Mandy Moore Surprises Close Friend With Major Backyard Renovation: A Look at the Home Upgrades

For many people, nothing beats unwinding after a long day in their own backyard. But if that space is more of an eyesore or doesn’t offer comfort, it may not be as great for relaxation as one would hope. Actress and singer-songwriter Mandy Moore knows just how important this space can be, and she decided to treat her dear friend to a dramatic backyard makeover. Read on to find out more about how this renovation came to be on the series Celebrity IOU and all the new features of the revitalized space.

Who did Mandy Moore surprise with the ‘Celebrity IOU’ renovation?

For the season 5 premiere of the reality show Celebrity IOU , Moore teamed up with brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott to surprise her friend of 15 years. On the heartwarming Max series, the duo helps Hollywood A-list celebrities display gratitude toward people in their lives by renovating an element of their home.

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The recipient Moore chose for her episode? Her kids' nanny, Celina. The actress said that her sons share a special bond with Celina(whom she calls Cece), so the This Is Us star wanted to find another way to give back to her as a thank you. (Love Moore in This is Us? Check out her many other projects! )

“Celina is a nanny, a chef, a surrogate parent, a house manager – I mean she literally does everything and anything in our lives,” Moore said, according to People . “I feel like I wouldn't be able to get through a single day without her.”

She also shared that she was just 15 years old when she met Celina, who was working with her manager at the time. Now, Moore describes her as “closer than family,” which makes it easy to see why she was chosen as the recipient of the grand gesture.

What features were included in the Mandy Moore ‘Celebrity IOU’ backyard renovation?

On the reality show, the Scott brothers have helped their celebrity guests transform everything from kitchens and cabins to garages and living rooms. For Moore’s episode, she decided to give Celina’s backyard a major makeover over three weeks.

At the beginning of the episode, viewers caught a glimpse of the existing space. A spare refrigerator, a clunky air conditioner, no seating and a lack of landscaping were just a few of the issues plaguing the yard, according to House Beautiful .

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With a little work, it was transformed into an impressive space! Here are the highlights of this spectacular renovation:

• An outdoor kitchen featuring both a grill and a smoker
• A new concrete patio
• A metal electronic pergola to replace an unstable roof overhang. This outdoor structure can easily open and close to allow for more natural light, plus track lighting and fans that can be operated from a phone app.
• A layer of wood-inspired slats to cover a cinder block wall
• Plantings of mondo grass (dwarf lilyturf) near the existing fruit trees in the yard to add more eye-catchy greenery to the current landscaping
• A custom-made hanging stereo console with the ability to store the family’s record player and records
• An outdoor dining table near the kitchen
• Comfortable seating surrounding a new firepit
• A wall-mounted television above the stereo console

Looking to upgrade your own backyard? Click through for expert suggestions !

What were the reactions to the ‘Celebrity IOU’ backyard renovation?

During the reveal, Moore didn’t shed any tears but was certainly all smiles as she hugged Celina. Her friend, on the other hand, couldn’t contain her excitement!

“Oh my goodness, it is gorgeous!” Celina says in the episode as she enthusiastically takes in the surroundings of her new backyard oasis. “I can’t believe that, it’s like a different house!”

Moore shared her favorite feature was the newly installed pergola. “You have fans, so you’ll be nice and cool sitting outside,” she says. Celina happily agreed with her friend before the brothers displayed how easy it is to adjust how much light comes through the structure.

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