Bryan Baeumler Has Been On HGTV Longer Than You Think
If you enjoy home renovation or design, then you probably spend time watching HGTV. The network is home to a plethora of shows, from Joanna and Chip Gaines' "Fixer Upper" to "The Property Brothers," that provide plenty of DIY inspiration. Viewers can live vicariously through TV personalities who splash out hundreds of thousands of dollars on their dream homes. Bryan and Sarah Baeumler's series offers a slight twist on the usual theme. Their show "Renovation Island" tracked the Baeumlers as they relocated to South Andros, Bahamas, with big dreams of remaking a run-down beachside hotel into a luxe resort called Caerula Mar Club.
Per IMDb, the series began airing in the US in 2020, and if the ratings are anything to go by, viewers were hooked on watching the resort come to life. Though construction was challenged by Hurricane Dorian, the coronavirus, and the antics of the couple's four children, Bryan and Sarah were ultimately successful in their quest to open Caerula Mar Club to the public. This is a milestone for the home design network because the hotel "is the first project on HGTV where viewers will actually be able to come down and see the final result and hang out with us and the entire family," Bryan told the Edmonton Journal (via Distractify).
Anyone looking for more on Bryan is in luck as the licensed contractor has other shows available on HGTV. Speaking of, how long has he been with the network?
Bryan Baeumler has been with HGTV for over a decade
American viewers were first introduced to Canadian couple Bryan and Sarah Baeumler on "Renovation Island," but that wasn't the pair's first rodeo. According to Bryan's official website, he appears on seven HGTV shows, including "Bryan Inc," "Home to Win," "House of Bryan," "Leave It To Bryan," "Disaster DIY," and "Canada's Handyman Challenge," in addition to "Renovation Island." The latter first premiered in Canada in 2019 under the name "Island of Bryan." According to IMDb, "Disaster DIY" was the earliest of these shows, airing in Canada in 2007 — which would mean Bryan has been with HGTV for 15 years. On the show, "Bryan wage[s] war on building shortcuts and [teaches] well-intentioned DIY-ers how to bring their renovations back on track," the handyman explains on his website.
Bryan's TV career began by accident, when he put forth his construction company in consideration for a Canadian HGTV show, as he told the Prince George Free Press. However, when producers interviewed him, they found he might be better suited to headline his own series. "Disaster DIY" went on to launch spinoff shows like "House of Bryan," which HGTV reported was Canada's "highest-rated series in over 10 years." Focusing on Bryan's family and the construction of his various homes, the series proved there was an appetite for home renovation content. The success of these series, coupled with Bryan's other Canadian shows, eventually led to a breakthrough in the American HGTV market via "Renovation Island."
'Renovation Island' was Bryan Baeumler's toughest challenge
Bryan Baeumler is well suited for his career in home renovation. According to Calgary Renovation Show, the HGTV star first stretched his entrepreneurial muscles at 14 by launching his own business, where he did construction and repair work for his neighbors. He's also the president of Baeumler Quality Construction and Renovations Inc., a full-service construction company that does everything from construction to craftsmanship.
Even so, his show "Renovation Island" was the biggest challenge Bryan and his wife Sarah Baeumler had faced yet. Not only had the property languished in disrepair for a decade, but it spanned a massive 10 acres, according to HGTV. Oh, and the renovation projects needed to be completed within 6 months! "This is the biggest change our family has faced and the largest project we've ever taken on," Bryan told the outlet at the time, adding that he and Sarah were "risking absolutely everything." Somehow, they managed to pull it off. Caerula Mar Club's website reveals that HGTV fans can shell out between $385-$755 a night for a clubhouse suite, and $625-$1,715 a night for villas.
Next up, viewers can catch Bryan on his new show, "Renovation Resort," via HGTV Canada. The series stars Bryan alongside fellow Canada HGTV veteran Scott McGillivray; Bryan will reportedly help McGillivray renovate his own dilapidated resort by enlisting four contractor/design duos to do the dirty work for him. Sounds like a hit for fans who loved "Renovation Island!"