He’s the deck and renovation master behind the popular shows Decked Out, Disaster Decks and Custom Built, but did you know Paul Lafrance is a father of four and sings in a band? Here are some facts about this HGTV host that might surprise you.
Don’t miss Paul in new episodes of Disaster Decks, Tuesdays at 9e/p.
What’s Your Hidden Talent?
We asked Paul Lafrance what is hidden talent is, outside of his amazing photography skills and music skils. His answer:
“Accents. I love doing accents (said in a Scottish accent.) I’m a Scotsman, my heritage is Scottish. But I’m working on an Irish accent which is coming along quite nicely (said in Irish accent). (Then in French.) This is great for writing down, but it’d be nice if it was video because then I could prove it. My bucket list is to do stand-up comedy.”
Paul’s Photography
Another hidden talent of Paul’s is his photography. This image, titled “Sunset Reflection” was provided courtesy of Paul Lafrance.
Favourite Season?
Paul’s answer: “Fall. I love the fall. As much as I love the summer time, I’m not really a big fan of the heat. So when working outside and you’re sweltering, the only time that’s ever really any fun for me is when I’m on a jet ski, which I took 19 years to buy one. But the fall, it’s the cool air, and I’m a photographer, so that’s my downtime. The smell of burning leaves and poetry. The smell of poetry?(laughs).”
Although this isn’t a photo of the fall, this is a photo of Paul and his girls jet-skiing in summer, courtesy of Paul Lafrance’s Instagram.”
Best Vacation You Ever Took?
Paul’s answer: “Israel. It was for so many reasons that would be too long to list. But (it was my favourite) from a history perspective, from just a basic knowledge perspective of the events, needing to understand what is going on there. You don’t know what’s really happening, and to go there, to really get it, that was important to me. And from a spiritual perspective. Way too many things to list, but a life-changing trip.”
Photo taken by Paul Lafrance outside the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. Credit: Paul Lafrance’s Instagram.
Most Recent Book You Read?
Paul’s answer: “Probably the most recent book I read, in a day, was R.A. Dickey’s book “Wherever I Wind Up.” It’s probably one of the most inspiring books I’ve read, from a person who has told his story unabashedly and has helped so many people by being just truthful about the stuff he has gone through in his life. You know, and everyone would know who he is because he pitches for the Blue Jays.”
Photo credit:Penguin Random House..
How Did You Propose to Janna?
Paul’s response: “I had done these fake proposals for her a number of times, where I was just like ‘Would you marry me?’ and she’d just shove me like Elaine shoved Jerry in Seinfeld. And so I knew that she would think that (I was faking it) when it actually happened. So we were on a dock up at this place called Muskoka Woods, on the beautiful lake, and I’m like Mr. Poet, ‘It’s so beautiful,’ and she’s like, ‘Ya ya, whatever it’s cold.’ So there was a boat house overlooking the dock, and our band was ready to play right at the time when I was going to propose. She didn’t know. I was like ‘Come on down to the dock,’ and she turns around and I said ‘Will you marry me?’ She looks down and sees the ring and she freaked because she did not expect it. She was ready to shove me. If only she had shoved me and I dropped the ring, in the water! And then the band starts playing. It’s funny, because she was so shocked that she was almost upset. Like ‘You fooled me!’ I’m like, ‘damn right I did.’
Image courtesty of Janna Lafrance’s website.
Paul and Janna Lafrance on Their Wedding Day
Paul and Janna were married March 2nd, 1996.
Favourite Thing to Do on a Rainy Day?
Paul’s answer: “I will get my biggest, fluffiest, white down blanket, and I will curl up on my couch and I will watch a movie with my daughters or my wife, because I’m a huge movie buff.”
Paul Lafrance and his four daughters, from a photo previously seen in our Hosts Talk Father’s Day gallery.
Paul Lafrance and Family
Paul and his wife Janna and their four daughters.
Favourite Film?
Paul’s answer: “Favourite film of all time, ah man… I have a top five… Shawshank Redemption easily number one and then maybe Warrior.”
