You've Got To See What HGTV Kitchen Cousins Star John Colaneri Is Up To Now
The Property Brothers aren't the only ones with a children's book in the works. Fellow HGTV stars John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino — known to many as simply "the cousins," for their roles in Kitchen Cousins and Cousins On Call — have been working on their storytelling skills for the under-5 set. Their upcoming book, What Can You Do With A Toolbox?, comes out Aug. 28, and it's not just another revenue stream for the relatives. For John, the inspiration was personal.
During a break between construction projects, he took a few minutes to talk about how much the book means to him — and answer some of your biggest questions about the star.
This Book Wouldn't Have Happened Without His Wife's Help.
"She pushed Anthony and me to do it," he explains. "I used to go to the pre-k she taught at and read to her classroom. I'd bring my tool belt, and kids would freak out. They'd get so excited to hold a hammer or a screwdriver and learn about the tools."
He loved those classroom visits, but they took on special meaning when he had a daughter. Now that she's 3 years old, reading a book together has become a nightly ritual. "It's something I really look forward to," he says.
PREORDER IT What Can You Do With A Toolbox? by John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino; amazon.com
Don't Expect A Memoir Anytime Soon Though.
The New Jersey native has been through the highs and lows of the recession — "the day we cut the ribbon on a 22-unit boutique condo, Lehman Brothers went under, the market crashed, and we had an $8 million loan to pay back to the bank" — which makes for a compelling story. He's down to tell you all about it, but it may not be in the pages of a book. At least not right now.
"Everybody has the same book. If you've seen one, you've seen them all," he said. "We didn't want to be like everybody else." Hence, going the children's book route. What Can You Do With A Toolbox? walks kids through how different tools are used, showing how they can all come together to create a — spoiler alert! — playground in the end.
There's One Question He Gets Asked All The Time.
Whenever people learn John works in construction, they all tend to ask the same question: How can I really protect my home? "Whenever we're doing a project, 80 percent of the budget is for things behind the walls," he says. "A water softener is something everybody should look into, because it makes a huge difference."
Most of the country has hard water, he says — something you can check to see if you have in your area on MortonSalt.com — and it's an often-overlooked problem that can lead to huge headaches (and costs) down the road.
"If you don't have a water softener, your appliances break down faster. You're spending $5,000 to $10,000 on this stuff; you want it to last," he says. Tell-tale signs you've got hard water issues: a white film on your showerhead; white spots on the glass in your shower, dishes, or glasses after you've washed them; dry skin after you take a bath.
He's A CrossFit Convert.
When John isn't building homes or writing books, you can either find him with his family — or at the gym. "I love fitness — that's my escape every day," he says. "I grew up playing sports, and that competitive nature has always been in me."
He does CrossFit four to five days a week with his brother-in-law, adding he's become a total "fanatic."
John says he'll probably hit up the gym later that day, but for now, he has more pressing demands: His 3-year-old daughter, Lily Belle, has brought him her toy horse collection. It's time for a mid-morning My Little Pony break. "No matter what, my family comes first," John says. "That's my biggest thing."
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