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
17 July 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, 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 remodelling 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 remodelling project? With years of getting to know his friend’s style and with a lot of help from some design professionals.
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, USA
Designers David Spetrino (builder) and Chrissy Bonney (interior designer) of PBC Design + Build
“After” photos by Ryan Young; “before” photos by Rick Ricozzi Photography
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 popularised 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
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, USA
Designers David Spetrino (builder) and Chrissy Bonney (interior designer) of PBC Design + Build
“After” photos by Ryan Young; “before” photos by Rick Ricozzi Photography
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 popularised 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 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 fridge wall closed off the kitchen from the living room.
Use the Houzz Directory to find interior designers in your area
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 fridge wall closed off the kitchen from the living room.
Use the Houzz Directory to find interior designers in your area
After To brighten the kitchen, Bonney whitewashed the ceiling, allowing some of the wood grain to still show through, and added grey cabinets and updated lighting.
Spetrino removed the wall dividing the kitchen from the living room and took space from an unused hall cupboard to recess the fridge in its new location. “I can’t believe the transformation, but yet it still feels like my home,” Overman says.
Watch now See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Ceiling whitewashed in Westhighland White, Sherwin-Williams. Fulton Foyer chandelier in aged zinc, Hinkley Lighting. Metal bar stool in distressed light blue, Mikga.
Spetrino removed the wall dividing the kitchen from the living room and took space from an unused hall cupboard to recess the fridge in its new location. “I can’t believe the transformation, but yet it still feels like my home,” Overman says.
Watch now See Tony Hawk surprise his friend with a renovation
Ceiling whitewashed in Westhighland White, Sherwin-Williams. Fulton Foyer chandelier in aged zinc, Hinkley Lighting. Metal bar stool in distressed light blue, Mikga.
Before The kitchen was functional, but the amount of wood struck a one-note tone.
After Bonney introduced more variance with grey cabinets, a glossy white splashback, wood shelves and leathered Absolute Black granite worktops.
Kitchen units, Hollingsworth Cabinetry. Matt black tap, Delta. Ductless wall-mount range hood with remote, Golden Vantage.
Kitchen units, Hollingsworth Cabinetry. Matt black tap, Delta. Ductless wall-mount range hood with remote, Golden Vantage.
Taking the cabinets to the ceiling and using deeper pullouts optimised the storage.
Single bowl apron-front sink in stainless-steel, MR Direct Sinks and Faucets. Hand towels, Scents and Feels.
Single bowl apron-front sink in stainless-steel, MR Direct Sinks and Faucets. Hand towels, Scents and Feels.
Before Again, the wall-to-wall wood made things feel dark and heavy. A small opening over the sink looked to an interior back entrance 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 colour 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 allowed Overman to make 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 was never used.
After The removal of the wall created a more open and inviting feel.
Bonney made sure to keep a lot of elements she knew were personal to Overman and to the character of the home, such as the much-used wood-burning stove.
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.
Kensington Maxx swivel chair, Four Hands Furniture. Othello mirror and iron coffee table, Arteriors Home.
Bonney made sure to keep a lot of elements she knew were personal to Overman and to the character of the home, such as the much-used wood-burning stove.
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.
Kensington Maxx swivel chair, Four Hands Furniture. 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 frame for added depth.
Watch now See Overman’s tearful reaction to her updated home
Effingham modern armchairs in grey, 1st Avenue.
Watch now See Overman’s tearful reaction to her updated home
Effingham modern armchairs in grey, 1st Avenue.
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 wardrobe to create a recess in the wall for shelves and a TV. She repurposed the doors from the hallway cupboard 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 cupboard to widen the vanity unit and gave it a leathered White Ice granite top. She also frosted the window for more privacy.
Huckins round wall mirror in black, Residence.
Huckins round wall mirror in black, Residence.
The extra vanity unit space and two mirrors let Olivia and Scarlett use the area at the same time.
Find a range of bathroom mirrors in the Houzz Shop
Find a range of bathroom mirrors in the Houzz Shop
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 remodelled 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
Tell us…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“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
Tell us…
What do you think of this renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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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!