Love it Or List it USA

Kim and Richard Challenger were newly weds when they bought their two bedroom Toronto home 12 years ago. Now with two adolescent kids, the Challengers living situation has become, well, a challenge and the couple are at their wits end. The lack of a third bedroom has left their eldest in the basement, their kitchen is bursting at the seams with no storage or space for a family meal and finally their living room barely holds the four of them let alone any friends or family. Hilary needs to expand the living space making the current home accommodate this growing family or else David could find a spacious home that may inspire the Challengers to leave their cramped quarters behind.

When newlyweds Jessica and Steve moved into their Toronto home in 1999, the drama teacher and musician couldn’t be happier in the Victorian home. But now, the two of them have grown into a family of four with a dog, and they’re out of space. Because of Steve’s love for all things musical, musical instruments are found in nearly every room, creating total disharmony throughout the house. Add to this that the kids don’t have their own rec-room, and you have a main living space overrun with clutter. The challenge for Hilary is to reinvent the main floor into an adult space by turning the unfinished basement into a place for Steve to store and play his instruments, and space for the kids to claim. If Hilary can’t improve the house to do this David might find a home with the adult space they crave that may just motivate the Lederman’s to pack up and leave.

The McMinn’s moved to their Courtice home seven years ago. This was the home Brad and Laura planned on raising their family in, as the three bedroom house had room for the couple and their twin boys but a surprise pregnancy a few years at the home, quickly changed things for the McMinn’s. Initially the twins’ sharing a room was tolerable for the family of five. But now, 12 year olds Ashton and Tyler desperately need their own space. The boys spend time daily debating over the lack of space in their shared room. Laura and Brad know Hilary has to create two separate bedrooms for the twins or the only solution will be to move.

Kira and Andrew Thomson bought their cozy three bedroom Toronto home as newlyweds three years ago. Although cosmetically it needed help, the couple felt the home had great bones and was in the perfect area to start a family. The couple spent the last two years trying to personalize the home to their needs, but the birth of their daughter Olivia in March 2007 left the Thomson’s feeling cramped and overwhelmed. Their galley kitchen needs to be opened up to their dining room to create a family friendly space that serves as the heart of the home. Another issue is the uninsulated room off their kitchen, which houses their fridge. Stifling in the summer and cold in the winter, this room makes accessing their fridge a major headache—that’s if there is any food left in the fridge unspoiled by the elements! With plans to add another little one to their family, Hilary needs to make the Thomson’s home a more family functional space or David just may be able to persuade this frustrated couple to go.

Helen and Jamie Thomson moved into their quaint home when their son, Lain, was just three weeks old. They loved the curb appeal, the lovely lake location and most of all, the cozy interior. However, with Jamie’s mother frequently staying over minding Lain, and baby number on the way, it’s clear that the Thomson’s are running out of space fast. Hilary is convinced her designs will be enough to give the Thomson’s the extra space they need. While David feels that no matter what, the Thomson’s have officially outgrown their snug quarters and it’s time to move onward and upward.

Teenage sweethearts Jay and Shari Doudelet moved to Toronto with their two sons nine years ago. After moving a few times, two years ago, the Doudelet’s finally settled in their Beaches home. With a son in university the family was sold on the fact that despite its appearance as a single-family home, the house offered two self contained living spaces. This enabled Jay and Shari to live on the top two floors with their younger son while their elder son and a roommate could have the bottom floor to themselves. While the couple felt initially this was the perfect scenario, after moving in they quickly realized their living situation was far from ideal. With an apartment sized kitchen and one person being able to fit in the space at a time the idea of family dinners doesn’t exist. The chopped up rooms in the rest of the home also cause proximity issues. Jay and Shari’s master bedroom is directly above Ashton’s living space and beside their son Duston’s bedroom leaving no one with privacy. Hilary needs to create spacious kitchen for entertaining and a private bedroom for these lovebirds or else they may choose to leave their less that perfect pad behind.