Incredible Before and After Moments From 'Build It Forward' Season 2

Grab the tissues and prepare for happy tears. These emotional makeovers from 'Build It Forward' Season 2 are as inspiring as they are dramatic.

By: Keri Sanders

Show: Build It Forward

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Photo By: Betsy Dutcher

Photo By: Kim Cook/Getty Images

Photo By: Erik Voake / Getty Images

What It's All About

In HGTV's Build It Forward season two, communities across the country are getting the surprise of their lives. As part of Lowe’s Hometown initiative, they’re donating 100 million dollars over five years to organizations from coast to coast. From food banks to women’s shelters to youth centers and housing for the homeless, out of thousands of applications, Lowe’s selected 100 deserving projects.

And HGTV is getting in on the action! Designer Taniya Nayak and builder Shane Duffy are traveling around the country on a mission to change the lives of five deserving individuals and the communities they work tirelessly to improve. Follow along as we unveil their incredible home makeovers and share the inspiring work they do throughout their communities!

Making a Difference in Tulsa

When it comes to selecting a deserving individual to gift a life-changing home makeover to, Doc Shaw of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was an easy choice. In creating A Pocket Full of Hope, an organization that seeks to use music, dancing, photography and more to positively change the outcome for at-risk teens, Doc has helped over 5,000 youth in the last 17 years.

While he's made his home an open and welcoming space for the community, he and his wife Brenda had left very little space for themselves. That's where Taniya and Shane came in.

Living Room: Before

In touring Doc's home, two recurring themes became the main priorities for Taniya and Shane. They would need to add light and create smart storage. In the home's living room, the windows were blocked by shelving and the television, making the already cluttered space feel even smaller.

Despite it's size, Doc and Brenda have made their home an inviting space for their large community, so ensuring the space would remain a welcoming landing spot for friends and family was top of mind for this renovation.

Living Room: After

Organizing and downsizing clutter along with moving the television to the wall opposite the front door allowed the windows to be exposed once more, flooding the space in natural light and instantly making it feel more open. A large sectional allows for plenty of seating while making better use of the space, and the light colors used throughout aid in brightening the entire room.

A Tall Order

In discussing the renovation, Doc and Brenda made it clear that the only thing they needed to keep was the kitchen door frame they used to track the heights of all the many beloved guests they had welcomed into their home throughout the years. To give the height board a more prominent space and allow a new frame to be added where future guests could participate in the family's tradition, Shane carefully removed the board to display it at the home's entrance.

Measuring Up

Placed directly by the front door where it can be seen from the living and dining areas, the home's old height board adds charm and personality to the space and is a constant reminder of the many lives that have been touched by Doc and Brenda.

Dining Room: Before

Just off the living room, the dining room was filled with boxes and other odds and ends, leaving very little space to actually enjoy a meal together. The couple is known for their Sunday dinners, when as many as 30 to 40 people may visit throughout the day, but with the crowded setup, a sit-down meal was simply not possible.

Dining Room: After

The main goal for the new dining room was to ensure it could actually function as a space to enjoy meals together. A long banquet table makes the most of the space while bench seating ensures everyone can have a seat at the table.

Space-Saving Storage

Another benefit of the bench seating is that decorative baskets below create a stylish storage option, keeping with the plan to create better storage for the couple without sacrificing livable space.

Bringing It All Together

Taniya and Shane installed gorgeous wear-resistant flooring throughout the entire home which visually pulls each room together and is a practical choice with so many people (and pets!) coming in and out of the home.

Home Office: Before

Office, laundry room, dog room, music room and more. You name it, and this room was the home for it. Doc works tirelessly to provide a better life for the children in his organization, but his home office didn't leave much space for his work.

Home Office: After

After a major overhaul, Doc now has an inspiring space to work that includes a custom desk and plenty of storage, with room to grow. Thanks to new soundproofing, the office is also an ideal spot for Doc to work on his music.

Space to Dream

With designated space to create and foster young musicians, Doc's dream will continue to grow and inspire.

“When I was younger, music was very important and made my life a lot more purposeful," explained Doc. "I started A Pocket Full of Hope because not only am I helping young people with their talents and their gifts in music, but I also make space for their issues. I wanted to be able to allow them to have a better quality of life and give them what was given to me.“

Kitchen: Before

Baker's shelves overflowing with pots and pans made the kitchen feel cramped, while dry foods and spices had no real home in the disheveled space. As an avid home chef and entertainer, Doc needed a kitchen that was better organized and would make cooking for a crowd a simpler and more enjoyable task.

