Adar Kirkham Wiki, Bio, Age, Husband, Kids, Career, HGTV Shows, and Net Worth

Adar Kirkham is a creative entrepreneur, television personality, and interior design expert best known as the host of HGTV’s Freestyled. She is the founder of Tweak It Studio, a DIY furniture and interiors brand based in Detroit, and co-founder of BoKayes, a lifestyle and home goods company inspired by her family.

Adar Kirkham biography

With a foundation in professional dance and choreography, Adar has built a diverse career that spans the performing arts, design, and digital media. Her work is rooted in reinvention—transforming both spaces and stories with color, creativity, and purpose. From her national design projects to her television presence and lifestyle ventures, Adar continues to empower everyday people to reimagine their homes and embrace bold, sustainable design.

Growing Up in New Jersey

Born in 1983 and raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Adar grew up in a rather unconventional home—a barn her parents converted into a house. On the outside, it looked rustic, but inside, it was sleek and contemporary, complete with a spiral staircase and a pond underneath. That blend of old and new became her design DNA.

Adar’s mother, Karen Montague Wellington, played a major role in shaping her creativity and entrepreneurial drive. As a strong, resourceful parent raising five children, Karen helped instill the values of imagination and persistence that Adar would carry through every chapter of life.

The second of five siblings, Adar’s childhood was steeped in creativity, ambition, and hustle. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and their resilience rubbed off on the kids. Money wasn’t always plentiful, but creativity was. As one of the few Black families in a predominantly white, affluent area, Adar often felt out of place—but her family’s love of the arts and sports, along with their unwavering work ethic, grounded her.

At just three years old, Adar found her passion: dance. Ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern—if it had movement, she was in. She immersed herself in everything from theater productions and Black History Month recitals to national dance competitions. She always dreamed of being a star.

From Rutgers to Rihanna

When it came time for college, Adar wrestled with whether to go at all—Hollywood and a dancer’s life beckoned. But she enrolled at Rutgers University and joined the school’s nationally ranked dance team. That experience gave her lifelong friendships and the confidence to chase her dreams.

After her sophomore year, she auditioned for a top dance agency in New York City—and nailed it. She left Rutgers to go pro, and just weeks later, she was on tour with Ashanti. What followed was nearly a decade of gigs with artists like Rihanna, traveling the world while living in tiny apartments and surviving paycheck to paycheck.

Eventually, she returned to the Brooklyn Nets—where she had once danced—and became the Head Coach and Choreographer of the newly formed Brooklynettes. It was her first taste of the corporate world, and she embraced it. Mentored by powerful women like Petra Pope and Kimberlee Smith, Adar sharpened her leadership, learned to navigate male-dominated spaces, and discovered she had skills far beyond the dance floor.

Turning Grief into Purpose

Adar’s world shifted in 2012 when her father passed away from a heart attack. His loss devastated her, draining her creatively. But in her darkest moments, she held onto his belief in her. “You’re a star… slowwwww down,” he used to say. That phrase echoed in her mind as she grieved.

In the years after her father’s passing, Adar launched Tweak It Studio in June 2015—her very own DIY furniture refinishing and interior design business based in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. The name reflected her approach: don’t toss, tweak. Her creative flame reignited. Over the next 10 years, she built a brand focused on self-discovery, colorful expression, and reimagined style.

HGTV & “Freestyled”

Adar Kirkham became the host of HGTV’s digital series Freestyled, which premiered on July 24, 2022. The series featured six episodes and was produced for HGTV’s digital platforms, including their website, YouTube channel, and social media.

Each episode focused on transforming a single room within 24 hours and with a budget of $1,500. The show promoted sustainability by using thrifted and repurposed materials and aimed to demonstrate practical, affordable solutions for everyday homeowners.

The series emphasized what Kirkham described to the Michigan Chronicle (Vol. 85, No. 51, August 24–30, 2022)  as “everyday design for everyday people.” In one episode, a client was so moved by the transformation that she cried—a reaction Adar hadn’t anticipated. Kirkham called the format “a challenge, but a fun challenge,” and emphasized that “you don’t need a big budget to get it all done.”

Filmed in metro Detroit, the show gave Adar the opportunity to highlight the city’s rich architectural heritage and neighborhood diversity. She noted that many people already own beautiful pieces—they just need to see them with fresh eyes. As she told the Michigan Chronicle, “I want them to look high-end and premium,” adding, “I’ll get [clients] to show them the potential in those pieces… I think that there is an opportunity to be really creative.”

