Debbie Travis' Facelift - Tales From The Set

Letter From Debbie

Hello Everybody;

One of the most important prerequisites for getting a Facelift is that the person or persons to be surprised must be out of the vicinity for a few days. It's the responsibility of a family member or friend to guarantee our team has enough time to carry out a substantial makeover.

Well, this is not always easy. Naveen had asked us to help him design and build a special basement for his wife and impending child. Sonia was six months pregnant, and this was the problem. Most women in this condition are not too keen about traveling away from their nest, and Sonia was happy to stay put.

Naveen spoke to us for weeks prior to our invasion about ways to get his unsuspecting wife out of town. However, as the date for the Facelift team to arrive approached, he still had no solution.

There was one possibility, he desperately exclaimed over the phone. Apparently Sonia was afraid of rats. He joked that if she ever saw a rat she would be in the car and off to her mother's immediately.

How far will we go? This was the meanest thing we have ever done. Naveen told his pregnant wife that they had an invasion of rats coming from the building site next door. As predicted, Sonia was packed and out of there in minutes.

She would return when the city or the rat catcher had done their job. We moved in and over the next four days created an amazing clubby den for Sonja and Naveen. Sonia was thrilled, Naveen relieved, and the rat, or rats? Well that was just a big lie.

Lots of love,
Debbie

Letter From Naveen And Sonja

Dear Debbie,

I'm still in shock!! I cannot believe that Debbie Travis was actually in my house! It can't be true. It must have been a dream. But, alas it wasn't. I realize that every time I sit in my beautiful new basement. Every time I hear the claming sound of the waterfall, every time I see Naveen making drinks at the bar, I realize that a fantasy has become a reality.

What shocks me even more is that Naveen was actually able to pull one over me. Every time we would sit down to watch "Facelift", I would tell Naveen how much I would love it if Debbie Travis would come and makeover one of our rooms - or even if she would just give us her thoughts (that would be enough to send me to heaven); but I always ended that thought with " But that doesn't happen to ordinary people. You probably have to know someone to get on the show". Not true!! Boy, did I ever find out that wasn't true!

Imagine my surprise when I come back from a week away and find Debbie greeting me at the door. My first reaction - I know who you are….what room did you do?? I was in shock, but overjoyed at the same time. I couldn't believe there I was standing and talking to the Debbie Travis. A million things zipped through my mind. What room did she do? Where are my copies of her books, I have to get her to autograph them? Where's Naveen and how did he pull this off? Who else knew about this?

As Debbie brought me down to my new and completely finished basement, first thing I noticed - the floor was still concrete and it's a light color (the dirt is going to show!). That thought went away the moment I saw the rest of the basement. Wow!! Was I standing in a hotel or lounge? This couldn't be my basement. It was gorgeous! Never had I thought of using cream and turquoise (both colors that I love). Amazing!! This room was beyond words! Everything was spectacular. The waterfall, the bar, the couches and yes lots and lots of storage!! With a baby on the way we desperately needed that.

I had told Naveen whenever we finished the basement it better not look like a typical family room. Having a baby wasn't going to turn our home into a child-care center. I wanted a space where I could come and relax with or without the baby, but at the same time use to entertain (without baby gear in sight).

As I looked around and saw all the hard work that the whole crew had put in, I was filled with gratitude. Having watched the show religiously, I felt I knew the staff. They didn't need to introduce themselves; I knew all their names!! It felt like family.

To this day, I still can't believe Naveen was able to get this done. He has never been able to successfully surprise me. He finally did it!! What a surprise! The most wonderful gift I could ask for.

Motherhood doesn't seem so daunting now that I have a wonderful escape paradise right in my basement. Thank you Debbie and the whole facelift team for making a dream come true!!!

Much love,
Sonia