The Most Impressive Transformations from ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’

Location: Toledo
Episode: Season 6, Episode 8

The Frisch Family definitely needed the help of Extreme Makeover when they appeared on season 6 of the show. This wasn’t just any old regular-sized family. With 13 members, Ty and his crew had their work cut out for them as they had to make the perfect family home. 

Frisch Family @Romanoff1927 / Pinterest.com

The job was a huge undertaking, but the end result was more than worth it. Jackie Frisch suffered from an illness that badly impacted her health, so having the perfect 4,250-square-feet home built for them helped in more ways than one. 

Location: Bakersfield, California  
Episode: Season 1, Episode 1 (rebooted series) 

Single moms often struggle to make ends meet, so home renovations can be entirely out of the question. However, one Bakersfield mom effectively won the lottery when she landed a spot on the very first episode of the rebooted series in 2020. 

Mosley family @jrbogert / Pinterest.com

Jessica Mosley and her five kids were living with her mother in cramped conditions until Jesse Tyler Ferguson stepped in and helped expand the home into a beautiful Spanish-style abode, equipped with a spacious kitchen ready and waiting to be stocked full of Walmart goodies. 

Location: Arlington, Virginia
Episode: Season 5, Episode 18 

The Lucas family got a treat back in season 5 of the original show when they were selected to get the home of their dreams. Ty Pennington surprised the family of four, consisting of mom Jean, sons Michael Henry and Joseph, and dad Spc. Michael Lucas who was deployed in Iraq at the time. 

Lucas Family @Amanda Overton Reese / Facebook.com

When Michael came home on leave, he was thrilled to see Ty and his team. Not only did the show give the Lucas family their ideal home, but they also sent them on a week-long vacation to Disneyland while the work was underway. 

Location: Tallahassee, Florida 
Episode: Season 6, Episode 22

The Kadizs family episode was part of season 6 of the original show, and it was such a special story that it turned into a 2-hour special. Barbara and George Kadzis hadn’t had it easy, with George living through a battle with cancer. Regardless, they still gave their all to their seven kids, six of which were adopted. 

Kadzis Family @tallahasseemag / Pinterest.com

The team demolished the Kadzis old house and built a brand new, spacious home in Tallahassee. Sadly, George Kadzis passed away a day after the family moved into their shiny new abode, but at least he was safe in the knowledge that his loved ones were taken care of. 

Location: Covina, California 
Episode: Season 1 (rebooted series)

Every now and then, a family appears on the show that really captures the heart of the nation. Fans went wild for the Holtzclaw family when they were picked for the first season of the rebooted series in 2020. Jeff Holtzclaw was known in the community as a good, selfless man, but he had his own struggles. 

Holtzclaw family @meaganlynnTV / Pinterest.com

Jeff was in an accident that meant he lost one of his legs, and his family home wasn’t wheelchair accessible or easy for him to move around in at all. The show took care of that, carefully designing a home that was both Instagrammable and comfortable for Jeff. 

Location: Yorba Linda, California 
Episode: Season 1, Episode 10

The Walswick family was another family that was struck with tragedy. Mom Martha sadly lost her husband after a battle with cancer, so she was faced with raising her nine children alone. That’s a monumental task for anyone, especially when crammed into tiny living quarters. 

Walswick Family @Super Extreme Makeover / Youtube.com

The family appeared on the first season of the show, with Ty taking on the responsibility of designing a bedroom for two of Martha’s sons. The rest of the design team transformed the pokey home into a much more family-friendly living space. 

Location: El Segundo, California 
Episode: Season 3, Episode 8

Back in 2005, the show was still in full swing with Ty Pennington at the helm. This episode is particularly memorable for a multitude of reasons. The Lewis family was faced with a battle as police officer Bruce Lewis tried to juggle raising his kids with nursing his sick wife, Paulita. 

The Lewis Family @danryanbuilders / Pinterest.com

The entire community in El Segundo, CA came together to help rebuild the house which had been badly damaged when the roof caved in during bad weather. Ty and his team were able to completely flip the house into something remarkable on the ABC series. Sadly, Paulita lost her battle. 

