Reno man

Article by: By KIM YEAGER
Updated: March 10, 2009 - 11:39 AM

We chat it up with interior designer-turned-"Bathtastic!" host Matt Muenster, who admits the room he has yet to fix in his Roseville split-level is ... the bathroom.

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Matt Muenster, the host of DIY Network’s new “Bathtastic!” remodeling show, says at home his biggest fix so far has been the kitchen.

Photo: Joel Koyama, Star Tribune

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Q You didn't plan to be a TV remodeling host. What did you think your dream job was going to be?

A I didn't know what I wanted to be until I grew up. But I was the kid who was always rearranging the furniture in the living room.

Q How fast do you do those TV remodels?

A We do a meet-and-greet with the homeowners, assess the bathroom and we start smashing stuff up Day One. It happens in seven to 10 days.

Q A professional interior designer told me recently the problem with shows like yours is that they lead people to believe they can totally redo their homes well for $15. How do you respond?

A She's absolutely right.

Q So as a professional designer, how do you combat that misconception?

A The one big issue in interior design is a lack of legitimacy in the field, a lack of people seeing it as an occupation, like people who say, "I have a good eye for color and now I'm a designer." When you work with a professional designer, you pay them to sit around and think about your project. For me, it's a goal to show there are real costs involved in good design, but also real possible savings by doing some of these things yourself -- but to convey the reality part of it.

Q Do you favor midcentury modern or traditional?

A Whatever fits the space. The best design always acknowledges its context and environment.

Q What about your dream house?

A It would be a little more clean-lined, more open. It would have a lot of glass, it would have crisp and clean elements and it would be right around 2,500 square feet.

Q You're currently remodeling your real house, a split-level in Roseville. What's your best fix so far?

A This kitchen. I removed the flooring, demoed the cabinets, redesigned it. I did all the electrical work. Monday I put these speakers in the ceiling. I just got all the drywall dust off the floor before you got here.

Q And your biggest DIY disaster?

A I've avoided the big disaster. I did remove a 25-year-old Sub-Zero from my kitchen to find a 25-year-old leak that rotted my floor and birthed a mold colony of epic proportions.

Q You host a bathroom remodeling show, but you haven't remodeled your bathroom?

A The big issue with the bathroom is there is no shower. To add a shower, I would ideally like to do an addition and do a nice master.

Q You had one episode where you installed a mirror with a television embedded in it. Who really needs that?

A No one needs that! But the homeowner uses it every morning!

Q Is it difficult to get out of host mode when you're home?

A My wife does a very good job of keeping me grounded.

Q Do you have any house rules?

A We don't put up artwork in our house unless it's meaningful, something that takes us back to an experience, something we found together and feel strongly about. We bought that piece behind you in the Piazza Navona in Rome. We spent an afternoon picking it out and I built a frame for it.

Q What's a typical day at home for you?

A It's all about Jackson. Music is a huge part of our lives. I'm moderate at best as a guitar player, but I'm good enough to play with my 3-year-old. He's really into the Beatles right now. He's Ringo.

Q And you are ... ?

A I'd like to think I was Paul.

Q Do you have other hobbies?

A Comedy. I like satire. I always make it a point to watch "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report." And I probably watch "Scrubs" two or three times a day. No one needs to read that in the newspaper.

Q Is that it?

A I'm a Brewers fan. But I appreciate the Twins, and fantasy football and baseball.

Q Are you good at rotisserie/fantasy sports?

A I'm having lunch with my commissioner on Wednesday to pick up my winnings. For a $40 commitment, I made $160!

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Joel Koyama, Star Tribune
ABOUT MATT MUENSTER

Tuesday March 10, 2009

Current gig: Hosts new DIY Network show "Bathtastic!" that is seen at 8 p.m. Thursdays.