Allison Janney's Longtime Assistant Gets A Fun (and Functional) Home Renovation

Over the past 20 years, Oscar winner Allison Janney has formed a tight bond with her assistant Ilana. The pair have celebrated (and mourned) life’s many ups and downs together. As as sign of gratitude for both her hard work and friendship, Allison enlisted the Property Brothers to help overhaul the outdated main floor of Ilana’s Los Angeles home. Take a peek at how it all came together.

Season 2 of Celebrity IOU airs Mondays at 10PM on HGTV Canada and will Stream Live and On Demand on the new Global TV App, and on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels. HGTV Canada is available through all major TV service providers.

Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott flank Allison Janney, her assistant Illana and Illana's husband Itay in the renovated kitchen

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Group Hug

Allison Janney and her assistant Ilana have maintained a professional and personal relationship for the last two decades. The duo – who met back in 2000 when Allison took on her Emmy-winning role in The West Wing – have only grown closer in recent years after each suffered tragic losses: Allison’s brother died, followed by Ilana’s sister. The deaths of their siblings only made their bond stronger, and as a thank you for all her hard work and support over the years, Allison wanted to surprise Ilana (her “sister, muse and confidant”) with a complete overhaul of the main floor of her Los Angeles home.

A long, narrow white living room with dark hardwood floors, long L-shaped couch and pink rug

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Before: The Living Room

In order to keep the plan a surprise, Ilana’s hubby Itay took her and their two daughters on a three-week trip, giving Drew and Jonathan Scott a quick, but manageable, timeframe for renovating the main floor. This narrow living room featured outdated flooring and hand-me-down furniture (the couch used to belong to Allison!).

The renovated living room with light hardwood floors, blue L-shaped couch, modern furniture and artwork

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After: The Living Room

Lighter hardwood floors, modern decor and a deep blue colour palette instantly breathed new life into the formerly tired, dated living room. Find more minimalist design style ideas, room by room.

Jonathan and Drew Scott lift up Allison Janney who is sitting in a chair in the renovated living room

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And Scene!

Allison wanted in on the action and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. It’s not every day a major Hollywood A-lister wants to help with all the tedious details of home renovations.

The open-concept space before - with outdated hardwood flooring, old-fashioned see-through fireplace and glimpses into the dining room

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Before: Open-Concept

Although spacious, the open-concept floorplan felt awkward and dated. The Property Brothers wanted to bring more cohesion to the main floor, and that would have to start with swapping the dining room for the kitchen.

The open-concept space after - with modern furniture, updated fireplace and a glass floor-to-ceiling wine cabinet

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After: Open-Concept

The living room and kitchen areas are more functional after a complete overhaul of the floorplan. It’s hard to believe the kitchen wasn’t there the whole time. And the see-through fireplace was given a major facelift.

Jonathan and Scott flank Allison Janney, wearing a red-orange gown, among the debris from the demolished dining room

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Dressed to Impress

Allison had zero qualms about throwing around a hammer. In fact, she even dressed for the occasion in a floor-length red-orange gown that Jonathan likened to the iconic Jessica Rabbit dress. The work boots complete the ensemble. Check out the Celebrity IOU sneak peek to find out what other stars are partnering up with the Property Brothers.

Before the installation of the glass floor-to-ceiling wine cabinet, the load bearing wall featured a lonely cabinet that wasn't functional

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Before: Wasted Space

The wall dividing the kitchen and dining room featured an unused cabinet and not much else – a waste of potential, according to Jonathan and Drew. When the Property Brothers learned that Ilana and her husband are avid wine drinkers, they brainstormed the perfect idea for the load-bearing wall.

A fully-stocked floor-to-ceiling glass wine cabinet in the open space between the renovated kitchen and dining room

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After: Wasted Space No More!

This floor-to-ceiling glass wine cabinet is everything. Not only do the reflective surfaces offer the illusion of more open space, but it’s also ideal for hosting family and friends for holidays and special occasions. We can raise a glass to that!

Allison Janney and Jonathan Scott select kitchen marble and floor tiles in the backyard

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Going Through Samples

After 20 years as friends, Allison knows a thing or two about Ilana’s preferred home decor aesthetic – and it involves a lot of warm shades. So it was a no-brainer that Jonathan ask Allison to weigh in on floor and cabinetry selections. Check out the top kitchen trends for 2021.

The dining room before featured a small wood table and pink-hued area rug

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Before: The Dining Room

Originally, the dining room had lots of space for movement – which is great, except that it meant the kitchen (where Ilana’s husband Itay loved to spend time cooking) was shoved off to the side in a narrow, cramped corner. It was Jonathan’s idea to swap rooms, which involved tearing down a wall and adding a load bearing steel beam across.

The renovated dining room banquette where the old narrow kitchen used to be

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After: The Dining Room

Now where the kitchen once was, this chic dining banquette is both stylish and functional with additional storage space underneath. Although it doesn’t feature windows, there’s plenty of natural light that pours in from the newly renovated kitchen. Check out our favourite Property Brothers dining rooms.

A narrow, outdated kitchen with blond wood cabinetry and not much natural light

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Before: The Kitchen

Speaking of the kitchen, it was initially a tiny, outdated space with limited countertops – and a nest full of critters. When Jonathan tore up the range above the stove, it was revealed to be riddled with mice and shoddy craftsmanship. We also break down how to create a realistic reno timeline and budget.

The renovated kitchen were the dining room used to be with a sintered marble island, navy blue under-storage and modern appliances and cabinets

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After: The Kitchen

The grand reveal of the new-and-improved kitchen was what moved Ilana and her husband the most. From the sintered marble island to the extra storage space, this blue and white beauty is a marvel. Clean lines abound in a space Allison knew Ilana would love.

Allison Janney with her assistant Ilana and Illana's family as they walk into their new renovated house for the first time

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Allison Janney’s Big Surprise!

Ilana got the surprise of a lifetime when she returned from the airport with her family to find Allison waiting for her on the doorstep. Ilana and Itay were almost moved to tears over the experience.