Amarillo Design Community

Wheeler Extreme Home Makeover

In June, the Amarillo ASID Design Community partnered with the Texas Panhandle Builders Association and Amarillo Habitat for Humanity, Inc. to build a new home for a family of five in Wheeler, Texas. The project was called “Wheeler Extreme Home Makeover”. In February of this year nine homes were destroyed in a blazing fire. Several families that were in need were chosen to receive help, and the Carr family was given a new home and sent on vacation to San Antonio for a week. They knew they were getting a new place to live, but just didn’t know to what extent their lives were going to change.

Over 100 local businesses donated materials, money and merchandise, and many volunteers came together and provided a beautiful 1,700 square foot home in seven days. Using the Habitat for Humanity floor plans and organization guide lines, the project came off without a hitch. Mark Grigsby, ASID, a member of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association, was asked to be the Project Interior Designer. He asked for help from our Amarillo Design Community, and we were able to donate $500. The money we donated went for accessories, bedding and contributed toward the trip.

KVII-TV ProNews 7 was on site to film the whole project from start to finish. The 30-minute program aired after the evening news on June 21, 2009. The program was designed much like "Extreme Home Makeover" with Ty Pennington, including the family arriving from the airport in a limo and the famous “MOVE THAT BUS!” (a Wheeler school bus) shouted by a crowd of local residents and volunteers. Much credit was given to the designers and ASID for their donations.

The ASID Amarillo Design Community was thrilled to support such a worthy cause and have had the opportunity to help members of our community that have been so devastated.