Backyard Goldmine

Storyline

Ben Sargent calls his style unconventional, an apropos description considering he attended the French Culinary Institute, owned multiple seafood restaurants, hosted a Cooking Channel show, and now caters to homeowners who want to sweeten their backyard experiences. Set in Burlington, Vt., and Charleston, S.C., this DIY series follows the multifarious Sargent's mission to convert unused and uninhabitable sheds, barns and outbuildings into fabulous, functional sources for added income. He uses a mix of natural rustic charm and eclectic design to transform the spaces, which when finished can also be fun family retreat areas to use as art studios, home offices or a kids' playrooms.