Kitchen: After

New upper and lower cabinets were installed around the entire kitchen to provide stylish concealed storage and eliminate the visual clutter that made the space feel smaller. The spice shelf was a special project for Doc that houses his many custom spices but is also a hidden door leading to the newly designed laundry room.

Open + Bright

Shane and Taniya took a wall down in order to expand the kitchen right into the dining room and add new shelving to eliminate clutter. The open concept also creates a more communal space for entertaining.

Laundry Room: Before

Before the makeover, the laundry room was rolled up into Doc's office and the dogs' room. Despite being too crowded to be very functional, Taniya noted that the many windows gave this room the best natural lighting in the house.

Laundry Room: After

Now reserved specifically for laundry, this newly designed space makes the most of the natural light with creamy white walls that add warmth and create a more welcoming space. New appliances and custom touches, like a framed portrait of Doc and Brenda's dogs, aid in making laundry day a more enjoyable experience.

Like what you see? Find many of the products featured in Doc's home on Lowes.com/BuildItForward.

Making a Difference in Denver

On the second episode of Build It Forward season two, Taniya and Shane moved on to Denver, Colorado, where they surprised Cuica Montoya with the exciting news she would be receiving a home renovation. As the Safe Outdoor Space Program Director at Colorado Village Collaborative, Cuica works day in and day out to create hope and shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Denver, but finding time to work on her own home had not been a priority.

Exterior: Before

As someone who had once experienced homelessness and substance abuse herself, Cuica's current home means so much more to her than simply a place to sleep. “Being able to buy a home was so huge, especially coming from homelessness," explained Cuica. "What I’d love for this house to be is the homebase for my family, an oasis for me sit and relax.”

Exterior: After

In order to make the home an inviting spot for entertaining family, Taniya and Shane opted to spend most of their funds expanding the front entrance to allow for a larger living space. Adding 200 square feet to the entry allowed for a larger front porch with room for a charming sitting space and welcoming plants.

Living Room: Before

Rather than a traditional entryway, the home opened to a multi-use space that served as a living area, makeshift dining room and mini office space. Cuica's hope was to turn the space into a family room with space to host large family dinners.

Living Room: After

After adding the additional square footage, there is plenty of room for a large sofa to anchor the new living area. To delineate the living from the dining area, Taniya chose a stylish area rug and chic DIY plaster artwork made my Cuica's mom and niece.

A Warm Welcome

Opposite the sofa, a brand new electric fireplace serves as a stunning focal point that adds both ambience and warmth without creating a huge electric bill.

Dining Room: Before

Though Cuica dreamed of hosting big family dinners where everyone could come together to enjoy a meal, her dining room before the makeover simply didn't have the space, leaving family to sit wherever they could find a spot any time they would get together.

Dining Room: After

With the added space, Taniya and Shane were able to design a long custom table to create the dream dining room Cuica had always wanted. To fit with Cuica's style, Taniya made sure the overall design felt organic and clean with natural materials and an overall midcentury modern vibe.

More Than Just a Table

Cuica was overwhelmed by the new dining area, not only because it meant she could finally host her entire family for dinner, but also because it reminded her just how far she's come on her journey from once struggling with homelessness and substance abuse to now being able to provide for not only herself but also her family.

Kitchen: Before

Before the renovation, the existing kitchen was already in good shape. Cuica and Shane both noted they liked the dark wood cabinets, and it was even one of the main reasons Cuica was initially drawn to the home. Instead of redoing what already worked, Taniya and Shane opted to only make minor changes to the kitchen and instead reserve their budget for the home's expansion.

Kitchen: After

A wider gas stove fills the gap between the fridge and the cabinets, creating a more uniform look, while a stainless steel hood was added for extra style and function. Cuica noted that the continuation of the existing white subway tile makes the whole space feel brighter.

Home Office: Before

Though it is not the largest bedroom in the home, Cuica opted to make this space the main bedroom in order to maximize the space of the larger bedroom. From a quick look, Taniya deduced Cuica's new bedroom should be a comfy space with neutral accents and clean lines.

Home Office: After

With the new addition, Taniya and Shane opted to move the main bedroom to the newly renovated space and turned her old bedroom into a spacious office, complete with a custom desk.

