Photos From The Site | Discuss The Project

By B.C. MANION
The Tampa Tribune

The Tate family’s only wish was to return to some sort of home on Davis Islands after an airplane crashed into their yellow wood-frame in June.

It never occurred to them they would be moving into a dream home custom-built and designed for them by “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

“Coming home and seeing this is more than we could have imagined,” Tom Tate said during a news conference Monday morning.

“We’re going to sleep like babies tonight.”

But first, his wife, Cynthia, plans to take a good look around.

“I’m going to touch everything, open every drawer. I can’t wait. There’s still stuff we haven’t even seen,” she said.

They’re also curious about the seven days of nonstop action that got the house built while they relaxed in Costa Rica.

“What they did and how they did it and the time they did it in is unbelievable. It’s just amazing,” Tom said. “I heard it was like a little ant pile, there were so many workers. I just can’t wait to see film of it.”

The 3,400-square-foot Spanish Eclectic house was designed for the Davis Islands site by architects for WCI Communities Inc., the general contractor on the project.

“It’s not your normal cookie-cutter, square-box-production house,” said Rob Woods from WCI. The style is reminiscent of the original Davis Islands homes built in the 1920s.

The white stucco house boasts cedar beams, wrought-iron grilles, a circular drive and tropical plants, including bougainvilleas and palms.

Tom is looking forward to sitting on the porch at night and waving to neighbors walking by.

The family is under strict orders not to reveal what’s inside the home until their episode airs March 4 on ABC. But executive producer Denise Cramsey confirmed some details:

•The house has four bedrooms, a courtyard, a pool and a pool house.

•Tom and Cynthia’s room, designed by Tracy Hutson, takes up the top floor of the house. It has chocolate tones and a view to the channel.

• Bedrooms for Loren, 11, and Tommy, 14, are on the first floor. Tommy’s room, designed by Paige Hemmis, is outfitted with skateboards and refurbished lockers that were in the original house.

•While not disclosing details, Tommy said his sister’s room - designed by Eduardo Xol - was quite definitely girly.

•Son Ryan, 21, has a room and living space in the pool house. Ty Pennington designed the bedroom pulling from Ryan’s recent military service and his love of the Florida Gators.

While thrilled with everything everyone has done for them, the Tates said the greatest satisfaction comes from returning to their beloved Davis Islands.

“I can’t wait to get back on the island, take the kids to school, see everybody you know when you pass them. I miss that,” Cynthia said.

The family has been staying with friends several miles away in Ballast Point.

Cynthia was home alone when the small plane crashed into the house last summer. The accident killed the pilot, along with the Tates’ two dogs and two cats.

“I have to have faith that that’s a one-time deal,” she said of the accident in their neighborhood next to Peter O. Knight Airport. “I want to come home. I believe in my heart that God took that fear away.”

Their neighbors apparently missed them, too.

In doing prep work for extreme makeovers in 50 communities, assistant location director Steve Croley said he has never seen any quite like Davis Islands.

“These neighbors are the best we’ve ever worked with,” he said.

Perhaps that is why the Tates were so eager to return.

“To be back on Davis Islands is all we wanted,” Tom said. “This is definitely home.”

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 259-7150 or bmanion at tampatrib.com.

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