Claire Thompson
Two Chicks and a Hammer is a home renovation company founded by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, in 2009. The company, which has been featured on HGTV's Good Bones, focuses on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and surrounding areas in Indianapolis. In 2019, Laine retired from the company, and Mina continued to run it while starring in Good Bones. However, in 2023, Mina announced the end of Good Bones and the closure of the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail store, citing challenges and tensions with her family.
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What You'll Learn
Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E Laine, founded the company
The company focuses on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and the surrounding areas in Indianapolis. Their mission statement is to "Revitalize Indianapolis One Property at a Time". In 2014, the company was approached by High Noon Entertainment, who filmed a pilot for HGTV called "Two Chicks and a Hammer". The show aired in May 2015 and marked the beginning of their TV career. The first season of the show, now known as "Good Bones", started filming in July 2015.
In 2019, Karen retired from the business, and Mina continued to work on renovating homes full-time. Mina was able to complete around 14 houses per year. However, behind the scenes, Mina and Karen's relationship became strained. In 2023, Mina revealed on her podcast, Mina AF, that she was not "in a great place" with her mother or her brother, Tad Starsiak. She also shared that the final two seasons of Good Bones were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically". Despite the challenges, Mina has continued to succeed in her renovation business and has even redesigned the logo for Two Chicks and a Hammer to focus more on the construction aspect.
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Mina's strained family dynamics were aired
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the star of HGTV's Good Bones, has revealed strained family dynamics off-camera. Mina, who runs the company Two Chicks and a Hammer with her mother, Karen E. Laine, has opened up about tensions with her family, including her mother and brother, Tad Starsiak. In a podcast episode, Mina shared that the final two seasons of Good Bones were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically." She also revealed that she wasn't "in a great place" with her mother or brother.
Mina's strained relationship with her mother, Karen, has been a source of speculation, with some suggesting that the family dynamic has always been dysfunctional. Mina has been running the company without her mother since she retired in 2019, though Karen continued to appear on Good Bones until its end in 2023. Despite her retirement, Mina has chosen to keep the name "Two Chicks and a Hammer," explaining that they built the company together and it would be inappropriate to take full credit by changing the name.
In addition to family tensions, Mina has also faced challenges with her business. She has mentioned the financial strain of running a home renovation business, with thin margins and a dangerously narrow breakeven point. Mina closed the retail space featured on Good Bones at the end of 2023 and is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, brother, and other family members. She has also expressed frustration with city planners and the challenges of maintaining a sustainable renovation schedule, ultimately deciding to phase out home renovation work in Marion County.
While Mina has been open about her family dynamics and business challenges, some viewers have found the level of sharing overwhelming. However, others have expressed support for Mina and respect for her decision to prioritize her crew's well-being during the show's ending. As Mina navigates her personal and professional challenges, she has hinted at the possibility of returning to TV, though she has stated that there isn't "enough money in the world" to relive the end of Good Bones.
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The company is closing its downtown location
Two Chicks and a Hammer, the home renovation company founded by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, is closing its downtown location at the end of 2023. The company's retail store, Two Chicks District Co., located in the Bates-Hendricks neighborhood of Indianapolis, has been in operation for three years.
The decision to close the downtown location was likely influenced by a combination of factors. Mina Starsiak Hawk has cited challenges and tensions with city officials, specifically the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. The renovation business operates on thin margins and narrow breakeven points, which may have contributed to financial strain, especially in a high-interest-rate environment. Additionally, there have been reports of strained family dynamics and dysfunction, with Mina no longer on speaking terms with her mother, brother, and other family members.
The closure of the downtown location does not signal the end of the company, however. Two Chicks and a Hammer will continue to focus on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates-Hendricks, and surrounding areas in Indianapolis. The company's mission remains to "Revitalize Indianapolis One Property at a Time." Additionally, there are reports of a potential new HGTV show in the works for Mina, leveraging her experience and visibility in the home renovation space.
The company's retail presence is also evolving, with a reported plan to open a new storefront in Noblesville. This move has generated excitement from the local community, including the mayor, who welcomed the business to Main Street. While the downtown location may be closing, Two Chicks and a Hammer continue to adapt and pursue new opportunities to serve their customers and community.
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Mina is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, brother, and Corey
Mina Starsiak Hawk is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, Karen E. Laine, her brother, Tad Starsiak, and Corey. Mina and her mother, Karen, are the stars of HGTV's Good Bones and co-founders of the home renovation company, Two Chicks and a Hammer. The mother-daughter duo has been renovating and building houses in Indianapolis since 2016, with their work featured on the show. However, in 2019, Karen retired from the company, selling her financial interest to Mina, though she continued to appear on Good Bones.
Mina has opened up about the tensions between her and her family, particularly her mother and brother, on her podcast, Mina AF. She shared that the final two seasons of Good Bones were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically." The show ended in 2023 after eight seasons, and Mina has since revealed that she won't be redeveloping or building houses regularly in Indianapolis anymore. She cites frustrations with city departments and challenges with the renovation business as reasons for this decision.
The strained family dynamics and dysfunction within the family have been noted by viewers and fans, with Mina's oversharing of behind-the-scenes drama from Good Bones and Two Chicks and a Hammer. Financial pressures and the demanding nature of the renovation business have likely contributed to the strain on Mina's relationships with her family members.
Mina has also faced challenges with the retail storefront associated with Two Chicks and a Hammer, which she closed at the end of 2023. She expressed feelings of letting the neighborhood down with this decision, despite citing numerous challenges that led to the closure. Additionally, Mina has hinted at the possibility of a new HGTV show, but she stands firm that she won't be returning to the same place mentally and emotionally that she was a year ago.
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Mina is considering a new HGTV show
Mina Starsiak Hawk is considering a new HGTV show after her previous show, Good Bones, ended in 2023. Good Bones featured Mina and her mother, Karen E. Laine, renovating homes in Indianapolis, particularly in Fountain Square and Bates-Hendricks. The show ran for eight seasons and ended due to various reasons, including tensions between Mina and her family, financial and logistical constraints, and challenges with city officials.
Mina has hinted at the possibility of a new show on her podcast, Mina AF, and in her Instagram posts. While she has not shared specific details, she has expressed that returning to a similar format as Good Bones would be challenging for her mentally, emotionally, and financially. Mina has also mentioned that she is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, brother, and other family members, indicating strained family dynamics.
Despite the challenges and family tensions, Mina remains a popular figure in the home renovation space. She continues to run her company, Two Chicks and a Hammer, which she started with her mother in 2009. The company has evolved since its early days, and Mina has redesigned the logo to emphasize the construction aspect of the business. Mina has also expressed her reasoning for retaining the name "Two Chicks and a Hammer" despite her mother's retirement from the company in 2019.
As Mina considers a new HGTV show, it is important for her to reflect on the lessons learned from her previous experience. This includes managing finances, maintaining sustainable renovation timelines, and navigating relationships with family and city officials. By addressing these challenges, Mina can position herself for a successful return to television while also focusing on her well-being and the continued growth of her company.
While there is excitement among fans and industry professionals about the prospect of Mina's new HGTV show, it is essential to respect her privacy and personal boundaries. The details of the new show, if it comes to fruition, will be revealed in due course. In the meantime, Mina continues to engage with her followers through her podcast and social media platforms, providing updates and insights into her life and work.
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Frequently asked questions
Two Chicks and a Hammer is a home renovation business in Indianapolis, founded by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine.
Two Chicks and a Hammer is still operating, but Mina has revealed that she is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, brother, and other family members. The company's retail store, Two Chicks District Co., closed at the end of 2023.
Karen retired from the company in 2019 to spend more time with her husband, Roger. However, she continued to appear on the HGTV show "Good Bones", which ended in 2023 after eight seasons.
Good Bones was an HGTV show that followed Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine as they renovated and built houses in Indianapolis, particularly in the Bates-Hendricks and Fountain Square neighbourhoods.
Mina Starsiak Hawk cited tensions with her family, financial and logistical difficulties, and challenges with city planners as reasons for ending the show.
