Rob Lowe’s First-Floor Remodel for His Friend Carol

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As a household name and actor of 47 years, Rob Lowe is no stranger to the spotlight—but on this new episode of Celebrity IOU, it’s all eyes on his wonderful friend, Carol. She’s been like family to Rob, his wife Sheryl Berkoff, and their two sons, Matthew and John Owen, and she’s an important part of all of their lives. Now, Rob wants to give her a gift she’s been dreaming of for years: A first-floor redesign that will embrace her and her wife Karen’s gorgeous design style.

“Carol started out as my assistant, then became house manager, and now is just like, the family member,” Rob says. “She’s done every iteration of job for us, but the main thing is her heart and devotion.”

Carol and her partner Karen absolutely love their house and their life together, and they adore entertaining friends and family. And though their house is beautiful, Carol says the only thing they haven’t done yet is the kitchen—and she’s so excited to have Drew and Jonathan’s help reimagining it.

The outdated orange oak cabinets were bandage-fixed, but they were falling off the hinges and weren’t very functional in terms of depth and size. The kitchen itself also felt very secluded from the rest of their welcoming, airy space—so Rob wanted to make the first floor feel more cohesive and cozy for them.

“She’s the emotional glue in our life,” Rob says. And because she’s always been there for Rob and his family, he wants to be there for her now to show her how much she’s loved.

Before & Afters

Open and Bright

One of the things Carol and Karen disliked most about their kitchen was how dark and unwelcoming it felt. Rob and the Bros decided to brighten things up, bringing in light wide-plank engineered hardwood flooring throughout the entire first floor, and lighter coloring on the walls and cabinetry.

Room With a View

To further help Carol’s kitchen feel open and airy, they wanted to enhance the natural light. They nearly tripled the size of her once tiny window above the sink, which did wonders to brighten the room. Now, Carol and Karen also have a pass-through serving window with a bar on the backyard side to entertain guests with food and drinks.

Cooking in Style

White oak cabinetry fills the space and gives the room that sleek, sophisticated look that Carol and Karen love so much. Slabs of beautiful, creamy porcelain line the countertops and are brought all the way up through the backsplash. Not only does this improve the overall design, but it also reflects light and opens up the space.

Updated, Upscale Dining Area

To free up valuable space in the dining room, Rob, Drew, and Jonathan replaced the previous swing door with a sliding door. They created a custom built-in banquet, which contrasted beautifully with the stunning black dining table and cushioned black chairs.

Cozy & Comfy Seating for All

Finally, in the living room, the Bros and Rob replaced Carol and Karen’s furniture with plenty of cozy, comfy seating, so everyone they host will have a soft place to relax and watch the game or stream their current favorite TV show. Because that light flooring was taken all the way through the first floor, the whole space looks more cohesive, and helps connect all three rooms visually.

Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!

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