Welcome to the Military Makeover Style Guide featuring the Reeves Family!
In this edition, we’re excited to share the transformation of the Reeves home, now reimagined with a sleek, modern style that mirrors the family’s resilience and strength. Every corner of their newly designed space reflects not only their journey but also the deep love and devotion that define their story.
Sean Reeves, a proud Marine Corps veteran, felt the call to serve his country after the events of September 11th. Enlisting right after high school, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he faced the harsh realities of combat and sustained serious injuries. Despite these challenges, Sean’s courage and commitment never wavered, and today he continues his mission of service by supporting fellow veterans and their families in North Carolina. By his side is his partner, Marilyn Cecilia Williams. High school acquaintances reconnected years later at Sean’s sister’s wedding, and since 2015, they’ve built an inseparable bond rooted in loyalty, strength, and shared values.
As you explore this guide, you’ll see the artistry behind the Reeves’ modern transformation. Sleek lines, neutral palettes, and layered textures create a space that feels both sophisticated and inviting. Every detail was chosen to honor Sean and Marilyn’s resilience and give their family a home where love and community thrive.
Join us as we celebrate the Reeves family and this remarkable transformation, a home that stands as a true testament to strength, love, and new beginnings.
transformed into a true sanctuary, blending comfort, color, and texture to create a space that feels both restful and revitalizing. Kährs provided stunning new flooring, instantly elevating the room with a fresh and polished foundation. Layered textures and thoughtful design choices brought warmth and personality into the space, making it a retreat where Sean and Marilyn can unwind at the end of the day. With insulation from Johns Manville, the room now stays cool during North Carolina’s hot summers and cozy through the winter months, ensuring comfort yearround.
Furniture introduced beautiful new bedding that balances style and softness, giving the couple a space that feels luxurious yet inviting. Chubbies also treated Sean and Marilyn to a special shopping spree, which they can enjoy for a well-deserved date night, and their newly renovated closet now provides the perfect spot to store their outfits and accessories. Altogether, the Reeves’ primary bedroom reflects a harmonious blend of function and design, offering a haven of relaxation and love.
Sean and Cecilia’s home offices were completely reimagined into spaces they can fully utilize, blending modern design with practical function. With the help of WGU, both rooms received thoughtful upgrades, including new computer and gaming systems that transform the spaces into hubs for work, creativity, and play. Working alongside our designer, WGU created environments tailored to ease stress and encourage productivity, ensuring Sean and Cecilia have the tools and atmosphere they need to thrive while working from home.
Cecilia’s office was designed with dual purpose in mind, serving as her dedicated workspace while also doubling as a guest bedroom for visiting family and friends. Sleek lines and layered textures bring a polished yet cozy aesthetic, while multipurpose furniture from Bassett ensures flexibility without sacrificing style. The thoughtful balance of comfort and function allows her to seamlessly transition the space from professional to welcoming, reflecting the couple’s modern yet warm lifestyle.
Sean’s office was designed to feel both efficient and restorative, with Bassett Furniture providing functional, comfortable pieces that support his day-to-day needs. American Home Shield added peace of mind by protecting the home’s systems and appliances, including those powering their upgraded offices. Together, these transformations reflect the Reeves’ modern home style, clean, purposeful, and inviting, giving Sean and Cecilia personalized spaces where they can work, recharge, and welcome others with ease.
Out with the old and in with the new, Sean and Cecilia’s living room was given a fresh start that perfectly captures their modern vision. The space was completely reimagined, beginning with newly painted walls that brightened the room and set the stage for a sleek, updated design. At the heart of the transformation, a modern fireplace with wood detailing was added, serving as both a focal point and a cozy gathering place for the family. This balance of warmth and clean lines embodies the contemporary style the Reeves envisioned for their home.
Bassett Furniture completed the look with a full suite of brand-new furnishings, creating a living room that feels both stylish and functional. Plush seating, thoughtful accents, and streamlined pieces brought comfort and polish, turning the once-outdated room into a vibrant space where the family can relax and entertain with ease. Every piece was chosen to reflect the Reeves’ personality while keeping the overall design fresh and modern.
