Mia Patel
Two Chicks and a Hammer was a home renovation show on HGTV that followed Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, as they renovated homes in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and surrounding areas in Indianapolis. The show, which premiered in 2015 under the name Two Chicks and a Hammer, was later renamed Good Bones. After eight seasons, Good Bones came to an end in 2023, with Mina citing burnout and strain in the family business as reasons for the show's demise. Despite the show's conclusion, the company Two Chicks and a Hammer appears to still be in business, with Mina considering future renovation projects and potential spin-off shows.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Show name | Good Bones |
| Previous show name | Two Chicks and a Hammer |
| Show host | Mina Starsiak Hawk |
| Co-star | Karen E. Laine (Mina's mother) |
| Show premise | Follows the renovation company, Two Chicks and a Hammer |
| Number of seasons | 8 |
| Reason for ending | Mina's staff were burnt out, strain in the family business, financial and emotional difficulties |
| Company location | Indianapolis, Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks |
| Company focus | Renovating homes |
| Company challenges | Issues with city planners and construction permits |
| Mina's future plans | Renovating a lake house with her husband, Steve Hawk, which may be featured in a limited-run HGTV series |
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What You'll Learn
Mina Starsiak Hawk's emotional decision to take a step back
In addition to internal challenges, Mina's company also encountered external obstacles. As the show progressed, Mina felt the weight of the long-running series falling on her, and the high stakes took a toll emotionally and mentally. The 13-houses-per-TV-season format ultimately proved unsustainable, and Mina recognised the need for a healthier balance. This was further compounded by issues with city planners, who had the authority to approve or deny construction permits, impacting the company's ability to execute their renovation projects.
Mina also faced challenges in her personal life, including having guardianship of her niece due to her sister's health issues. Balancing the pressures of her family, business, and the show became overwhelming, and Mina found herself at a crossroads. The emotional decision to step back from the company was a pivotal moment, signalling a shift in priorities and a recognition of the need for self-care and sustainable work practices.
Despite the end of "Good Bones", Mina has continued her passion for renovations. She and her husband, Steve Hawk, purchased a lake house that they are renovating, and this new project has sparked discussions about a potential new show. While Mina is open to returning to television, she emphasises the importance of a healthier balance and a more sustainable approach to her work and personal life.
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Staff burnout from renovating multiple houses per year
The HGTV show "Good Bones", which followed the renovation company "Two Chicks and a Hammer", came to an end after eight seasons. The show's host, Mina Starsiak Hawk, had to make some challenging decisions regarding the future of the company. Mina revealed that her staff was experiencing burnout from renovating multiple houses annually, especially with the added pressure of being filmed.
Staff burnout from renovating several houses per year can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, home renovation is physically demanding, involving tasks such as lifting heavy objects, painting, and cleaning. This physical exhaustion can increase the risk of illness or injury, impacting the overall health and well-being of the staff.
Secondly, the renovation process can be mentally taxing as well. The constant banging, buzzing, and presence of dust and debris can take a toll on one's patience and mental health, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, and frustration. The stress of unexpected expenses and setbacks can further contribute to mental exhaustion.
Additionally, renovating multiple houses within a year can result in a decreased quality of work. When staff are overworked, they are more likely to make mistakes, overlook important details, and produce lower-quality work. This can lead to costly errors that impact the project's timeline and budget.
To prevent staff burnout, it is crucial to create a healthy work environment. Proper planning, realistic goal-setting, and effective communication are essential. Providing staff with the necessary support, such as additional resources or adjusted work schedules, can help manage their workload and reduce the risk of burnout. It is also important to encourage staff to take care of their physical and mental health, such as taking breaks, relaxing, and engaging in activities outside of work to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
While the show "Good Bones" may have ended, Mina Starsiak Hawk continues to pursue her passion for renovation. She and her husband, Steve Hawk, are working on renovating a lake house, and there are hints of a potential new HGTV show centred around this project.
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Family business strain caused by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of business and society, and family firms, in particular, have faced enormous challenges. The pandemic has compelled family businesses to make difficult decisions, such as cost-cutting, closures, and layoffs, which can be emotionally challenging for families as they view the business as part of their identity. Family businesses have also had to navigate strained social relationships due to social distancing measures, which has made it difficult to maintain community ties.
