After two successful seasons, Renovation Resort is back with new duos ready to take on the Reno challenge
For eight weeks, four contractor-designer duos competed to win $100,000 and the title of Renovation Resort champion while fixing a lakeside resort on Kawartha Lakes. The duos include Vancouver coworkers Tatianna and Thomas, Niagara sisters Marcy and Melissa, Texas friends Chalon and Liz and Vancouver duo Taylor and Mehrdad. While they frequently worked separately, certain challenges did have the duos working together. The show is hosted by Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler.
Tatianna and Thomas describe being on the show as challenging, exhilarating, exhausting and rewarding. “You go in thinking you know what to expect and then day one hits and you realize you had no idea,” Tatianna shares. “It pushed us in every direction possible and we came out the other side genuinely proud of what we built together.” Thomas adds that the duo surprised themselves more than once and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Tatianna had been passionate about design since she was young, having travelled abroad after her mother passed away in a car accident. She returned and started working in design and hasn’t looked back 10 years later. Thomas was interested in carpentry since a young age, got his Red Seal certification and now does what he loves and doesn’t even see it as a job.
Sisters Marcy and Melissa felt this experience was a dream come true, having always wanted to work on a large-scale project together. Marcy shares, “We made sure to really soak up the entire experience even when times got stressful.” Melissa adds that she didn’t want the experience to end after their 8 weeks and would do it again. Marcy has always had an interest in design, having her mom bring her to open houses and work passionately on redecorating her room or even her sisters’ Barbie houses. Melissa feels that this work is so rewarding, getting to be part of the before and after process.
Renovation Resort had Taylor and Mehrdad feeling like anything is possible with determination, hard work, and perseverance. “It was an incredible experience that pushed us, inspired us, and reinforced that nothing is out of reach if you’re willing to put in the effort,” Taylor shares who loved lego, drawing and dollhouses as a kid so it was natural for her to find herself wanting to create environments.
Texas friends Chalon and Liz describe the show as an intense and emotional experience. They shared that the element of being on TV transformed the work while thinking about being on camera, being interrupted to do interviews and the timelines that feel impossible. “On the show, you’re building, explaining, collaborating, and performing, all at the same time. And then there’s the emotional side. Being away from family, out of your routine, meeting new people every day, and operating in a high-pressure environment from start to finish.” The duo adds that it was Chalon’s first time being fully immersed in design and stepping away from law which was freeing. They have deep gratitude for this opportunity. Liz grew up in the world of design, with a dad who was a handyman and owned an appliance store. After her parents separated, Liz got a hands on education helping rip up carpet, paint, build as their home shifted and evolved as she is one of five kids. She then pursued architecture school. When her dad passed away the day after she stopped working in retail she took it as a sign to fully commit to her full services design and build studio. Chalon set aside design to pursue law, but in 2013 that changed when her husband bought a house for them to flip. They renovated the home in 6 weeks. They also staged the home with only.a $2000 budget for 2500 square feet. After being told she had a gift for 7 years, during the pandemic, she decided to launch Design Refined so she could flex her design muscles.
Chalon and Liz got frustrated with each other during the show, but knew it was part of the process. “You’re making constant decisions, working against the clock, and navigating different perspectives in real time. That’s going to create tension. There were moments where we moved at different speeds, saw things differently, or just needed more space to think. Two strong points of view in a high-pressure environment will naturally create friction. But we both cared deeply about the outcome, and that kept things grounded. Even when we didn’t see something the same way, the focus stayed on the work. What’s best for the space, what pushes it further, what actually lands.” That add that ultimately the tension made the work better. They challenged each other, and produced something they are both incredibly proud of.
The same sentiment is shared by Tatianna and Thomas, who joke the cameras definitely captured some frustrating moments. “But honestly it was one of the best things that could have happened because it forced us to figure out how to actually communicate with each other under pressure.” Tatianna shares, “It happened early on and after that we found our rhythm. I had to learn to lean into Thomas’s expertise and trust his judgment on what was realistic, even when I was deeply passionate about a design direction. That balance took some getting used to but once we found it, everything clicked.”