Music Therapy

In the good times and bad, music has always been a source of comfort for Cuica. But her original setup was cramped with no place to sit. In her new office space, a custom walnut keyboard stand and new seat create a more intentional place for Cuica to enjoy this healing pastime.

Main Bedroom: Before

Since her original living space was so small, Cuica had used the main bedroom as a family room and office combo.

Main Bedroom: After

After expanding the space, Taniya and Shane surprised Cuica with a gorgeous new bedroom in the light colors Cuica loves along with plenty of textures to add warmth and visual interest.

Ensuite Surprise

A brand new ensuite bathroom may have been the biggest surprise from the new addition. Though the space isn't huge, Taniya chose to keep everything clean and classic. Matte porcelain hexagon tiles add visual interest while a new vanity ensures the small bath offers plenty of storage.

Like what you see? Find many of the products featured in Cuica's home on Lowes.com/BuildItForward.

Making a Difference in Ontario

On the third episode of Build It Forward, Taniya and Shane traveled to Ontario, California, where they surprised Patty Lopez with the exciting news that she would be receiving the home makeover of her dreams. Patty is the transportation coordinator at Anthesis, which is a non-profit that provides services for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Exterior: Before

Before the makeover, the home's exterior needed a refresh but wasn't in terrible shape. Patty expressed how much the house meant to her and how hard she'd worked to keep it during trying times, inspiring Taniya and Shane to work their magic, making it the dream home she'd always envisioned.

Exterior: After

A light blue paint job, fresh mulch and a few flowers make a huge difference in the overall impression of the home, going from drab to punchy, bright and welcoming. Patty's daughter, Danyelle, who lives in the home with Patty, potted a special lemon tree for the front porch that will eventually be planted in the yard.

Living Room: Before

Taniya immediately fell in love with the natural light in the living room but wanted to give it a more updated and cohesive look that still prioritized comfort for family movie nights.

Living Room: After

New furnishings, a new layout and a rich new stain on the existing hardwood floors make a drastic difference in the space, while cheery white walls make smart use of the natural light to visually enlarge the room.

Kitchen: Before

Patty's biggest pain point in her kitchen was the set of cabinets to the left of the sink that visually cut off what would have been the dining room but was instead seemingly forgotten space.

Kitchen: After

For this drastic change, the entire kitchen was demoed. New cabinets, sleek appliances and quartz countertops give Patty the bright kitchen with clean lines that she wished for, while the colorful tile is just the right pop of pattern to create movement in the space.

Dining Room: Before

Because it was visually cut off from the kitchen, the area that would have been the dining room was generally overlooked and certainly not reaching its full potential.

Dining Room: After

After removing the awkward cabinets, the dining room and kitchen became one large, useful space. Shane built a custom banquette to make the most of the dining area, finally giving Patty and Danyelle a place they can enjoy meals together.

Danyelle's Bedroom: Before

While Danyelle admitted to still loving the color purple, she hoped for a more sophisticated bedroom to spend her current college years.

Danyelle's Bedroom: After

For a more subdued take on the bright purple wall color, Taniya chose a muted lavender, which instantly brightened the room and makes the small bedroom feel more spacious. Plenty of subtle textures throughout add interest without adding clutter which would quickly become distracting in such a petite space.

Room to Work

To give Danyelle more space for her studies, Taniya and Shane opted to steal space from the hallway's linen closet and reallocate it as a charming bedroom nook where Danyelle can do her schoolwork.

Main Bedroom: Before

Dated furnishings and dull carpeting that was far past its prime were begging for a makeover. And since Patty felt the room offered plenty of natural light, she made it known she would be up for a dark, cozy wall color in her new space.

Main Bedroom: After

Earthy, organic and definitely cozy, Patty's new bedroom is now the comfy, inviting space she had dreamed of. The carpet was removed and replaced with new flooring and a beautiful area rug, and light textured bedding adds instant warmth.

Main Bathroom: Before

Before the makeover, Patty's tiny bathroom was dark and dingy with peeling wallpaper and a shower that was almost too tight to be functional.

Main Bathroom: After

To make the bathroom larger, Taniya and Shane removed a sewing nook from the main bedroom and reframed the space to create a spa-like main bathroom that is roomy enough to include a bathtub, double vanity and dramatic chandelier. Natural herringbone floor tile and brass accents throughout give the room the touch of glamour that Patty deserves.

Like what you see? Find many of the products featured in Patty's home on Lowes.com/BuildItForward.

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