Ep 10. Labour of Love

Holmes Makes it Right is an inspiring renovation series where home renovation expert, Mike Holmes, helps families transform their homes. In season 1 episode 10, titled Labour of Love, Holmes tackles an emotional project for a family who have struggled with their home ever since the wife underwent a life-altering medical emergency.

The episode starts with a heartwarming introduction of a young couple named Laura and David. A few years back, Laura suffered from a hemorrhagic stroke, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. Ever since then, Laura struggles to navigate her home due to the narrow staircases and doors that were not wheelchair accessible. Laura and David had done their best to renovate the house but due to lack of funds and knowledge about accessibility features, the renovations were unsatisfactory.

As the episode unfolds, Mike Holmes visits the couple's house to assess the situation. Mike is deeply moved by the couple's struggle and decides to take on the project in a bid to make their life easier. Mike works with the couple to understand their daily routines and necessary accessibility features which he then incorporates into his renovation plan. Along with his trusted team of contractors, Mike Holmes starts to work on the house.

The first challenge the team faces is the stairs leading to the house. Given the steep incline, Mike and his team consider installing a ramp but find that it would lead to a steep gradient which could be dangerous for Laura to navigate. Mike comes up with an alternate plan to install a motorized lift that will make it easier for Laura to enter and exit the house. The team works tirelessly to install the lift in a safe and functional configuration.

In the next phase of renovation, Mike focuses on the main level of the house. The original layout of the house was not wheelchair friendly, with narrow doorways and sharply angled corners that made movement difficult. Mike and his team redesign the layout of the kitchen and living room, widening doorways, installing grab bars, lowering cabinets, and ensuring that all the electrical outlets are at a reachable height. They open up the living room to create a more spacious area where Laura can move around easily. They also install a new heating system and insulation to make the house more energy-efficient.

As the renovation progresses, Mike uncovers additional challenges that the home has been posing on the couple. He discovers that the bathroom located in the basement is inaccessible for Laura due to its distance from the main living area. To address this, Mike suggests the installation of a bathroom on the main level of the home, which would be a game-changer for Laura in terms of how much easier living in the house would be.

The final phase of the renovation involves installing a new deck on the main level with a wheelchair ramp leading to the yard. This ramp would serve to connect the house to the outdoors, something that Laura had been missing since her injury. The deck would also serve as a safe area for the couple to spend time outdoors with their friends and family.

The emotional transformation of the home is finally revealed to Laura and David, and they are overcome with tears and emotion as they see the renovated house. Now, Laura can easily move around her own home independently, making her feel less limited in her daily life. The couple expresses gratitude to Mike and his team for their efforts, and the episode concludes with a happy family enjoying their revamped home.

This episode of Holmes Makes it Right showcases how home renovation can significantly impact people's lives. It's heartening to see Mike and his team work tirelessly to provide Laura and David with a safe and comfortable home that enables their daily functional needs. Labour of Love serves as a beautiful reminder of how something as simple as a ramp or wider doorways can greatly improve the quality of life for someone in need.