From the Floor Up: The story of the Columbus remodeler who rebuilt through Lyme disease, divorce

When you think of a kitchen remodel, what comes to mind? Most people gravitate toward aesthetics and functionality. But for Scott Hall, president of Scott Hall Remodeling, the work has a profound and powerful element in the background—one that changed his life.

The Stewart family, whose home overlooks the Muirfield golf course in Dublin, sought Scott Hall Remodeling to take on a significant renovation: combining their kitchen and dining room and vaulting the ceilings. But that’s not all; the clients also wanted their bathrooms remodeled and their laundry room completely reworked.

A big job—with an interesting twist.

The Scott Hall team had to remove the flat ceiling on the first floor while supporting the entire roof.

“It took months of planning and orchestrating with engineers,” Hall said. “We had to support the entire roof while removing all existing supports. Not many companies would even think about taking that on, but we pulled it off.”

Hall has pulled off a lot more than that: He’s running this successful business—all while quietly battling Lyme Disease.

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In the mid-1990s, Hall worked as a wilderness counselor for at-risk adolescent boys. Bug bites daily were common. Unknowingly, an infected tick bit him, and the rest is history.

The symptoms of the illness—rash, fever, joint pain and severe brain inflammation—didn’t manifest until years later. By 2006, Hall began experiencing ongoing pain throughout his body, and by 2015, his health had deteriorated significantly.

“I felt exhausted all the time, and doctors couldn’t figure out the problem,” Hall remembered somberly. “I was confined to bed for weeks at a time, with deep fatigue, pain and crippling inflammation.”

By 2016, Scott’s life was in tatters. After an unexpected end to his marriage, he struggled to support his son as a single father through his business. But by this time, he was confined to bed at least 20 hours per day with unbearable pain so severe that it was causing frequent vomiting. He even considered throwing it all away but couldn’t bear the thought of his son growing up without him.

In 2018, Scott finally found hope with a specialist who identified his severe tick-borne infections: Lyme disease, Babesia, and Bartonella.

The diagnosis was a relief, but the treatment was agonizing.

“The medications were killing the infections, making the pain much worse than before, and lasted years” he said.

The road to recovery was grueling, but Hall’s perseverance and the support of a world-class tick-borne infection specialist at the JEMSEK Specialty Clinic in Washington, DC, kept the door open, even a crack, for hope.

Despite the immense physical and emotional challenges, Hall’s experience with Lyme disease has significantly influenced his approach to both life and business.

“Being so close to death has been the greatest gift of my life,” he said. “It totally transformed how I see things and live every day.”

A major shift for him and his business was empowering his team members to take charge. By recognizing that some team members excelled in areas where he was less skilled, Hall learned to give them the freedom to lead, which ultimately led to better results.

Scott Hall Remodeling’s approach to their work was notably influenced by this shift. The recent kitchen remodel for the Stewart family, along with other projects undertaken by the company, arguably benefited from Hall’s more strategic leadership with his team.

“These clients entertain, especially around the Memorial Tournament,” said Patty Steele, director of operations. “We created a space that allows them to host large parties and enjoy their time with family and friends. It’s designed to be inviting and functional.”

The remodel includes two massive kitchen islands, perfect for the family’s baking needs. “Every time I walk into that kitchen, I think, ‘If I had this, I could roll out so many cookies,’” Steele said. “It’s a space that feels comfortable and welcoming.”

Bryn Hanover, general manager and co-owner, pointed to the importance of flow and practicality.

“We redesigned the space to better accommodate the family’s gatherings and improve the flow. It’s now perfect for their extended family and friends.”

And thanks to the timeless design, this remodel will still be attractive in the decades to come.

“You don’t want to look back in 10 years and think, ‘Oh, that was done in 2024,’” says Steele.

“We kept the palette neutral, with warm gray tones, and incorporated features like paneled appliances and beautiful white arabesque tile. These are timeless choices that won’t feel dated anytime soon.”

Even with trends coming and going, the team’s goal is always to create a design that will stand the test of time.

“Our designer did an incredible job of putting together elements you wouldn’t think should go together, but they work beautifully,” Steele added.

“There’s this silver-plated tile on one feature wall that just gives the space a little extra ‘wow.’ It’s gorgeous.”

For Scott Hall Remodeling, it’s not just about the end result—it’s about how you get there.

Over the past 25 years, they’ve fine-tuned their process to make remodeling as stress-free as possible for their clients.

“We’ve developed strong relationships within the industry and always work with a mind to make things smooth for the client,” Hanover said.

“When you’re working in someone’s home, the last thing you want is complications.”

It’s this attention to detail and care for the customer that has earned them recognition.

“We’ve won Angie’s List Super Service Awards for years,” he said.

“And we’re proud of our reviews on Google, where we’re rated among the best in the city.”

As Scott Hall himself put it, “When we’re constantly improving our process, the experience becomes better for everyone—clients, employees, and us. That’s what keeps people coming back to us for project after project.”

Beyond technical expertise, the company’s collaborative, supportive culture is what gives Scott Hall Remodeling such a warm glow within the Columbus landscape.

“Construction isn’t always the kindest industry,” Steele said. “But here, it’s the people you want to be around. We understand we’re invading your home for months at a time, so we work hard to make it as good of an experience as possible. I haven’t found that in another company in 20 years.”

Scott Hall, the architect of not only the company but its mindset, talked about how crucial this is.

“Every year, we meet as a team and ask, ‘How can we make the project experience a better experience for the customer?’” he said.

“When it’s better for the customer, it’s better for us, better for our employees, and just better overall. We want to walk away from every project knowing people are happy, and that’s why so many clients come back for more.”

As for Hall himself, he’s a happy man. Despite his suffering and ongoing treatments, he remains grateful for the new perspective on life, his talented team, and the chance to help make Columbus a little more beautiful.

You could even say Scott Hall’s spirit received its own remodel.

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