As of 2025, HGTV has not confirmed a second season. using thrifted pieces—basically, Adar’s specialty.

BoKayes and Beyond

In 2024, Adar and Tyrel Kirkham launched BoKayes—a lifestyle and home goods brand inspired by the names of their sons, Bo and Kayes. Based in Frisco, Texas, the brand blends themes of legacy, joy, and gratitude, offering curated items that reflect their family’s story.

As Tyrel explained in a 2024 LinkedIn post, “BoKayes isn’t just a brand. It’s a mindset.” He continued, “A mashup of their middle names… It sounded like bouquets, but carried WAY more meaning.”

From floral-inspired products to personalized home accents, BoKayes serves as both a tribute and a creative outlet for the Kirkham family. The venture merges Adar’s design sensibilities and storytelling approach with Tyrel’s brand strategy experience, expanding their reach beyond television and into lifestyle branding.

Other Ventures and Creative Work

In addition to her work with HGTV and Tweak It Studio, Adar previously maintained a freelance choreography career beginning in 2012, working with artists and productions from Los Angeles to New York. While choreography played a major role in her earlier career, her recent focus has been centered on design and entrepreneurship.

She also briefly worked as a part-time interior designer at Modsy from July to November 2019, further exploring tech-forward, client-centered design solutions.

Personal Life:

Adar Kirkham Husband, Wedding & Family Life

Adar Kirkham, the host of HGTV’s Freestyled, married creative executive Tyrel Kirkham (born Tyrel Wellington) on June 22, 2019, in Brooklyn, New York. Their wedding was a stylish and carefully curated urban ceremony that blended elegance with artistic flair. The event took place in a converted DIY-style warehouse venue, richly decorated with jewel-toned floral arrangements, geometric copper frames, and moody lighting.

Adar Kirkham wedding

Adar wore a breathtaking off-the-shoulder wedding gown featuring hand-sewn pearl beading, swirling sequin patterns, and a dramatic chapel-length veil. The gown’s semi-sheer base and fitted silhouette created a sculptural elegance, accented with draped bracelet-style cords around her wrists. Tyrel complemented her look in a modern navy tuxedo with a black satin shawl lapel and crisp white shirt. In a playful twist, Tyrel was also seen wearing sneakers during parts of the day, adding comfort and personality to the formalwear.

Adar Kirkham wedding

The couple’s wedding planning came with added complexity due to a major move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Adar later praised ESP Productions and local vendors for helping them execute the event across time zones and state lines. The day reflected their shared creativity and marked the start of their new life together.

Since tying the knot, Adar and Tyrel have lived in four cities and celebrated six years of marriage as of June 2025. Their anniversary post summarized their journey: “6 years, 4 cities, 2 babies, 0 regrets.”

Tyrel Kirkham’s Career and Move to Los Angeles

Tyrel Kirkham was hired by the Los Angeles Rams to lead major elements of the team’s brand evolution, including the 2020 rebrand and uniform redesign. The couple relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in support of this opportunity. Adar described their home during this time as immersed in design work—filled with color swatches, logo concepts, and long creative sessions. She credited Tyrel for his innovation and praised the team’s vision for SoFi Stadium and the new Rams identity.

Children and Parenthood

On April 18, 2023, Adar and Tyrel welcomed their first son, Wellington “Bo” Kirkham. Reflecting on the moment, Adar wrote, “Yesterday our lives changed forever when we welcomed our son to the world.” The name ‘Wellington Bo Kirkham’ was chosen as a tribute to both Adar and Tyrel’s late fathers, reflecting a deep respect for family legacy and heritage. The announcement came with a creative flair—styled like a debut album rollout, with a cassette-themed nameplate and an invitation for friends to suggest songs fitting the moment.

Their second child, Jaxsen Kayes Kirkham, was born on December 23, 2024. His birth came as a joyful surprise and marked the continuation of their growing family. The name “Kayes” would later become integral to the brand they would build.

The Kirkhams also share their home with a family dog named Jesse Jac, frequently included in their social posts and milestones.

Adar Kirkham Net Worth (2025)

As of 2025, Adar Kirkham’s estimated net worth ranges between $500,000 and $1 million, according to publicly available data and industry insights. Her income streams include her role as host of HGTV’s Freestyled, earnings from her business Tweak It Studio, her lifestyle brand BoKayes, and various brand partnerships. As her influence continues to grow in the design and media space, so does her financial profile.

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