Ep 5. Back of House

Back of House takes us behind the scenes of the ambitious renovation project on South Andros Island in the Bahamas. In this episode of Renovation Island season 2, hosts Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are facing some tough challenges in the process of transforming the boutique hotel from a run-down property into a luxurious resort.

With the front of the hotel almost complete, the Baeumlers now focus their attention on the 'back of house' –the hotel's kitchen, laundry room, and staff quarters. It's critical for the hotel to have a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, so the couple hires a local chef to help them design the perfect kitchen layout. Together with the chef, they also select the proper equipment to ensure the highest quality dishes are served up to guests.

Next, the renovation team must tackle the laundry room, which is in terrible shape. The dryers and washers are over 20 years old, and many of them no longer function. Bryan and Sarah decide to replace them all with new ones, as well as redesign the laundry room layout to make it more efficient.

As they move onto the staff quarters, they know this will be a challenge, as the accommodations for staff were not luxurious prior to the renovations. The Baeumlers plan to completely transform the spaces to provide comfortable living quarters for the staff, as their comfort will play a major role in their job satisfaction, and ultimately the level of service guests will receive.

While renovating the 'back of house,' the Baeumlers also have to coordinate with the island's electric company, as getting reliable power is a necessity. They must bring in new lines to ensure the hotel has a backup generator, which will provide guests with power in the event of an outage. In addition, the couple demo some of the outside areas of the hotel, including the boat dock, to create a more functional space for guests when they arrive at the hotel by boat.

Throughout the episode, we get glimpses of the Baeumlers' personal lives and how they balance work with family time. With four kids, the couple make sure to take time to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with their children, giving us insight into the couple's personal dynamics, and how they handle running a business together, alongside managing a family.

Back of House delivers an inside look at the work that goes on behind the scenes of the hotel industry. We see that it’s not just about renovating guest rooms, but instead includes creating comfortable and functional spaces for the staff behind the scenes, which is crucial for providing guests with an exceptional experience. Bryan and Sarah's strong work ethic is showcased throughout, ensuring that they don't cut corners or compromise on quality, even when faced with unforeseen challenges.

Overall, this episode is a great mixture of business and family life, providing an inside look on how both aspects can mesh together, while still making it a priority to spend quality family time together. Back of House is an episode you won't want to miss, providing insightful takeaways for those looking to start their own business or those who are fans of DIY and construction.