Household Name: Ty Pennington

April 30, 2008  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on May 2008 Howard Miller landed a recognizable, popular face—and a license that makes sense—when it teamed up with Ty Pennington, host and designer for ABC television’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” With an engaging personality that pairs enthusiasm with a keen eye for making a house a home that reflects the needs and interests of its residents, he brings a wealth of experience and ideas to Howard Miller Home Storage Solutions by Ty Pennington.

The collection debuted at last month’s High Point Market and showcased a range of creative ideas for organizing a home. Retailers were excited, forming a line to get their picture taken with Pennington.

Pennington first gained a national audience as the carpenter on “Trading Spaces”, which followed the course of home renovation and redesigns, topped with classic “reveal” shots as the homeowners explored their refurbished abode. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” remodels and builds homes for families in need. The show is a consistent Top 20 program, according to ABC’s Web site, and has won two Emmys and two People’s Choice awards.

Pennington took a few minutes to talk with Home Furnishings Business about his venture with Howard Miller, which regularly supplies clocks to the television show.

When did you start thinking about working on a line of furniture?

Years ago—I’ve been designing and building furniture since way before I got on television. I’d always had an interest, but I put that on hold for a while.

When I began thinking about this line, I wanted to make sure to work with the right partner, and that took some time.

I got to know Howard Miller through the show, and I saw the quality of their clocks.

I am passionate about furniture—the design, the function, and giving it personality. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing.

What are some typical home storage problems you see through your work on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (SK)?

That is the reason I developed this line in the first place. The one thing you see a lot of on those projects is clutter. Right now families are living in such a hurry. You have kids, both parents are working, and there’s so much involved in day-to-day living that families are just putting everything everywhere.

Rooms themselves have different functions—you might use a dining room for an office—and the furniture in those rooms should have multiple functions as well. That’s the great thing about this furniture, and that gives it personality—you open it up, and there’s your dog’s leash, your kids’ stuff. It’s your life, but it’s an organized life.

It’s also about creating your own style and that’s why we have options for customizing.

There’s a lot of attention paid to the female consumer in this line.

That’s also a reason for customization. Most of the people who actually buy the furniture for a home are female—they’re the ones who make the nest, and they want to be able to express themselves.

Women know how to make a piece feel like their home. The customization options are there because it has to feel like you.

Where do you see your furniture line going in the next couple of years?

I want to make sure this furniture will fit in the home now, but technology develops so fast you have to ask will it work down the road, so we’re keeping an eye what’s happening (with electronics).

We’ll branch out and do other furniture (categories), fabrics and upholstery—anything that has to do with the home, with building the nest.

We’ll be doing pub and game tables (in the next collection). People are spending more and more time at home, especially when it comes to entertaining.