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Piscataway widower's home 'rescued' by NBC program

November 15, 2009

By JEFF GRANT
STAFF WRITER

The death of Alex Adkins' wife left him with the pain of loss. Eight years later, it also left him with the desire to change some of the designs in the house the couple had shared with three boys until she died.

But Adkins was no whiz with tearing down wallpaper, so he turned to one of his favorite television programs, and its producers agreed to help.
"My wife was a country girl, from down South," Adkins explained recently at his Summershade Circle residence. "She decorated, and when we first moved in here, it was fine."

Adkins, 43, lost his wife to breast cancer on July 22, 2001. Eventually, he and his boys wanted to replace the feminine touches, such as light-colored wallpaper and flowers.

After repainting the boys' bedrooms, remodeling the kitchen and adding new furnishings to the den, all that was left to address were Adkins' bedroom, bathroom and a small bedroom he used for watching television. But Adkins, who declined to disclose his occupation, was stumped.

"Open House NYC," a regularly scheduled Sunday morning show on WNBC-TV includes an invitation at the conclusion of each episode to owners "in need of a rescue." Adkins wrote the show, and to his happiness, they agreed to do the job.

"He's the ideal "rescue,"' the show's associate producer Alex Gittleson said, standing in the entryway to Adkins' residence as work crews walked back and forth, carrying materials, while other laborers applied a coat of paint to a nearby room.

Noting that Adkins is a single father, raising two boys (ages 12 and 11, with an 18-year-old now away at college) and a regular viewer of the show, Gittleson, show producer Andrew Scerbo and host George Oliphant decided this was a worthy project.

So they went to work.

Arrangements were made to inspect Adkins' ranch-style structure, size up the job, including its requirements for manpower and materials, and select a designer and contractor — all part of the process prior to each of the show's "home rescues.'

At that point, Adkins received even more good news.  Greenbaum Interiors, an interior design and home furnishings company based in Paterson, had placed senior designer David Zisa on the project. Almost immediately, Zisa wanted to transform more than Adkins' bedroom.

"I wanted a quiet, tranquil place. I just want a place where he can shut the door, have several spaces to retreat to. With the kids constantly running around, you need a place to go into to be alone; be quiet," Zisa said.

So a master-bedroom suite was born.

Under Zisa's direction, workers began creating a three-room combo including a master bedroom, small sitting room and bathroom.

"Open House NYC" is one of the latest in a series of television programs that carries out home makeovers for clients. Begun in May 2008, the show answers requests from the general public for help remodeling or transforming living spaces. "We see a great show as one geared toward improving a home and somebody's life," Scerbo said.

The production taps from a network of vendors that it's built up over the year and a half it's been airing. The vendors donate their time. Both the program's producers and spokespeople for Greenbaum Interiors declined to give a cost figure for the work performed on Adkins' home.

Actual construction got under way on Nov. 4, and is scheduled to formally conclude Monday when Greenbaum, its contractor and personnel from "Open House NYC" unveil the finished effort to Adkins. The entire project — from start to finish — can all be seen on WNBC-TV, Newe York, Channel 4, at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 22.

Adkins was one of nearly 50 "home rescues' done by "Open House NYC" this year, according to Oliphant. Adkins said he never dreamed he'd be selected to have the work done for him.

"I love it," said Adkins. "I'm thinking of all the single fathers in my position, and you can't imagine how much I appreciate it," he said with a wide smile. "I can't wait to see it."

Additional Facts
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Open House NYC Home Rescue.
WHERE: 36 Summershade Circle, Piscataway.
WHEN: Show airs 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 22.
MORE INFO: To be considered for a home rescue, log on to www.lxtv.com/helpme.
 

Photo Caption:  Alex Adkins, the recipient of a bedroom and bathroom makeover, poses for a portrait outside of his Piscataway home while WNBC-TV's, "OpenHouse NYC," films segments inside Nov. 11. (Andrew Miller / MyCentralJersey)

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20091115/NEWS/911150318/1007/NEWS0106

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