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CLIVE PEARSEHGTV host |
Moving day tips from a design pro
To design-absorbed TV watchers, Clive Pearse is known as the genial host of several home improvement shows on HGTV. On “Designed to Sell,’’ he offers solace as homeowners hear realtors disparage their ugly, cluttered living rooms. On “Design Star,’’ returning to TV July 19, Pearse keeps the peace as a throng of ambitious designers get judged for their efforts “Project Runway’’-style. His new show, “The Duchess,’’ debuting this fall, will follow an aristocratic couple around merry old England. So how did the affable Brit become synonymous with American home design shows? Turns out he’s been popular across the pond for years, and once hosted three shows for NBC Europe. He rang us up to chat - all too briefly - about the perils of packing up your home and moving (this being moving season, after all).
How much are you involved in the home makeovers on “Designed to Sell’’? I’m a bit naughty. I’ve got a reputation of being not that good at home improvement. I try really hard, but I’m not that gifted. I put some shelves up in a rental in England and I was told by the landlady that I had devalued the property.
OK, so it’s moving season - at least for those people lucky enough to be able to sell their home in a tough market. What’s the key to making it go well? We call it the three E’s. The first thing is to be as economical as possible. If you move less stuff you pay less money to move it. So that means maybe having a yard sale or giving it to a charity store. The second E - to be environmentally responsible. Boxes, bubble wrap, they’re all around you and they’re free. Shredding junk mail, recycling newspapers - by going green you save green, I guess.
Shredding junk mail for packing material. Good idea. OK, what’s the third E? Being efficient. Planning ahead, knowing you’re going to move again. I do this because it was drummed into me as a British boy - constantly look at your closets, your boxes. Ask yourself what is it and do I really need it. Everybody has this stuff.
You go into people’s homes all the time. What is the worst situation - as far as clutter goes - that you’ve ever seen? It’s the collections that people get obsessed with. One guy was really into taxidermy.
Oh boy. The thing is, after a while, we don’t see our own stuff. Sometimes you need to invite a blunt friend over to tell you the truth.
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