Mina Starsiak Hawk: Rise To Hgtv Success

Mina Starsiak Hawk built a multi-million dollar business empire starting with a single, highly unglamorous fixer-upper in Indianapolis. Long before anchoring HGTV's hit series Good Bones, she navigated a rocky entry into real estate development without a background in construction, design, or television.

Understanding her trajectory requires looking past the glossy network edits to examine the gritty realities of building a local contracting firm into an international brand, launching brick-and-mortar retail ventures, and eventually pivoting away from traditional network television to forge an independent path.

The Humble Beginning: Buying a Fixer-Upper at Age 22

Fresh out of Indiana University in 2007 with a general studies degree, Starsiak Hawk faced the classic post-grad dilemma of not wanting a rigid 9-to-5 cubicle job. While working as a part-time waitress, she decided to buy her first home—a dilapidated property in Indianapolis's Fountain Square neighborhood that cost just $37,500.

She enlisted her mother, Karen E. Laine, who was working as a defense attorney at the time, to co-sign the loan and help with the physical labor. Neither woman had professional renovation experience. They relied on trial and error, instructional books, and online videos to install flooring, lay tile, and frame walls.

• The Strategy: Buying the worst house on a block with high revitalization potential.
• The Execution: Learning trades on the fly through hands-on labor.
• The Result: Transforming a severely neglected shell into a livable home, which sparked a passion for neighborhood revitalization.

Founding Two Chicks and a Hammer

Encouraged by their initial success, Starsiak Hawk and Laine continued buying cheap, abandoned properties in Indianapolis. They formally established their home-renovation company, Two Chicks and a Hammer, in 2007.

For seven years, the pair operated as a small local contracting business. They gutted properties down to the studs, salvaged historic materials, and sold them to local buyers. Their operational dynamic relied on contrasting strengths: Laine brought a creative, free-spirited design vision, while Starsiak Hawk acted as the practical logistical engine, managing budgets, timelines, and subcontractors.

Transition to Television: The Birth of Good Bones

In 2014, talent scouts from High Noon Entertainment—the production company behind Fixer Upper—discovered the mother-daughter duo through their local projects and social media presence. Initially skeptical, Starsiak Hawk agreed to film a pilot episode.

The pilot aired in May 2015 under the title 2 Chicks and a Hammer. HGTV picked up the series, rebranded it as Good Bones, and premiered the first season in 2016. The show ran for eight successful seasons, turning Indianapolis neighborhoods like Fountain Square and Bates-Hendricks into national tourist destinations and driving up property values across the city's southside.

During her tenure with the network, Starsiak Hawk also appeared in competitive spin-offs and crossover specials, including Rock the Block, A Very Brady Renovation, and Good Bones: Risky Business.

Expanding Beyond Contracting: Retail and Ventures

Capitalizing on her television platform, Starsiak Hawk expanded her business footprint beyond residential remodeling.

• Two Chicks District Co.: She opened a brick-and-mortar storefront in Indianapolis featuring home decor, apparel, and locally made goods. After navigating economic hurdles, the business relocated to a historic district in Noblesville, Indiana.
• Brand Partnerships: She secured high-profile corporate sponsorships with brands like Trane, Chamberlain, Levolor, and Owens Corning, serving as an industry spokesperson for HVAC systems, garage technology, and roofing materials.
• Publishing and Podcasting: She authored the family-focused book Built Together and launched digital audio projects, including the Mina AF podcast, where she discusses entrepreneurship, family life, and mental health.

Life After Good Bones: The 2023 Conclusion and Next Chapter

In late 2023, HGTV aired the final episodes of Good Bones, concluding a major chapter in Starsiak Hawk's career. Rather than jumping immediately into another network contract, she shifted her focus toward regional real estate development, digital media creation, and growing her retail storefront. Her estimated net worth sits at roughly $2 million, accumulated through television salaries, real estate flips, corporate endorsements, and retail operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Mina Starsiak Hawk's very first real estate project?

She purchased a dilapidated house in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis in 2007 for $37,500. With help from her mother, she completely renovated the property while learning construction basics through trial and error.

Why did HGTV cancel Good Bones?

The show did not face a sudden cancellation due to poor ratings; rather, the principals mutually decided to conclude the series after eight seasons. Starsiak Hawk and her mother chose to part ways professionally on screen to pursue separate personal and business objectives.

Is Two Chicks and a Hammer still open?

While the original television-featured workspace and retail setups underwent structural changes—including closing the initial storefront concept and reopening in Noblesville, Indiana—the core brand remains active through local design projects, digital content, and retail merchandising.

How did Mina Starsiak Hawk get discovered by HGTV?

Production scouts from High Noon Entertainment noticed the steady volume of urban revitalization projects she and her mother were completing in Indianapolis, leading them to film a pilot that ultimately became Good Bones.