HGTV's Fix My Frankenhouse Hosts Explain The Strangest Design Decisions They've Ever Encountered

If you've ever wondered how to fix odd floor plans and noncohesive designs in your home, HGTV has you covered with another captivating show. In the recently premiered "Fix My Frankenhouse," husband and wife team Denese and Mike Butler dive into wacky layouts and renovations that leave homes disorganized and jumbled. "Over time, different owners can make changes to a home and eventually turn it into a 'Frankenhouse,'" Mike told HGTV. "Solving problems for families living in these types of homes is my favorite part of the job. To fix the houses, I shake up the floor plans and build new layouts that actually function."

Based in Massachusetts and hitting the screen as recently as April 2023, the Butlers shared some of the most unusual designs they've already stumbled upon with Realtor.com. "We've seen houses where, to get to a bedroom, you have to walk through a bathroom," Mike said. Denese added, "There are misplaced staircases in the oddest places, several different floor types on just the first floor, many paint colors — let's just say a lot of wonkiness in these "Frankenhouses," strange, strange things." Additionally, the couple explained their design process, strategic approaches, and the most common mistakes they encountered. "Sometimes our clients don't know what they want, but it's my job to help them navigate through the design process," Denese said. "Mike and I create a new identity for their house and show them that the home of their dreams was there all along."

One of the first properties on "Fix My Frakenhouse" was a home from 1910 that ran in the family for six generations and required drastic improvement. Upon assessing the house, the Butlers found the kitchen tiny to where one couldn't utilize major appliances or even utensil drawers without one blocking the usage of the other. The family's laundry room needed to be bigger for the door to open, the bathroom had unevenly cut countertops, and overall, unnecessary walls compartmentalized the home and created a very closed-off environment. To fix the situation, they give the family an open floor plan while still maintaining some of the historical touches that made the space unique.

When talking about her renovation style, Denese told Realtor.com, "I don't feel like every room should feel the same, but I do believe that it should feel cohesive, not only with the flow but just peppering some consistency throughout," Denese said. "Like, having yellow accent sprinkled around your space and each room, but not making it overpowering, I think is the way to make spaces look cohesive."

When working with odd layouts and characteristics, it's essential to visualize a floorplan's potential, which is precisely what the Butlers do in "Fix My Frakenhouse." "Design-wise, it's just understanding the bones of the house. That's kind of where my specialty is," Mike told Realtor.com. "I integrate what's not working in the house and what the client's wish list is, along with their budget, and then come up with a plan that solves that." Mike added that they always try to respect property history, "maintaining that integrity" while "making something for the modern homeowner."

Denese expresses the importance of trust between her and their clients to make the most effective design decisions. "One of my specialties is being able to get into the client's head and draw out their personality and things that they love," she said via Realtor.com. Denese notes that she wants their projects to look different and strives to create a unique design for each home. "I think that your home should represent who you are because, ultimately, it should feel like a safe haven, and that is definitely something that I deeply believe when it comes to designing for a homeowner," she stated. "Trends cool, and sometimes they phase out, and that's why I feel like just leaning more into who we are as people and incorporating inspiration through travels or food and whatnot into the home, I think, is a great way to create the space that you can be proud of."