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
10 April 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 remodelled garage he gave his sister and her family.
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 sq ft (46 sq m)
Designer Cindy Aplanalp-Yates of Chairma Design Group
Photos by Kelli Kroneberger
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 sq ft (46 sq m)
Designer Cindy Aplanalp-Yates of Chairma Design Group
Photos by Kelli Kroneberger
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 fibre rug, Safavieh.
Renovation nearly finished? Here’s what you should be doing now
Leaf Outline wallpaper in white and black, Walls Republic. Yoga mats, Ideal Ventures. Estmund natural fibre rug, Safavieh.
Renovation nearly finished? Here’s what you should be doing now
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 the 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 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 rug, Nourison. Twist table in walnut, Strata Furniture. Visconti cushion in teal blue, Pillow Decor. TR4021 cushion in multi and red, Rizzy Home. Tuscany Dots cushion, Pillow Perfect. Nebula cushion, Surya.
Kata Japanese ceiling lanterns in walnut and Kirosawa Japanese hanging lanterns, Oriental Furniture. Celestial Sealife rug, Nourison. Twist table in walnut, Strata Furniture. Visconti cushion in teal blue, Pillow Decor. TR4021 cushion in multi and red, Rizzy Home. Tuscany Dots cushion, Pillow Perfect. Nebula cushion, Surya.
Vinyl wallpaper creates interest in the room. The graphic pattern also helps to hide wear and tear along the entry staircase (behind the half wall on the 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 motorised 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 sideboard, Autumn-Elle. Whisper Lift II flatscreen lift mechanism, Touchstone Home Products. Handblown glass terrarium with wood base, In the Garden and More.
Abran sideboard, Autumn-Elle. Whisper Lift II flatscreen lift mechanism, Touchstone Home Products. Handblown glass terrarium with wood base, In the Garden and More.
Wood-block tiles lend an organic feel to the kitchenette.
Ana Hata wood tiles, Natural Mosaic Tiles. Ceramic apples in white, Urban Trends Collection.
Ana Hata wood tiles, Natural Mosaic Tiles. Ceramic apples in white, Urban Trends Collection.
In lieu of a storage cupboard (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 tiles, Natucer. Nano modern bathroom vanity unit; medicine cabinet, both Fresca.
Which basin style should you choose for your contemporary bathroom?
Tandem Avanti porcelain tiles, Natucer. Nano modern bathroom vanity unit; medicine cabinet, both Fresca.
Which basin style should you choose for your contemporary bathroom?
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 upwards. Windows on two sides frame views to the house and a back garden 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
Tell us…
What do you think of this surprise renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“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
Tell us…
What do you think of this surprise renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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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.