Nobody does a jaw-drop reaction like Bobby Berk. It’s only surprising when you assume he’s probably seen it all after eight seasons traveling the world as the interior design expert on Netflix’s reboot of “Queer Eye”; writing his 2023 book, “Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for the Mind”; making many TV appearances (including a Taylor Swift video) adn selling pretty much anything to make your home shine on BobbyBerk.com.

But in his new HGTV series “Junk or Jackpot?” premiering Friday at 9:30 p.m. Pacific, genuine reactions come often from Burke as he enters the homes of Los Angeles collectors and sees not only rooms jam-packed with action figures, pinball machines, puppets, marionettes and more, but also some jackpot items just sitting on a bookshelf. In one episode,for example,a collector shows Berk a trading card he has that is appraised in the $100,000 range. “I’m pretty sure I said, ‘What the f-?’ though I assume it was bleeped because it’s HGTV,” says Berk from his Los Angeles home. “I’m used to netflix, where I could say whatever I wanted. But, yeah, that was just crazy to me.”

Reactions aside, the real marvel on “Junk or Jackpot?” is watching an enthusiastic Berk swoop into people’s homes to help them learn how to come to terms with a collecting hobby that has grown into something that’s stifling homes and putting a damaging strain on relationships. “Obviously, I’m not a therapist. I’m a designer, even though in our field, we often make the joke that we’re not just designers, we’re marriage counselors,” he says.

But Berk, born in Houston and raised in conservative Mount Vernon, Mo., is a self-taught pro at identifying what isn’t working and doing everything possible to fix it, including in his own life. Case in point: Berk, not feeling safe coming out in Mount Vernon, left home at 15 and bounced around for several years in various cities, never finishing high school. “From 15 to 22, I moved around and can’t even count the amount of places I had to move around to just due to finances and situations going on in life,” he recalls.

Eventually, he landed in New York City and worked for stores like Restoration Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond and Portico before he opened his first online store in 2006 and first physical store in Soho in 2007. Soon thereafter, berk was racking up appearances on networks like HGTV and Bravo before “Queer Eye” came.

From “Queer Eye” to “Junk or Jackpot”: Bobby Berk on His New HGTV Show and John Cena’s Vision

(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

What are the origins of “Junk or Jackpot?” and what does john Cena have to do with it all?

I’ve been toying back and forth with HGTV for years, even when I was still on “Queer Eye,” but with my exclusivity with Netflix, I couldn’t do design shows with anybody else. We always just kept that line of interaction open, so then when this specific opportunity came about, Loren Ruch, the head of HGTV, who’s unfortunately since passed, reached out. He said, “Hey, John Cena’s created the show for us and you’re the top of his list of who he wants it to host it.” John was a big “Queer Eye” fan, so I said yes. It shot here in L.A., which was really vital to me. We were really lacking for entertainment jobs here in the city so that was a big plus for me to be able to bring jobs here to L.A. to all of our amazing crews.

And it’s not your typical design show.Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with a typical design show and they do help people. But coming from “Queer Eye” where everyone we helped was as it was somebody deserving, somebody that was going through something and needed that extra boost in their life. That’s what this was with “Junk or Jackpot?”

Every single collector, as we’re calling them, had a story going on. With Patrick and Roger [in the premiere episode] Roger had moved out and their relationship was on the rocks because there was literally no space for Roger. With Carly and Johnny in another episode, they had a kid that they weren’t expecting to have in their early 40s, so it was a life-changing moment for them. Their priority needed to be their son, J.D.

I love the show because it was helping people at these moments in their life where they’re like, “We have this thing that we love and has brought us joy, but now this thing is actually starting to have negative things happening in our life.” I wanted to come in and really bring back the joyous part of their collection.

HGTV hasn’t given you a huge budget to revamp the homes and the collectors have to work themselves to sell off their collectibles to pay for the renovation. How did that angle come about?

It was a bit of therapy and I wanted the collectors to really realize that, yes, the collection that they have has value but this other thing that is happening in their life because of this collection has value, too. I wanted them to either be able to prove to themselves that what they were wanting to change in their life had more value than those things. Like with Patrick, Roger had a value.

I wanted them to go through the exercise of “You need to start parting with things.” And if you n

Bobby Berk on the Power of Home and His New Memoir

Bobby Berk,the design expert known for his transformative work on Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” is opening up about his challenging childhood and the profound impact of finding a place to call home in his new memoir,”Right to Home.” For Berk, design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating spaces that foster healing, self-worth, and belonging – something he desperately lacked growing up.

abandoned by his mother as a young child and navigating a turbulent foster care system, Berk experienced instability and trauma. He frequently enough found himself in unsafe and unsupportive environments, lacking the basic comfort and security of a consistent home.These experiences fueled his passion for creating havens for others.

