Paul DiMeo

When the family home of five-year-old Paul DiMeo burnt to the ground, his fate was instantly locked. In the following years, DiMeo would work alongside his father to rebuild the family dwelling, laying the groundwork for a future career as a carpenter in the process. A Pennsylvania native who built sets for the Pennsylvania Playhouse while attending Point Park College in Pittsburgh, DiMeo went on to work as a stage manager for the American Dance Ensemble. In 1980, DiMeo relocated to New York City and began building sets for the Open Space Theater on St. Mark's Place while freelancing both on and off Broadway. A realization of his desire to use his craft to help others led to work renovating lofts and brownstones throughout the city, and later DiMeo would prove instrumental in laying the groundwork for the "Loft Living" movement in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After nearly two decades in New York City, DiMeo hungered for a change of scenery and relocated to Los Angeles. In converting an abandoned downtown firehouse into a living space, DiMeo effectively brought the "Loft Living" concept to the West Coast, and later made a name for himself around town by renovating the homes and living spaces of Glenn Close and George Hamilton, among others. In 2001, he joined the cast of ABC's hugely popular Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a carpentry consultant. - Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide