One lucky Weehawken couple has a lot of settling in to do this week. Newly engaged pair Robin Brown and Alex Halter, who moved to the township in June, got a brand new living room on live TV on Monday when a segment of WNBC’s “To The Rescue” was filmed at their Hudson Place apartment.
“There’s going to be a lot of stuff going on Craigslist,” Brown said after the big 6-p.m. reveal. The new living room, which was redecorated in just under an hour, has a high-definition flat-screen TV, brand new couches, artwork, and more.
“Honestly, I was a little nervous about the makeover,” Brown said. “My head was racing. But seeing the room all together is amazing.”
“There’s just more of a pulse in Weehawken.” – Brown, a new resident
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Famous interior designer Courtney Cachet, who has appeared on numerous networks like HGTV and MSNBC, decorated the living room for the new Weehawken residents.
“I give credit to a lot of good planning,” Cachet said about successfully finishing the makeover in under and hour. “The couple wanted a chic-lounge look with modern furniture, and cool-looking mirrors – a post-collegiate look.” Cachet said that the more sophisticated room reflects a couple that will be starting a family soon. Brown quickly responded, “Eventually!”
Even though the program was geared toward women, Brown’s fiancée Halter said that he was pleased. “At the end of the day,” Halter said, “it’s hard to complain about getting a makeover.”
Working up a sweat
The rapid filming created some drama on and off the set. This was the first live show for host George Oliphant, who has hosted the segment since May of 2008.
“I think it was a smashing success,” Oliphant said. “We got here around 1:30 p.m. and haven’t stopped.”
The host was sweating through his shirt in the second story apartment. “It’s a lot of work, especially in 60 minutes,” Oliphant said. “We really worked up a sweat. Everything is much more fast-paced and when your on live TV you only get one shot.”
Oliphant said that “To The Rescue” makeovers will be filmed every week at new locations around New York City. Anyone interested should visit www.lxtv.com.
The Weehawken couple
The couple, who plan to marry in Montreal next year, moved to Weehawken three months ago, saying that the township satisfied both of their needs.
“We’re kind of like [the TV show] Green Acres,” Brown said. “I’m a city girl and wanted the skyline and accessibility to the city, while Halter likes more of a country and rural setting.” She jokingly added, “And we’re so very shallow.”
Brown, a receptionist for the Gramercy Hotel, and Halter, a producer for SportsNet New York, both work in Manhattan. “We like working in the city, but really need the breathing room,” Halter said. “The elbow room. To be honest, we’d love to stay here a lot longer.”
The couple previously lived in Montclair. “There’s just more of a pulse in Weehawken,” Brown said.
For the couple, the transition to living in Weehawken has been “seamless and very natural,” Halter said, and that the couple “really lucked out” with their space. They are looking to buy in the area in the near future.
Sean Allocca can be reached at editorial@hudsonreporter.com