CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bobby Sisk may be the only hardcore do-it-yourselfer in Charlotte who wields a sledge hammer wearing TV makeup.
The WCNC-TV anchor-reporter loves remodeling houses. He loves imagining a space as a blank canvas and coming up with a design. He loves the ripping out, tile-laying, reflooring, plumbing, painting and the installing of hardware and fixtures, gadgets and grout.
And since he typically tackles his house projects as soon as his shift ends, one might find him at home still camera-ready with a hammer in his hands.
Sisk, 35, has had plenty of practice. He bought and remodeled his first house in Little Rock, Ark., at 24. In the nine years he's lived in Charlotte, he has bought, remodeled and sold five homes. But he says he's not a conventional flipper, since he has lived in all of them while he undertook the work, most of it himself.
These days, the project involves replacing the concrete floor of his cellar - just for fun, he says. Nothing but the best, after all, for the place he stores his substantial collection of tools.
Even though he has moved and altered a lot of properties, Sisk's current home, No. 6 near uptown, may be the keeper. It was the only house he ever looked at with an eye toward purchase that he didn't want to change, at least not radically.
Built in 1945 as a two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow with less than 1,000 square feet, the house had been completely overhauled inside and out by a developer just before Sisk bought it in October 2008. A second floor had been added, enlarging the structure to 3,400 square feet.
The result was a charming blank slate with some elegant details that are tailor-made for Sisk's interior design talents. I would have picked out most of these things, such as the upturned spring-green glass sink on an antique vanity in the downstairs guest bathroom, he says. But of course I wouldn't be me if I hadn't added a lot of my own personality to the place.
'Design on the cheap'
Sisk's style is an eclectic mix of modern materials and antiques against a neutral palette of taupes, grays and beige with chocolate accents. Original paintings from art auctions and open-air markets hold pride of place on the walls next to framed sketches from discount retailers.
For furnishings and accessories, he also shops online at sites like Overstock.com. A chandelier from J.C. Penney hangs in the formal living room along with curtains from IKEA.
I call what I do 'design-on-the-cheap,' says Sisk. He says he doesn't get hung up on brand names. I'm a great bargain shopper.
Among his most prized possessions are a set of metal porch chairs and a round walnut occasional table from his grandmother, Zora Sisk, and a hand-painted portrait of her in his bedroom. These items, along with Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage paint, are common denominators in all the homes he has flipped so far.
The heart of the house is the great room created by the kitchen and enlargement of the first floor. The open-plan space contains the dining table, TV, a sofa and several chairs for formal conversation.
'A weekend warrior'
While Sisk's home today reflects his love for clean lines, no clutter, and everything in its place, he says his mother is still skeptical of the transformation. In high school I was the kid with rotten food under his bed, who never cleaned his room, he says. Now, he confesses to a strain of obsessive-compulsion when it comes to his living space.
That compulsion also spills over into his hobby. I'm a weekend warrior, he says. I always have to have a project going. And once I start, I have to finish it. I'm like a machine. I have a hard time just sitting on the couch.
One such weekend project was the building of a paver-and-decorative gravel patio in the backyard, one of his few outdoor upgrades of this home. His lawn maintenance is mostly confined to mowing the grass, although he recently planted 24 shrubs in the front yard.
Sisk says he grew up sketching house plans and considering architect school before journalism won out. His love of design and nose for bargains have led several friends to seek his advice with their own home remodeling projects.
Is there anything construction-wise he avoids? Crown molding, he answers immediately. Apparently I have issues with angles. It's a math thing. I just can't make those corners fit.
His favorite aspect of what he calls his dream house ? Probably the front porch with his grandmother's chairs and being able to greet people as they stroll by. I've got great neighbors, and there's a wonderful neighborhood feel on this street, he says.
Sisk admits he has made a profit on every home he has flipped so far, but that the money was not the principal motivator. I can go into a house and see whether it has good bones, and start thinking on the spot how I can improve it. Fixing it up is the fun part...But I haven't been hit with house envy in a long time. I think I'll be staying here for a while.
