SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: Ty Pennington was previously one of TV's top home remodeling gurus owing to TLC's 'Trading Spaces' and HGTV's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'. But suddenly he vanished from the screens. However, he has kept his fans updated about his life via social media, sharing both happy and sad moments.
Ty went to Instagram on May 10 to grieve the death of a dear friend, Nancy Hadley. While the Internet mourns with Ty, let us remember Nancy and her accomplishments in the realm of design.
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Who was Nancy Hadley?
Nancy Hadley, an on-camera designer for bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and houses, had an unrivaled breadth of knowledge as a remodeling specialist. Nancy's audience is most familiar with her work from Top 10 television series such as ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition', 'Trading Spaces', Gordon Ramsay's 'Kitchen Nightmares', and Spike-TV's 'Bar Rescue'. She was a classically educated painter, sculptor, model maker, and artist who has "made over" hundreds of restaurants, pubs, houses, museums, and companies on the smallest of budgets and in the shortest of time periods. JK Rowling owns one of her artworks.
Nancy began her career as a painter, sculptor, and model maker before being asked to join the design team of the iconic ABC home remodeling series 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' by an executive producer. This part-time job would lead to a full-time job as a muralist before becoming the art director for the series, which would go on to win many Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Program.
The enormous chance to become the art director of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' enabled Home and Garden Speaker Nancy to be a part of many of the popular residential and commercial restoration TV series that have gained notoriety on major TV networks over the last decade. Her next position would be as the art director of famous chef Gordon Ramsay's TV show 'Kitchen Nightmares', where she would conduct major and small-scale restaurant makeovers in a short amount of time. Her abilities were quickly welcomed on the set of TLC's blockbuster home renovation series success 'Trading Spaces,' which chronicled the remodeling process of two sets of neighbors who were partnered with design teams to rebuild a room in each other's homes. Furthermore, her recent TV work came as a main design expert alongside Jon Taffer on the smash Spike TV series 'Bar Rescue' and helping restore tattoo businesses on the Spike spin-off 'Tattoo Rescue'.
As part of her own design firm, Nancy Hadley FAC, she worked as an exhibit designer and maker for museums such as the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, as well as in a variety of private residential and commercial locations. Nancy offered her design industry skills at events and conferences around the United States, including presentations at the 2012 and 2013 Nightclub and Bar conferences in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How did Nancy die?
Nancy died on the evening of May 9 right before 8 pm, accompanied by her children, her sister Sue, and her husband, according to the website that recounted her journey, written with love by her husband Jevon on Tuesday night and shared by her family. "Her day today was much easier than the last six; her pain was under control, and we spent the day talking to her, singing to her, and reading messages of your kindness and love to her," the family statement said. "We covered her bed in rose petals, and watched over her until she drifted quietly away."
Ty mourns Nancy's death
On Thursday, Ty took to Instagram to share with his 246k followers the sad news of Nancy's passing. Fans who have watched Ty work together with Nancy on different TV shows were informed through a post compiling moments captured by Ty and Nancy together. Ty, who claims to not know his way with words, left a long note for his late friend. He said, "Trying to express the positive impact a person like Nancy had on someone’s life… impossible 💔 I truly believe she came into this world, with a paint brush in her hand and a smile on her face. I’m so grateful for that day in California, when Nancy showed up as a volunteer, put on a EMHE shirt, and immediately became family. It’s like she knew we needed her, not just her incredible talents but also her spirit. Nancy put her HEART, and clearly her SOUL, into every mural, every project and every conversation she was a part of. She made every day better, even when you hadn’t slept for 3 days straight!"
Keeping Nancy's family in prayers, he added, "My heart breaks for Jevon and the kids. We were all so lucky to have known her."
The heartbroken and grieving friend further wrote,"Why is it always the kindest souls that seem to leave us far too early?? Im gonna miss you Nancy. Thank you for everything. I hope you’re up there having a laugh with Denise and Frank. Save me a spot on your mural in Heaven, okay? Love you friend."
