Archive for November, 2008

Getting Their Fix by Barbara K – Countess On It

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Tripping in high heels, sipping grande mocha lattes, paying too much attention to their pets – stars, they’re just like us, right? Well probably not, when it comes to home repairs. After all, when you’re rich and famous, do you really want to unclog a sink yourself? Well, you might be surprised to find that there are plenty of boldface names who get their hands dirty – literally. I’m starting a mission to find out how prominent New Yorkers create and repair their homes. To start things off, I checked in with one of

New York’s favorite housewives, Countess LuAnne de Lesseps, from “The Real Housewives of New York City,” which will return to Bravo for its second season next year. Her book, “Class With the Countess,” (Gotham Books) will be out in the spring.“People have preconceived notions about what a Countess does,” she says. “Many think that I’m walking around with a tiara on my head. I have no problems using tools. What I need are instructions and a good roadmap to teach me how to use them.”

Q: Tell us about your home and how you furnished and decorated it.

A: My [Upper East Side home] is contemporary in its furnishings, but the building itself is an old townhouse built in the early 1900s. It has a very old-world, glamorous feel with its original chandeliers, sweeping staircases and hardwood parquet floors. It is like a great old aristocrat – which makes for an interesting backdrop for the contemporary furniture I put in it. I also wanted to start fresh since we just moved to the city three years ago, so I didn’t use anything from our past. By contrast, my home in the

Hamptons has a mixture of Chinese antiques, Louis XV, Asian, Cuban and American art – we’ve traveled so much over the years and collected all our pieces.  Q: What was the last thing you fixed yourself?

A: I attempted to fix the fire alarm, which was screaming! I tried to reach it but couldn’t locate a ladder, so I put earplugs in my ears. I really need to invest in a ladder. The ceilings are so high! But I’m very handy, which nobody would believe. I also had to caulk around the bathtub because it’s an old house you can’t always wait for the repairman and the landlord is lousy at getting things done.

Q: What was the last thing your husband fixed?

A: The Count has no idea how to fix anything. He has very refined fingers.

Q: What was your last major home-improvement project?

A: Installation of our new windows. We had such a noise problem from the street traffic that we had to replace the old windows with new, insulated ones. What a difference new windows can make. The contractor even finished the project on time and within budget!

Q: Who do you call when there’s a leaky faucet?

A: Rosie, our nanny and my right hand ma’am!

Q: A picture to hang?

A: A girlfriend to do it with and then we can have lunch or get a manicure after the job is done.

Q: How do you find a stud?

A: What do you mean, a man? I don’t even know what you mean by that! I’m certain I don’t know what you mean by that.

Q: Have you every vise-gripped anything?

A: Fixing my son Noel’s go-kart before he went to camp required a vise grip. And I can think of a few people where a vise grip might come in handy.

Q: While I’m here is there anything that you want me to help you fix?

A: Sure, but what are you doing for the rest of the week? 

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