Debbie Travis' Facelift - Episodes - Jan & Andy's Kitchen

We have made it through the first Facelift. The secret was kept, the design finished, with most of us none the worse for wear. Having finished shooting for eight days for episode one, we now understand just how big a challenge this is going to be. Everything started off without a hitch; Andy left on time (he didn't see us hiding in the bushes), and we started demolishing his kitchen on cue.

Letter From Debbie

When I met Jan I told her that it was imperative that Andy had no clue about the secret goings on as we designed his soon-to-be-new kitchen. Jan came to me a few days after this conversation with her big worry. She told me that they were high school sweethearts and had been married for 25 years. They had never had a secret. What she was wondering was: Could she tell Andy just a little bit?. "Just a little bit!" I screamed.
I told her she would have to weigh up the odds: New kitchen or possible problems with her marriage. She put her finger in her mouth, thought for 10 seconds and then told me she would take the new kitchen. The rest is history.

It took 8 days and 7 nights to knock down the back wall, put in French doors, new ceramics on the floor, re-stain her cabinets, add glass to the doors, new Corian countertops installed, fresh coat of paint, new kitchen table made from her old staircase that we'd ripped out. All this for free! It was a long, hard week for The Facelift team, but Andy's face when he saw his new kitchen made it all worthwhile.

Lots of love
Debbie Travis

Note: Andy and Jan are still happily married.

Letter From Jan

As I watched The Facelift team demolish my back wall and staircase, filling the kitchen with a huge nuclear-looking dust-cloud, my dear husband was a thousand miles away, blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding in his home.
When he finally returned like a pop star, surrounded by cameras and lights, he received the biggest surprise of his life.
Debbie and her crew had magically transformed the wreckage into my dream kitchen in just eight days. It rocked! And it was free! (My husband really liked that part).

After the popping of champagne corks, the Facelift team left us to contemplate all that had happened. Andy spent the entire evening shaking his head in disbelief, and repeating "It's tremendous!" every five minutes. He also wondered how I managed to keep it a secret.
As we got ready for bed, he looked at me a tad suspiciously, ..."There aren't any hidden cameras in here, are there?"... he asked nervously. The poor man then proceeded to spend the next two weeks anxiously looking over his shoulder. I don't think he'll trust me ever again (but it was worth it!)...

Thanks Debbie.
Love Jan