Ann Maurice

Ann Maurice (born 1951 in Michigan, U.S.) is an American House Stager, and is perhaps best known in the UK as TV's "The House Doctor."

Career

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Maurice started out in real estate, but after 13 years got frustrated with it. Inspired by a psychic, she realised she should be doing something more creative and followed the psychic's advice to learn about interior design. Maurice has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, studied Interior Design at the University of California and is a graduate of the Colour Research Institute of America.

Maurice then home staged in the San Francisco Bay area, and then in 1995 crossed the Atlantic to introduce the concept of 'Home Staging' or 'House Doctoring' in Great Britain. This concept was picked up by Talkback Productions in 1998, and the first House Doctor show was broadcast on 22 August 1998, and showed viewers how to successfully prepare their homes for sale from both the practical and aesthetic points of view. Maurice has presented seven series of the "House Doctor" on Five and UKTV Style. "House Doctor" is now broadcast in a number of countries via the BBC Worldwide network and its partners, including USA, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.

"Ann Maurice Interior Rivalry" ran on Five for two series with the first starting 30 August 2006. The series was based on her Home Staging course, with the prize for the winning contestant a chance to start their own business in Home Staging. No further series are currently planned.

Away from TV

Maurice has written six books: "Ann Maurice, House Doctor"; "Ann Maurice, House Doctor - Quick Fixes"; "House Doctor - Instant Makeovers"; "The Best of House Doctor", "The Property Book" and "House Doctor: A-Z of Design". Maurice has also previously written regular features for House Beautiful magazine, and for quarterly publication "American in Britain" magazine.

Maurice also conducts a series of courses on Property Presentation designed to provide the necessary skills and experience for individuals wanting to start up and maintain a business in Property Staging.

In June 2006 Maurice launched a House Doctor Home Staging Network in both the USA and UK. A four-tiered training programme and assessment is designed to ensure that Maurice's qualified trained professionals bring her standards with them to the marketplace.

Personal life

Maurice was married three times, each one was very brief - three or four years. Now she lives in San Francisco, California with her partner Timothy and dog Floyd. She has two grown-up daughters, Lauryn and Melanie, from an earlier marriage; two granddaughters, Nicole and Anna; and one grandson, Greg.

She also has a holiday home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which she calls her "fantasy home". The main house is an original Spanish Colonial residence dating back to 1717, while a second adjoining property purchased acts as a guest suite [http://www.homesgofast.com/TheHouseDoctor-AnneMaurice.php]

ee also

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External links

* [http://www.housedoctor.co.uk/ Ann Maurice's official website]
* [http://homes.five.tv/jsp/5hmain.jsp?lnk=435 Bio at Five.tv]
* [http://www.uktvstyle.co.uk/index.cfm/uktvstyle/StandardItem.index/aid/737.shtml Bio at UKTV Style]
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* [http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/legal/decisions/2004/o03204.pdf Maurice versus Smith & Paul Associates] for deregistration of 'House Doctor' as a trademark by the latter. Maurice won the case and costs