Melissa and Marcy may have gotten frustrated with each other but as siblings, they knew to voice their opinions and treat each other with respect. “I feel like we truly had each other’s backs through the ups and downs,” Marcy adds. “We took breaks or breathers when we needed them. I am proud of how we handled everything and how we focused on the positives while soaking in the experience. Melissa adds that a competition like Renovation Resort can be stressful and can get frustrating but being sisters, the duo was able to communicate with each other and move past it very quickly. She adds, “This worked in our favour because there really isn’t much time to upset and at the end of the day we have each other’s backs.”
Similarly, Taylor and Mehrdad felt tensions running high with the high-stakes environment, but they were both aligned in their goals and used all frustration as motivation. They approached the show one day at a time, stayed excited and were present for the experience. “It was incredible to be part of such an amazing opportunity and to work alongside industry leaders we’ve admired for years, like Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler.”
Tatianna and Thomas planned to show up, give everything they had, and not hold back. “We didn’t come here to play it safe.” Tatianna shares, “We came to prove what we’re capable of and to create something we’re genuinely proud of regardless of the outcome.” Thomas adds they were committed to pushing through no matter what. Their biggest challenge was time and design. They chose intricate designs that demanded both serious skill and serious time to execute, and refused to simplify them just to make things easier on themselves. There was no downtime, no coasting, just full pace from start to finish. “We had some very close calls and a couple of moments where we had to completely rethink and pivot our designs on the fly. Those were the moments that tested us the most, but also the ones we learned from the most.” Their favourite part? Working with the other duos. They share, “Getting to be around other skilled designers and builders and seeing how completely different everyone’s approach and aesthetic was, it really opened our eyes. Everyone brought different strengths to the table and it was a good reminder that in design and construction there is always more to learn. The industry is always evolving, new products, new techniques, new ways of thinking. But beyond the professional side of it, we all got really close. By the end it felt less like a competition and more like a family. We like to think we walked away with some friendships that are going to stick around for a long time.”
Marcy wanted to live in the moment and do her best work while on the show. She recognizes she is a perfectionist and sometimes that can be a downfall. Melissa has always wanted to work with her sister, so Renovation Resort felt like the opportunity of a life time. She adds, “With all honesty I just wanted to make my sister proud, and making sure we stayed true to ourselves! Our Lake House really represented our family, and I believe you can feel that the second you walk in!” The biggest hurdle they faced was the ticking clock and leaving perfectionism aside due to missing details. The duo loved working with the other teams, especially the first challenge with Taylor and Mehrdad – which Melissa describes as fun. “it can be intimidating working with people you don’t know but we all clicked very fast! It’s always great working with others that are just as excited and passionate about a project!”
Taylor and Mehrdad were also worried about limited time impeding the standards the duo had for themselves in regards to design and craftsmanship but feel it pushed them to be more efficient, focused and creative under pressure. They loved collaborating with the teams and enjoyed supporting each other, celebrating everyone’s creativity and hard work.
Liz and Chalon didn’t want to play it safe, and wanted to use Renovation Resort to create something intentional, layered and memorable while deliberately bringing Bahamian culture to an international stage which reflects Chalon’s background. Their lake house is a love letter to the Caribbean, rooted in creativity, craftsmanship, and comfort. They’d describe their project as having sleek lines, a bold yet serene palette, layered textures, and details that feel handcrafted rather than assembled. That translated into what they describe as culturally curated island luxury.”
Renovation Resort marked Chalon’s first time in Canada, so Kawartha Lakes made quite a first impression. They found the surroundings breathtaking, with clear water, lush surroundings, and a stillness that you don’t always find on a production set. Despite the serene space, they still faced hurdles on the show/ The clock was always running and with strict deadlines they felt the pressure to make quick and confident decisions. “You have to trust your instincts in a way that real life doesn’t always demand. Trust that your first read on a space is right. Trust that the decision you’re making at 10pm after a 14-hour day is still a good one. Trust that the skills you’ve spent years building are enough. For us, that was the real obstacle. Not the timeline itself but learning to perform at the highest level within it, without letting the pressure compromise the work. And honestly, getting to the other side of that was one of the most clarifying experiences of our design and build careers.” The duo worked alongside Tatianna and Thomas for one challenge and enjoyed the experience and felt Thomas’ Red Seal certification gave Liz and Chalon new insight, as well as Tatianna’s expertise in the short-term rental spaces.
Out of competition came feelings of family and respect — and gorgeous lake houses! Make sure to tune into Renovation Resort on the Home Network to see who comes out on top!
Hillary LeBlanc
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