Whether you’re vicariously seeking an affordable starter property on House Hunters or learning how to renovate your primary bath with Erin and Ben Napier, HGTV proves that you don’t need a limitless bank account to make your biggest design dreams come true. So when we happen to see a renovation project that costs a pretty penny—like the $191,000 kitchen makeover on the latest episode of Christina on the Coast—we definitely take notice.
In the season five premiere, Christina Hall was asked by self-proclaimed fellow soccer mom Amy to spruce up her Newport Beach kitchen. The task was simple: Turn a crammed kitchen into an open, airy oasis that emphasizes indoor-outdoor living. Amy and her husband, Scott, initially set a $150,000 budget but—as with most renovations—things happened.
When replacing the kitchen’s tiles with hardwood floors, Hall’s contractor noticed the floor needed to be leveled—which cost an extra $1,800. Then the
