BASSETT, Va. — Lane Venture parent Bassett Furniture has partnered with Lifetime television to provide furniture for its Military Makeover With Montel show.
A CBS Family Film and TV Award winner for “Outstanding Reality Show,” Military Makeover features talk show host and military veteran Montel Williams traveling across the country to honor veterans by transforming their homes.
This season’s five-episode series highlighting Marine veteran and King, North Carolina, resident Sean Reeves premieres Aug. 22 on the Lifetime Network and will air Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. ET/PT through Sept. 19.
As part of its sponsorship of the show, Bassett provided furniture for the home’s living room, kitchen, two home offices, a media/game room and the primary bedroom. Pieces were chosen under the direction of the show’s resident interior designer Jennifer Bertrand and Anne Spilman-Souter, creative director of Bassett Furniture. Souter also appears alongside Bertrand in the second episode, shopping for products in the brand’s Greensboro, North Carolina, store.
“Bassett has long been known for being in the makeover business, and with our deep roots as a domestic manufacturer with products made in the USA, we jumped at the opportunity to offer support for a local military family,” said Tony Chivari, chief marketing officer, Bassett. “Inspired by Sean’s story, our entire team was determined to create a comfortable retreat for the family that reflects the sacrifices they have made in service to others.”
Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps right after high school, Reeves served as an infantry rifleman and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 where he experienced the harsh realities of combat. During Operation Northern Penetration, he sustained a traumatic brain injury and three gunshot wounds after an IED blast and subsequent ambush. A Purple Heart recipient who has been awarded numerous honors, Reeves was medically retired in 2011 and returned home to North Carolina where he currently works as a care coordinator at Veterans Bridge Home helping other veterans and their families receive the support they need. He continues to fight the long-lasting effects of his service, including cognitive issues, chronic pain, PTSD and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (now in remission).
With a crew of nearly 100 people working on the house, the project was completed in just 10 days — from the start to the install and big reveal.
“Working on this project for the Reeves family was an honor and privilege for me as an interior designer,” Souter said. “The experience feels like barely controlled chaos, but it was worth every moment to see it all come together and make a real difference for this deserving family. It was an amazing experience, and we’re grateful to Jennifer and the entire Military Makeover team, who were great partners at every turn.”
