Summerville designer Gray Benko and family are stars of new home renovation Tv sequence | Attributes
Christine Blau
3 min read
Summerville designer Grey Benko and her relatives are on a quest to convey shade and everyday living back again to historic areas in the Charleston location. It is a feat they are accomplishing head-on in a new Television set sequence called “Delighted to be Residence with the Benkos.”
In 6 episodes, Gray Benko groups up with her craftsman partner, Mike Benko, and her father, Joe “Grumpy” Highsmith, to renovate parts of 6 historic Charleston-place properties.
Every single episode attributes a distinctive dwelling that dates back at the very least 100 yrs. The idea is to insert coloration, texture and enjoyable to every single one while breaking away from the “stereotypical farmhouse thought that has been so preferred for so long,” reported Mike Benko.
Most of the renovated spaces are types the owners ended up disappointed with. They have been either wanting for a change, or the area essential some sort of structural or building function.
The crew works to salvage the integrity of every single home’s historical past when including the aptitude of Gray Benko’s types. When complete, most of the areas are revived from ground to ceiling with model new construction, vivid colors and designs, antique household furniture and fixtures from community outlets.
The Television set series “Satisfied to be House with the Benkos” follows Summerville designer Gray Benko and her loved ones as they renovate historic residences in the Summerville and Charleston parts. Grey Benko/Offered
Each member of the trio has their have rule in the renovations. Grey, who is also a photographer, is liable for the types. Highsmith, a general contractor from Hilton Head Island, oversees the development. And Gray describes her husband, Mike, as a renaissance gentleman who’s “like a jack-of-all-trades kind of dude.” He completes a personalized, specific job for just about every homeowner.
Grey, a Lowcountry indigenous, explained her family’s passion for this operate likely stems from dwelling in historic properties for so numerous a long time. They have renovated their own homes, “and that is sort of how this total issues began,” she said.
“I did our properties, people today noticed it on my Instagram, cherished it and then started asking me for help with their dwelling,” she reported. “And then it all turned into this entire Tv display detail, and right here we are.”

“Satisfied to be Dwelling with the Benkos” airs on the Magnolia Community, which characteristics first shows curated by Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of the hit household renovation Television set sequence “Fixer Higher” and house owners of the Magnolia household brand name. The show can be streamed on HBO Max and Discovery+, far too.
The Tv series “Content to be Dwelling with the Benkos” follows Summerville designer Grey Benko and her family as they renovate historic houses in the Summerville and Charleston places. Grey Benko/Provided
Considering the fact that the Benkos make use of local businesses to enable with the renovations, quite a few Lowcountry faces are noticed on the clearly show, much too, like Charleston upholsterer Kelvin Moultrie of Carolina Vehicle Trim, seamstress Elizabeth Wheaton of Wheaton Whaley Household and designer Sally Bennet of Mirth Studio, amongst other South Carolinians.
The Benkos are now taking on new projects in the Summerville and Charleston areas. Homes that are built in the 1920s or previously are most well-liked.
“We are seeking for individuals who are not concerned of colour, of course, and who have renovations that they now want to do,” Gray stated.
People who are interested ought to ship an e mail to [email protected].

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