Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack Face a ‘Tough Critic’ in Their Own Family

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“Flip or Flop” stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack usually stick with more of a modern coastal vibe, but in the latest episode, they try something new: modern Southwestern.

In the Season 11 episode “Prickly Flip,” El Moussa and Haack buy a house in Lakewood, CA, for $455,000. The place is simply a wreck, with an ugly exterior, gutted kitchen, and a leaking water bed nearly ruining the floors.

Although they work miracles turning this house around, they face some scathing criticism on their design choices—from a family member no less. Here’s what happens, and plenty of take-home lessons you might be inspired to apply, too.

Stucco works best for a Southwest style

This house had zero curb appeal.

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When Haack and El Moussa first tour this house, they’re worried about the exterior: The lawn is ugly, the siding is in bad shape, and the whole thing is an eyesore.

“It looks like a barn,” El Moussa says.

However, Haack is inspired by the cactus in front of the house and decides to give the exterior a modern Southwestern look. The team rips out the old wood siding and, instead of replacing it with more wood, they go with simple (and less expensive) stucco.

This stucco gives the home a Southwestern style.

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When the house is finished, Haack is happy they ended up using the stucco. It looks clean and fresh.

“I feel like probably the siding would’ve been a little much,” she says. “This feels Southwestern.”

You can also stucco a fireplace

This brick fireplace was the wrong style entirely.

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Haack wants to bring a bit of that Southwestern theme inside. To start, she decides to stucco the brick fireplace.

While stucco can be an inexpensive alternative to wood siding, Haack learns that doing this fireplace would cost $2,400—a high price for just one feature, especially when it would cost only a couple hundred to paint the brick.

“Save $2,000 and get a very similar look? Let’s just blast it with, like, a super bright white,” El Moussa says.

With some stucco and paint, this fireplace is the best of both worlds.

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The two compromise, agreeing to use stucco on both the hearth and where a mantel would go, then painting the rest black. It’s a modern look that works with the Southwestern theme, it costs only $700.

Both Haack and El Moussa are happy.

“We saved money here, and we compromised, which I feel like, every time we compromise it works out really well,” says Haack.

A big island can offer more storage

This kitchen was a total wreck!

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After taking down the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, Haack and El Moussa realize that the kitchen doesn’t have much cabinet space. Their solution: Add a giant 9-foot island with plenty of storage.

“We don’t have a lot of storage in this kitchen,” Haack explains. “Like, we need to utilize everything we can.”

This big island will give the new homeowners lots of storage and more workspace.

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Once the island is built, the kitchen seems much more functional. While there may not be a lot of storage on the back wall of this kitchen, the island provides lots of cabinets and ample counter space. It’s a great solution to the space problem and a good reminder that when it comes to kitchen islands, often bigger is better.

Choose a backsplash that works with the theme

10-year-old Taylor El Moussa isn’t so sure about this backsplash.

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Especially after the fireplace debacle, it’s clear El Moussa and Haack don’t agree on every design feature right away, but they defy the odds when they both say they love one particular backsplash.

The tile is modern with a bit of Southwestern flair—plus, it’s black and white, which complements the dark cabinets. It seems like the perfect choice for this kitchen.

However, when El Moussa and Haack bring their 10-year-old daughter, Taylor, to the house, she points out that the match isn’t perfect.

This backsplash still looks great.

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“Do you see how the color of this cabinet and the color of the backsplash matches?” El Moussa asks.

“This is more of a brown though,” Taylor says, touching a cabinet.

Haack is taken aback. “You’re a tough critic,” she says.

While the colors may not match perfectly, the backsplash is still a great choice, and at just $3 per tile, it helps Haack and El Moussa stay on budget.

Even a small fire feature can amp up a backyard

This small fire feature makes a big difference.

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After Haack and El Moussa renovate the home’s interior, they don’t have much to spend on landscaping. Still, Haack wants the space to feel special.

“I actually did see this really cool, like, fire feature that has an adobe look to it, that has sort of like a chimney on top,” Haack says.

They can put a few tree stump seats around it and it’ll cost only $500, she says. While most homeowners assume a fire feature will cost a lot, Haack’s idea gives the backyard a unique upgrade for a small price.

Is this a flip or flop?

After paying $455,000 for the house, Haack and El Moussa pour $125,000 into the renovation. They decide to list the home for $799,999. They get multiple offers and end up selling the house for $842,000.

After closing costs and commission, these flippers net $231,200. With results like that, even perfectionist Taylor has to be impressed!

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