Host of Curb Appeal helps military family with new home - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Imagine one day you're living in a busy house with several family members. The next day, a popular HGTV designer is creating a custom home you can call your own. It's a dream come true for one local mother in Marietta.

Roslyn-Sue Smith has her hands full. Her husband is in the military, and she has a young son who requires constant care. When she reached out to her favorite TV personality, designer John Gidding, for help, she never really expected a response. Thanks to that one e-mail, her life is about to change.

Coe Smith, 5, is a playful boy who likes to pretend he sets the rules at home. But his mother is in charge, and it's an especially important job.

"He has really high days, and he has really low days," said Smith. "Coe really doesn't have a concept of what is safe and what's not safe, so we really needed to get all of the objects that could be potentially hazardous to ourselves or to him, and lock them away."
    
Coe Smith was born with a genetic syndrome; making constant care and supervision a must. His father Marvin is often deployed with the Navy.

They live in a busy house with Coe's grandparents.

"We had a couple incidences where we just wanted to make sure Coe was safe. It really alarmed us," said Smith.

A new, safer place to stay was needed for Coe. But on a tight budget, it seemed impossible. That's when HGTV's Curb Appeal host John Gidding host stepped in.

"My mother and I have always watched the TV shows, his TV shows, and she said, 'why don't you contact John Gidding?'  And I thought, oh, this is never going to happen," said Smith.
    
But she did and now Gidding is designing the family a new home. It will be a place that will meet Coe's specific needs, and give the family some space. A padded bedroom, and a safe place for Coe to play indoors are included in the design.

Gidding says the design was a challenge, but meeting Coe meant a lot to him.

"Yeah, I mean, he seems like a really warm guy. I have to say the whole project has changed for me now that I've met Coe."

Smith, near tears, loved the design.

"They've given us peace. They've given us hope. And that is the most wonderful thing that a mother could ever have with a child with special needs," said Smith.

The new home will go up in the backyard of Rosalyn-Sue's parents' house, so that the family is still nearby to help out.