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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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The Ups and Downs of Magnolia Network's Candis & Andy Meredith: From New Stars to Pulled from TV

The couple's home renovation show, Home Work , was removed from Chip and Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network on Friday after clients came forward with a variety of accusations

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.

Last Friday, Candis and Andy Meredith's renovation series Home Work pulled from Magnolia Network after several of the homeowners who appeared on the show came forward with accusations of shoddy workmanship, doubled budgets and myriad broken promises from the couple.

But who are the Merediths? Read on to find where they came from, how they landed on Chip and Joanna Gaines 's radar and why the network decided to pull the plug on their show the week it premiered.

Flipping in Salt Lake City

Candis and Andy started in the real estate world by flipping houses in their home state of Utah. Candis has been restoring old homes since she was 16 years old, and Andy got involved in the business shortly after they got married in 2013. Together they flipped homes both to keep for themselves and to later sell. They did not do renovations for clients.

A Short-Lived HGTV Show

Prior to Home Work, the Merediths had another show: a limited series called Old Home Love , which aired on HGTV and DIY Network in 2015, and followed the couple as they did renovations on older homes. When it ended and no other offers materialized, the couple pivoted to producing a similar show on their own for Facebook Watch. That show, called Old Sweet Home, is currently unavailable on Facebook.

Other Early Projects

In 2017, the couple released their first book, also called Old Home Love , and continued to expand their personal brand on social media, where they frequently showed off their various projects.

In 2018, they launched a Youtube series called Traveling Home , which followed them as they helped the Bucket List Family 's Garrett and Jessica Gee renovate an 80-year-old beach bungalow in Hawaii into their permanent home.

Their Show Takes Shape

In 2018, the pair met up with Magnolia Network, before it was officially announced , and began talking about a potential show.

At the time, the Merediths were just about to embark on their biggest project ever: renovating a 20,000-square-foot schoolhouse to turn it into a home for their blended family of nine (they each had three boys from previous relationships before they married and had a girl together).

They decided that part of the series would follow the couple as they renovated the school, while also showing them completing room makeover projects for other historic homeowners — something that, with the exception of the Gees, they'd never done before.

Discovery+ Magnolia Network Launch

The Merediths also acted as the producers of the show, and after putting out a casting call, they found several willing homeowners in 2019 and began multiple renovation projects.

Due to Covid-19-related production delays, Magnolia Network's launch was pushed back from its original October 2020 date to "early 2021," then again to a streaming-only launch in July 2021.

Thirteen episodes of Home Work debuted alongside numerous other original shows on Magnolia Network via the Discovery+ streaming service. The plan was for them to also air on the network's cable channel when it finally launched on January, 5, 2022 .

Clients Come Forward

In early January, several clients who were cast for the show came forward claiming they believed they were scammed by the Merediths. At least three homeowners, as well as a local real estate agent the couple worked with, took to social media to share their stories of shoddy or incomplete work, unsafe conditions, ballooning budgets and timelines, and a lack of communication from the couple.

The first report, from a homeowner named Aubry Bennion , came on the eve of the Magnolia Network cable launch. That was followed by lengthy stories from Jeff and Teisha Hawley , who ended up pulling out of the show, mother-of-five Vienna Goates , who also ended her involvement with the couple, and realtor Aaron Oldham . More on their specific claims can be found in PEOPLE's previous coverage.

The Merediths have since admitted in a social media post of their own that timelines were greatly extended, numerous construction issues occurred during the renovations, and in at least one case, money was misallocated.

Pulled from the Network

On Friday, January 7, Magnolia Network confirmed to PEOPLE that it would be pulling Home Work from its platforms.

"Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith," Magnolia Network president Allison Page shared in a statement. "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."

Episodes of the show have since been removed from the Magnolia Network app, and are no longer slated to run on the channel.

The Merediths Respond

On Friday, the couple took to Instagram to share their side of the story, posting a lengthy note in response to the homeowners who have come forward.

"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," they began.

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."

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Magnolia Network’s ‘Home Work’ Could Be the Next ‘Fixer Upper’

Where to stream:.

It’s hard enough to capture reality TV lightning in a bottle, let alone managing it twice, and yet that seems to be what HGTV darlings Chip and Joanna Gaines have accomplished. The Waco, Texas couple shot to fame with their uber-popular home renovation hit Fixer Upper and are now poised to launch their own channel, the Magnolia Network , in July. Of course there will be a lot of Chip and Jo, but there are dozens of new stars waiting in the wings. First and foremost Candis and Andy Meredith of Home Work . Of all the shows available to preview on the Magnolia Network tab on Discovery+, Home Work seems like the most obvious hit. It has all the charm of a classic HGTV show with a distinctive style, and charm, that’s all its own.

