GET TO KNOW THE CABIN KINGS of "Building Wild"
PAUL DIMEO
Think of a man raised by Italian parents who loves building the kitchen table as much as what goes on it, and you have a true sense of the essence of Paul DiMeo. Best known as the carpenter with attitude on ABC Television’s two-time Emmy winning Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, DiMeo was a featured designer on all 9 seasons of the hit show.
DiMeo is originally from Media, Pennsylvania, and is the youngest of five children. He began his love affair with home construction at age 5, after his family’s home burned to the ground. “My father and I embarked upon our own extreme makeover to reconstruct the family home,” he explains.
After 17 years in New York, DiMeo decided to move to Los Angeles, where he renovated the homes and businesses of Hollywood’s movers and shakers. His client list includes the Beverly Hills Ralph Lauren Polo store, the William Morris Agency, Glenn Close, Joan and Marty Ransholff, Arnold Rifkin, David Niven Jr., Ann Archer, Marjorie Lord, Angelo DeSapio and — his most memorable client — George Hamilton.
Major League Baseball asked Paul in March of 2011 to be the lead designer and builder of the MLB Fan Cave in New York City. The Fan Cave is the first-of-its-kind immersive fan experience.
For DiMeo, life is all about finding humor in the little things you do, while keeping a smile and making a joke here and there...something he takes very seriously.
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PAT "TUFFY" BAKAITIS
Pat “Tuffy” Bakaitis has owned the excavation company Hoosick Sand & Gravel for over 35 years. He has participated in the building of hundreds (possibly thousands) of homes and structures.
Tuffy has built five of his own camps.
The hardest-working man in the dirt business, Tuffy hasn’t taken three days off in a row in over 13 years. He believes in building things for yourself, developing character through hard work, and incorporating bacon into every meal.
Tuffy lives in Hoosick Falls, NY with a wife, two children, three excavators, three bulldozers, 3 Bobcats, a herd of cows and one lazy dog.
