My Houzz: Pro Skater Tony Hawk Stuns Friend With Surprise Remodel
Hawk uses Houzz to find and collaborate with home design professionals to update a kitchen, living room and bathroom
Mitchell Parker
July 17, 2018
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
“Perfect” is a word you’ll hear Kerry Overman say a lot in response to her renovated kitchen, living room and bathroom. Which is shocking given that the renovation was a surprise from her friend, the legendary pro skateboarder Tony Hawk.
So how did a man famous for being the first to land a 900-degree aerial spin on a vertical ramp come to successfully execute an extensive home remodeling project? With years of getting to know his friend’s style and with a lot of help from some design professionals.
So how did a man famous for being the first to land a 900-degree aerial spin on a vertical ramp come to successfully execute an extensive home remodeling project? With years of getting to know his friend’s style and with a lot of help from some design professionals.
“After” photos by Ryan Young; “before” photos by Rick Ricozzi Photography
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Kerry and Brad Overman; their daughter, Scarlett, 6; and children Keaton, 22, and Olivia, 18, from Kerry’s marriage to the late pro skateboarder Ray Underhill
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Designers: David Spetrino (builder) and Chrissy Bonney (interior designer) of PBC Design + Build
Hawk, pictured, met Overman through her late husband, Ray Underhill, an original member of the Bones Brigade skate team, which is widely considered to have popularized the sport of skateboarding in the mid-1980s. When Underhill died of brain cancer 10 years ago, Hawk vowed to help Overman and Olivia and Keaton, her children with Underhill, who are also Hawk’s godchildren.
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Kerry and Brad Overman; their daughter, Scarlett, 6; and children Keaton, 22, and Olivia, 18, from Kerry’s marriage to the late pro skateboarder Ray Underhill
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Designers: David Spetrino (builder) and Chrissy Bonney (interior designer) of PBC Design + Build
Hawk, pictured, met Overman through her late husband, Ray Underhill, an original member of the Bones Brigade skate team, which is widely considered to have popularized the sport of skateboarding in the mid-1980s. When Underhill died of brain cancer 10 years ago, Hawk vowed to help Overman and Olivia and Keaton, her children with Underhill, who are also Hawk’s godchildren.
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Before: Overman has since remarried, to local police Detective Brad Overman, and they now have a 6-year-old daughter, Scarlett. Hawk wanted to give the family a renovation that would open up the original kitchen, pictured, to the living room and make the home more functional for large gatherings. He also wanted to update a dark and cramped bathroom that Olivia and Scarlett share.
Hawk used Houzz to find builder David Spetrino and designer Chrissy Bonney of PBC Design + Build to help reimagine the home and update it with new furniture and accessories from Houzz.
The central location of the kitchen means it lacks abundant natural light. That, coupled with the original wood cabinets, walls, ceiling and floor, resulted in a dark atmosphere. Plus, the refrigerator wall closed off the kitchen from the living room.
Hawk used Houzz to find builder David Spetrino and designer Chrissy Bonney of PBC Design + Build to help reimagine the home and update it with new furniture and accessories from Houzz.
The central location of the kitchen means it lacks abundant natural light. That, coupled with the original wood cabinets, walls, ceiling and floor, resulted in a dark atmosphere. Plus, the refrigerator wall closed off the kitchen from the living room.
After: To brighten the kitchen, Bonney whitewashed the ceiling, allowing some of the wood grain to still show through, and added gray cabinets and updated lighting.
Spetrino removed the wall dividing the kitchen from the living room and took space from an unused hall closet to recess the fridge in its new location. “I cannot believe the transformation, but yet it still feels like my home,” Kerry Overman says.
Westhighland White paint (ceiling whitewash): Sherwin-Williams; Fulton collection chandelier in aged zinc finish: Hinkley Lighting; metal counter stools in distressed light blue: Mikga
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Spetrino removed the wall dividing the kitchen from the living room and took space from an unused hall closet to recess the fridge in its new location. “I cannot believe the transformation, but yet it still feels like my home,” Kerry Overman says.
Westhighland White paint (ceiling whitewash): Sherwin-Williams; Fulton collection chandelier in aged zinc finish: Hinkley Lighting; metal counter stools in distressed light blue: Mikga
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Before: The kitchen was functional, but the amount of wood struck a one-note tone.
After: Bonney introduced more variance with gray cabinets, a glossy white backsplash, wood shelves and leathered Absolute Black granite countertops.
