Posted 5:53 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2013
Ashley Bode and Kirsten Wright were kindergarten buddies, Reuter Hall college roommates, and in each other’s weddings. Now, the two UW-L alums have shared one more major milestone: the national spotlight on a new cable TV show.
[caption id="attachment_3415" align="alignright" width="779"]
Ashley (Larsen) Bode and her husband, Steve, seated, are pictured with DIY Network “Made in Milwaukee” Host Jeremy “Sham” Shamrowicz. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
Backyard before. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
Bode, ’07, of Wauwatosa, first found out about potential openings on the show through a colleague at work who was in the pilot episode. A human resources professional, Bode admits she is prone to ask a lot of questions. The colleague ultimately gave her the phone number of the TV production studio to ask more. She filled out an application
[caption id="attachment_3449" align="alignright" width="400"]
Backyard after. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
and people from the network came to interview her and her husband, Steve, in late 2011. Then, the couple waited.
“It’s funny because my husband was like, ‘Ashley — don’t get your hopes up. These things don’t happen,’” recalls Bode. “But it kept moving forward. It was the craziest, most unbelievable experience. Who does this happen to? You don’t expect it will happen to you.”
Bode’s backyard project was selected. She had a large lawn with nothing in it except a cracked, concrete patio and tiny table. Her dream was a comfortable space to entertain a large group of family and friends.
The actual renovations happened last May and the couple had to move out for three weeks. When they returned in June in front of the TV cameras, their dream backyard was waiting.
“It was a weird experience — somewhere between an engagement and wedding day,” says Bode. “We walked arm in arm with eyes closed around to the back.”
Bode says she was conscious of the video camera following her closely at the moment she opened he eyes to see the new yard.
“My reaction is funny,” she says. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve.”
[caption id="attachment_3453" align="alignright" width="400"]
Ashley (Larsen) Bode with her husband, Steve, far left, are pictured with DIY Network “Made in Milwaukee” Host Jeremy “Sham” Shamrowicz. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
She saw the team had installed an enormous deck, grilling area, oversized picnic table, bluestone pavers, a hand-crafted fire pit, landscaping and a mahogany wall for additional privacy. At the center of the yard they built a custom tree sculpture made entirely of steel tubing, adding an artistic element to the area.
“We used the space a ton this past summer and into the fall with fire pit,” says Bode. “They really exceeded our expectations. I feel really blessed and grateful this happened.”
But Bode didn’t forget to spread the joy by letting her good friend and college roommate, Wright, know about the opportunity. Wright and husband, Maurice, were selected to have their “bonus room” renovated. The room had outdated paneling, stained carpet and used furniture, which Flux redesigned into an urban loft-inspired living room.
“It was absolutely phenomenal what they were able to do,” says Wright.
Ashley (Larsen) Bode and her husband, Steve, seated, are pictured with DIY Network “Made in Milwaukee” Host Jeremy “Sham” Shamrowicz. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
Former college roommates receive free home makeovers
Ashley Bode and Kirsten Wright were kindergarten buddies, Reuter Hall college roommates, and in each other’s weddings. Now, the two UW-L alums have shared one more major milestone: the national spotlight on a new cable TV show. The two were in episodes 108 and 109, respectively, of the DIY Network’s, “Made in Milwaukee” where Interior Designer and Host Jeremy “Sham” Shamrowicz and his team at Flux Design renovate houses in the state’s most populous city, transforming bedrooms, kitchens, basements, baths and more into original works of art. Bode had her backyard redone and Wright had a bonus room completely renovated. “The whole experience felt like a dream,” says Wright, ‘07. “From our room being completely transformed to being on one of the TV shows my husband and I always watch — it was pretty exciting!” [caption id="attachment_3445" align="alignright" width="400"] Backyard before. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
Bode, ’07, of Wauwatosa, first found out about potential openings on the show through a colleague at work who was in the pilot episode. A human resources professional, Bode admits she is prone to ask a lot of questions. The colleague ultimately gave her the phone number of the TV production studio to ask more. She filled out an application
[caption id="attachment_3449" align="alignright" width="400"] Backyard after. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
and people from the network came to interview her and her husband, Steve, in late 2011. Then, the couple waited.
“It’s funny because my husband was like, ‘Ashley — don’t get your hopes up. These things don’t happen,’” recalls Bode. “But it kept moving forward. It was the craziest, most unbelievable experience. Who does this happen to? You don’t expect it will happen to you.”
Bode’s backyard project was selected. She had a large lawn with nothing in it except a cracked, concrete patio and tiny table. Her dream was a comfortable space to entertain a large group of family and friends.
The actual renovations happened last May and the couple had to move out for three weeks. When they returned in June in front of the TV cameras, their dream backyard was waiting.
“It was a weird experience — somewhere between an engagement and wedding day,” says Bode. “We walked arm in arm with eyes closed around to the back.”
Bode says she was conscious of the video camera following her closely at the moment she opened he eyes to see the new yard.
“My reaction is funny,” she says. “I wear my emotions on my sleeve.”
[caption id="attachment_3453" align="alignright" width="400"] Ashley (Larsen) Bode with her husband, Steve, far left, are pictured with DIY Network “Made in Milwaukee” Host Jeremy “Sham” Shamrowicz. Photo courtesy of DIY Network.[/caption]
She saw the team had installed an enormous deck, grilling area, oversized picnic table, bluestone pavers, a hand-crafted fire pit, landscaping and a mahogany wall for additional privacy. At the center of the yard they built a custom tree sculpture made entirely of steel tubing, adding an artistic element to the area.
“We used the space a ton this past summer and into the fall with fire pit,” says Bode. “They really exceeded our expectations. I feel really blessed and grateful this happened.”
But Bode didn’t forget to spread the joy by letting her good friend and college roommate, Wright, know about the opportunity. Wright and husband, Maurice, were selected to have their “bonus room” renovated. The room had outdated paneling, stained carpet and used furniture, which Flux redesigned into an urban loft-inspired living room.
“It was absolutely phenomenal what they were able to do,” says Wright.