Home Work is my bet for the next Fixer Upper -level hit.

When Fixer Upper first debuted on HGTV in 2013 (followed by its first full season in 2014), the network was undergoing something of a rebirth. Following on the heels of the success of Canadian import Love It or List It , HGTV had started filling its programing slots with shows that focused on the power of renovating houses. In 2013, HGTV also started airing another Canadian hit, Property Brothers , and a half-hour flipping show called Flip or Flop . The allure of these shows wasn’t just watching how a space could be marvelously transformed but watching the interplay of real-life family members.

When it came to nailing this marriage of reality TV tropes, Fixer Upper stars Chip and Jo Gaines reigned supreme. Their impressive renovations, trademark style, and cutesy romantic banter was television gold. In the last decade alone, they’ve managed to not only become the king and queen of HGTV, but the overseers of a vast empire that includes spin-offs, a Target line, a magazine, and a tiny lifestyle “theme park” in Waco. And now they have their own network.

But the Magnolia Network can’t thrive on Chip and Jo’s fame alone. It will need other stars and new hits. Enter Home Work. 

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In many ways, Home Work feels like more of the same. After all Fixer Upper ‘s success launched a series of HGTV imitators from the mother-daughter duo of Good Bones to the down South charms of Home Town, and Home Work fits into that same mold. The show follows Candis and Andy Meredith, a charming couple with a big Brady Bunch -style blended family who work with clients to renovate drab interiors into lush escapes. However Home Work adds in a fun extra twist. We watch Candis and Andy work on their own dream house project in tandem with clients’ requests. The two have purchased an old schoolhouse with the intent of making it a luxurious space for them and their huge litter of kids. And wow, the work they’re doing is impressive!

Indeed, the exact thing I found so charming about Home Work might be otherwise be considered a ding against it. The show had an ease to it from the jump. It was a fully-formed home renovation show complete with a telegenic family and a designer with honestly great ideas. I will never not be wowed by Candis’s trick of ordering a huge painting printed on a vinyl tarp and framing it up with gold spray-painted molding. It’s a cheap shortcut to instant class when you’ve got luxe taste and a small budget. Moreover, I want to see how the house evolves. There’s a reason for me to keep watching!

So, yeah, if I had to bet on one Magnolia Network show, it’s the one that feels the most like all my favorite HGTV hits.

You can catch the first episode of Home Work on the Magnolia Network preview tab on Discovery+. The series will officially premiere on the Magnolia Network when it launches on July 15, 2021.

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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.

Company Town

Chip and Joanna Gaines forming their own TV network with Discovery

One of America’s most popular television couples — Chip and Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” fame — are returning to television to launch a new TV network in partnership with cable programming giant Discovery.

Nov. 10, 2018

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.

HGTV builds into a top cable network on foundation of no-frills shows

As hard as it may be to imagine, there was a time not so long ago when few Americans had ever heard the expression “man cave.”

July 18, 2014

“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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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. 

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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Chip and Jo Premiere the Most Daunting Renovation Show to Date: ‘Home Work’

Chip and Joanna Gaines ‘ Magnolia Network has just released yet another new show on Discovery+: “Home Work,” which features a family even larger than their own, with seven kids! (Chip and Jo, you may recall, are at five kids and counting.)

In “Home Work,” Andy and Candis Meredith work together with their brood to turn a 113-year-old, 20,000-square-foot schoolhouse in Utah into their dream home. It’s a massive renovation project that makes you wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.

But their smart upgrades prove these two know what they’re doing, and have a style all their own.

In the premiere episode, “Old-World Kitchen,” Candis and Andy work on renovating their cooking and dining area. Here’s how they pull it together, which might inspire some changes around your own abode, too.

Make a kitchen look classic with plate racks

(Discovery+)

Candis and Andy need to make a kitchen that will be big enough to cook huge meals for their jumbo-size family.

The couple love the history and simplicity of old working kitchens, so they want to give their kitchen a similar old-world look. To do this, Candis installs simple hardware with an aged appearance and brings in a custom 13-foot island with lots of antique style.

Still, there’s one more detail that Candis knows will help bring that old-world vibe to life.

“The biggest thing I think will make it feel like an old kitchen is plate racks versus upper cabinets,” Candis says.

