Lipford, Kelli and Wes Holloman enjoy the new fire pit area.
Pearland residents Wes and Kelli Holloman didn’t think much about entering a contest on the Today’s Homeowner Facebook page to win an outdoor living area, so when a producer called them several weeks later to tell them they were in the top five finalists, they were shocked.
“We had really wanted to do something with the back yard,” said Wes. “Time and money always seemed to get in the way. [Producer] Chad called on a Friday and interviewed us. We were excited but didn’t get our hopes up.”
The next Monday, Today’s Homeowner host Danny Lipford called the Hollomans personally to tell them they won.
“We were literally bouncing off the walls!” said Kelli.
“I like to make those phone calls,” Lipford said. “I like giving people good news!”
Wes and Kelli didn’t just enter their names into a drawing for the contest. They took the time and effort to write an essay and make a video about why they should win the outdoor living area.
“We got 4,500 entries, which is pretty good considering there was some work involved,” said Lipford. “If it’s just entering a name, we usually get around 20,000 entries, so you see the contrast.”
“We narrowed the entries down based on need, cleverness of the video and essay, the overall spirit of then homeowners and we always like to choose homeowners that are fun,” Lipford said.
The Hollomans’ video can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/dannylipford.media/videos/vb.78521859410/10153362740699411/?type=1&theater.
Lipford, his crew, including daughter Chelsea and the fine folks from Pavestone Co., descended on the Hollomans’ east Pearland home on Tuesday (May 26) and worked over two days to transform their simple backyard into an outdoor paradise.
They happened to make it to Pearland just in time for the floods.
“That was interesting,” said Lipford. “The heavens opened, but we just kept working!”
Wes and Kelli found the whole experience inspiring. “I’m not a handy guy,” said Wes. “But we helped with some of this and realized that home improvement doesn’t have to be hard.”
“In fact, we want to keep going and finish the backyard ourselves,” said Kelli. “They gave us great ideas about how simple and easy things can make a big difference.”
The Hollomans and their five children, ages 5 to 15, actually built the fire pit. “We got all five kids involved,” said Kelli. “I think it gave them a sense of ownership and pride, and it was a great family project.”
“We really wanted a space where the older kids can have their friends over and have a bit of privacy,” said Kelli. “It’s like this all the time in here,” she added, referring to the sounds of five kids and their friends enjoying the hot day inside.
“It ended up being like having another room added onto the house,” said Wes. “We have more square footage we can use.”
The Hollmans said that the whole experience was very easy. “Everyone was very professional. They were all so friendly and easy to work with. And, of course, we love what they have done!” said Kelli.
Lipford is a 36-year veteran remodeling contractor and media personality known to audiences as Host of the Emmy-nominated and nationally-syndicated home improvement TV show and nationally-syndicated radio show, “Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.”
He served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s “The Early Show” and The Weather Channel for more than a decade.
His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.
Lipford has made more than 160 national television appearances, has been a longtime contributor to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine and BHG.com and is a source for hundreds of other popular magazines and websites each year.
Lipford’s daughter, Chelsea Lipford Wolf, has found her own success with an Internet show called “Checking In with Chelsea,” which has already won two Webby awards.
Today’s Homeowner is based out of Mobile, Ala. Unfortunately, the Houston area is only one of three markets that the show is not aired in on television or radio.
Episodes, tips and tricks can be viewed on the website at TodaysHomeowner.com.
To learn more about Danny Lipford, visit AboutDannyLipford.com.
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