Location: Voluntown, CT
Episode: Season 6, Episode 16

What better result from an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode than an actual castle? The Girard family started with Carol and Thomas before they welcomed children. Sadly, a tragic fire completely destroyed their home, forcing them to move into a trailer. Not long after, father Thomas and eldest son Mark perished in a freak swimming accident. 

Girard Family @starrygirl2 / Pinterest.com

In memory of their father’s love of archery and medieval history, the design team created a stunning castle-inspired castle for the rest of the Girard family. Volunteers from all over the small tight-knight community were only too happy to help. 

Location: Medford, OR
Episode: Season 9, Episode ⅚

The McPhail family was specially chosen by Ty and his team for their outstanding and selfless contribution to their local community. C.J. and Lindsay had set up a charity that helped support sick kids. Not long after, they discovered that their own kids were autistic. 

McPhail Family @refinedvintage / Pinterest.com

While they had a property on 50-acres thanks to their parents, the home was in need of some serious updating. The electrical system itself was from 1958, which was dangerous and untrustworthy. Ty and the team completely renovated the home, making it look like something straight out of Pinterest. 

Location: Hawthorne, California 
Episode: Season 1 (rebooted series)

Like many families that appear on the show, the Fifita family were hailed as outstanding members of the community. Despite having kids of their own, Brain and Lisa were always ready and willing to take in other children in need – even though they only had 887 square feet of space. 

Fifita family @hgtv / Pinterest.com

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his team tackled the job, more than doubling the size of the house. They even created a basketball court so the kids wouldn’t be cooped up in the home watching Netflix all day! Of course, they also threw in some tech, including an X-Box.

Location: Center Point, Alabama
Episode: Season 2, Episode 16

Most of us can’t imagine ever having sextuplets, but for the Harris family in Center Point, Alabama, it’s real life. Ty and the team knocked on the Harris’ door back in season 2 of the original show’s run, ready to save the day after Hurricane Ivan saw their home destroyed by a 90-foot pine tree. 

Harris Family @The Yellow Brigade / Facebook.com

When the family applied to the show, they had no idea they would actually be successful. The new home ABC built for the family was absolutely stunning, spanning over 5,800-square-feet and looking like the perfect idyllic retreat.

Location: Braithwaite, Louisiana
Episode: Season 2, Episode 19

The Leslie family had experienced a fair amount of hardship by the time the show turned up. The Braithwaite, New Orleans-based Leslies had been struggling to keep it together after the father passed away. He had always dreamed of renovating the home himself, but Ty stepped in to make that dream a reality. 

Leslie Family @Hector K. Moore / Youtube.com

The design team totally transformed the entire home, but they were met with some challenges. For instance, the weather was so bad that it didn’t look like it was going to be completed in a month, let alone a week. Thankfully, local tradespeople made it possible and the Leslie’s were delighted.  

Location: Douglass, Kansas
Episode: Season 3, Episode 13

The Nutsch family probably got one of the biggest transformations ever when Ty and the team stormed in to save the day back in season 3. Sadly, the family had lost their entire home to a propane explosion which is when they reached out to the series. 

Nutsch Family ©derbyinformer.com

The family, including Kevin and Cathy, were initially delighted with their stunning 4,400-square-foot family home that boasted five bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms. They enjoyed it for several years until they decided to downsize in 2011 and sold it at auction. 

Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Episode:  Season 2, Episode 7

At the time the Okvath family appeared on the series in 2004, it was a total surprise. Their daughter, Kassandra, initially wrote to the show asking for them to brighten up the hospital ward where she was undergoing treatment for cancer. However, the team went one better and built the family a 1,800-square-foot home. 

Okvath family @tierrayfuego101 / Pinterest.com

It was all sunshine and rainbows for some time, but ultimately the Okvath’s couldn’t keep up with the utility bills on the stunning mansion. The family spiraled into debt and the home was eventually sold at a loss in 2012.