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This week, the Rosario Dawson Celebrity IOU episode did not disappoint. Rosario, prominent actress known from Kids, Seven Pounds, and The Mandalorian, to name a few, is gifting Sal, her friend and mentor of 25 years, a life-changing home makeover. Sal and Rosario met when she first got to Hollywood as a young starry-eyed actress. He was working as a costume designer, and immediately took her under his wing. The two have created an incredible bond over the years. So Rosario decided to enlist the help of Drew and Jonathan to makeover Sal’s outdated living space.
Sal said that while he’s grown, the house has sort of stayed behind. And though he has an impeccable creative eye, he began to experience what Rosario referred to as “designer paralysis.” Sal renovated his bathroom and his kitchen, and then got stuck on the details of where to start with the rest of the living area.
Sal’s home was built in 1939, so there are a ton of beautiful charms and character built into the space to take advantage of while renovating, especially since Sal loves ornate period details. Before Rosario and the Bros came in, his living space reflected a Hollywood Regency style, which was very popular from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was all about glam, glitz, and ornamental design choices. So Rosario, Drew, and Jonathan decided to bring that glossy style into the 21st century, curating a space that’s opulent, interesting, and better reflect Sal’s artistic taste.
Shop the Look
Check out the decor, furniture, and more seen in this episode–and get it for yourself!
Celebrity IOU: Rosario Dawson
| wdt_ID | Room | Item Type | Product Name | Company | Product Code / Sku |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Throughout | Base | PRM FINGERJOINT PINE | Woodgrain | No. 1 x 6 |
| 2 | Throughout | Case | PRM FINGERJOINT PINE | Woodgrain | No. 1 x 4 |
| 3 | Living Room | FIREPLACE HEARTH + SURROUND | Fusion Quartzite | Marble Yard | |
| 4 | Living Room | TV DIGITAL ARTWORKOPTION 1 | Passagein digital dimensions for ArtFrame TV | Benson Cobb | |
| 5 | Living Room | ARTWORK | Halos 60 X 45 CHAMPAGNE GOLD | Benson Cobb | |
| 6 | Living Room | ARTWORK | Shallow in Charcoal 30 X 40 DIPTYCH CHAMPAGNE GOLD | Benson Cobb | |
| 7 | Living Room | DRAPE + ROD | J&D Parisian Pleat Center Open Velvet/Cream Blackout Lining in Ivory Deco Metal Track – 13637: Java Square End Cap Drapery had Memory Stitch to them all (6 sets) | Smith & Noble | SL19352 |
| 8 | Living Room | ROLLING LADDER | Putnam Rolling Ladder | ||
| 9 | Living Room | SOFAS | Aria Sofa Curious Chenille in Charcoal Block Leg in Black | Clad Home | |
| 10 | Dining Room | CHANDELIER | CHAPMAN & MYERS CLAYMORE GRANDE FLUSH MOUNT IN GILDED IRONBY VISUAL COMFORT SIGNATURE COLLECTION | Visual Comfort | CHC 4402GI |
Before & Afters
Darker Ceiling, Bigger Space
Because he loves to entertain, Sal needed a living room that felt jazzy and chic while still making period details pop. When reimagining the living room, Drew, Jonathan, and Rosario knew they had a gorgeous fireplace and crown molding to work with. But bringing those details up-to-date would take a little bit of creativity. They decided to turn to the ceiling. Painting it a bold black actually opened up the space, making the room feel more spacious. And removing the shutters provided desperately-needed light while also softening the room.
A Stunning Custom Bookshelf
Rosario and the Bros decided to build a custom floor-to-ceiling bookcase that frames the dining room on the other side of the wall, combining that Old Hollywood charm with a modern finish. Here, it’s all about the small details: The focused lighting inside each shelf, the brass picture lights, the mirror-and-wood inlay. And of course, the sliding library ladder. When he entered the living room and got a look at the wall-to-wall bookshelves, Sal says, “This is awesome! I could not love this anymore!”
Stonework, Wallpaper, Sparkle
The dining room had to be something picturesque; something interesting and elegant while staying cutting-edge. They refreshed the doors to Sal’s cabinets with a color that better matched his kitchen and living room in order to make the space more cohesive. Then, Rosario, Drew, and Jonathan turned to a bold navy-and-metallic wallpaper to add sparkle and define the room’s lush ambiance. Pops of color and intrigue come from the stonework on the dining room shelves as well as the fabulous pink dining chairs.
Sal’s 1939 Hollywood Regency home went from disconnected to distinguished and dashing. As he steps into his new space, his jaw drops. Every piece of furniture, every fabric, every dish or pillow or vase, was all chosen distinctly and intentionally just for Sal. He’s elated with how well the renovation turned out.
At the very end, teary-eyed, grateful, and full of love, Sal says, “I love all the details. It’s like a hug from Rosario when I walk in that room.” Because your family isn’t always just blood-related. “You were like my sister from day one,” Sal says to Rosario. “There’s there’s very few people in your life that stay in your life. You’re my family, and only family would do something like this for you.”
Looking for More Reno Reveals?
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Read More
Tune into a brand-new episode of Celebrity IOU every Monday night on HGTV at 8pm ET|7pm CT. Stream CIOU on Max.com.
