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Holmes on Homes: A Tearful Reveal
By Mike Holmes
Mike’s Advice / Design & Renovation Inspiration
Thursday, March 6th, 2025 @ 10:19am
Making A Bungalow Accessible
In my line of work, I often meet families that change MY life forever. This is the story of a wonderful family I had the opportunity to help on Holmes on Homes.
Rachael and Robin’s are parents to two wonderful girls. Their youngest daughter Bree was born with trisomy 13. Doctors told them she wouldn’t live past a few days. Despite a very dire prognosis, Bree has defied the odds and is now three years old.
Bree’s diagnosis impacted the entire family, including the big sister’s. We needed to make the house fun for her sibling as well.
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The Challenges With The Bungalow
Bree’s parents were dealing with certain challenges. They were struggling with enough room for Bree’s medications. Bree’s wheelchair is quite heavy, making it difficult for Rachael to take her daughter out of the house by herself. Bree’s parents have nurses but they were essentially full-time caregivers, with no time to themselves.
Rachael and Robin bought a bungalow, knowing it would be easier to make it accessible for Bree. But it still needed a lot of work. When I walked through the house with my son Mike Jr, I already knew some of the changes we would be making.
When we walked through the house, we immediately noticed the hallways were a little narrow, which didn’t allow the parents to be able to see Bree unless they were in the same room.
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Making Changes
I was not impressed with the layout of the current kitchen. The fridge and stove were in the wrong spot. The sink in the kitchen was used very frequently to wash Bree’s medical equipment, but it was a tiny one.
Another thing they knew they needed was an accessible bathroom on the main floor. The house has a deck in the backyard, but the stairs were not built to code. Bree loves being outside. That was a priority for us.
Ultimately, they bought a house that they loved but knew they had to make a lot of changes to make it work for them.
Our focus for this home was how to make this home easier for their family.
“To have Mike Holmes and his family come to support us in this way is truly life changing,” said Robin.
We installed Vinyl flooring in this house, which is very durable. Flooring from Twelve Oaks.
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Ramp To Get Into The House
Rachael and Robin’s house was just not working for their needs. They recognized that they needed a house where they could put a ramp in the front for Bree’s wheelchair.
We brought in an accessibility expert from MED+ Health to help us take a look at how this bungalow could work for Bree. Immediately, Ronny told us we would have to make a “switchback”. Switchbacks are accessibility ramps designed with 180 degree change of direction to allow a safe angle of travel. We wanted to explore ALL options for Bree getting into the house, so we took Ronny to the deck area in the back.
When we took him to the backyard, he told us we have a clean slate. Instead of a ramp, Ronny recommended we install a vertical platform lift that would take Bree right onto the deck and into her bedroom.
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The Bathroom Layout
Bree loves a nice bath. Being submerged in water calms her down. When I walked into their bathroom however, I couldn’t even comfortably fit in there. This was not going to work for Bree.
We put in a 36” door and changed the layout (we had to get creative). Her new bathtub makes it easier for the parents to bathe her.
Panasonic WhisperGreen Select Fan with LED Light Panel cover installed on one of our bathroom projects for Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy.
A Tearful Reveal
When we brought Rachel and Robin back into the house to show them everything we did, everyone was crying.
We installed a nice skylight in Bree’s bedroom so even on days she couldn’t get outside, she would still enjoy the sunlight. This little touch meant a lot to the family.
“It’s about everyone collectively together and kind of moving from survival to thriving as a family because Bree showed us that that’s her plan to be with us and change our life for the better”, – Rachael.
A Team Effort
We would never be able to pull off a Mike Holmes renovation without the help of all of our wonderful trades and suppliers who step up to MAKE IT RIGHT. Special thanks to everyone who helped us transform his bungalow. For a full list of suppliers, check out this link.
Interior Designer Kim Capone
“I know logically it’s our house, but it’s not sinking in,” – Robin
About Holmes On Homes: Building A Legacy
Mike Holmes joins forces with his children, Michael and Sherry, as they continue his legacy – helping homeowners in need. From renovations gone wrong by crooked or incompetent contractors to bad DIY, to worthy homeowners in need of a life-changing renovation, the Holmes trio continues the work that made Mike a household name. They go behind the walls and above code to focus on safe, functional, efficient, and healthy homes. They do this while promoting a career in the skilled trades. Each project is more than just a renovation, it’s an opportunity to help make people’s lives better.
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