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5 Shocking Updates On Karen E. Laine: From HGTV Renovation Star To Criminal Defense Attorney In 2025

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The iconic, free-spirited matriarch of HGTV’s Good Bones, Karen E. Laine, has made a dramatic and surprising career pivot in 2025, confirming she has fully stepped away from the home renovation business she built with her daughter, Mina Starsiak Hawk. After captivating millions of viewers with her signature demolition enthusiasm and eclectic design choices on *Two Chicks and a Hammer*, Laine is officially trading in her hammer for a gavel, returning to her roots in a field few fans expected.

As of late December 2025, the biggest news surrounding the former HGTV star is her return to the courtroom, a move that signals a definitive end to her full-time role in the house-flipping world of Indianapolis. This comprehensive article delves into her new professional life, the status of her relationship with Mina, the shocking reason she sold her retirement home, and a full look at her life and career.

Karen E. Laine: Complete Biography Profile

Karen E. Laine is an American businesswoman, television personality, and former criminal defense attorney, best known for co-hosting the HGTV series Good Bones.

  • Full Name: Karen Elaine Laine (née Thompson)
  • Date of Birth: August 8, 1962
  • Age (as of Dec 2025): 63
  • Place of Birth: Richmond, Indiana, USA
  • Education: Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Juris Doctor, 1992)
  • Primary Profession: Criminal Defense Attorney, Businesswoman, Television Personality
  • Known For: Co-host of HGTV's Good Bones (2016–2023) and co-founder of Two Chicks and a Hammer.
  • Marital Status: Married (Has been married multiple times)
  • Spouses: Casey Starsiak (First husband, father of Mina, William, and CR), Mick, Randy Gray, and a current husband.
  • Children: Four biological children: Mina Starsiak Hawk, William Starsiak, CR Starsiak, and Kelsy Spaeth.
  • Net Worth: Estimated between $1.5 million and $2 million (as of 2023).

The Shocking 2025 Career Pivot: Back to the Courtroom

The biggest update to Karen E. Laine’s post-HGTV life came in May 2025 when she announced a major career shift that stunned fans. After years of focusing on demolition and design with *Two Chicks and a Hammer*, Laine has officially returned to her original profession: criminal defense law.

Joining the Josiah Swinney Law Firm

Laine confirmed via social media that she has joined the Indianapolis law firm of criminal defense attorney Josiah Swinney. This move is not a temporary side project; it is a full-time return to the field where she earned her Juris Doctor degree from the IU McKinney School of Law in 1992. For many years, even while filming the early seasons of Good Bones, Laine maintained her law career, working as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney.

This decision solidifies her retirement from the strenuous, full-time commitment of home renovation and the television production cycle. Laine has publicly stated that she is "relishing her retirement" from the business with her daughter, feeling she "can do anything I want." This freedom has allowed her to pursue her passion for law and advocacy once again, focusing on the complex world of the legal system rather than the structural complexities of dilapidated homes.

The Status of Two Chicks and a Hammer and The Mina Rift

Karen’s departure from the renovation business is intrinsically linked to the public and highly publicized rift with her daughter, Mina Starsiak Hawk. The mother-daughter duo built the foundation of their success on their shared business, *Two Chicks and a Hammer*, which was the focus of the HGTV hit show.

The Strained Mother-Daughter Relationship

Following the conclusion of Good Bones after its eighth season in 2023, the relationship between Karen and Mina became increasingly strained. Mina has been open about the familial tension, and reports indicate that Karen is now "estranged" from the business and the day-to-day operations of *Two Chicks and a Hammer*. While Laine speaks positively about her new freedom, she appears to have no regrets about stepping away from the shared business, prioritizing her personal peace and her newfound career path.

The family dynamic was a core component of the show’s success, and the public fallout has been a major topic of discussion among fans. Although Mina continued to film a spin-off, *Good Bones: Better Yards*, and a special series with Karen was mentioned, Laine’s full-time return to law suggests a firm boundary has been drawn between her and the renovation empire.

Selling The "Dream" Retirement Beach House

Another major update that surprised long-time followers was Karen’s decision to list her supposed "dream retirement home" for sale. After stepping back from *Two Chicks and a Hammer*, Laine and her husband purchased a coastal property, which she documented extensively as a personal passion project.

A Quick Change of Plans

Laine had been documenting the extensive renovations on the ramshackle beach property, leading fans to believe this was her permanent retirement sanctuary. However, just weeks after showcasing the progress, the property was placed on the market. This quick reversal suggests a significant change in her personal plans, perhaps influenced by her desire to return to Indianapolis for her law career or simply a realization that the coastal life was not her final destination.

The sale of the beach home, coupled with her immediate return to a demanding legal profession in Indiana, paints a picture of a woman who is not slowing down in retirement but rather redirecting her energy. Her new path as a criminal defense attorney is a vigorous challenge, a stark contrast to the leisurely retirement many expected for the HGTV star.

The Legacy of Karen E. Laine on HGTV and Indianapolis

Despite her departure, Karen E. Laine’s impact on the home renovation landscape and the city of Indianapolis is undeniable. Her passion for saving old, dilapidated homes and her signature "Master Gardener" touch brought a unique, hands-on authenticity to the network.

Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk successfully revitalized numerous neighborhoods, focusing on the phrase "Two Chicks and a Hammer, saving Indianapolis one house at a time." Her legacy is cemented not only in the eight seasons of Good Bones but also in the tangible transformation of the Fountain Square and Bates-Hendricks areas of Indianapolis. While her chapter with HGTV is seemingly closed, her new role as a criminal defense attorney promises a fresh, powerful narrative for her life post-reality television.

5 Shocking Updates on Karen E. Laine: From HGTV Renovation Star to Criminal Defense Attorney in 2025
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