July 17, 2024
MOORESVILLE, NC – A military family in Mooresville will receive a home makeover this July from “Military Makeover” hosted by Montel Williams, Art Edmonds and Jennifer Bertrand.
The family is a dual military family, meaning both spouses have served. Benjamin and Melissa Mahaley are two Marine veterans with five children who will receive the makeover.
Earlier this year, “Military Makeover with Montel” came to Statesville, NC for another veteran’s home makeover. The team is excited to be back in North Carolina to love on the Mahaley’s.
Edmonds is the co-host on the show that does the fun adventures with families like hiking, fishing or even going with the family to get their car worked on. Bertrand is also a co-host and is the designer behind the home transformation. Neither are new to the entertainment world.
Meeting the families
“Every family is an adventure,” said Edmonds. He met the Mahaley family way before filming the episode.
He described that he, Williams and Bertrand meet the family about a month before the makeover, tour the house, pre-shoot the family’s wants and needs. They come up with a plan to execute it, and a month later come back to start the makeover.
“Every family brings something different to the table,” he said. “Just because they’re all veterans, they don’t all think the same way. They don’t act the same way.”
He said most of them are happy to be back with their families. He said they are humble and grateful beings.
Edmonds said some families come back to help the new families – lend a hand and pay it forward.
“Veterans in volunteer groups show up with a tool belt and a paintbrush ready to help,” he said.
He added that mayors, police departments, city councils get involved too, and then comes the big reveal day.
“It’s a big fanfare when the family comes home,” he said.
The reveal of the home makeover (big fanfare) includes anyone involved in the makeover lining up on the street to support the family. These are the people who assisted in one way or another to ensure this makeover could be completed in under 14 days. Actually, the majority of the homes are finished in about 10 days, but he said this is because people work around the clock for the makeover.
Edmonds included that this is not a makeover where they are tearing down walls for a makeover but updating the homes to the 21st century. He added on this includes freshening up what already exists at the home.
For example, small changes to utilities (think running toilets or heating and air) can help the families save financially yearly. Or freshening up their floor plan.
Community Spotlight
Bertrand commented on the community spotlight.
While watching this show, viewers may notice “Military Makeover” gives local companies a spotlight instead of a shout-out like other home renovation shows.
“We’re lucky because that is how our show is formatted,” Bertrand said.
She added on:
“That’s what I love because you really become a part of the journey, rather than watching a fast before or after.”
Community Involvement
“Our society has gotten to a point where not everyone knows their neighbors,” she said.
Bertrand said when they go into the different neighborhoods, they watch the neighborhood come together. They even worked on a home where the family didn’t know the neighbors two doors down.
And of course, veterans step up.
“Veterans from all time periods and walks of life come together to do this,” she said.
She joked that she always leaves a city knowing the police department, fire department and chamber of commerce.
“North Carolina is full of lovely, kind humans. The southern hospitality is no joke,” she said. “When we did Statesville, it was fun getting to know the community.”
She said they all believe in the work they are doing. They make friends along the way with the volunteers.
“Volunteers who are not getting anything out of it except their time, sweat tears and talents,” Bertrand said.
Energy
“The energy never stops,” Edmonds said. He broke it down further.
There is so much that goes into pre-production, he added.
When Williams, Bertrand and Edmonds wrap a home makeover, the production team starts editing the footage for it to air.
“We’re a big happy dysfunctional family that takes over a hotel for two weeks in a town,” he said. They’re all wearing “Military Makeover” shirts. That is their opportunity to visit local restaurants and people.
“We all feel very lucky to be doing what we’re doing in a television career, but also helping out these deserving military families and bringing awareness to their plight.”
Design
Bertrand said design ideas vary from home to home and family to family.
“Everyone has different things to make them happy. The best part is their reactions are real,” she said. “These are real life houses with real life problems. I get to solve those problems for them. That is what design is about.”
She detailed how she learns how to design for the family.
She does a Zoom call with the family to learn about them and the kids. She even does a questionnaire with them:
- What music do you listen to?
- Mountain or beach for vacation?
- What can I not touch?
- What are your favorite colors?
- What things bother you about your home?
She said this gives parents a house they can enjoy. It helps her set the kids up with bedrooms for the next five years or so.
“I get to do the whole house from top to bottom on the inside,” she said. “I get to be Santa Claus.”
She detailed that on reveal day, when families step into their “new” home, she is outside the home with her headset and can hear all of their reactions.
Military Makeover airs on Lifetime TV and is produced by BrandStar. Airing is set for August 23-September 20, 2024.
