Leanne & Steve Ford
APPEARING FEBRUARY 29
By KEVIN CORVO
Dispatch Media Group
Fans of HGTV’s original series “Restored by the Fords” will have the opportunity to meet the sibling personalities at The Columbus Dispatch Home & Garden Show presented by Ohio Mulch.
Leanne and Steve Ford will appear Saturday, Feb. 29, on the Simple Bath Simple Kitchen Home Stage.
On “Restored by the Fords,” interior designer Leanne comes up with innovative ways to restore historic homes in Pennsylvania and then Steve, a contractor, makes her ideas come to life.
“It’s amazing to help people create new homes and to inspire people to want to do it,” Leanne said.
The siblings will begin filming the third season of “Restored by the Fords” in April. It will be shown later this year on HGTV.
The 16 episodes of season two, and those of the first season, were filmed in the Pittsburgh area, where the Fords were born and raised.
“We love doing the show in Pittsburgh because of all the unique architecture, the character and the history,” Leanne said. “That is an important part of the show, too, as we explain things about the house we are restoring.”
Leanne’s career began in fashion, but she soon realized she had both an eye and a passion for interior design and she decided to make a change.
“I found I wanted to help people improve their own space and make it just what they want,” she said.
Steve said he always enjoyed working with his hands and being creative, which led him into a career in contracting and sometimes working at home and garden shows selling and installing windows, siding and roofing.
“Then Steve began working on some of (my) interior designs,” Leanne said, and that started the pair on the path to the HGTV series.
“Leanne brings me her ideas and I make them happen,” Steve said, such as the remodeling of a private residence in the Sewickley area of Pittsburgh – a building that once was a schoolhouse.
The project was featured in Country Living magazine. “A lucky friend” tipped off producers at HGTV about the story and a pilot for “Restored by the Fords” was produced, resulting in the continuing series.
Leanne and Steve will meet guests in a private VIP session at 1 p.m. on Feb. 29 at the Home & Garden Show. Guests must purchase a special VIP ticket online at DispatchHomeAndGardenShow.com for access.
Beginning at 3 p.m., the Fords will give a 30-40 minute stage presentation at the Simple Bath Simple Kitchen Home Stage, which is included in the price of their general admission ticket. It will be their first appearance at the event.
During the stage show, Leanne and Steve will discuss the making of the “Restored by the Fords” series as well as take questions from the audience. After the stage presentation they will greet guests who’d like a selfie with them.
