Debbie Travis' Facelift - Tales From The Set

Letter From Debbie

When we first received Pat's email, we were skeptical. In fact, it hit the trash pile. But a few weeks later there it was again. Her story, although unlikely, did catch our eye. She wanted to give her ex-husband a Facelift!

According to Pat, Glenn rarely stepped into his kitchen. He lived around the corner from her new family. Pat is remarried to Mike and they have two young children. Glenn and Pat's child, Kim is 17 and she lives with mom. This is the modern, eclectic family, and we were intrigued.

The team fell in love with Pat at first sight. She exudes energy and is the center of this mixed family. Glenn is so much a part of the daily family life that he stops in every morning for breakfast and returns every evening for supper. This is not quite as strange as it seems once you have seen his kitchen.

The space was small, drab and uninviting. The cupboards had not been touched since the 1950's. And they were empty when we visited. The stove and fridge were new but unused, except for a case of beer chilling. Pat was living in hope that if we gave this kitchen a Facelift, then Glenn would spend some time at his home with their daughter. At least Kim would have a place to cook up stir-fries for dad and her buddies. And just maybe, Glenn would learn to cook.

We rose to the challenge. We had a week while Glenn was on holiday in Jamaica and what a week it was. We ripped the place apart, and rebuilt it in Tuscan style.

As is the case with so many remodeling jobs, as the kitchen began to shine, the rest of the house dimmed. With 24 hours to spare, a rich color scheme was chosen and all the walls were brought to life with a palette of vintage red, green and ocher.

The house was now finished, and although Pat, Kim and a sea of friends and relatives all praised the work we had done, we did have a problem. Glenn lived alone, and we had no permission to be in his home. Our original doubts began to surface. We only had Pat's word of honor that she and Glenn were still good friends. Could this be 'revenge decorating' at it's worst?

As the last hours ticked by, we set secret cameras around the ground floor of the house so that we could capture Glenn's entrance. He returned at midnight, and the smell of fresh paint was his first clue that something was different. By the time he reached his completely transformed kitchen, and was greeted by me, the camera crew, and his very emotional and loving family, he was unable to speak. But hugs tell it all. Realizing the special gift they had given him, Glenn wrapped his arms around Pat and Kim and held on tight.

Debbie

Letter From Glen

Dear Debbie;

Just a note to thank you and your magnificent crew for such a great job and wonderful surprise. The kitchen has received rave reviews from everyone (especially those who saw the original version) and has even inspired yours truly to explore the mysteries of the culinary arts (no small feat!).

The design and colors blend in beautifully with the architectural character of the house and have transformed the kitchen from a dated and cold space into a warm and inviting place to microwave my popcorn (joke!). The faux brick arch, walnut countertops, and patterned floor are truly spectacular!

It could be said that the restoration of an old house is a labor of love for me but after months of construction debris and plaster dust, it didn't take much to persuade me to take a beach break in Jamaica. Undertaking another laborious kitchen renovation was the furthest thing from my mind as I enjoyed my tropical sojourn.

Arriving back home after midnight, my first indication that something was up was the smell of fresh paint as I opened the front door. After seeing the living room and dining room I was a little puzzled but when I saw the kitchen, I was completely speechless! The subsequent lights, cameras, and parade of people from the basement seemed almost surreal. (Judging from my inarticulate ramblings, I believe this was the point where my brain disconnected from my mouth!).

While the kitchen makeover came as a great surprise, the fact that Patricia would do something like this did not. She is not only a great mother but also a warm and giving person and the best friend one could hope for. From what I've been told, she and fellow accomplices, Michael, Kim, Kelly, and Sean, certainly worked tirelessly during my week of Caribbean lounging. I am truly fortunate to be blessed with such a great family!

Once again, my thanks to you and all the talented people who helped create such a super kitchen. Rest assured that with this fabulous "cuisine" and the help of a few cookbooks, I shall endeavour to become an inspiration to the millions of food preparation challenged bachelors throughout the world! Bon appetit, I say, bon appetit!

Glenn