Christina Hall Achieves a New Design First—That Hits an Unthinkable Tragedy

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Christina Hall‘s new show, “Christina in the Country,” adheres to the same “happy ending” formula as most HGTV shows: Designer meets ugly duckling house and makes it beautiful, homeowners are thrilled.

But the latest episode takes a much darker turn that threatens to extinguish Hall’s bubbly effervescence and proves that not all home makeovers end on a positive note.

In “For the Love of Family,” Hall’s friend Cassie comes to visit Hall in Franklin, TN, where Hall now has a country house. Cassie’s sister-in-law Jessica has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and they need Hall’s help to make the home she shares with her husband, Damon, and their two young children more accessible now that she uses a wheelchair.

Hall admits she is clueless when it comes to this sort of design.

“I’ve never designed with mobility and accessibility in mind,” she says. “But I’m definitely up for the challenge, especially because it’s for Jessica and Damon, who I absolutely adore.”

Jessica, Damon, and Christina Hall plan the new kitchen.

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It’s Jessica’s greatest wish that her kitchen and bathroom don’t look like industrial/hospital facilities, with stark accessibility bars lining the walls. She wants her home to look soft, pretty, and family-friendly.

Christina dives right in, acquainting herself with design standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The main thing is making it so Jessica can be as self-sufficient as possible, and I think we definitely achieve that,” says Christina.

Hall’s upgrades could be smart ideas for many, and not just those with Jessica’s motor neuron disease, also known as ALS. Homeowners who prefer to age in place rather than moving as they enter their senior years can also benefit from these tips.

Check out just how stylish an accessible home can be, as well as why this particular makeover is bittersweet for Hall and all involved.

Lower the countertop height just a bit

Kitchen before

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“The standard cabinet height is 36 inches,” says Josh Berry, Christina’s trusty Tennessee contractor. “These will be 3o inches.”

Jessica thinks the island at a lower height is more convenient for young children anyway. The current island is bar height.

“Rather than an island that’s like a high countertop, I’d like to have one that’s more of a tabletop,” she says. “That works well for me, and I think it works well for our kids who are pretty young. Asking them to sit on stools is like asking for someone to fall over and hit their head.”

When all the countertops are lowered in the kitchen, you hardly notice that they’re not the standard height.

Kitchen after

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Keep essentials in lower cabinet storage

“A lot of lower cabinet space will be important,” says Jessica as they discuss the new kitchen design. “You know, I’d like to be able to get to the essentials of the kitchen—the day-to-day essentials, so I don’t have to reach up for everything.”

Bigger pots and pans that aren’t used every day, as well as holiday items, can be stored in the upper cabinets.

The same goes for storage space in the pantry.

“Now the shelves are positioned for the kids to be able to reach their own healthy snacks,” says Christina when the pantry is finished. Jessica won’t have to constantly be reaching up to get the kids’ treats.

Pantry

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Widen doorways and passageways

Wider passageways

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“I love how you left a lot of space around the island. That way she can get around super easy,” Hall tells Berry, as she observes the new island placement in the kitchen. Wider passageways make the kitchen feel bigger and more luxurious anyway.

The same goes for the bathroom doors. Hall expands the entryways for Jessica’s ease in navigating, and the bonus is it allows more light and space to move. Wider passageways are both pretty and practical.

Yes, you can build a shower with no lip

Bathroom before

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The shower was a problem for Jessica, because she had to step over a curb to get in, which was impossible in a wheelchair.

“This bathroom caused her so much anxiety, and as I, a female, I understand,” says Hall. “Our bathroom is like our sanctuary. This shower she couldn’t access by herself, and now this is going to be like zero-entry, no dam, straight into the shower so she can wheel right in.”

But Hall has a question about making the shower entry level with the floor.

“How does the water not flow out into the rest of the room when she’s in the shower?” she asks Berry.

“It’s all in how we ramp the tile,” says Berry. They’ll tilt the tile toward the drain, which will be placed in the back corner, so water won’t flow out into the bathroom.

Also, the bulky tub on a platform with a step leading up to it is replaced with a lower stand-alone tub, making it easier for Jessica to give the little ones a bath.

And notice the elimination of the water closet walls, making the toilet infinitely more accessible.

Bathroom after

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All in all, Hall’s first foray into designing an accessible home proves that such a design doesn’t have to look sterile or like a hospital at all. But that’s when Hall gets the phone call.

No one could have anticipated that Jessica would lose her battle with ALS shortly before the project is finished. All are devastated.

Everyone agrees that the beautiful remodel should be finished as a tribute to Jessica, so her “memory will live on in the house,” says Cassie. She would have loved the beauty of it all.

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