Marlee Matlin shocked her longtime best friend Lisa with an amazing backyard makeover on Sunday’s episode of Celebrity IOU on HGTV.
The 58-year-old Oscar-winning actress wanted to help her friend Lisa, also deaf, enjoy the outside by giving her an epic backyard transformation. Marlee worked with Drew and Jonathan Scott to redo the space for her friend.
Marlee brought her interpreter Jack to help her with translation as she worked with the Property Brothers.
‘Lisa is somebody that I’ve admired for so long,’ Marlee said. ‘Lisa for one is an incredible mom to two lovely girls, and she’s always working. She continually works to make ends meet. And every time we get together, or even when we text each other, we talk for the longest time.’
Marlee said Lisa doesn’t see her as a celebrity and was extremely loyal and caring.
Marlee Matlin shocked her longtime best friend Lisa with an amazing backyard makeover on Sunday’s episode of Celebrity IOU on HGTV
‘She takes time to learn about you,’ Marlee said.
Marlee said she first met Lisa in 1985 and they have been friends for more than 30 years. She said Lisa loves people and loves to give.
‘She is a teacher of American Sign Language at a community nearby and I want to be able to give back for being so generous and for just being Lisa,’ Marlee said.
Marlee said Lisa loves water and Jonathan and Drew said there was more than enough space for a hot tub spa. Marlee said she wanted the backyard redo to be ‘deaf friendly’ with enough room for everyone to sign.
Marlee then helped them pull down an old shed in Lisa’s backyard.
‘Oh my God,’ Marlee said.
Marlee also helped them break up the concrete in the backyard using a jackhammer. Marlee helped them create a deaf friendly space so everyone could speak without barriers. She asked Jonathan to create curved areas to allow people to see each other. She also helped him pick out colors for the space.
Jonathan and Drew created four zones in the backyard one for a spa and one for an outdoor kitchen and areas with seating under pergolas.
Lisa was shocked by the backyard transformation and enjoyed the moment with Marlee
Jonathan and Drew Scott helped Marlee with the custom-made backyard transformation
Marlee said Lisa doesn’t see her as a celebrity and was extremely loyal and caring
The backyard needed some work to create a deaf-friendly space
‘This is going to be incredible,’ Jonathan said.
Drew picked a hot tub with a built-in sound system that could be felt in the water.
‘This is going to make that backyard,’ Drew said.
Marlee got hands on and helped the brothers build one of the pergolas.
‘You’re a natural,’ Jonathan said.
After putting in the hot tub and the outdoor kitchen, Marlee helped them create a planter stand for Lisa. She helped them create 14 potting stations in the planter.
They also repainted Lisa’s house and put in turf for the outside. Marlee also helped them plant various bushes around the property and other final touches.
Marlee told the brothers to hide behind the tub and she would bring Lisa back to the garden. Marlee then met Lisa as her car pulled up the house.
Drew picked a hot tub with a built-in sound system that could be felt in the water
Marlee got hands on and helped the brothers build one of the pergolas
They also repainted Lisa’s house and put in turf for the outside
The backyard renovation also included a new barbecue
‘What the f***,’ Lisa said. ‘Why is my house white?’
‘Do you like the white?’ Marlee asked.
‘Yes, it’s beautiful,’ Lisa said.
Marlee took Lisa into her backyard and she was shocked by the transformation.
‘Oh my God,’ Lisa said. ‘Much better than I thought! So beautiful.’
Lisa hugged Marlee.
Marlee said she had a little help and the Property Brothers came out and hugged her.
‘For someone who likes to party you needed a space like this,’ Jonathan said.
‘She’s even the first person I’m inviting to my party,’ Lisa said to Marlee.
‘Deaf friendly table!’ Lisa said when she saw the round table outside. ‘I don’t know how to thank you and repay you.’
‘No, don’t repay me,’ Marlee said. ‘Your friendship is all I want.’
‘This is a dream come true!’ Lisa said.
Lisa said she was going to call her backyard ‘the Marlee backyard.’
Marlee took Lisa into her backyard and she was shocked by the transformation.
Marlee said she had a little help and the Property Brothers came out and hugged her
Lisa said she was going to call her backyard ‘the Marlee backyard’
The party started as Lisa’s daughters and then her friends arrived to see the new backyard
Lisa said she can’t wait to spend time with her family and friends in the backyard.
‘I really appreciate the fact that everything is so deaf friendly,’ Lisa said.
Lisa’s friends and family came over and were also stunned by the backyard transformation.
Celebrity IOU will return next Sunday on HGTV.
