HGTV's No Demo Reno Proves Little Home Updates Can Make A Big Difference

While some home renovators will take a home down to the studs during a remodel, HGTV's Jenn Todryk, host of "No Demo Remo" is all about transforming homes without moving walls, changing structures, or any other major demolition projects. Instead, she uses design and creativity to help homeowners achieve the home of their dreams with the house they already have. And, the results are always anything but ordinary. One noteworthy project that showcases Todryk's talent comes from Season 3, Episode 11 of the show. For her "No Demo Reno" clients, Carson and Sharon, Todryk demonstrates just how much little upgrades can go a long way in their dining room. Todryk spruces up an existing wooden built-in hutch cabinet with a fresh coat of paint, new doors and drawer fronts, new hardware, and some modern decor inside. As a result, the old-to-new built-in hutch is practically unrecognizable. 

Todryk's quick and easy renovation proves that you can have a modern hutch cabinet you'll absolutely want for your space without spending hundreds of dollars to remove your existing built-ins and going out and buying a new one. Angi estimates that built-in removal can cost $500 on average, but reports that buying a new built-in typically comes in at 10 times that at $5,000. So if you have an old built-in hutch in your home, Todryk's "No Demo Reno" is a money-saving upgrade you may want to steal. Below, we break down the HGTV designer's hutch upgrade and share tips on pulling it off in your own home. 

To spruce up her "No Demo Reno" clients' existing built-in dining room hutch, Jenn Todryk repainted the exterior and interior shelving of the rustic wooden hutch in a crisp creamy white that matched her client's walls and looked harmonious with her traditional yet organic and neutral interior design. The doors and cabinet drawers were replaced by new white doors with sleek modern gold hardware. And, each of the four shelves was adorned with modern organic decor like pottery, candlesticks, a faux plant, and books with stylish bookends — a Jenn Todryk decor must-have for book lovers that she often uses in her designs.

Todryk's client, Sharon, didn't even recognize the cabinet at first glance. "Is that the existing?" she asked. To which Todryk replied, "Yes, we just took out the old doors that really aged us." The resultant hutch looks entirely brand new and fits with the rest of Todryk's earthy, neutral design. Similar white cabinets with gold hardware are used throughout the home. And, the new kitchen hutch and cabinets, in a dark natural wood tone, mirror the door design and gold hardware on the living room hutch. The choice to use white for the dining room hutch brings light into the space, which already contains lots of dark wood.  If you're hoping to create a similar high-end display cabinet on a budget using an old built-in china cabinet or hutch, Jenn Todryk's update is simple, affordable, and easy to steal.

To recreate this "No Demo Reno" built-in update at home, you don't need much. A fresh coat of paint in your color of choice, some modern decor, and new doors and hardware are on the shopping list. But, if your hutch is an antique and doors and drawer fronts that fit are expensive or hard to find, or you want to save some money on new doors, you can always repaint your old ones and install new hardware instead. We recommend disassembling the doors, removing old hardware, wiping all surfaces down, and lightly sanding the entire piece. If you're keeping and re-using your doors and drawer fronts, give those a sand too.

After taping any glass on the doors, you're set to prime and paint. As Todryk does for various "No Demo Reno" clients – to make your built-in look like it's a permanent, intentional fixture in the room by painting it in the same color that you use for your walls. When you're done, add new hardware to your doors and drawer fronts and re-affix to the built-in. To decorate on a dime, look for organic pottery, bookends, books, candlesticks, and bowls to decorate each shelf as Todryk does. Since she loves decorating homes on a budget, many of her favorite decor items are under $50. Similarly, you don't need to break the bank to find quality decor. Instead, bargain hunt for deals and discounts for stylish built-in decor.