He may be best known for swearing at timid chefs until they cry, but Gordon Ramsay also has a generous side.
The world-famous restaurateur, 51, is the featured guest on the season two premiere of My Houzz, a show where people are given the chance to gift a renovation to someone important to them.
For his stint on the show and he chose Christina Wilson, who won season 10 of his signature show, Hell’s Kitchen, and whom Gordon lovingly brands the only winner he ever wanted to hire.
Playing nice: Gordon Ramsay has surprised his favorite Hell’s Kitchen contestant Christina Wilson with a home renovation
Stepping in: The chef went to Philadelphia with My Houzz to help transform Christina’s home
At the start of the episode, Gordon gushes over Christina’s character and her skills in the kitchen, and describes how she had worked incredibly hard to get where she is, eventually buying the Philadelphia house she had been renting with her $250,000 winnings.
Christina is currently the executive chef for the Gordon Ramsay Group’s restaurants in the US, and is also currently a part of Hell’s Kitchen’s All Star Season 17.
‘I’m gifting this incredible transformation of a house to Christina Wilson because this lady is so humble,’ Gordon said. ‘The amount of time she’s in the limelight, she’s asked for nothing, and this is the least I can do.’
Starting out: Christina won season 10 of the show and was later hired by Gordon himself
Helping out: To design the new pad, Gordon was teamed up with local designer Matthew Ferrarini of Ferrarini & Co
Lots of love: Christina had used her $250,000 winnings from the show to buy the house
The before: The house certainly had a dated look that wasn’t quite in line with Christina’s taste
Ripping it out: The contractors tore down necessary walls, making the space look bigger
Looking out: A modern banister and big french doors brightens up the whole floor
Teaming up with Houzz for the project, Gordon is paired with local designer Matthew Ferrarini of Ferrarini & Co to go over the changes as well as enlisting Christina’s brother, Jon, and sister-in-law, Jenny, to help get a sense of what Christina would love.
Gordon himself overlooks the furniture and style selection, although isn’t always on board with Matthew’s ideas, even calling one of his overhead lighting suggestions ‘f*****g stupid.’
Over the course of the show, contractors are seen ripping down walls and doors and making huge changes to the general layout of the kitchen, dining and living room areas before even putting in the stylistic touches.
Warming up: The front room is now cozier than ever with an electric fireplace and very plush new furniture
Stunning: The house is left looking totally different, with plenty of added space
Cleaning up good: Exposed brick is given a lick of paint and a charming herb garden is added
Shock: Christina exclaims that she ‘cannot believe that this is the house that I’ve been in for the last six-and-a-half years’
Christina’s brother and sister-in-law were invited back in the interim, with both being blown away at how larger the space had suddenly become.
Then, to make the most of that space, the decorating began with a focus on a commercial-worthy kitchen, including cabinets with pull-out tables and a stunning wall-mounted herb garden.
An electric fireplace to make the front room warm and welcoming, exposed beams for a rustic feel in the kitchen and a selection of plush, modern furniture rounded out the new pad before Christina was walked in by Gordon with her eyes closed.
‘I cannot believe that this is the house that I’ve been in for the last six-and-a-half years,’ Christina gushed when she finally saw the results. ‘I am just overwhelmed. I’ve never had such a generous gift given to me.’