Ty Pennington, host of HGTV’s “Ty Breaker,” became a pop culture star in his hit TV shows TLC’s “Trading Spaces” and ABC’s “Extreme Makeover, Home Edition,” which won two Emmys. Pennington helped start America’s obsession with reality home improvement TV. The carpenter, craftsman and designer went on to do many other design shows, create his own line of products and write books.
His latest show on HGTV, “Ty Breaker,” helps conflicted homeowners decide whether to overhaul their home or find another property to renovate. He joined a recent Washington Post Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt.
Q: Do you decorate your own homes in any particular style, or do you put a different spin on each one?
A: I’ve always been partial to modern design, mid-century modern and Scandinavian design. I recently bought a house in Savannah, Ga., that was built in 1853. It’s a departure from