She installs two rows of plate racks on either side of the stove, creating a focal point as well as a unique alternative to cabinets. They’re the perfect choice for this new kitchen with a vintage look.

Use dark colors for a cozy feel

Lots of people want light, bright, and white kitchens, but Candis and Andy want to go in a different direction. While this old-world kitchen already has a lot of personality, Candis’ paint choices really make the space stand out.

She decides to paint the kitchen gray, with some accents of deep green. She knows these colors will give the space a moody look—and a surprisingly cozy feel.

“I like painting dark colors because it feels like it adds this little layer of drama,” Candis says. “Dark colors can make small spaces feel bigger, and it can even make really big spaces feel more cozy.”

Go big with lighting

To finish this massive kitchen, Candis and Andy add a dining table large enough for their family of nine, build a massive frame for a landscape portrait, and install a 7-foot chandelier.

The chandelier is a showstopper, but this formal piece is certainly unconventional for a family dining space. Still, Candis isn’t worried about the style or the size.

This is “one of those things that I thought was just too big but when you put it in the space, you actually find out, no, it really did have to be 7 feet tall,” she explains.

While not everyone would want this chandelier in their house, this choice has a lesson for us all.

“One of my biggest things I tell people is if you can’t afford to do a lot in your room, spend the money on new paint and a new light,” Candis says. “Because lights really make the whole space feel awesome.”

Go bold with bathroom tile

When not tackling their own home renovation project, the Merediths also renovate other people’s homes in the area. And with Candis giving her own kitchen such a larger-than-life look, it’s no surprise that she gives her clients Anna and Alan  a unique bathroom, too.

“They’re really bold clients, so it’s allowing me to make some bold design choices,” Candis explains.

She chooses a black and white checkered tile for the bathroom wall, a look that wouldn’t work in every house. Still, Anna and Alan think the bathroom looks great. Plus, it fits just fine when combined with other bold features, like a brass bathtub and a stone lion’s head facet.

Use an old table for an elegant bathroom vanity

While Anna and Alan’s bathroom is already memorable, Candis wants to make it feel classic by using an antique table as a vanity. Still, she has to get creative when it comes to actually turning the table into a sink, choosing a sink and fixtures that are new but will still work with an antique.

“The main focus, right when you walk in, is that antique vanity,” says Candis.

“With a brand-new sink on it, [it] feels weird to have plumbing on such an antique piece,” she admits. Nonetheless, “when it gives new life to an antique and we know that sink is going to0 be there for a long, long time, I think it’s worth making a change.”

Jillian Pretzel is a Southern California writer who covers lifestyle, relationships, home, and money management.

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A Complete List of Every Show on the Magnolia Network—and When You Can Watch Them

Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network will make its cable TV debut on January 5th!

“It wasn’t long ago that watching TV meant time together as a family," said the Gainses in a statement. "It was a place where people of all ages could gather and be informed, entertained, and inspired by the kind of honest, authentic programming that brings people closer. That’s what we’ve set out to build with Magnolia Network, and we’ve been amazed by the stories and storytellers we’ve found, people whose lives are living proof that our world is full of beauty, hope, courage, and curiosity. We can’t wait to see these stories brought to life on cable this January, and we’re hopeful about the impact it might have—to help reclaim the best of what television can be.”

Below, browse through the list of every single Magnolia Network show that's coming to your TV screen in the new year— and find out when you can watch them!

Fixer Upper: Welcome Home

Wednesdays at 9 p.m. beginning January 5

Yes! Chip and Joanna Gaines are returning for a new season of their beloved show. Although the series originally aired on HGTV, it will be continuing on Magnolia Network. You can watch the adorable teaser clip below.

The Lost Kitchen

Thursdays at 9 p.m. beginning January 6

Follow Erin French's passion for food as travelers from across the globe come together to enjoy her hometown restaurant in Freedom, Maine.

Mind for Design

Saturdays at 11 a.m. beginning January 8 (double episode premiere week 1) Interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn and his design team take on decorating projects under any and every budget.

The Johnnyswim Show

Saturdays at 7 p.m. beginning January 8 (double episode premiere week 1)

Musicians and spouses Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez raised their kids on a tour bus while playing with their band, Johnnyswim. After their tour was canceled because of the pandemic, Ramirez and Sudano have to adapt to living at home while pursuing their music careers.

