On Celebrity IOU, Laurence Fishburne teamed up with Jonathan and Drew Scott to transform his longtime friend Greg’s Los Angeles backyard into a more comfortable place to cook, dine and unwind. The four-week renovation paired practical fixes—including better shade and patio work—with a tucked-away fire-pit lounge personalized for Greg.
Which Celebrity IOU episode features Laurence Fishburne’s surprise?
TV Guide lists the episode as Season 7, Episode 11, “Laurence Fishburne’s Foolproof Surprise,” broadcast June 16, 2024. Its premise is a resort-level backyard retreat where Greg can relax and entertain throughout the year. TV Guide’s Season 7 episode guide gives the episode listing and summary.
Realtor.com identifies Greg as Fishburne’s longtime friend and right-hand man. The Los Angeles backyard renovation took four weeks, according to its June 19, 2024 account. Realtor.com’s makeover report describes the project and the design choices behind it.
How did the makeover change the backyard?
A shaded place to cook and eat
Greg already had outdoor dining furniture, but the area lacked a cooking and serving surface and received too much sun. The Scotts added an outdoor kitchen and dining table beneath a remote-controlled retractable awning extending from the house. Drew Scott said smaller umbrellas would not provide enough shade, while a pergola would feel awkward in the tight space. The design choice addressed both the sun exposure and the limited room, rather than simply adding another freestanding shade structure.
A more unified, usable patio
The existing patio had drainage problems and multiple levels. The team removed and repoured one section, then resurfaced the concrete with a waterproof epoxy material so the old and new areas would look cohesive. Jonathan Scott explained that not every concrete surface needs to be removed: in his account, hairline cracks or discoloration may be suitable for resurfacing, while some concrete in Greg’s yard had to be ripped out. That is a description of this project, not a substitute for assessing a different patio’s condition or drainage.
A neglected corner turned into a lounge
At the back of the yard, a triangular patch of dirt had been left unused. The renovation used composite decking to create a seating nook with a fire pit, and repeated the material on the walls to connect the surfaces visually. The wall feature also added an additional foot of privacy, Realtor.com reports. Drew Scott described the change as turning “complete dead space” into a destination.
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Greenery and a personal design detail
Four planter boxes at different heights were built into the composite wall, bringing plants into the lounge without taking up floor space. Fishburne also told the team that Greg liked Spanish- and Moroccan-inspired tile. They chose a floral Spanish-inspired tile for a planter wall, adding a decorative, personal counterpoint to the contemporary dark decking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes the design work as a backyard makeover?
- Plan shade around the activity. The awning covers the kitchen and dining area where sun was a problem; the episode’s account says the existing smaller umbrellas were not enough for that setting.
- Match the repair to the patio’s condition. The makeover combined localized concrete replacement with resurfacing instead of treating every part of the patio the same way.
- Give an awkward corner a distinct purpose. The fire-pit nook turns an overlooked area into a separate place to sit, rather than leaving the yard as one undifferentiated space.
- Use repetition to tie a compact area together. Composite decking on both the seating surface and wall helps connect the lounge visually.
- Make built-ins personal as well as practical. Wall-mounted planters preserve floor space, while the selected tile reflects a style Fishburne knew Greg liked.
These are design choices reported for a television renovation, not independently tested construction recommendations. The coverage names material categories but does not identify brands or product models, so no retail listing should be treated as the exact item used on the show.
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