“For me, home is where you feel safe, where you feel seen, where you feel like you can truly be yourself,” Berk explains. “And for so many people, especially those who have experienced trauma, that feeling is elusive.”

In “Right to Home,” Berk details his journey from a troubled youth to a prosperous interior designer and television personality. He shares deeply personal stories of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. He also discusses the importance of advocating for affordable housing and creating inclusive spaces for marginalized communities.

Berk’s work on “Queer Eye” exemplifies his belief in the transformative power of design.He doesn’t simply renovate spaces; he collaborates with individuals to understand their needs and create environments that reflect their personalities and support their well-being.

“It’s not about making things look pretty,” Berk emphasizes. “It’s about making people feel good. It’s about giving them a space where they can thrive.”

“Right to Home” is a testament to berk’s unwavering commitment to creating positive change, one space – and one life – at a time. It’s a moving and inspiring story that reminds us all of the basic human need for a place to belong.

“Junk or Jackpot?” Host bobby berk on Emotional Design and Budget-Conscious Choices

(image: Bobby Berk surrounded by swatches and mood boards in his office. Credit: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

How do you consider budget with the collectors? in one episode, you choose to cover a brick wall instead of tearing it down and building a new one.

The homeowners are the ones footing the bill for this, because again, a portion of this is the exercise of letting go. To your point, if we had just come in at HGTV and said, “Here’s all the money!” They’re like, “All right, I have no motivation to get rid of anything.” I wanted to make sure we made budget-conscious decisions and I think that’s also a really important thing to share with people at home that you don’t always have to go out and knock out a fireplace if you hate the material. You can do a thing like micro cement and you can completely change it for a minimal cost.

What would you say you learned from shooting the first season of “Junk or Jackpot?”

I wouldn’t say I learned anything necessarily new, but it was reaffirmed to me the emotional attachment and mental health aspect that your space and design can have on you, either in a good way or a bad way.

In the bad way, your house becomes so cluttered and overwhelmed with something that used to spark joy for you, but it’s now having an effect on not only your mental health, but your relationships with other people. Conversely, the difference in your mental health just redoing that space, reorganizing that space, reclaiming that space…

from ‘Queer Eye’ to designing hotels: Bobby Berk on finding his purpose

Bobby Berk, the design expert from Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” is expanding his creative horizons beyond makeovers of people’s homes. He’s now turning his attention to hotels, with a new partnership with Best Western Hotels & Resorts to redesign select properties.

For Berk, 41, this venture feels like a natural progression. He grew up in a motel,moving frequently with his family and experiencing firsthand the impact a space can have on a person’s well-being.

“Hospitality is in my DNA,” Berk said. “I understand what it’s like to not feel safe or pleasant in a space, and I want to create hotels that feel like a warm hug.”

The collaboration with Best Western will begin with a pilot project in Tempe, Ariz., with plans to roll out the redesigns to other locations. Berk’s approach focuses on creating spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and inclusive. He aims to incorporate elements that promote a sense of calm and connection, drawing on his experience transforming homes on “Queer Eye.”

“I want people to walk into these hotels and feel like they’re home, even if they’re thousands of miles away from their own beds,” Berk explained. “It’s about creating an experience,not just a place to sleep.”

Berk’s design beliefs centers around accessibility and affordability. He believes everyone deserves to experience well-designed spaces, regardless of their budget. This commitment aligns with Best Western’s goal of providing comfortable and welcoming accommodations for all travelers.

“We’re excited to partner with Bobby to elevate the guest experience at our hotels,” said Larry Cuculic, Best Western’s president and CEO. “His vision for creating inclusive and inviting spaces perfectly complements our brand values.”

Beyond the hotel project, Berk continues to work on “Queer eye,” which recently concluded its eighth season. He also has a furniture line and is involved in various advocacy efforts, particularly those focused on LGBTQ+ rights and homelessness.

For Berk, design is more than just a profession; it’s a tool for empowerment and social change. He hopes his work will inspire others to create spaces that are not only lovely but also meaningful and impactful.

“I want to use my platform to make a difference in people’s lives,” Berk said. “Design has the power to transform not just homes and hotels, but also communities.”