Even as the room embraced a new look, the Reeves wanted to honor their story by weaving in personal touches. One meaningful item, a poster from Ireland, was carefully shipped and preserved with the help of uShip, ensuring it found its place in their redesigned living room.
This piece connects the family’s past with their present, adding sentimental value and character to the contemporary space.
To ensure the family could fully enjoy their new living room without distraction, Aruza provided a comprehensive pest control service, inspecting the entire home and tailoring solutions to their needs. With this peace of mind, the Reeves can gather together in their beautiful new living room free of worry and full of comfort, making it a space where modern style and family memories coexist in perfect harmony.
The Reeves’ kitchen already had a beautiful foundation, and our team worked to build upon it by layering in thoughtful elements that elevated both style and function. Bassett Furniture introduced modern touches that brought warmth and character into the space, blending seamlessly with the existing layout to create a kitchen that feels fresh, inviting, and perfectly aligned with the Reeves’ modern home vision. The result is a hub for cooking, gathering, and making memories, truly the heart of their home.
Every kitchen tells a story, and sponsors played an important role in shaping the Reeves’. Jersey Mike’s, a proud supporter of Military Makeover, was a natural fit to be tied into the kitchen, reflecting the joy of sharing food and family meals. Service Experts enhanced the space in a way that goes beyond design, improving both air and water quality throughout the home. These unseen but essential upgrades ensure the kitchen isn’t just beautiful, but also a healthier and more comfortable place for the Reeves family to enjoy every day.
To make room for all these improvements, Junk King stepped in to clear out the clutter, giving the kitchen a true “out with the old, in with the new” moment. Finally, Food Lion stocked the kitchen with groceries, filling it to the brim with fresh, delicious food and providing the Reeves with everything they need to enjoy their renewed space right away. Together, these contributions transformed the kitchen into a space that’s modern, functional, and ready to serve the Reeves family for years to come.
The Reeves’ game room was completely transformed by our team and designer into an exciting, multifunctional space the whole family can enjoy. With help from partners like Dave & Buster’s, the room embodies the spirit of fun and connection, echoing the same energy of a night out brought right into their home. Purple Heart Homes also played an important role, helping with the renovation and ensuring the space was designed to meet the family’s needs with both comfort and accessibility in mind. WGU added the finishing touches by donating new gaming controllers, a VR headset, and a collection of PS5 games, giving Sean and Cecilia everything they need to immerse themselves in play and relaxation. Bassett Furniture completed the space with a stylish new table, perfect for hosting family nights or friendly competitions.
To make the experience even better, Fujitsu provided a new HVAC system that keeps the game room, and the entire house, at the perfect temperature, no matter the season. This upgrade ensures that long gaming sessions or family gatherings stay comfortable year-round. In addition, Neurovalens contributed a solution designed to improve Sean’s sleep, creating a healthier balance between play, rest, and recovery. Together, these enhancements turned the game room into more than just a place for entertainment it’s now a space where the Reeves family can laugh, connect, and create lasting memories.
Purple Heart Homes Selected the Reeves Family to Honor Their Service in Season 43 of Military Makeover
Purple Heart Homes helped lead the latest season of Military Makeover in King, North Carolina. The organization selected Marine veteran Sean Reeves, mobilized a network of builders and neighbors, and delivered a renovation that celebrated service and the steady cycle of giving back.
A Mission Rooted in Service
“Military Makeover is brought to you by Purple Heart Homes, the official nonprofit housing partner.” The words set the tone of the episode and framed a story that centered community action, careful design, and a veteran whose life had been shaped by service and recovery. King sat at the gateway to the foothills of North Carolina where a large population of veterans lived, a setting that fit a program devoted to improving daily life at home for those who served.
Purple Heart Homes identified a family who would benefit from thoughtful renovation. The selection of Sean Reeves brought the mission into clear view through a Marine who endured combat injuries, a complex return home, and a later diagnosis that tested resolve in ways that few experience. His home became a canvas for stability and dignity, a place where details like a repaired foundation, safer access, and calm private spaces carried weight far beyond decor.
