EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION - Wicked awesome! The Rhode Island episode

The Extreme Makeover Home Edition national tour came to Rhode Island this week, where the Silva family needed some serious help.  They've devoted themselves to  providing a foster home for kids, but the Silvas had hit some serious snags:  their house was too small, and their entire property was contaminated with lead.  Would Ty and an army of Rhode Islanders be able to give the Silvas a safe house for their family and foster kids?  Fuggedaboutit!

The demo portion of this makeover was a little more involved than normal.  Usually Ty brings in the wrecking machines and exults at high volume as they destroy the old house, but this time they had to go one step further and excavate tons of contaminated earth from all around the property.  The end result:  a completely uncontaminated, lead-free plot of land.

And the house?  To say that the Silvas got an upgrade is a massive understatement.  Each of the kids got spectacular theme rooms, Ma and Pa Silva got a beautiful and serene suite where they could chill out, and the kids got the World's Coolest Treehouse in the backyard (pictured).  I thought the best part of the house was the shower, a massive walk-in tile job with a showerhead the size of a UFO and ceiling-mounted shower fixtures - all controlled by two digital control pads that adjust the settings and temperatures.  I WANT THAT.

The Silvas, as you might imagine, were blown away by the new house, totally reduced to tears.  It helps that through the generosity of their fellow Rhode Islanders their mortgage was paid off, so all they have to worry about is taking care of each other and the foster kids whose lives they touch.  The Silvas deserved a house that was just as wicked awesome as they were, and they got it.

--Dave Campbell