My Houzz: Mario Lopez Gives His Sister a Family Fitness Studio
The TV host and actor uses Houzz to find pros to help build and furnish this garage addition in Texas
Mitchell Parker
April 10, 2018
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Most people associate Mario Lopez with dancing. The two-time Emmy-winning host of Extra, former Dancing With the Stars contestant and Saved by the Bell star honed his dance moves alongside his kid sister, Marissa Lopez Wong, while growing up in Chula Vista, California. Recently, Lopez surprised his sister and her family with a garage addition that contains a dance and fitness studio for their home in Bellaire, Texas.
Mario Lopez stands in front of the newly remodeled garage he gave his sister and her family. Photos by Kelli Kroneberger
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Marissa Lopez Wong, a fitness expert and children’s book author; Kailee Wong, a fitness expert and former NFL player; and their four children
Location: Bellaire, Texas
Size: 492 square feet (46 square meters)
Designer: Cindy Aplanalp-Yates of Chairma Design Group
Watch now: See Mario Lopez surprise his sister with a garage addition
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Marissa Lopez Wong, a fitness expert and children’s book author; Kailee Wong, a fitness expert and former NFL player; and their four children
Location: Bellaire, Texas
Size: 492 square feet (46 square meters)
Designer: Cindy Aplanalp-Yates of Chairma Design Group
Watch now: See Mario Lopez surprise his sister with a garage addition
The main room in the second-floor addition contains a big open floor area and a large mirror for practicing dance or jujitsu. Fitness wall panels from Isawall support resistance bands and pullup bars, while a beam provides an anchor for aerial yoga fabric, used when doing a suspended version of yoga.
Leaf Outline wallpaper in white and black: Walls Republic; yoga mats: Ideal Ventures; Estmund natural fiber rug: Safavieh
Leaf Outline wallpaper in white and black: Walls Republic; yoga mats: Ideal Ventures; Estmund natural fiber rug: Safavieh
A lounge area gives the family of six and their friends space to kick back and watch dance recitals. Layered rugs help the space feel more complete. “And the fluffy pillows are icing on the cake,” says designer Cindy Aplanalp-Yates, whom Lopez found using Houzz to design the space and furnish it with new products and furniture. When the collection of drop pendant lights are illuminated, they beckon the family to the lounge area from the main house.
Kata Japanese ceiling lanterns in walnut and Kirosawa Japanese hanging lanterns: Oriental Furniture; Celestial Sealife area rug: Nourison; Twist table in walnut: Strata Furniture; Visconti pillow in teal blue: Pillow Decor; TR4021 pillow in multi and red: Rizzy Home; Tuscany Dots pillow: Pillow Perfect; Nebula pillow: Surya
Kata Japanese ceiling lanterns in walnut and Kirosawa Japanese hanging lanterns: Oriental Furniture; Celestial Sealife area rug: Nourison; Twist table in walnut: Strata Furniture; Visconti pillow in teal blue: Pillow Decor; TR4021 pillow in multi and red: Rizzy Home; Tuscany Dots pillow: Pillow Perfect; Nebula pillow: Surya
Vinyl wallpaper creates interest in the room. The graphic pattern also helps hide wear and tear along the entry stairway (behind the half wall, at right). “I knew that space would be taking a beating with fingerprints and scuff marks,” Aplanalp-Yates says.
Watch now: See this new dance studio in action
Watch now: See this new dance studio in action
The half wall behind the storage cabinet contains a motorized TV system that hides or reveals the TV as needed. “We didn’t want the TV to dominate the room,” Aplanalp-Yates says. “The room is more about physical activity first, not lying around watching a movie. But it’s available when wanted.”
Abran buffet: Autumn-Elle; Whisper Lift II flat-screen lift mechanism: Touchstone Home Products; handblown glass terrarium with wood base: In the Garden and More
Abran buffet: Autumn-Elle; Whisper Lift II flat-screen lift mechanism: Touchstone Home Products; handblown glass terrarium with wood base: In the Garden and More
Wood-block tile lends an organic feel to the kitchenette.
Ana Hata wood tile: Natural Mosaic Tiles; ceramic apple figurines in white: Urban Trends Collection
Ana Hata wood tile: Natural Mosaic Tiles; ceramic apple figurines in white: Urban Trends Collection
In lieu of a storage closet (the garage below handles that), Aplanalp-Yates created a meditation space. Kailee Wong, Lopez’s brother-in-law, meditates daily.
Wooloomai decorative screen panel: Outdeco USA; square floor pad in black leather: Amigos de Hoy
Wooloomai decorative screen panel: Outdeco USA; square floor pad in black leather: Amigos de Hoy
Tiled walls keep things durable and low maintenance in the bathroom.
Tandem Avanti porcelain tile: Natucer; Nano modern bathroom vanity and medicine cabinet: Fresca
Tandem Avanti porcelain tile: Natucer; Nano modern bathroom vanity and medicine cabinet: Fresca
Before Photo
Before. Here’s a look at the previous garage.
After. Builder Matt Sneller, whom Lopez also found on Houzz, basically scraped off the roof and built up. Windows on two sides frame views to the house and a backyard pool.
“It’s great to see the kids light up and immediately get in front of the mirror and talk about plans for kids’ parties and slumber parties,” Lopez says. “You can tell they’re in heaven right now.”
Watch now: See Mario Lopez surprise his sister with this garage addition
Get the look: Shop for products from this renovation
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
“It’s great to see the kids light up and immediately get in front of the mirror and talk about plans for kids’ parties and slumber parties,” Lopez says. “You can tell they’re in heaven right now.”
Watch now: See Mario Lopez surprise his sister with this garage addition
Get the look: Shop for products from this renovation
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
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Thanks for your comment- they are a really loving family and needed a multi function space- dance, exercise, movie night, and hang out space for their kids, friends and family of all ages.
How great is that? Great job everyone.