Ty Pennington has certainly carved out a niche for himself as the lovable, off-the-wall, hunk-of-a-carpenter and home design guru.

During his four-year stint on “Trading Spaces,” Ty became well-known as the cute and playful carpenter who would sometimes work shirtless. So it is not surprising that dozens of women desperately hope to catch a glimpse of Ty in action.

Beyond cracking jokes, though, Ty enjoys designing, building and working with contractors and his fellow designers to help create magical homes for deserving families.

A self-proclaimed “Jack of all Trades, Master of None,” Ty can add bestselling author to his vast list of skills. His first book, Ty’s Tricks, published by Hyperion in 2003, was a New York Times bestseller. 

In addition to being an author, Pennington has just signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Sears. He will be partnering with Sears in a broad range of activities, including product design and development, merchandising and advertising, and is the ambassador for the Sears American Dream Campaign.

Ty spent most of his childhood in Atlanta. Following high school, he attended Kennesaw College, focusing on art and history. After one year his art professor suggested a career in graphic design, so Ty started working as a carpenter by day and attending classes at the Atlanta Art Institute by night. After graduation he continued his education at the Atlanta College of Art, studying painting and sculpture while honing his carpentry skills to pay for his education. 

Credit: realitytv.about.com