Interviews
I've had the pleasure of knowing Bruce since my days at This Old House and it's been great watching his career flourish since he left TOH. He's since created a niche in the remodeling world as a renovation consultant and now he's planning a return to television with This New House.
In the following interview Bruce shares his background in television production, his opinions on green building and why he loves old houses.
CH: You've been in the TV business for a long time and the remodeling/renovation industry even longer. Can you share how you got your start in both?
Bruce: Actually, they happened simultaneously when Russ Morash, the creator of This Old House (as well as The Victory Garden and The New Yankee Workshop), hired me in 1988. He was kind enough to give me the title "special projects assistant," though I had no experience in TV or in home renovation at that point.
Maybe he saw potential in me as a researcher and storyteller, which, along with an ability to herd cats, are important aspects of being a TV producer.
CH: What do you think clicked with the larger TV audience and the networks to go from literally one home improvement television show on PBS to almost every network having a design or DIY program?
Bruce: Well, for the TV audience, we always thought folks were responding to the great and reassuring teaching skills of "the guys" (Norm, Tom, Richard, and Roger). Week in and week out they calmly described problems with one of our core possessions, our homes, and then went about solving them. It felt real because it was real--TOH has been called the first reality TV.
When other shows hit, I think viewers took to them as similarly fun and inspirational to watch.
For the networks, I think it's as simple as this: it's inexpensive TV to make. You've got a simple set--a house--and lots of improvement story lines that unfold clearly and sequentially. Combine that with TOH's popularity and the rise of places like Home Depot and all the consumer dollars that represented, and it's easy to see why everyone got into it.
CH: Beyond the shows you've produced, are there any other programs that you enjoy watching that cover remodeling and renovation?
Bruce: Granted I'm biased, but I love Ask This Old House--I'm continually amazed by the guys' care and creativity in solving common head scratchers around the house.
CH: What will This New House bring to the table that we haven't already seen on TV?
Bruce: A single-minded focus on what's next for the American home. I hope that the same intelligence that goes into shows like TOH and ATOH will inform the way we choose and describe ways things can be done better and smarter.
We've been long time advocates for small space living and foresaw the backlash to McMansions that consume more energy, resources and materials than any house should.
Apartment Therapy grew out of a tiny NYC apartment (most are) but their mantra of "saving one room at a time" can apply to any home regardless of size. We even applied the "cure" to our own New York apartment (that's our kitchen in the photo).
With home design magazines continuing to play catchup, the legion of home design websites continue to gain traction. Loving. Living. Small. from Rebecca Orlov, focuses on "living small with style".
We asked her for a few tips for living in small spaces and she came back with some great answers!
C&H: What does living small mean to you?
Rebecca: To me, living small doesn't really have to do with the actual size. It's more about embracing your own style and being thoughtful about your things. Sometimes stuff is just more stuff and when living small, you have to consider all of your furniture and decor. It makes material items more meaningful.
C&H: I've got a big room, can I still apply "living small" themes? How so?
Rebecca: Absolutely! In fact, applying small space solutions to larger rooms will often provide balance and scale to a space that may feel overwhelming and hard to tackle. A few to consider are using:
-Using your walls to go vertical in a space will draw the eye up. Art galleries, tall furniture, shelving - all of these items will work in larger rooms as well and will provide balance in the space.
-Layering furniture is a great way to use your space will create depth in the room. Don't be afraid to place furniture in front of other furniture. Place matching chairs in front of built-ins or angle a chaise in front of the tv. This also applies to floating your furniture - just because you have walls doesn't mean you have to place your furniture right against them.
-Consider using furniture with legs. Credenzas, sofas, armoires with longer legs will allow the eye to continue to go past the furniture and the space will appear bigger.
-Painting an accent wall. I often encourage painting one wall in any sized space to create depth and texture. And consider your colors - warm colors will make a (large) space feel more intimate while cool colors can make a room appear to expand. In the case of a large space, go with the warm.
Since moving to LA last year we've met a lot of great people and one of them is home design blogger, Megan Arquette of BeachBungalow8 and The Skirted Roundtable podcast.
We asked her to share her thoughts on the interior design industry as well as being a home design blogger which is one of the fastest growing segments of the blog industry.
C&H: Hi Megan - Can you share your background and how you came into being an interior designer as well as home design blogger?
Megan: I come from a design/art background. My father is an old-school Architect who worked with greats like Mies Van der Rohe and the Knolls. I grew up in a Georgian Colonial style house that was filled with mid-century pieces and great art- thus my penchant for eclectic mixes.
I was always aware of spaces and good design thanks to my parents. It's no wonder that three out of the five kids in my family are professionals in the design or art world. I have a BFA in illustration which led me to doing freelance work as a textile artist in San Francisco. I was also doing some styling work on the side.
A photographer asked if he could shoot my house for a catalog. I had been working on my house for about a year and once those photos were published, I began getting calls which led to jobs. That was 15 years ago and I've kept on going!
C&H: Are there any unique challenges you face as a designer working in Los Angeles compared to anywhere else?
Megan: Most of my clients are in the beach area of Manhattan Beach (where I live) the homes are big on size, rather than on style or good bones. Having worked in San Francisco and Boston I've been fortunate enough to work with homes that have great bones and lots of character.
Learning to work with, oddly, over scaled rooms with little in the way of architectural detailing, is a big challenge for me. But I know that to be a good designer in business, you have to consider the needs and wants of the client. In the end, they are the ones who have to live in the space long after you're gone. It's my job to bring them great resources and product and hopefully have them collaborate with me.
C&H: What trends have you've identified this year that will continue into 2010?
Megan: I think the awareness of recycling, being kind to the earth and using raw materials for their beauty will continue. Elements such as woods that are cerused or left raw, natural products, eco-friendly fabrics and paints will continue to influence design, patterns, color palettes and textiles.
We thoroughly enjoyed our days living in New York's West Village (enough that we named this blog after our cross streets). We miss the quaint tree-lined streets, impeccably restored brownstones and neighborhood institution Garber Hardware which has been serving New Yorkers in Manhattan and the West Village since 1884.
Nathaniel Garber Schoen is the current owner and we had the pleasure to meet him during our time living on Charles St. Besides helping us with random issues we had with our apartment, Nathaniel also contributed some great content to this blog (Fixing a Running Toilet & Making a Magnetic Bulletin Board).
Family owned stores such as Garbers are what make New York City unique and provide a depth and richness to the neighborhoods in which they operate.
We recently caught up with Nathaniel and asked him to share some insight into his store, his customers and his favorite DIY tip.
CH: Your 5th generation to operate Garber Hardware and the store's history is unique and tied into the fabric of the city. Can you share the background of Garber Hardware and your family?
Nathaniel: The Garbers came to the United States from Odessa Russia in the late 1800's in an effort to escape the Pogroms facing Russian Jews at the time. Garber Hardware was at first a 'push cart retailer' founded by my great-great grandfather, Joseph Garber, and his son (my great grandfather and namesake) Nathan Garber, before the opening of the store on Eighth Avenue and Horatio Street in 1884. Ever since then, a Garber from every following generation has been at the helm.
CH: As the big box retailers have changed the landscape of how diy shoppers shop for tools and home improvement projects, how has Garber Hardware managed to survive and thrive?
Nathaniel: Garber Hardware's location inside of Manhattan has certainly shielded us from the scourge of big box retailers, but most of all it is the "Garber's experience" that keeps our customers loyal. I have many customers with childhood memories of my store, and some whose parents and grandparents were customers as well. A Home Depot opened up on 23rd street a few years ago and I don't feel it had a negative impact on us at all. If anything it may have actually helped drive more business to my store.
In 2007 I had an opportunity to work with the team from HFM US to build and launch the first home design web portal of it's kind, PointClickHome.com. This website serves as the online home of the design magazines, ELLE DECOR, Metropolitan Home, HOME Magazine and Woman's Day special issues.
(update: As of Feb 2010 ELLE DECOR is the only surviving magazine of the original three)
Anne E. Collins was also part of the initial launch team and is currently the executive online editor of the website. Her responsibilities as the online curator of two revered design brands is enormous and straddling both print and web properties requires a unique skill set that few editors can adjust to. We asked Anne a few questions about working in the shelter magazine industry as well as her insights into luxury design.
CH: You've worked in both print and online for stalwarts in the home decor magazines industry. Can you share your background and what it takes to be successful in your role as an online editor?
AC: I always knew I wanted to work in magazines so my sophomore year of at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA., I took an internship at the region's lifestyle magazine. From that semester on I always tried to work in print of some kind--a literary journal, an events magazine, and a weekly newspaper when I studied abroad in Spain. Though the sad truth when I got to New York was that no one wanted to hire you unless you had "New York experience," so I was back to the drawing board with another internship, but fortunate enough to get one with In Style magazine.
It is funny how quickly you can get on a track; I worked in In Style's home design department basically packing boxes but that little home mention on my resume started getting me interviews at shelter books. Soon after, I took a job at House Beautiful and have been happily working in home design ever since. I adore this category and while I love writing and editing as a craft I probably wouldn't have thrived or enjoyed myself as much at a lifestyle or fashion magazine; it's the subject that keeps me ticking.
So that is one part of being a so-called successful online editor--passion for the topic.