Cabinets in Willow Gray: Hollingsworth Cabinetry; Trinsic collection faucet in matte black: Delta; ductless wall-mount range hood with remote: Golden Vantage
Cabinets in Willow Gray: Hollingsworth Cabinetry; Trinsic collection faucet in matte black: Delta; ductless wall-mount range hood with remote: Golden Vantage
Taking the cabinets to the ceiling and using deeper pullouts optimized the storage.
Single-bowl apron-front sink in stainless steel: MR Direct; hand towels: Scents and Feel
Single-bowl apron-front sink in stainless steel: MR Direct; hand towels: Scents and Feel
Before: Again, the wall-to-wall wood made the room feel dark and heavy. A small opening over the sink looked to an interior back entryway to the home.
After: Bonney enlarged the opening to capture just a bit more light coming in through a glass-panel back door. The new color scheme provides nice contrast to the adjacent wood-filled rooms.
Before: The two doors on the back wall led to pantries. The one on the right had become more of a catchall for lights and batteries.
After: More efficient cabinet storage makes up for the lost pantry. And you can see how the main gathering spot at the table feels more connected to anyone who might be sitting in the living room.
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Before: The living room had become just a pass-through space between the front door and the kitchen. Nobody wanted to hang out in it, and the TV in the cabinet never got used.
After: The removal of the wall created a more open and inviting feel.
Bonney made sure to keep a lot of elements that she knew were personal to Overman and to the character of the home, such as the much-used wood-burning fireplace. Bonney updated the area by painting the brick and adding reclaimed-wood shiplap and a new mantel. “We wanted to give that space a character and make it a little more of a focal point,” she says.
Westhighland White paint (walls and ceiling) and Iron Ore paint (brick): Sherwin-Williams; Kensington Maxx swivel chair: Four Hands; Othello mirror-and-iron coffee table: Arteriors Home
Bonney made sure to keep a lot of elements that she knew were personal to Overman and to the character of the home, such as the much-used wood-burning fireplace. Bonney updated the area by painting the brick and adding reclaimed-wood shiplap and a new mantel. “We wanted to give that space a character and make it a little more of a focal point,” she says.
Westhighland White paint (walls and ceiling) and Iron Ore paint (brick): Sherwin-Williams; Kensington Maxx swivel chair: Four Hands; Othello mirror-and-iron coffee table: Arteriors Home
Before: Most of the furniture had been around for a while and didn’t fit the family’s style anymore. Some pieces that were meaningful to Overman, such as the large lantern in the corner, weren’t being shown off to their advantage.
After: Bonney updated the furniture in a fresh, layered style and hung the lantern on the wall. She also stained the window trim for added depth.
Effingham modern armchairs in gray: 1st Avenue
Watch now: See Overman’s tearful reaction to her updated home
Effingham modern armchairs in gray: 1st Avenue
Watch now: See Overman’s tearful reaction to her updated home
Before: A protruding sofa blocked the path from the front door on the left to the kitchen on the right.
After: Bonney stole space from Olivia’s enormous bedroom closet to create a recess in the wall for shelves and a TV. She repurposed the doors from the hallway closet and hung them on a barn door-style track.
Before: One of the biggest pain points for the family was a cramped bathroom shared by Olivia and Scarlett, who were afraid to use the shower because it didn’t have a light. A window looking out to a heavily trafficked porch area didn’t help make things comfortable either.
After: Bonney removed the domed shower insert and created a larger and well-lit walk-in shower. She used some space from the hallway closet to widen the vanity and gave it a leathered White Ice granite countertop. And she frosted the window glass for more privacy.
Westhighland White paint (walls, ceiling and shiplap) and Iron Ore paint (trim): Sherwin-Williams; Huckins round wall mirrors in black: Residence
Westhighland White paint (walls, ceiling and shiplap) and Iron Ore paint (trim): Sherwin-Williams; Huckins round wall mirrors in black: Residence
The extra counter space and two mirrors let Olivia and Scarlett use the area at the same time.
A narrow niche left over from removing the wall and the unused pantry became a message board and firewood storage area.
“I think she loves it more than I could really imagine,” Hawk says of the renovation. He’s pictured here with Overman as she sees her remodeled home for the first time.
“It’s like one big space we can all enjoy,” Overman says. “It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
“It’s like one big space we can all enjoy,” Overman says. “It’s beautiful. It’s perfect.”
Watch now: See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
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awesome decoration!
This is amazing!! I’m so inspired by what he did for his friends family wow!! Great job!! The space looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!
I never thought a home renovation would make me cry.... beautiful. Lovely people all around. Tony Hawk...you rock!