Mina Starsiak Hawk & Karen E. Laine: Inside the 'Good Bones' Rift

The dynamic between Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine has long fascinated fans of HGTV's hit series Good Bones. For years, viewers watched the mother-daughter duo transform Indianapolis, assuming their on-screen banter reflected a seamless real-life bond. However, the reality proved far more nuanced.

Following the show's conclusion, Hawk opened up about the significant strain that developed between them. After a period of distance and separate professional ventures, a new update in early 2026 suggests the pair has found a path forward. This is the evolution of their relationship, from business partners to estranged relatives, and finally, to a place of peace.

When Good Bones premiered in 2016, it quickly became a staple of the HGTV lineup. The show centered on Hawk and Laine renovating homes through their company, Two Chicks and a Hammer. Laine formally stepped back from the company in 2019 but remained a central figure on the program and its spinoff, Good Bones: Risky Business.

The series offered a glimpse into their family life, featuring Hawk's five siblings and her husband, Stephen. Despite describing their family tree as 'complicated,' the show presented a united front dedicated to revitalizing their hometown. Hawk has five siblings:

• William and CR (brothers)
• Kelsy (half-sister through Laine)
• Tad and Jessica (half-siblings through her father)

While the renovation projects were the focus, the heart of the show was the perceived closeness between the leads. Hawk later revealed that this image of being 'thick as thieves' was a carefully curated narrative that didn't always match their off-camera reality.

The facade began to crack in the summer of 2023. On her podcast, Mina AF, Hawk used the context of her son Jack's fifth birthday party to discuss setting boundaries. She candidly admitted that her relationships with Laine and two of her brothers were in a difficult place.

"My mom and I aren't in a great place. My brother Tad and I aren't in a great place. My brother William and I are kind of like nonexistent place."

Hawk explained that while her family typically 'put our big kid pants on' to coexist at gatherings, she no longer wanted to participate in that dynamic. She ultimately decided not to invite Laine or the estranged brothers to the birthday party, prioritizing her own peace over performative family unity. This period of honesty coincided with the announcement that Good Bones would end after its eighth season.

In August 2023, Hawk announced the series was concluding, citing the immense stress of managing multiple renovation projects simultaneously. She admitted she had become a version of herself she 'really didn't like' and that the show was no longer sustainable for her mental health or family life.

The strain was palpable even during filming. Hawk revealed that she and Laine had a 'knockdown drag-out' fight during the demo phase of the season eight premiere. Despite the ending, Laine remained open to future HGTV opportunities, commenting that Mina's decision to end the show didn't necessarily mean her own career was over.

When the show briefly returned for a limited season in August 2024, the format had shifted dramatically. Hawk and Laine did not appear together; instead, they filmed separate storylines in different locations, effectively highlighting their professional and personal separation.

By January 2026, the narrative had shifted once again. In an interview regarding her appearance on Rock the Block, Hawk provided a hopeful update. She acknowledged that repairing their relationship took time, noting, "It took us a lot of time to get there... so I think it takes a lot of time to kind of get out of it as well."

Despite the long road, Hawk confirmed that she and Laine were back on speaking terms. The most significant indicator of their progress was their reunion during the 2025 holidays. Hawk described their current status as 'amicable,' clarifying that while they aren't 'best friends that braid each other's hair,' they are in a good place.

This reconciliation marks a new chapter for the duo. Having navigated public scrutiny, professional transitions, and personal boundaries, they appear to have found a sustainable way to exist as a family unit, separate from the pressures of television.

The journey of Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine serves as a reminder that public personas often conceal private complexities. Their transition from inseparable co-stars to individuals navigating difficult boundaries—and eventually back to a cordial relationship—highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health and authenticity.

As both move forward with separate projects, the 'amicable' status they have achieved suggests a mature resolution to their past conflicts. For fans who followed their story, the update offers a satisfying conclusion: a family that may not be exactly as they appeared on TV, but is finding its own way to thrive.