A HOLMES On HOMES story | Kitchen Knockout

By Mike Holmes

Mike’s Advice / Kitchen Renovation

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 @ 12:59pm

This was a special Holmes on Homes episode. Some renovation horror stories are just too common — but when a letter landed on my desk signed by former five-time Canadian heavyweight boxing champion and two-time world heavyweight title challenger, George “Boom Boom” Chuvalo, I knew this job would be special.

A gift from George Chuvalo.

The Dream Kitchen

George and his wife Joanne dreamed of a beautiful new kitchen. What was promised to be a three-week renovation dragged into its third month — with half-finished cabinets, exposed wiring, dangling pot lights, and no working countertops. The contractor vanished, leaving the couple frustrated and their kitchen completely unusable.

During his legendary boxing career, George went toe-to-toe with the greatest — including Muhammad Ali not once but twice. Ali even said “George was the toughest guy he ever fought.”

But this time, it wasn’t about boxing gloves — it was about drywall, wiring, and a crew that could actually make it right.

Holmes On Homes Steps In

So, my team and I stepped into “the ring” ready to deliver a knockout punch to shoddy workmanship.

Here’s what we did to get George and Joanne’s kitchen back on its feet:

Full Kitchen Tear-Out:

We completely gutted the botched kitchen, removing unsafe wiring, half-finished drywall, and cabinets that weren’t salvageable. A full-gut is the only way to see what’s behind the walls.

Electrical Overhaul:

Licensed electricians rewired the entire kitchen, safely installing new circuits, outlets, proper pot lights, and modern fixtures — all up to code.

Plumbing Repairs:

We fixed leaking, poorly installed pipes and re-routed the plumbing to ensure safe water lines for the sink, dishwasher, and fridge.

Structural & Layout Improvements:

We had to reframe and adjust the walls to fix the layout issues, added the necessary support, to ensure the new kitchen was straight, level, and functional.

Demo Day on Holmes on Homes

Insulation & Drywall:

After fixing the bones of the kitchen, we insulated and drywalled the space properly — no gaps, no shortcuts.

Custom Cabinets & Countertops:

We brought in quality custom cabinetry and new countertops — expertly measured and installed to fit perfectly.

The kitchen was finished with a beautiful backsplash, new flooring and paint pulled everything together, transforming a nightmare into a dream kitchen.

In the end, George and Joanne didn’t just get a proper kitchen — they got their peace of mind back. This episode is a reminder that even the toughest among us sometimes need help fighting bad contractors — and me and my team were happy to step in the ring for George and Joanne.

Our reveal days look a bit different now but my mission is still the same. Build it right the first time!

Watch The Full Episode – Kitchen Knockout

More Mike Holmes Full episodes

You can watch full episodes of Mike Holmes’ shows for free on Homeful TV’s YouTube channel. Simply visit the channel, browse the playlist, and enjoy episodes featuring Mike’s expert home renovation advice and tips. It’s an easy and cost-free way to access all your favorite episodes!

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