Original Air Date:
Monday, November 24, 2008
Take Home Nate:
To start the show, Oprah highlighted the September 22, 2008 episode where Joan and Ken found out that they would get to take designer Nate Berkus home to redo their family basement. Designer Thom Felicia also completed a room makeover in an hour and decided to try again for this episode, though he prepared more for the second time around.
Before Nate revealed his makeover, Thom appeared via satellite from North Carolina on location for his surprise makeover. From inside the Lowe's truck, Thom discussed how he planned to redesign the living space of Megan and Billy
Take Home Nate - Thom Felicia Surprise Design:
Nate helped Thom surprise the family by having them appear on the show via satellite to ask Nate a question. Megan and Billy wanted to know how to best define their small living space to use it to dine, work and spend time together. Nate answered Megan and Billy by telling them to go to their front door for a surprise delivery. When they opened the door, they found the Lowe's truck where Thom and the crew were waiting. Right after the surprise the team got to work to try and pull off the makeover in just an hour!
Take Home Nate - Joan and Ken:
On the September 22, 2008 episode, Oprah revealed to Joan and Ken that they had been chosen to take Nate home to makeover their basement. Joan had written the show a letter about how her husband and 2 boys had stepped up to care for her when her stage 4 breast cancer spread and caused her to have congestive heart failure. Joan wanted to do something special for the men in her life and give them a room to enjoy with each other and friends.
Take Home Nate - Basement Makeover:
Nate visited Joan and Ken's home to see the space he had to work with. The basement needed everything from electrical, plumbing, storage and even making sure there weren't any remaining rodents - a complete gut job.
Ken explained to Nate that the renovations they had planned for the house took a back seat after Joan's diagnosis. Joan's dream for the space included a work room for her husband and a space for her kids to hang out with their friends. She wanted the basement to be a place for her husband and boys to spend time in together.
Take Home Nate - Basement Reveal:
After 2 weeks of working on the family's basement, Nate was finally ready to reveal the new space. When Joan and Ken with their boys Kenny and Andrew entered the room, they were shocked with what Nate was able to do with the space. The walls were given a rustic wood paneling together with a sectional leather sofa, pool table, book shelves for movie storage, a flat panel TV, snack area with kitchenette, an exercise room decked out by motocross racer Mike Day for the boys, a project area for Ken with stainless storage, and a home theatre system for the family.
Take Home Nate - Family Reaction and Local Treasures:
The family appeared on the show and shared how they love spending time in their new space. Joan finds it easier to get the boys to do their homework in the snack area and likes that the room is easy to keep clean. Andrew loves to play with the pool table while Kenny enjoys all the new electronics. Ken has used his work room to catch up on the other home repairs.
Nate took a moment to share a tip for finding local treasures to add a special touch to a room design. He explained how he visits local antique shops when he is redoing a room to find pieces that add character.
Take Home Nate - Bedroom Surprise:
As an extra surprise for Joan, footage was shown of Ken describing how the time with Joan is not over and the family will fight to keep her with them. After Joan wanted a special place for her men, Nate showed images of Joan's bedroom and explained how he would transform the space to give her a special retreat. As Nate described the peaceful bedroom he would create, crew members pushed sample furniture out on the stage to show what Nate was explaining. The surprise for Joan was that all of the products on the stage were for her to take home for her new bedroom!
Take Home Nate - Viewer Question:
Viewers who were expecting their first child asked Nate via satellite how to change their guestroom into a nursery while keeping their modern style. Nate suggested the couple display baby items in shadow boxes or present images in a collection of frames in a grid of 6 or 8. Also, instead of traditional baby bedding, Nate recommended the couple have traditional crib bedding made from more sophisticated adult fabrics.
Take Home Nate - Thom Felicia Reveal:
To end the show, Thom Felicia had the chance to reveal his 1 hour room makeover to Megan and Billy. Thom took the space from a room without defined areas, to a place where the family could easily work, eat, play with their son and entertain. With storage under seating and a shelving unit on the wall, Thom made the space both beautiful and functional for the family. Megan and Billy were surprised by what Thom accomplished in an hour and were thrilled with the results.
