TV show crew turns woman's backyard into a tropical paradise in just seven days
By Angela Randazzo Special to The Acorn

JOE WOODS/Acorn Newspapers EAT YOUR HEART OUT, BOB VILA- Emmy Sundeen of Simi Valley poses beside the lagoon in her revamped backyard before its unveiling Saturday. Sundeen and her home were chosen to star on an upcoming episode of the new home improvement show, "Backyard America," on The Learning Channel. "I'm speechless," Sundeen said.

Emmy Sundeen, 47, admits the backyard of her Simi Valley home had gone to the dogs- and to a potbellied pig named Snort.

But thanks to an unexpected turn of events, a new TV makeover show, TLC's "Backyard Nation," came to the rescue, transforming her property from junkyard to tropical paradise.

"I'm in awe. I feel so fortunate and lucky," Sundeen said of the renovated space. "It's stunning. It's unbelievable."

Last Saturday was the big day: Sundeen's family and friends gathered as cameras rolled and her new backyard was revealed.

The showpiece of the 2,000square-foot backyard is a lagoon with a waterfall and water slide. Across from the lagoon is a thatched gazebo with a Jacuzzi below.

In a corner of the yard there's a barbecue pit with flaming torches. The show crew even added a basketball court on the side of the house.

"It's beautiful- a big, big change," said Donna Baldwin, a longtime Simi resident and Sundeen's friend, who was on hand for the event.

Equally impressed by the makeover was Mike Whitehead, a soccer coach to Sundeen's sons.

"It's wonderful. I didn't see the yard before but I heard there was nothing back here. It's a nice place to hang out now," Whitehead said.

The show's executive producer, Tom McMahon, said he and his associates scouted the location last month.

"Obviously we needed a backyard that was in great need of a makeover. Emmy's backyard fit the bill," McMahon said. "It looked like a bad episode of 'Sanford and Son.'"

The executive producer said the show isn't only about backyards. It's also about the homeowners.

"We want to find interesting people who are deserving of something like this," McMahon said. "Emmy's one of those people who puts herself last and everybody else first."

The show's host, Josh Temple, who also hosted the Discovery Channel's "Dude Room" and "The Ultimate Tree House," agreed that Sundeen was a perfect fit for the show.

"We want to do an extreme makeover. We don't want to put in just a lawn and a tree," Temple said. "We want to do it for a deserving family. We fell in love with Emmy. She's the mom who makes you feel at home and always has something to eat."

Sundeen was a stay-at-home mom for 18 years. In April she plans to open her own business in town- "Super Suppers," a mealpreparation program.

Sundeen and husband, Randy, a local attorney and recent school board candidate, have lived in the makeover location since 1989. Unfortunately, Randy was unable to attend Saturday's taping.

The couple has two sons, Ryan, 18, a senior at Montclair Prep School in Van Nuys, and Tyler, 13, a seventh-grader at Valley View Junior High School. They also helped raise Michael, 19, a student at Moorpark College.

"I think it's crazy that we got chosen for this," Tyler said. "(The yard) is a lot better than it was before."

With the motto "The outdoors is the new indoors," the "Backyard Nation" crew tackled Sundeen's yard for the show's fourth episode. It will most likely air in April, although an exact date hasn't been scheduled, said the producer.

On the first day of taping, Sundeen invited family and friends to help clean up the yard.

"I had a lot of stuff in my backyard," Sundeen said. "We spent 10½ hours and filled up two big roll-up dumpsters."

Those same family and friends gathered at the reveal party that included Polynesian dancers and neighborhood kids sliding into the lagoon pool.

"I'm speechless," Sundeen said at the sight of her new surroundings. "If you knew me, that would be saying a lot."