Tarek and Christina Try a Kitchen Reno Move We’ve Never, Ever Seen Before

HGTV; realtor.com

Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have yet another great house to flip on the latest “Flip or Flop.” So why, then, are they off searching for buried treasure instead?

In the latest episode, titled “Treasure Hunt,” Anstead and El Moussa have purchased a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Fullerton, CA. This house seems like any other flip, until El Moussa tells Anstead something interesting about the history of the house. Apparently, the previous owner hated banks and may have hidden his fortune somewhere in this house.

So, as the rehab starts, the hunt is on, and Anstead, El Moussa, and their contractor, Jeff Lawrence, search high and low for hidden money. Will they find anything good? Or, will their search for loot cause them to lose sight of the potential profits right in front of them? Read on to find out what happens, and learn a few design tips along the way.

Install the kitchen island at an angle

Christina Anstead’s design risk paid off: An angled island is perfect for this kitchen!

HGTV

Once renovations begin, Anstead has a bold idea when it comes to the kitchen island. Since the sink is already set up in the corner, she wants to angle the island to match.

At first, El Moussa isn’t so sure about this choice. Still, in the end, they decide to angle the island and it looks amazing, giving the kitchen a little something different in terms of design that is adored by many who see the house later on.

“I like how it’s at an angle,” one buyer remarks during the open house, walking around the kitchen. “It makes it more open in here, too.”

Go bold with the backsplash

During renovation, it’s easy for Anstead and El Moussa to choose white cabinets and white countertops for the kitchen. It’s a classic look that buyers love. But the backsplash isn’t so easy.

Anstead and El Moussa struggle over three tile choices: gray hexagons, a lighter gray arabesque, or a bold gray-and-white geometric pattern. They settle on the geometric tile. Anstead explains that buyers love a bold backsplash, but if the new buyer doesn’t like their choice, it’s an easy fix.

“If the new owner wants to change up the look of the kitchen,” she says, “they could just remove the backsplash for a minimal cost.”

Remove and hide ugly, old fences

Once this fence is removed, the view will be amazing.

HGTV

Right away, El Moussa and Anstead know that this house needs some serious help when it comes to the fences in the yard.

There’s a chain-link fence blocking the amazing view, and while El Moussa wants to take it down, he isn’t able to reach the neighbors to get permission to do so. He decides to build a white fence in front of it, which is low so that it won’t hide the scenery. But it also doesn’t hide the top of the chain-link fence.

By the time of the open house, potential buyers aren’t so sure about this choice.

“I don’t know about the chain-link fence. I wish this could possibly be a little bit higher,” a potential buyer says.

It doesn’t look great as is, but hopefully the new owners will be able to reach the neighbors and get permission to take down the chain link. If that happens, they’ll have a great fence and a great view.

Add glam to the fireplace

Anstead and Tarek El Moussa created this gorgeous mantel with reclaimed wood they found in the garage. Maybe that wood was their real hidden treasure.

HGTV

When Anstead and El Moussa first tour this house, they find an outdated fireplace in need of a makeover. But the style they choose to replace it might be a little risky.

They pick a vintage glass tile that, as they’re installing it, gives Anstead qualms.

“It’s going to be kind of interesting,” she says, “because I didn’t really think about the reflection.” Apparently the tile is so reflective, the new homeowners would be able to see themselves as they sit and watch TV. This is, admittedly, a bit weird.

Still, they pair the glass tile with some reclaimed wood as a mantel, and the finished product looks pretty cool.

When the house is finally finished, El Moussa remarks, “That fireplace is incredible.”

Painting planters is a cheap fix

These planters look much better after being painted.

HGTV

In the front yard, the house has ugly brick planters, one of which Anstead says looks like a coffin. She wants to take the planters out, but El Moussa says removing them would be too expensive.

Instead, they paint the brick white and the front walkway gray. They finish it off by planting some flowers in the planters to brighten up the home.

It’s a quick (and inexpensive) solution, but it looks great!

Choose a clean, white exterior

Anstead and El Moussa made a good call painting over that trim.

HGTV

When Anstead and El Moussa buy this house, it has a white exterior with a strange red-orange trim. Of course, this flipping duo know that they need to fix this.

They decide to go with a plain white exterior and a blue door for a pop of color, and it turns out amazing.

“That’s so cute, I love the color of it,” one potential buyer says at the open house. “It just looks so bright and welcoming.”

So, is this a flip or flop?

After searching high and low, Anstead and El Moussa never find hidden treasure in the house. But, they do make a good profit on this home.

After buying the house for $540,000, they spend $110,000 on the rehab, commission, and closing. That means these two have a break-even price of just over $650,000.

Happily, El Moussa and Anstead find a buyer for $760,000, which means they’re looking at a profit of $100,000-plus. That’s almost as good as finding buried treasure!

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