Artist and designer Keith Bynum is feeling overjoyed this spring. The HGTV star has been busy working at one of his favorite locations—Beaver Island on Lake Michigan—carefully bringing a historic lighthouse back to life. Unfortunately, fans of “Bargain Block” looking forward to seeing this transformation on TV might be disappointed.
On May 21, 2025, Bynum shared some behind-the-scenes glimpses of his lighthouse project on Instagram. He expressed his excitement and affection for the restoration, saying, “This lighthouse has completely captured my heart.”
“Sometimes it feels like finishing a project is all that counts,” he wrote alongside several photos from the site, including one showing him looking relaxed and happy. “Wrapping things up and moving forward is wonderful, but the journey itself is pretty special too.”
HGTV’s Keith Bynum Says Views From Beaver Head Lighthouse Are ‘Intoxicating’
Beaver Island holds a special place in the hearts of Keith Bynum and his life partner, Evan Thomas, who stars alongside him on HGTV’s “Bargain Block.” The pair first fell in love with this charming location during their northern getaways. Known primarily for restoring rundown homes in Detroit, Bynum and Thomas decided to invest in their own peaceful lakeside retreat on Beaver Island in 2023, a spot perfect for escaping their busy lives.
When introduced to the historic Beaver Head Lighthouse—the third-oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes—Bynum instantly felt a deep connection. Speaking with The Northern Express, he described the moment as love at first sight. “Every part of it is incredibly beautiful to me,” Bynum shared on Instagram on May 21. “The view is simply breathtaking.”
Local community members have worked diligently for years to restore and maintain this lighthouse, originally opened in 1852, alongside volunteers and students from Eastern Michigan University’s Historic Preservation Graduate Field School. Recognizing an opportunity to contribute meaningfully, Bynum volunteered his expertise along with the NINE Design team to complete essential renovations, such as updating electrical wiring, flooring, and walls within the lighthouse keeper’s quarters.
This past week, Bynum reflected on the experience through an Instagram post, stating, “I’ve been incredibly lucky to host 25 graduate students who are studying historic preservation. We’ve worked tirelessly over the past several days, and the experience has truly been magical. Being surrounded by their enthusiasm and genuine passion for historic structures has reminded me just how much I adore this kind of work.”
Expressing excitement about the final reveal, Bynum continued, “I can’t wait for you all to see the finished result. Beaver Island continues to become an essential part of my life. The people here are genuinely wonderful, and I deeply cherish this community.”
Lighthouse Restoration Won’t Be Featured on HGTV Due to High Cost of Filming
Many fans responded enthusiastically to Bynum’s Instagram post, asking if the lighthouse restoration would be featured on the show “Bargain Block.” Unfortunately, it seems unlikely.
When one follower commented, “Please say this will be on the show 🙏🏼,” Bynum playfully replied, “You’ll get to see it somewhere! Haha.”
Though HGTV initially announced plans to feature the lighthouse project in the fifth season of “Bargain Block,” those plans have since been reconsidered.
Bynum explained to The Northern Express, “Because the lighthouse is located in such a remote area, we found that the travel costs for the film crew would be too high. We have limited resources for the project, and spending funds in this way wouldn’t be efficient.”
The restoration is expected to finish by fall 2025, with a celebration event planned.
Originally built in 1852, Beaver Head Lighthouse took two years to complete and served as a vital navigation point for ships traveling from Chicago to the Straits of Mackinac, according to the local Historical Society. The lighthouse operated continuously for 110 years until a radio beacon replaced its functions, leading to its decommissioning by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1962.
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