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Nicole Curtis, star of Rehab Addict, is back on HGTV after a three-year break that began in 2022. She has said she went through a personal crisis that “rocked me to the core,” though she hasn’t given many details.
In that time, she took time to think about what really matters to her. As a result, she made bold changes such as buying an old farmhouse in Wyoming and shifted focus back to the heart of her show.
She bought an old Wyoming house during travels overseas
In July 2022, Nicole Curtis traveled to Europe alone, but along the way she forgot her wallet. Instead of panicking, she turned it into a personal challenge. She went for a run around the Eiffel Tower and decided to buy a fixer-upper online from her airplane seat.
That impulsive moment led to her new project: a run-down 1890s home in Wyoming needing a full restoration. This forms one of the key stories in season nine.
She asked her ex, Ryan Sawtelle, to help with the Wyoming renovation
Nicole Curtis reached out to carpenter Ryan Sawtelle, her ex-boyfriend, to help on the Wyoming house. She said she didn’t know many people there and Sawtelle lived nearby in Utah.
Despite their romantic past, she described their relationship as friendly and respectful. She denied that inviting him back meant they were trying to rekindle a romance. It was purely a practical choice.
They stayed connected even after they split up
Nicole Curtis and Ryan began dating in 2018 after connecting via social media and meeting on the sets of Rehab Addict. In 2019, she told People that Ryan brought her “a calm I’ve never known”.
Their breakup happened quietly; Nicole hasn’t said when exactly they split, and Ryan’s last post with her was in early 2021 . Despite that, they remained in regular contact and shared close relationships with each other’s families.
Nicole Curtis emphasized there was no romantic reunion
Ahead of the June 24, 2025 premiere, Nicole Curtis stressed to People that working with Ryan wasn’t a way to get back together.
She said, “Us going separate paths was 100 percent the best idea that we ever had”.
She admitted to TV Insider that it might have been risky:
“That is the worst idea I ever came up with,” she joked.
Still, she trusted Ryan’s skill and thought it made sense for this project.
The new episodes blend old friends and fresh challenges
The ninth season includes two main projects: the Wyoming house and a home in Detroit dealing with a squatter situation. Nicole Curtis said the season has an “evolved version” feel like the early seasons, but more grown-up.
It brings back key members of her crew and focuses on smaller-scale rescues, ignoring the glossier, more expensive projects she’s done before.
She chose not to show her children in the new season
Unlike past seasons, Nicole Curtis decided not to feature her two sons, Ethan (born 1997) and Harper (born 2015). She explained she wants to protect their privacy.
After seeing how being on TV followed Ethan into middle school, where classmates teased him, she realized how public life can affect children.
She keeps her current relationship status private
Nicole has not shared whether she’s dating anyone new. She said she learned that keeping some parts of her life private is important; especially after facing traumatic or public moments. Nicole Curtis prefers that only those closest to her know what’s going on.
Her sons inspired a fun moment in Wyoming
Even without appearing on the show, her kids influenced the season. Nicole Curtis fulfilled a “boy mom” dream by going to a monster truck rally in Wyoming. She said it was silly but joyful, showing the lighter side of her adventures on camera.
Viewers can expect honest stories about restoration and renewal
This season premiered June 24, 2025 at 9 pm ET on HGTV. It offers a mix of skilled carpentry, emotional honesty, and personal growth and it shows how someone can move forward from a tough time.
With Ryan helping in a supportive, professional way; Rehab Addict season nine emphasizes how friendships can remain strong even after relationships end.
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