Drew Lachey has entertained thousands and thousands over time whereas performing around the globe with 98 Levels. Now the boy bander and brother of Nick Lachey hopes to impression individuals in a brand new method as a DIY matchmaker on twisty new makeover present Date My Home. The Design Community sequence sees the host on a mission to assist householders fall again in love with their property once more.
The 48-year-old is not any stranger to house enchancment tv. Teaming with designer Sabrina Soto, he even received HGTV’s Showdown celeb version. His curiosity on this work was fueled by his personal dangerous expertise with a drywall contractor, who took his cash and by no means completed the job.
We caught up with Lachey to talk about what makes his new sequence stand out.
How did this venture come collectively?
Drew Lachey: I considered doing a house renovation present some time in the past. Folks see your stuff on-line or on social media, and I get the response that I ought to have my very own present. I assumed it wasn’t a horrible thought. I began fascinated by what would make me totally different from all the opposite individuals on the market. Folks have this concept that each time you renovate your own home, it must be this large factor the place it’s a must to take down partitions and all these things. That’s not practical for most individuals. Most individuals have their area and semi-limited sources to make it work and match them. This concept of relationship your own home and area got here from that. The Design Community noticed the place I used to be coming from. That not every thing must be us taking up a complete block someplace. It must be one thing practical for many people who find themselves attempting to make their home really feel like a house.
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As Drew Lachey from 98 Levels, is it onerous to construct belief with the homeowners that you realize what you’re doing?
You imply after they see a member of a boy band stroll by way of the door sporting a device belt. I’m positive it made them go, “Wait, aren’t you the man from Dancing with the Stars?” There may be positively a second the place they’re hoping their home continues to be standing on the finish of the day. I believe as anyone who has been round me is aware of, after I’m doing these initiatives or duties, I take it very critically. I am going above and past. Generally my spouse is rather like, “It’s positive. Depart it alone.” I simply preserve going at it and tinkering to make it near good. I attempt to suppose with each individual, “What if this was my home?” Hopefully, they had been additionally 98 Levels followers earlier than the present began. If not, perhaps they are going to be not less than afterward. I don’t see anybody from *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys doing this.
What are you able to inform us in regards to the households we’ll meet and the initiatives you’ll be tackling?
We’ve got all totally different elements of Cincinnati coated. Some reside out additional within the nation. It’s newer homes and older homes. It truly is a wide selection of the sorts of individuals and initiatives. For me, numerous it comes all the way down to what we will do rapidly. How can we make individuals fall in love with their area with a fast turnaround? Clearly, numerous it’s paint, window coverings, getting outdated furnishings out, and rethinking the best way individuals use the area. Everybody has that room they stroll into and get aggravated and stroll out and shut the door. These are the areas we attempt to tackle….We’ve got Nineteen Eighties rest room floral borders coming down, mess with just a little little bit of water injury and drywall patching. There are some stairs that want repairs. Every little thing from placing a window AC unit to instructing individuals to hold drywall. Slightly little bit of every thing.
How do you evaluate the houses on this space to others across the nation?
One home is a 12-sided home, which is the primary I’ve ever heard of that. It’s in Ludlow, Kentucky, which is true throughout the river from Cincinnati. Lots of people don’t know the historical past of Cincinnati. It has been round for a very long time and has been one of many premiere river cities for the reason that late 1700s. For us, there may be numerous variety so far as structure. You’ve gotten your shotgun homes, your mansions, all these items. We tried to deliberately decide totally different homes which might be totally different types and designs. I truly introduced in an inside designer good friend of mine to assist out a number of the decisions, so far as window coverings and what paint coverings would do higher. So whereas I’m engaged on a fence broken in a twister she helps work out paint colours and ensuring the portray goes proper. I do have assist typically.
What sort of challenges did you face?
I believe one of many largest issues is the variety of palms. You’re attempting to get so many initiatives in a single quick period of time. You’re attempting to offer them the most effective end in a brief period of time. I need to make certain it’s carried out proper. It’s about managing the time….The venture administration facet of it’s a enjoyable wrinkle. My thought on homes is that you might want to date them as a result of, for lots of people, it’s going to be the longest relationship of their lives. A 30-year mortgage is longer than most marriages. Date your own home. Get to know what it likes. What it doesn’t like. The way it ticks. What turns it on? You must know what works. Each home is just a little totally different and has its personal character. It’s about managing the expectations of the householders and your self and what we will accomplish on the day.
So that you’re additionally form of a relationship counselor between these homeowners and their houses.
Sure! We would like the individuals to do not forget that factor they appreciated and drew them to the home within the first place. Generally you fall out of affection. Generally you simply want a reminder. That’s the place we are available. Slightly little bit of a relationship counselor, however I believe for probably the most half that is the least quantity of swear phrases I’ve ever mentioned whereas doing any form of initiatives. Having the cameras observe me round was truly good for my vocabulary and stored me extra in line.
