A native Chicagoan, Joel began acting at 9 years old. He started designing & building at the age of 14. Growing up alongside the middle class, in a poor family, he was determined to help his hardworking parents feel good about their home. By simply freshening the house with a few gallons of paint and some slipcovers, reframing some of their art work, and rearranging and de-cluttering the rooms, he transformed their simple house into a beautiful home. His parents were ecstatic!

Ever since his boyhood home makeover, Joel’s mission has been to
convey the message of making simple changes to inspire home pride.

Today, using the camera to reach a larger audience, Joel changes lives by showing people how to combine elements of building and design to make a difference in the way they feel about their homes.

Owner of Earth Renovation & Design, Joel has been servicing both residential and commercial clientele for the past 18 years, with clients including Draper & Kramer Property Management, Lieberman Brothers, and Bloomingdale’s.

A pioneer in the green design movement, Joel works in collaboration with some of Chicago’s top designers and has been the face of Kilz Primer in television and print ads since 2008. Married with 3 children, Joel resides happily in Chicago.