The Queer Eye Renovation Project Bobby Berk Is Most Proud Of
Netflix's "Queer Eye" has had seven seasons full of numerous tear-jerking, stunning, and jaw-dropping reveals. While each member of the Fab Five makes incredible contributions, one member of the team always has us in awe, and that's Bobby Berk — the person in charge of home construction and design. Berk has transformed entire restaurants, churches, and barns, but he revealed to Netflix Tudum the one that stands out as the show's best. For him, it was a home renovation for a man named Wesley Hamilton in the fourth season.
Wesley Hamilton was a wheelchair user and single father living in a small but comfortable home without any accessibility upgrades. That meant that things like using the stove, getting clothes out of the closet, and even looking in the bathroom mirror were not impossible, but not simple, either. In the episode, Berk himself says, "Everything in this house makes him struggle more than he needs to." In addition to creating a sophisticated and stylish home, Berk focused on what functional changes could improve Wesley's quality of life.
Simple changes made a big difference
Wesley's home was by no means in bad shape, but small things that don't account for wheelchair size and height can have a serious impact. From a narrow and rickety ramp to a basement laundry set, the home just did not work for Wesley and his disability — a few minor changes to appliances and the layout were necessary. "It was something that we've never done on the show. It's something I've never done in my design business, and I really wanted to make sure we did it right," Berk said in an interview with Vanity Fair.
The first noticeable improvement during the reveal was a new, wider, stable ramp that matched the exterior of the home. Berk moved the laundry room set-up from the basement to the upstairs living room with two side-by-side machines. Because the machines were in the basement and had no wheelchair access, Wesley's mother had been responsible for doing the laundry each week. This little change allowed both Wesley and his mother to reestablish independence and freedom. Other changes included removing wall-mounted cabinets, putting a microwave at Wesley's height, and lowering the hanger bar in his closet so he could retire his grabby tool. One tiny detail that had a major impact was the angle of the bathroom mirror, which allowed Wesley to easily see himself from his chair.
The design was masculine but cozy
Berk always manages to deliver spaces that defy cookie-cutter design principles. In Wesley's home, he used plenty of black and grey fabrics, charcoal-painted walls, and cool-toned wood paneling. While these moody colors can seem intimidating, Berk softens them to make the home feel comfy and family-friendly. Fuzzy blankets, lush couch cushions, and textured accent walls bring warmth and personality to the space. Berk's professional website detailed the renovation and changes. "It is amazing the amount of comfort that I feel inside my home now," Wesley remarked, via Berk's site.
That is what makes the transformation unique and special — the attention to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, as well as the incorporation of thoughtful design elements that make the home feel cozy, safe, and stylish. "Most homes aren't accessible," Wesley wrote on his own blog. "For Bobby and the team to come in and show me and the world what's possible — wow! That's something that I'm truly thankful for."