Jonathan Knight does a present. Do you speak with him about house enchancment? Any probability we’ll see a collaboration between you, or do you see him as a rival right here?
We had been truly on tour with [New Kids on the Block] again in 2013 earlier than his present even got here out. I had this concept and took it round. Folks had been like, “Oh, there may be one other man doing a present from one other pop group.” I used to be like, “Actually?” I had no thought, even after we had been on the highway. I had no thought this was one thing he was into and doing. I’m pals with Jon. Possibly there’s something down the highway, however we’re on rival networks too. Plus, rival boy bands. It must be head-to-head. We’d should have some kind of competitors.
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Properly, you’ve received earlier than a number of occasions in a contest.
That’s true. My batting common is okay.
You talked about touring. What’s it like performing with 98 Levels in spite of everything these years?
In case you had been to ask me 28 years in the past what I believe the highway can be like for me, I might by no means have thought that this could nonetheless be one thing I’d have the ability to do. We really feel very lucky and blessed that followers from 1997 and 1998 are nonetheless popping out to reveals and supporting us and shopping for albums. The very fact we’re recording and placing out new music is fairly spectacular. That we’ve got this reference to our followers. It truly is an incredible feeling. The very fact it has allowed me to do different issues I’m captivated with and luxuriate in doing is the icing on the cake. Whether or not it’s doing Dancing with the Stars or Broadway or reveals like this, it began with 98 Levels and build up a fanbase. The success I’ve had in all places I’ve had in my profession was launched by the followers who supported me since I used to be 21 years outdated. So simply a few years in the past.
It’s onerous to imagine it was 25 years in the past for the reason that group launched that Christmas album.
You go anyplace this time of yr and listen to Christmas music. Each on occasion a track will pop on of ours, and I attempt to play it cool. Like, “That’s a great track.” I might get a textual content saying, “I used to be at Goal and 98 Levels music got here on.” I’m like, “Yeah. That’s nice. That’s .003 cents for me.” That’s one of the wonderful issues about music. I believe again on artists who’ve impacted me as a music fan and the way they affected my life. The truth that we’re in a position to do this for different individuals whether or not we had been the primary dance or wedding ceremony track or breakup track or one-night stand track. That’s all you possibly can ask for 30 years later. Now it’s additionally “Save a Horse (Journey a Cowboy)” from Dancing with the Stars. I imply I’m tied to Huge & Wealthy. Music is a strong artwork kind.
Nick Lachey, Justin Jeffre, Jeff Timmons, Drew Lachey (98 Levels)
Do you will have a go-to Christmas film? Are you a Hallmark man?
I’ve been married for a very long time so, sure, there may be numerous Hallmark in my home. Any woman returns to the large metropolis and finds the lumberjack who was once the exec and rekindled their romance. Regardless of the storyline is, it’s continuously enjoying at my home. If we go by my favorites, I do know there’s a massive debate about whether or not Die Laborious is a Christmas film. I lean on that it isn’t. My brother says it’s. Love Truly is a superb one. For sure, yearly after we’re adorning the Christmas tree, it’s Jim Carrey’s Grinch. It’s a part of our custom. There are nice characters, and nice performing. And when you have Anthony Hopkins because the narrator, come on?! You’ll be able to’t beat that.
Now that you just’re often known as a useful man, do you will have your bandmates or different pals attain out on your providers?
Sure. Truly, there is perhaps an episode that has a fellow bandmate on it. Possibly. Over time, this has been one thing individuals do. I’ve a good friend in Dallas. She is like, “I’m attempting to redo this flooring vent and the contractors are telling me that I can’t get it carried out right here.” I’m telling her over the cellphone what to inform them. Folks ask me my recommendation on a regular basis, however the recommendation I give them often comes from the place I get my recommendation, which is on-line. If you realize the essential anatomy of your private home, it’s simpler to determine the place you can also make enhancements and adjustments and keep away from bother in your individual house.
What do you hope individuals take from Date My Home?
I believe the largest factor is there is no such thing as a venture they’ll’t tackle. Even whether it is daunting, you possibly can take it on. You’re succesful. Everyone seems to be able to doing this. The explanation individuals don’t work of their houses is as a result of both they’re scared or they really feel they don’t have time. And in the event that they don’t have time, they simply chip away at it. There isn’t any purpose for individuals to be scared. If you’re frightened about selecting the flawed paint colour, worst case you paint it once more. In case you’re frightened you’ll mess up the drywall, you mud over it and sand it once more. There’s a studying curve to numerous these things that I don’t need individuals to be intimidated by.
Date My Home premiere, December 14, The Design Community