Alright, folks, gather 'round. Karen E. Laine, the beloved star of Good Bones, is back at it again, this time tackling one of her most ambitious projects yet: renovating a home in Wilmington, North Carolina. And guess what? She didn’t go it alone. Karen invited some familiar faces from the Good Bones crew to help her transform her new space, which, let’s be honest, was in pretty rough shape when she first purchased it.
“Listen, I’m not working for a paycheck anymore,” Karen said in a clip from the upcoming Wednesday, August 21, episode of Good Bones, shared exclusively with People. “I retired in 2019, and guess what? I can do anything I want.” That’s right—Karen's calling the shots now, and she’s making the most of her newfound freedom.
From Indianapolis to Wilmington: A New Chapter Begins
For eight seasons, Karen and her daughter, Mina Starsiak Hawk, lit up our screens as they renovated homes around Indianapolis. But now, in the new season, the dynamic mother-daughter duo is taking on personal projects of their own. And if you’re wondering how that’s going, well, let’s just say there’s been a family rift. Mina spilled the tea on her “Mina AF” podcast, but don’t worry—Karen’s still all about doing what makes her happy.
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“I’ve been doing everything I want to do,” Karen said. “Landscaping projects? Check. Practicing my lawyering skills? Check. Life’s good, and I’m living it on my own terms.”
After retiring from the Two Chicks and a Hammer business in 2019, Karen continued to appear on the show. Initially, fans were told that Good Bones was ending after season eight. Surprise! HGTV announced a new season in July, and the first episode premiered on August 14, featuring Mina’s lake house renovation. So, what’s Karen been up to since the last season wrapped? “Taking care of grandkids, and let me tell you, that’s fun,” she shared.
Why Wilmington? Karen Explains Her Move
In the clip, Karen reunited with some fan-favorite Good Bones crew members, including MJ Coyle, Cory Miller, and Austin Aynes. It was a heartwarming moment, but Karen had some big news to share with them: she’s traded Indiana winters for Wilmington’s sunny skies.
“I’m just so over Indiana winters,” Karen told her crew. “I had this idea: wouldn’t it be nice to retire in Wilmington? I went there once, fell in love, and went back in January. It was 80 degrees during the day! So, I hopped on the internet, found a house for sale, and bought it. Just like that.”
Karen described the house as being in pretty rough condition—“wretched,” to be exact. But hey, that’s Karen’s specialty, right? She knows that with a little elbow grease and a lot of love, she can turn this place into the perfect spot to enjoy her retirement.
Fans Get a Sneak Peek: The New Season of Good Bones
Before the show premiered, Good Bones fans got a behind-the-scenes look at Karen’s home renovation through her Instagram account. Curious about how her relationship with Mina would affect filming, fans were quick to notice that the duo didn’t appear in any scenes together this season. Instead, they focused on their respective home renovations in different states.
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One fan commented on Karen’s Instagram, asking, “So are you doing a show by yourself? What’s your new show going to be called, ‘Mother Hen with a Bottle Jack’?” Karen responded, “Definitely not by myself! I’ve got an amazing team making it all happen. HGTV is calling it Good Bones: New Beginnings.”
And it’s not just the show that’s getting a fresh start. Karen also showed off her new pixie cut in July, though she admitted in a follow-up Instagram comment, “I’m not totally convinced I like it this short.” Change is in the air, and Karen’s ready to embrace it.
