Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt determined to go all in for Betting on Paradise. The couple on the heart of a brand new HGTV collection, which premieres January 7, made a serious transfer from Toronto, Canada to Jacó, Costa Rica. Cameras comply with their journey as they work to breathe new life right into a rundown boutique lodge previously referred to as Cabinas Stefano earlier than resort season begins. Shantz and Sitt bought their home, drained life financial savings and enlisted assist of buyers and household and associates to make their dream a actuality. Failure was not an choice.
They’ll work by monetary pressures, development challenges and budgets to get Lodge Amavi up and working. Exterior the renovation, Shantz and Sitt even have two younger daughters to look after. So, lots on their plate. We caught up with the pair to speak about what’s to return in the course of the collection.
Did I learn proper that the present was born out of a reference to a neighbor?
Steph Sitt: That’s true. She knew somebody at Cineflix [Productions], and she or he advised them about us eager about transforming this lodge.
Luke Shantz: What additionally occurred is we got here dwelling each day pondering, “What are we going to do along with his lodge?” I believe she thought it was fairly attention-grabbing and can be present.
Luke Shantz and Stephanie Sitt strolling by the progress of the development of their renovated lodge in Jaco, Costa Rica. (HGTV)
Seems like a fairly fast turnaround.
Steph: It did occur fairly rapidly. We already had the lodge.
Luke: It was a kind of issues while you even have HGTV on board, that’s loads of stress too. You’ve got the entire world watching and need to be sure you make this look nearly as good as attainable. It sped up the method.
How was it getting used to having cameras on you as you’re going by the method?
Luke: Our crew was fairly superb generally. Initially, it was completely unusual. It’s unscripted. I believe we’re in what we’re doing a lot, finally you overlook the cameras are there more often than not. We’re already on this new space and including this was an expertise too.
Luke Shantz and Stephanie Sitt within the foyer at their renovated lodge in Jaco, Costa Rica. (HGTV)
I do know this was a imaginative and prescient for you Steph, particularly after you have been laid off out of your job in the course of the pandemic. Luke taking the large plunge as effectively. Given the unimaginable stress you have been below and dealing collectively, how was it ensuring you didn’t carry all that dwelling with you?
Steph: That was an enormous problem. I wasn’t working. He was for a bit. We had the children and a lot time to spend with them. Then we took on this undertaking. Then there was a lot stress between the each of us. I believe that it helped we each took turns being stressed. I might begin being stressed, and Luke can be the level-headed one and take over. We took turns. It helped we leaned on one another as a result of we have been the one different individuals who knew what we have been going by. There was loads of crying and laughing and crying and laughing.
Luke: One of many essential causes we moved down right here was to be nearer. It will be exhausting to spend time with our children again dwelling as a result of we have been working a lot. We began to unfastened a few of that. One of many issues we saved specializing in is no matter is going on, we have to depart it on the lodge as a lot as we are able to. At any time when we come dwelling, it’s nearly being current for ourselves and our youngsters. Thank God we love one another lots and may lean on one another for these exhausting moments.
What made you select this property initially?
Luke: In Jacó, there’s the north aspect and south aspect of the seashore. We have been residing on the south aspect of the seashore. It’s a extremely stunning a part of the seashore. You’ll be able to surf, nevertheless it’s additionally tremendous protected. There may be very nice sand. We simply cherished that space, however there wasn’t lots round that was out there. The situation was nice. It’s a nook lot. It’s a stone’s throw from the seashore. We simply saved driving by it and imagining it. We cherished the placement of the property.
You’ve got eight months earlier than the excessive season hits. What have been among the largest challenges you confronted to the end line?
Luke: You’re all the time going to have that sudden bills developing. You anticipate that. This one although was not the ten or 15 p.c you anticipate. This finances saved blowing up and blowing up. The finances would improve and the timeline would get backed up. Plus, you’re doing it in a rustic the place you’re dealing with the weather, the language barrier and studying on the fly as you go. There have been so many challenges and so they saved coming at us from each angle. It was make or break. We had a strict deadline. If we missed the excessive season, we have been in huge bother. Daily and episode you’ll see it on our face simply how difficult each second was.
This season we’ll see you could have a marriage, which you by no means had earlier than. What did it imply to you to have this gathering documented?