Sean and his wife Cecilia welcomed the team with humility and hope. Their openness gave the crew insight into daily needs, personal history, and wishes for an honor wall that would include a piece of a bullet once taken from Sean’s body. The request lived in the same space as the organization’s purpose, since memory and care could share a room without crowding each other.
How Purple Heart Homes Built Community
Volunteers, tradespeople, sponsors, and neighbors gathered with practical goals in mind. New siding, a refreshed roof, clean lines inside, and outdoor repairs that extended the life of the structure came together as a home that served the family rather than standing as a list of deferred projects.
The production team moved through rooms with plans for color and texture, while Purple Heart Homes anchored the work with a simple truth. Accessible, safe, and durable choices change a day, then a week, then a life.
John Gallina offered the origin story that guided the organization’s pace and priorities. “In 2004, myself, my battle buddy hit two anti-tank landmines and resulted in him losing both of his legs below the knee. But when he came home, we found him crawling into his bathroom because his wheelchair wouldn’t fit through the bathroom door. And in the process, we said, ‘Hey, we got to do something different.’” That moment became a blueprint for partnerships with communities and showed why the team returned to doorways, bathrooms, and kitchens where small distances could become barriers without warning.
“How can we create an organization that can partner with communities, that can partner with great organizations like Military Makeover and Branstar. In order that we can be a conduit to connect the community to their veterans, we must be involved and support our veterans.” The call landed with clarity in King, where local leaders marked the day with an official proclamation and volunteers kept arriving with energy, tools, and patience.
Recognition for Those Who Gave Back
Sean received a renovation that honored his service, and the story reached past his front door. He gave back through his own nonprofit, extending support to fellow veterans through programs that met immediate needs and built connection. The crew noted this spirit on site and treated the house as a place where that work could continue with fewer obstacles, fewer hazards, and deeper comfort for the family that kept him steady.
The community response felt natural in a town where neighbors showed up with shovels, paint rollers, food, and time. The invitation was direct and the impact visible. Materials arrived, decks were rebuilt, bathrooms gained access that worked, rooms gained light that softened at night and lifted the morning.
The Thread That Held
Purple Heart Homes stood in the middle of this effort with a purpose that grew out of experience. The team listened, measured, consulted, then built.
Season by season the organization lifts up veterans through homes that supported recovery and connection and the quiet daily routines that make life livable. The Reeves renovation spoke to that mission with clarity. A veteran was chosen. A community showed up. A family received care. Then the giving continued through Sean’s work for others, a cycle held together by hands that met, tools that hummed, lights that came on, and a doorway that opened with ease.
The Reeves family’s backyard was completely reimagined into their own private retreat.. Fresh paint and a brand-new deck set the tone for a space that feels both open and inviting, transforming their yard into the perfect setting for relaxation and family gatherings. Chubbies added to the atmosphere with a custom firepit, giving Sean and Cecilia a place to unwind under the stars. To keep the outdoor area functional as well as beautiful, SENIX provided a fully stocked tool shed, ensuring the Reeves have everything they need to maintain and enjoy their new backyard for years to come
The transformation didn’t stop there; the garage was also revitalized as part of this renovation. With a sleek update from ASSA ABLOY, the garage now feels secure and organized, tying seamlessly into the backyard experience. Navy Mutual elevated the space even further by adding a sauna, offering Sean and Cecilia a therapeutic retreat just steps away from home. Combined, these upgrades give the family not just a backyard, but a complete extension of their living space designed for relaxation, recreation, and wellness.
To ensure the Reeves can enjoy these new spaces worry-free, Swann Communications installed a state-of-the-art security system with cameras, providing peace of mind and safety.
Backcountry also joined in to provide outdoor gear, giving the Reeves everything they need to make the most of their time outside, whether in their new backyard or exploring nature beyond their home. Finally, Tamko Roofing provided durable, reliable roofing to protect it all, completing the transformation with strength from the top down. Together, these incredible contributions created a backyard and garage experience that blends beauty, functionality, and security, truly the outdoor retreat the Reeves family deserves.
