DIY [Do-It-Yourself] Network’s show “Million Dollar Contractor” focuses on the details, the materials and the amount of money clients spend to allow Stephen Fanuka, the “Contractor to the Stars,” to create million-dollar projects.
The half-hour long series premieres on Sunday, October 16 at 10 p.m. It gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the spaces and construction of Manhattan’s luxury homes.
“I’ll give you the inside track on the fast-paced world of high-end interior residential renovations,” said Fanuka, whose company, Fankuka Inc., began 17 years ago in College Point and is now located on 56th Avenue in Maspeth. “With ‘Million Dollar Contractor,’ I’ll show you the way the best designers, architects and vendors think outside the box while giving you the know-how to do it yourself or hire the right contractor. Your home is your castle, and I’ll show you how to treat it like one.”
“I worked hard at being the go-to guy for the best clients in the world and eventually the name [‘Contractor to the Stars’] just came about. You have to earn that title. You can’t aspire to it.” said Fanuka.
During each episode, Fanuka takes his clients’ “wish list” and turns them into reality. He will turn a $10 million, three-bedroom penthouse in Manhattan’s West Village into a bachelor pad with a 700-pound walnut pivot door to change the shape and flow of the condo.
The show will also include an apartment on the Upper East Side, featuring handmade Venetian plaster moldings, custom pocket doors, Fanuka’s trademark custom cabinetry, Thassos pure white marble and LED hallway lights.
“The premise of the show is that the ‘Million Dollar Contractor’ isn’t all about money. It’s about the million dollar look. We all deserve the million dollar look and now you will know how to have it in your home,” said Fanuka.
Although his clients differ in tastes and styles, they all have one thing in common – they expect the transformation to be perfect. Although it’s not always smooth, Fanuka pulls out all the stops to create the kind of end result that satisfies even the toughest critics.
“There are no scripts [in the show] and we give it to you like it is real time and real life. All those magazine photos of beautiful homes and rooms always credit the interior designer and architect. Now it’s time to salute the men and contractors that make it a reality,” said Fanuka.