In the case of 'Two Chicks and a Hammer', the home renovation show starring aunt-niece duo Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen, the pandemic appears to have been a contributing factor to the end of the show. Mina confessed on her podcast that there was strain in the family business due to COVID-19, and her staff were burnt out from the pressure of renovating several houses a year, all while being filmed for the show. The pandemic may have exacerbated existing issues, such as the pressure Mina felt to maintain the business as many family and friends were employed there, and a potentially dysfunctional family dynamic.
Family firms often lack robust governance structures, and the pandemic has highlighted the need for crisis teams and professional management to make effective decisions. To reduce the financial strain of the pandemic, businesses have had to furlough staff, reduce costs, and seek relief from lenders. Some have also pivoted their operations to meet changing market demands. Family businesses have also had to navigate increased cybercrime during the pandemic, with threat actors taking advantage of cybersecurity holes caused by remote work.
Despite the challenges, some family businesses have demonstrated resilience and agility in the face of the pandemic. However, it is crucial for family firms to effectively communicate their responses to the crisis, emphasizing their alignment with family values, identity, and public image to sustain a positive reputation.
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Mina's strained relationship with her mother, Karen E. Laine
The HGTV show "Good Bones" ended after eight seasons due to the strained relationship between mother-daughter co-stars Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine. The pair had a “challenging" relationship, with Hawk revealing in 2023 that their relationship was strained and that they had been distant for some time. In an October 2023 episode of her podcast, "Mina AF", Hawk revealed that their relationship had been rocky from the start, but when they mixed family and business, things really deteriorated.
The differences in their personalities and working styles, as well as issues with government bureaucracy, also contributed to the rift. Hawk's need for control clashed with Laine's laid-back approach, and the pressure of running a business and starring in a TV show caused further friction. Hawk also felt the pressure of having so many friends and family employed by the company and spoke about feeling "parentified" and always being expected to fix things.
In August 2023, Hawk announced that the eighth season of "Good Bones" would be the last, and that her relationship with her mother was a major reason for ending the show. At the time of the announcement, Hawk and Laine were not on speaking terms. However, Laine reached out to Hawk the day she recorded the podcast episode, which Hawk described as "unexpected". Both women have expressed a desire to reconcile and improve their relationship.
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Mina's struggle with city officials and construction permits
Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E Laine, are the co-founders of Two Chicks and a Hammer, Inc. They began rehabbing homes in 2007 when Mina bought a house that needed renovation. Mina and Karen would work on 2-3 houses a year when they had downtime between their day jobs. The company focuses on renovating homes in Fountain Square, Bates Hendricks, and the surrounding areas.
Mina has spoken about how pressured she felt to maintain the business because so many of her family and friends were employed there. She has also said that she was starting to feel like the "weight" of the long-running series was falling on her. Mina confessed on her podcast, Mina AF, that there was strain in the family business caused by COVID-19. She also said that starring on a TV show elevates her visibility, but she doesn't seek special treatment when submitting plans for details such as building heights and setback distances to property lines.
Mina Starsiak Hawk said her company increasingly "butted heads" with city planners who OK construction permits. She blamed her decision to stop redeveloping or building houses in Indianapolis on frustrations with the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Mina said she couldn't guarantee that a buyer of one of her properties would never rent the house, which was a concern for the Valley Neighborhood Association.
Jay Napoleon, president of The Valley Neighborhood Association, said that the neighborhood, the Department of Metropolitan Development, and Two Chicks and a Hammer managed to resolve variance requests made by Starsiak Hawk's company. He added that the neighborhood is wary of development that creates investor opportunities for short-term rentals through platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
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Frequently asked questions
The show "2 Chicks and a Hammer", later known as "Good Bones", ended in 2023 after eight seasons.
Host Mina Starsiak Hawk decided to take a step back from the show due to staff burnout, the strain of the family business, and the pressure of maintaining the business as many family and friends were employed there. Mina also said that the final two seasons of the show were "really hard emotionally, mentally, financially and physically".
The renovation company, "2 Chicks and a Hammer", is still in business. However, their home décor retail store closed at the end of 2023. Mina also revealed that she is no longer on speaking terms with her mother, Karen, Tad, and Corey.
Mina Starsiak Hawk is currently renovating a lake house with her husband, Steve Hawk, and they are documenting the process. Mina has also hinted at a possible new show, but nothing is guaranteed.
