programming centered around real estate and home improvement, HGTV turns house hunting into both entertaining and educative for viewers. Fans of the channel can tune into their brand new series Backed by the Bros , hosted by none other than Drew and Jonathan Scott of the Property Brothers fame . With a lineup of skilled real estate agents and home design experts, viewers can count on this talented crew not only to transform rundown houses into dream homes but also to share their inspiring personal stories along the way .

'Vacation House Rules' Star Scott McGillivray Shares Major Update with HGTV Fans

Season 5 of the popular renovation series is finally airing in the U.S.

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Scott, a real estate investor and renovator, and designer Debra Salmoni are once again joining forces to help homeowners update their vacation properties. Scott has been sharing sneak peeks of the cottage-themed fifth season on Instagram with the promise that it is "the most action-packed, rip-roaring, and hilarious season so far."

On every post , fans chime in with demands: "When are we going to see in the USA 🇺🇸?" "Hi, is there anyway your show is going to be aired in the states again?" and "How can we watch it from the USA?"

Finally, we have an answer! Vacation House Rules premiers on Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST on HGTV! Fans reaction with "It's about time!" and "Woohoo 🎉 best news of the day! 👏❤️" According to HGTV, new episodes of the show will be available to stream on Max later this year.

This season finds Scott and Debra tackling coastal cottages, a ranch, a garage renovation, and even a Victorian wedding venue. Judging by the clips Scott has been sharing, it's going to be a must-watch.

Get Your HGTV Fix

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Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue 

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