Steph: It was superb as a result of we had gone by such hell that yr. Constructing the lodge, not being certain if it could be prepared in time and the challenges we confronted, it was so good to mark the event with our associates and households and at last get married after being collectively for therefore lengthy. It was a pleasant strategy to have a good time all the pieces we’ve completed. I believe that was actually thrilling. I’m excited for folks to see it. That is good as a result of that day was such a blur, so right here now we have documentation of that day eternally now.
Luke: It was such an emotional day. It was Steph simply weeping the entire time. It was a extremely cool manner for us to have a good time our love for one another but in addition this big accomplishment we simply had after which attending to share it with the folks we love. It labored out superb. There was additionally a bit of shock on the marriage ceremony we weren’t anticipating.
You’ve got buyers who’re additionally associates of yours. How is it managing that dynamic?
Luke: It was difficult, truthfully. We have been actually fortunate we acquired the buyers we did as a result of they’re supportive however they’re taking an enormous threat as effectively. We didn’t know them that lengthy. We met them there. Now we all know them very effectively as a result of we spent loads of time figuring how we’d make it by this. It was nearly like a wedding. There have been instances you nearly wished to kill one another and instances you liked one another. In the long run, all these instances made us stronger. It labored out rather well, however there have been some darkish days we’d make it by.
The Lodge Amavi is up and working now. How has the present and impacted enterprise up to now?
Steph: We now have positively seen a bump in our socials. It’s additionally excessive season proper now. I used to be pondering we’d get a bump anyhow. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what enterprise is like as soon as the present finishes airing.
Luke: We attempt to be on the lodge as a lot as we are able to. We need to be engaged with our visitors. I’ve seen now during the last couple of weeks persons are saying, “I can’t consider it’s this.” We’re hoping after this airs enterprise is fantastic eternally.
Are there plans to do different initiatives now that you just’ve tackled this one?
Luke: Completely, we’re. We have already got a few issues now we’re eager about doing. We simply have to check the waters to see which one the universe needs us to go to subsequent. It was a tricky difficult yr, however the rewards are so nice we’re trying to see what our subsequent chapter is.
Luke Shantz and Stephanie Sitt at their renovated lodge in Jaco, Costa Rica, as seen on Betting on Paradise, Season 1. (HGTV)
How would you describe what makes this lodge stand out?
Steph: It has a bit of little bit of all the pieces. It has Jacó. I all the time name it tropical Mad Males as a result of it has loads of mid-century touches with a tropical vibe. Additionally, the thought of it being a five-star luxurious property with out the stuffiness. I outline it as informal luxurious.
Have been you followers of HGTV earlier than?
Steph: I watched loads of it. I watched Home Hunters Worldwide. That was all the time an enormous one.
Luke: The place we lived was really on Home Hunters Worldwide. One of many condos we lived in. I believe that was an enormous inspiration to maneuver down right here.
Steph: I all the time cherished Fixer Higher, Love It or Record It was all the time an enormous enjoyable one from Toronto. And everybody is aware of in regards to the Property Brothers.
How is it being a part of this universe? Any curiosity in persevering with on with potential initiatives
Luke: We love working with HGTV up to now. We’re open to all the pieces. Proper now, we’re simply attempting to get by this premiere and see what occurs. It’s such a brand new expertise for us. We’re tremendous excited to get into this universe and see what alternatives come of this.
Lots of people don’t have the braveness to take the leap of religion you all did. What do you hope folks take from watching your journey?
Steph: We all the time talked about how generally if you end up in your routine and life and residential. I believe generally at a sure age you are feeling you possibly can’t go on one other journey. We’ve all the time lived by the mantra that there’s all the time yet another journey ready across the nook. To lean into it was all the time an enormous factor for us.
Luke; We’ve traveled some and brought some dangers. Nothing like this. The chance paid off. This was large and really scary.
Steph: Particularly, as a result of now we have two children. It’s totally different when you could have all these items.
Luke: On the identical time, not everybody had the chance we had to have the ability to do that right here. I’m excited to share with everybody. It’s not all the time sunshine and rainbows while you do that. The present will present you what comes together with doing it. It’s very actual, however we’re excited to take everybody alongside for the experience. We could have folks say, “Hey, this can be a cool thought.” Others could say, “You guys are out of your dang thoughts.” Both aspect, we hope everybody enjoys the journey.
Betting on Paradise premiere, January 7, 9/8c, HGTV