Image from the film Warrior courtesy of IMDb.
The One Item You Can’t Live Without?
Apart from his family, Paul’s answer: “My guitar.”
Image courtesty of Paul’s band’s Found In The Fury’s website, Foundinthefury.com.
Favourite Subject in School?
Paul’s answer: “English.”
What Was Your First Car?
Paul’s answer: “A Renault Alliance, and I learned that you had to change fluids in vehicles the hard way. It was like a 1987, Renault Alliance. The body looked like it was a chess board it was so patch-work. Bought it at an auction. And the gear shift broke off in my hand. It was beautiful, I loved it (laughs).”
Image courtesty of www.caranddriver.com.
How Many Siblings Do You Have?
Paul’s answer: “I have an older sister and a younger sister. I’m the boy in the middle. So I grew up surrounded by women and now I have four daughters, which is one of the reasons I am the most sensitive man on the earth.”
How Do You Take Your Coffee?
Paul’s answer: “Well because I’m over 40 now (41), I’ve had to switch from cream to milk, because I apparently found out there’s a lot of calories in cream. It’s very sad. Again, surrounded by women! (Laughs.) So three milk, two sweetener, or three milk, two rat poison (laughs). ”
Imagine waking up to this every morning to have your coffee? This is a gorgeous deck from Season 3 of Disaster Decks.
Favourite Colour?
Paul’s answer: “It’s always between blue and red. I’d say I’d have to go with red over blue, because it’s bold. It’s a colour that always stands out in a room and catches people’s attention. And I’m a glory hound, so I want to always make sure people are looking at me (laughs).”
What Is the Most Shocking Thing You’ve Found in a Client’s Home?
Paul’s answer: Well we discovered an entire raccoon graveyard on Disaster Decks. The guy had been trying to trap the raccoons that had invaded his property, and he ended up having them trapped under his deck. And when tore it apart we ended up finding them all. It wasn’t intentional. That or moving a shed and finding a family of skunks who weren’t happy with our messing with them.
Favourite Meal?
Paul’s answer: “Shepherd’s Pie.”
What Was Your Favourite Sport Growing Up?
Paul’s answer: “Baseball. The guys on the show, we have our own league. Often when we are filming the reveal, I’m rushing out of there to go play ball. I play short stop and I pitch. I was a huge baseball fan growing up, and still am.”
Paul Lafrance and his daughter Promise on her 13th birthday at a Blue Jay’s baseball game..
What is Your Go-To Karaoke Song?
Paul’s answer: “I have a few. I’m a big fan of Tragically Hip and Dave Matthews Band. I would say The Space Between. It’s a great song and ties in to what I do, the backyard space and the house space. I am known to surprise people and pull off a song by Prince because I have a very low voice.”
How Do You Achieve Your Rock-Star Look?
HGTV: “We love your spiky hair style! How can viewers at home achieve your rock-star look?”
Paul’s answer: “I can’t give away where I get my hair product from because it’s top secret. It’s like Area 51 top secret.”
Guess The Family Relations!
Did you know Paul, Dave, Joey and Kate are all related? Click-through to find out how the gang who’ve worked together on Decked Out,, Disaster Decks and Custom Built are connected.
David and Joy
Paul is related to Dave Kenney, as Dave married Paul’s wife Janna’s younger sister Joy. They were married September 9, 2006.
Joey and Megan
Paul is related to Joey Fletcher, as Joey is Janna’s younger brother. He married Megan on August 10th, 2013.
Paul and Joey
Kate and Dave
In terms of Kate and Paul’s family relation, Paul says Kate Campbell has been adopted into the family. Kate is engaged to fiance Dave Coleman.
This photo, from Kate Campbell’s Facebook page, shows Kate and her fiancé Dave playing dress up in a wedding inspired photoshoot.
HGTV your inbox.
By clicking "SIGN UP” you agree to receive emails from HGTV and accept Corus' Terms of Use and Corus' Privacy Policy.