Saturdays at 9 p.m. beginning January 8

Husband and wife Andy and Candis Meredith and their seven kids work together to convert a 113-year-old, 20,000 square-foot schoolhouse into their family’s dream home.

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Season 1)

Sundays at 1 p.m. beginning January 9 (double episode premiere weeks 1 and 2)

Joanna Gaines is getting her own cooking show! Named after her two cookbooks, Magnolia Table stars the mother-of-five as she whips up some yummy treats. Fun fact: it's filmed inside a gristmill from the 1800s .

Sundays at 2 p.m. beginning January 9 (double episode premiere week 1)

Zoë François bakes and cooks everything from easy dishes to decadent desserts with help from her friends and family.

Family Dinner

Sundays at 8 p.m. beginning January 9 (double episode premieres each week in January)

In Family Dinner , culinary expert Andrew Zimmern will visit families across the country to explore how the cultural, regional, and historical facets influence what and how we eat, as well as how food brings us all together.

Restoration Road with Clint Harp

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. beginning January 11

Woodworker Clint Harp will take viewers through some of the oldest and most beautiful structures still standing today. In Restoration Road , he'll share the stories of structures found all over the country.

The following series will premiere on cable throughout the month of February:

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Season 3)

Sundays at 1 p.m. beginning February 6

Saturdays at 11 a.m. beginning February 12 (double episode premiere weeks 1 and 2)

Taylor Calmus, who runs the Dude Dad Youtube Channel , along with his building crew, will be building extreme one-of-a-kind projects for kids. Think: pirate ship in the backyard to a custom ball launcher mounted to their family truck.

Thursdays at 9 p.m. beginning February 17

Erin French is the owner of The Lost Kitchen, a historic mill turned restaurant in Freedom, Maine, population 722. This series will show us how The Lost Kitchen operates, which doesn't accept phone or email reservations, but only reservations submitted by postcard.

The following series will premiere on cable throughout the month of March:

The Craftsman

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. beginning March 15 (double episode premiere week 1)

Restorer and woodworker Eric Hollenbeck gives new life to historic homes in and around his hometown of Eureka, California (Note: Episodes will debut on discovery+ and the Magnolia app concurrently with the cable premiere dates.)

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Season 2)

Sundays at 1 p.m. beginning March 20

Ranch to Table

Sundays at 2 p.m. beginning March 20 (double episode premiere week 1)

Seventh-generation cattle rancher and entrepreneur Elizabeth Poett runs her family's 14,000-acre ranch while creating region-specific dishes with fresh ingredients.

Inn the Works

Mondays at 9 p.m. beginning March 21 (double episode premiere week 1)

This new series will star Lindsey Kurowski and her crew as she purchases and renovates a rundown four-acre campground in Big Bear, CA.

Saturdays at 11 a.m. beginning March 26 (double episode premiere week 1)

Urban farmer Jamila Norman takes viewers along as she works with families in her hometown of Atlanta to turn their backyards into beautiful, functional gardens that also serve as food sources.

The following DIY Network fan favorites (which are now Magnolia Network original series) will debut as follows:

Maine Cabin Masters

Mondays at 9 p.m. beginning December 27, through March 14.

Now in its eighth season, this well-loved renovation series will also make the switch to Magnolia Network once it takes over the DIY Network.

Barnwood Builders

New episode airs January 4 at 9 p.m. (continued from June 2021). *Beginning January 11, this time slot is taken by Restoration Road with Clint Harp.

This West Virginia-based documentary series that follows craftsmen as they restore some of America's oldest barns and cabins will join other shows in making the move from the DIY Network to Magnolia Network.

Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation

Fridays at 9 p.m. beginning January 7 through January 27. Remaining episodes of the season will air later in 2022.

Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovation follows families as they renovate their beachfront properties.

Lakefront Bargain Hunt Renovation

Fridays at 9 p.m. beginning February 4 thru February 25 (continued from Oct. 2021).

Lakefront Bargain Hunt Renovation explores what happens after families purchase their lakeside vacation home, specifically how these dwellings become their dream family getaway.

The French Chef

Beginning Jan. 10 from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays (Monday and Thursday week 1 only).

Julia Child shares teaches cooks of all ages and abilities how to make some of her favorite dishes, including French Onion Soup, Quiche Lorraine, and French Apple Tarts.

This Old House and Ask This Old House

Saturdays at 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. beginning January 8.

Episodes from this iconic, Emmy-winning home improvement series will also air on Magnolia Network.

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The 10 Best Upholstery Cleaners

Why the new Magnolia Network pulled a Utah-based home renovation show

Residents open up on social media about renovation nightmares, by jacob scholl , wendy leonard.

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.

Watch CBS News

Former HGTV star from Los Gatos sentenced in $10M real estate fraud case

By Tim Fang

Updated on: April 16, 2024 / 5:47 PM PDT / CBS San Francisco

LOS GATOS – A Los Gatos man who starred in a real estate reality show was sentenced to jail and ordered to pay back nearly $10 million to his victims after being convicted of real estate fraud, prosecutors said Tuesday.

According to Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen's office, 58-year-old Charles "Todd" Hill received a four-year sentence. Hill starred in the HGTV show " Flip It to Win It ", which featured teams buying dilapidated homes and fixing them, before selling them for a profit.

The show aired in 2014.

Prosecutors said Hill was convicted in Sep. 2023 after admitting to grand theft with aggravated white-collar enhancements for committing real estate and financial fraud against 11 victims. Hill was indicted in 2019 following an investigation by the DA's office.

"Some see the huge amount of money in Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity," Rosen said in a statement . "Others, unfortunately, see it as a criminal opportunity – and we will hold those people strictly accountable."

According to the DA's office, Hill engaged in "multiple fraud schemes", with some scams dating back before the HGTV show.

Prosecutors said in one instance, he diverted construction money for his personal use. In another, Hill created a Ponzi scheme by taking money intended to buy homes from an investor and spending it on a lavish lifestyle instead. He hid the theft by creating false balance sheets and used fraudulent information to obtain loans, according to prosecutors.

In a third case, prosecutors said an investor who provided $250,000 to remodel a home toured the property, only finding it to be a "burnt down shell" with no work performed.

Hill had used the money on a rented apartment in San Francisco along with spending on hotels, vacations and luxury cars, prosecutors said.

In addition to jail time, Hill was ordered to pay back $9,402,678.43 in restitution and serve 10 years probation. Hill has been remanded into custody, the DA's office announced.

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Ex-HGTV Star Must Pay $10 Million for Fraud

A former HGTV star is headed to the big house. Charles “Todd” Hill, of Los Gatos, Calif., has been sentenced to four years in jail for real estate and financial fraud . The former star of Flip It to Win It must also pay nearly $10 million in restitution to 11 victims, the Santa Clara County District Attorney said. 

What did Charles “Todd” Hill do? 

In September 2023, Hill, 58, was convicted of grand theft with aggravated white-collar enhancements. On April 16, he was sentenced to four years in jail. He was also ordered to pay $9.4 million in restitution and will serve 10 years on probation. 

Hill was indicted in November 2019 after an investigation uncovered evidence of fraud, including scams that predated his time on HGTV. Among his crimes were diverting construction money for personal use. He also ran a Ponzi scheme where he took money investors gave him to buy homes and used it to fund a lavish lifestyle, including an apartment in San Francisco, hotels, vacations, and luxury cars. He hid the theft with fake balance sheets and fraudulently obtained loans. 

One investor gave Hill $250,000 to remodel a home. But when he toured the property, he found it was a burnt-out shell and no work had been completed. 

Hill’s victims who testified at the sentencing hearing said they were still suffering financial and professional damages from the fraud.

“Some see the huge amount of money in Silicon Valley real estate as a business opportunity,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Others, unfortunately, see it as a criminal opportunity – and we will hold those people strictly accountable.”

Hill starred in HGTV’s ‘Flip It to Win It’ 

From ‘Fixer Upper’ to ‘Flip or Flop’: The Biggest HGTV Scandals Ever

Hill starred in the short-lived HGTV house-flipping series Flip It to Win It, which aired for one season in 2014. It featured “five teams of expert flippers” who “bid against each other for abandoned houses sight unseen,” according to HGTV ’s website. 

“It’s a high-stakes hour in which three auctions are won, three houses are renovated and then all three houses go on the market for top dollar,” the description continues. 

The show highlighted Hill’s business of buying run-down homes, fixing them up, and then selling them for a profit. But according to prosecutors, viewers weren’t getting the whole story. In reality, Hill spent millions on overbudget remodels, laundered profits, and pocketed millions in fraudulently obtained money.

At one point, Hill seemed to be poised to become a prominent HGTV personality. But his TV career fizzled out soon after Flip It to Win It debuted. In 2014, Max Keech, one of Hill’s investors, sued Hill, accusing him of scamming him out of $6 million. HGTV quickly scuttled plans for a second show that would have featured Hill called Think You Can Flip?, The Mercury News reported at the time. 

