Yvonne Sims has been an important figure in Halle Berry's life for more than 40 years. To give back, Halle takes the Property Brothers to Cleveland for a memorable, tear-filled makeover.
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Photo: Dennys Ilic
Giving Back to a Fifth Grade Teacher
Award-winning actress Halle Berry partnered with Property BrothersDrew and Jonathan Scott to surprise her fifth grade teacher, Yvonne Sims, with a home remodel unlike any other. Yvonne has always gone above and beyond for her students as a dedicated teacher, a counselor, a confidant and, at times, even a parental figure. “I used to think I was the only one who had this relationship with this great teacher, but I’ve come to realize there are lots of people who feel the way I feel about her,” Halle told the bros. “She taught me and so many others about our Black culture. She was like a second mother in many ways. There’s no one more selfless.”
Though it's been more than 40 years since she sat in Yvonne’s classroom (and at her kitchen table after school during “cookie talks”), Halle is more than ready to transform the Sims' home. Together, Drew, Jonathan and Halle came up with a plan to reinforce, rebuild and restore Yvonne's kitchen, dining room and study. Their intentional design decisions honored the bones of the old home, while improving the flow and function of the layout.
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Photo: Dennys Ilic
Halle Rolls Up Her Sleeves in Honor of Her Favorite Teacher
After helping Drew and Jonathan identify precious items in Yvonne's home, Halle assisted with carpet removal to expose the original hardwood floors. While the team hoped to restore the flooring to its original beauty, the years-worth of wear and water damage they discovered proved to be a huge obstacle.
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Photo: Dennys Ilic
The Kitchen, Before
Yvonne's kitchen is the hub of her home. She loves inviting friends, family and students into her house to share thoughts and have deep conversations. Halle wanted to make sure the new kitchen could serve the same purpose, so the team came up with some special updates to elevate Yvonne's cooking and entertaining experience.