There are many ways to find home improvement advice. The most popular have always been books, magazines, tv and now blogs. Well these guys saw an opportunity to share their knowledge and opinions on home improvement via a podcast which is an audio episode you can download and listen to on your computer or personal listening device (iPod). We like the fact they aren't pros but two guys who are passionate about DIY, personable and can explain problems in layman's terms.
This interview unveils The Handyguys as they share the secrets to the success of their podcast, popular DIY topics and how easy it is for you to ask The Handyguys a home improvement question.
CH: Who are the handy guys behind "The Handyguys Podcast"?
HGP: The Handyguys are Brian Peppel and Paul Shane, two avid DIYers, not professional contractors. We have been doing large and small projects around the home for ourselves and others for the past 25 years, and we still have all of our fingers and toes.
CH: Why did you decide to focus on a podcast instead of just starting another home improvement blog (like we need anymore)? Do you guys have previous media training? The podcast sounds slick and well produced.
HGP: There is an overwhelming number of home improvement blogs, websites and forums online already. However, DIY forums and blog posts can be a bit impersonal, as can the so-called experts in discussion groups who often bully folks who are just trying to learn. We wanted to establish an audio DIY site with a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere.
In our day-to-day life, we often found ourselves being go-to guys for home improvement questions from other DIYers. A podcast provided a great outlet for us to share our experiences and relay our desire to help others. We love to chat about projects and help people out no matter their skill or background. Many home improvement podcasts are just re-purposed radio shows. If you want to get the weather and traffic with your home improvement podcast, subscribe to them. If you want a home improvement podcast that is produced specifically for the medium, then we are the only game in town.
As far as the podcast and website production, we are DIYers too. We studied, learned and implemented. We both have technical backgrounds in I.T. Brian has more of a sales and business background, whereas Paul is more of a technologist. Both Handyguys have lots of public speaking experience so they are not afraid to speak into a microphone.
We're always inspired by entrepreneurs who see an opportunity that aligns with their passion and dive right in. Kelly Giard of Clean Air Lawn Care fits that description and has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a finalist in their Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009 contest.
Launched in 2006, Clean Air Lawn Care has become the nation's leading full-service sustainable lawn care company. Dedicated to using clean electric and biodiesel powered equipment for lawn mowing and landscape maintenance that is run on renewable energy. Their electric equipment is charged during the day by solar panels mounted on our trucks and overnight with wind power. For an industry that he calls the "dirty frontier" they are about as clean as you can get.
Kelly took the time to answer a few of our questions about the lawn care industry as well as offering some awesome tips for taking care of your lawn. He's also does a great job of convincing us to re-evaluate our stance on synthetic lawns.
C&H: What's your background and how did you get into the clean lawn business?
Kelly: I grew up in Walla Walla, WA and had my own one guy mowing operation with about 25 clients. I've always enjoyed the work - especially the immediate satisfaction of seeing your efforts in the finished product. I went off to Boston University and got a masters in Econ, but also picked up a bachelors in Environmental Analysis and Policy. After 8 years as a retail stockbroker in Fort Collins, CO, I was getting a little bored and so I started Clean Air Lawn Care out of my garage mostly for fun. I got lucky and business took off, I sold my brokerage business, and made the decision to go big with Clean Air. Clean Air is what I would call the wedding of my high school job, my environmental interests, and my experience in business.
ReadyMade magazine remains a beacon for those who are DIY inspired. Every issue contains innovative features and projects that focus on reusable and re-purposed everyday objects. Their website and books are also a great resource for "people who like to make stuff".
The co-founder of Readymade, Shoshana Berger, applied the same "roll-up the sleeves" approach when it came to launching and publishing ReadyMade and the magazine is now positioned at the forefront of many trends that are finally gaining a broader appeal such as building for sustainability, re-purposing and recycling, and clever crafting, while maintaining a cheeky attitude and playful perspective.
CH: Congratulations! ReadyMade magazine just celebrated it’s 7th anniversary after launching in December 2001. What do you envision for the magazine in the next 7 years?
SB: We typically don’t think more than 7 minutes ahead. But here are a few things that get my pulse up: publishing ReadyMade books; creating a sustainable design curriculum for grade school students; producing mini movies that feature the innovators in our pages; doubling the number of pages in the magazine; and upping our frequency to monthly (or as close to that as we can get without shooting ourselves).
photo courtesy of This Old House
We're kicking off our interview series with the host of This Old House, Kevin O'Connor. Six years ago Kevin was working in finance but was also an avid DIY homeowner intent on renovating his 1894 Queen Anne. His unlikely ascension to the "dream job" as host of This Old House has become legend. "In Kevin, we found the perfect mixture of optimism and energy, two ingredients an old house owner must have to survive" says Russell Morash, creator of This Old House.
Nominated for an Emmy award in his debut season, Kevin is currently hosting his 5th season of This Old House and Ask This Old House.