“I am a very bad judge of character,” Keech told the paper. “I made a critical mistake in not looking over his shoulder. My money made him a celebrity. We started this before there was a TV show. He had the personality to do it.”

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s YouTube channel .

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'Backed by the Bros' Is Unlike Any Show the Scott Brothers Have Hosted

The new series takes the power out of Jonathan and Drew’s hands: "There are serious stakes here."

Related To:

Get excited: Drew and Jonathan Scott have a new series in the works called Backed By The Bros , and it premieres on HGTV Wednesday, June 5, at 9|8c (and will be available to stream the same day and time on Max ).

These two have pretty much done it all since their premiere series, Property Brothers , first aired in 2011. (Check out Property Brothers: Forever Home , Brother vs. Brother and Celebrity IOU to see their prowess firsthand.) Their role in all their shows has always been constant: The bros call the shots.

Well, not anymore.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Property Brothers 🏡🔨 (@propertybrothers)

The new series puts the brothers in the backseat as they help hopeful entrepreneurs make the most of their investments. Though Jonathan and Drew can give advice and assist with project management, it’s ultimately up to the investors to decide how they want to move forward.

Needless to say, a new kind of Scott-filled entertainment awaits. Ahead of the premiere, we sat down with Drew and Jonathan to discuss what makes Backed By The Bros special.

What Sets Backed By The Bros Apart?

1. the brothers don't have final say.

“It’s completely different from any show we’ve done before,” Drew tells HGTV. “Usually, Jonathan and I are totally in charge and calling the shots. On Backed By The Bros , we can give suggestions and our best advice, but it’s really up to the investors to decide if they’re going to take it. For example, we can suggest they use our contractors, but if they want to use their own crew, that’s their choice. It’s hard not to be in the driver’s seat!”

“These are real investors we’re working with, and not all of these stories are going to go off without a hitch,” Jonathan says. “And there are serious stakes here: Some of these folks have their retirement or their kids’ college funds wrapped up in their projects, so they really have a lot on the line ... and we’re used to having everything our way, so it’s practice in trusting the process. Are we control freaks?!"

“I know I am, because it’s hard to watch from the sidelines,” Drew admits. “Still, we’re not always right, and it’s a good reminder that other people have amazing ideas, too. Sometimes, they’re teaching us new ways to approach things.”

2. Drew and Jonathan Choose Their P rotégés Carefully

“We need to be able to see the potential, and the end goal has to be realistic,” Drew says. “If the house needs a ton of work and we just don’t see how the investor’s budget is going to make that happen, we’re probably not going to back it. But if we offer them an alternative where we think it could work and they actually listen, then we’re open to it.”

“Exactly, it’s not just about the property,” Jonathan adds. “We’re looking for the right investors, too. Those are people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get stuff done. We want to put our energy into someone who’s going to make it happen and not just expect us to lead the charge and do the dirty work.”

3. They're Helping Families Create a Better Financial Future

They've always been all about creating happiness, but this is the first time the duo is actively working to improve a family’s investment. “Helping families has always been our number one goal and motivator,” Jonathan says. “This was a great opportunity to reach out to people who are putting themselves out there and trying to make money for their families.”

“If they can turn these projects around, they can be real moneymakers,” Drew adds. “Then, these investors can get out of debt, replenish their savings or create some wealth for their families. The possibilities are pretty amazing.”

4. The Brothers Dedicate More Than Just Time

“We give them access to a ton of resources they wouldn’t have, like covering designers for them or letting them shop our warehouses and getting things like appliances and furniture for free or really cheap,” Drew says.

“Plus, of course, they get our infinite wisdom, which is priceless,” Jonathan jokes. “But on a serious note, Drew and I have made so many mistakes throughout the years. If we can offer our time and mentorship and hopefully help these investors avoid major headaches that are going to cost them, then we’ve done our jobs.”

Keep Up With the Bros

Find a trove of the Scott Brothers shows streaming on Max, including Property Brothers: Forever Home , Brother vs. Brother and Celebrity IOU . Stay connected via HGTV's digital platforms by following @HGTV and #BackedByTheBros on Facebook , X , Instagram and TikTok . DrewandJonathan.com is the digital hub for all things Drew and Jonathan Scott. Follow Drew @mrdrewscott and Jonathan @jonathanscott on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Each episode of Backed By The Bros will be available to stream Wednesdays at 9|8c on Max beginning June 5.

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