Sum08_Extreme_Makeover_Home_Edition

RECENT ADDITIONS

A Home Filled with Hope
Since 2001 the combined efforts of a custom builder and a group of professional decorators have annually created a show house to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The resultant homes have been incredible showcases highlighting major builders, vendors and decorators in the Triangle and brought $1.5 million for blood cancer research, patient and family support groups, patient education programs and much more.

Water Wise Landscaping: Introduce Xeriscaping to your gardening Vocabulary
The recent drought left its mark on the landscapes of the Triangle. Lack of rain, coupled with watering restrictions left manicured yards with brown lawns and withering shrubs. Whether you are developing a new landscape or renovating an existing one, there are solutions that can not only go a long way toward ensuring drought survival, but will also yield a landscape that is less expensive and time consuming to maintain.

A PERFECT PARADOX
This home on Lake Drive is named “Magnolia,” but could very well be dubbed “Steel Magnolia” instead. Architecturally, it’s a perfect representation of the antebellum South, with its columned front porch, circular drive, floor-to-ceiling windows, expansive fireplaces and crystal chandeliers. But this traditional home’s Southern charm is surrounded by the very latest in technology and modern day amenities.

Bath Renovations: Refresh and Renew
The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house to its homeowners. Having a bathroom that fits your needs is sure to make life a bit more enjoyable. Read on to learn about four featured bathrooms, where the homeowners remodeled their own special space to their unique specifications. Also see the bathroom designs that are specifically made for man’s best friend.

All About Baths
A white porcelain stool and the simple luxury of privacy has always been enough to command the euphemism “throne room.” But today’s bathrooms—complete with a unified design theme, natural stones, striking hardware and indulgent, spa-like comforts—bring the bathroom to the level of real elegance.

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Local Home Builders and Volunteers Take on a Huge Role in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Season Finale

By Michelle Anysz, Editor

Don Mead and Linda Dickert Earlier this year Extreme Makeover: Home Edition executives contacted Triangle native Don Mead, Division President for Atreus Homes & Communities, to organize a coalition of past builders from all over the country for what the show considered “the toughest challenging industry to travel to Louisiana to rebuild both a home and a church.

The recipients of the first rebuild were the Usea family, a deserving extended family located in Westwego, Louisiana, that had their home destroyed not only to Hurricane Katrina, but then again during the Westwego tornado in 2007. The second build was for the Noah’s Ark Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans, which is run by Pastor Willie Walker, Jr.

Mead took on the recruitment role which drew in 18 different builders from 12 different states from around the county for a seven-day build, held March 8-14, 2008. Locally, approximately 200 volunteers and trade partners from the Raleigh-Wake County Home Builders Association, Triangle Home Works, and Building Together Ministries (the recipient of the Raleigh Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) traveled to New Orleans to lend a hand to the project.

Move that Bus! The group saw first-hand how much the area was still very much in need and vowed to make a difference. This special project in New Orleans was selected as the finale as so much of the affected areas still need attention. Since home builders and resources in New Orleans are limited, the goal of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition season finale was to reach out to builders across the country to make them aware that there is still a need in the New Orleans area.

“I am proud of all the people who gave up their time to be here,” states Ed Sanders, member of the design team on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “But New Orleans and the surrounding coastal areas and other states that were hit are suffering so bad. Just because you do not see it on the news [its yesterday’s news] it is not over. People have lost everything. Please do not forget about all the families down in these parts. They need the nation’s help.”

During the production of the show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition held a heroes banquet for all those who helped out in a major way during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The show also wanted to acknowledge everyone who has lent a hand to the rebuilding of New Orleans in the last 2 1/2 years as true heroes.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition gang The episode, which aired on May 18, 2008 as a two-hour finale, touched America. In just seven short days, two family’s dreams came true. Brad Usea, wife Laura, and their two young girls now have a beautiful 4,000 square foot home that has a special space for grandma Grace and both single brothers Chad and Chris.

Noah’s Ark Baptist Church has been rebuilt, also as a hurricane resistant structure, and Pastor Willie will be able to continue his work in downtown New Orleans helping those in need, including addicts, AIDS patients, the homeless and the poor.

Both hurricane resistant home and church construction was led by Deltec Homes in Asheville, NC.

Although the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has ended for the season, this will not be the last you will see of Don Mead from Atreus Homes & Communities. He recently stated on the local news that he has “developed a very tight bond with the other builders and is committed to building more houses together in New Orleans.”

MICHELLE ANYSZ IS THE EDITOR FOR NEW HOMES & IDEAS MAGAZINE