5 Questions: Donny and Debbie Osmond unveil new home furnishings line

As a performer with multi-generational appeal, 1970s pop star and 2009 Dancing With the Stars champion Donny Osmond needs no introduction. Earlier this year, however, the 56-year-old father of five (and grandfather of six), and Debbie, his wife of 36 years, partnered with decor manufacturers to launch Donny Osmond Home. Priced to compete with offerings from popular catalogs and flash sale websites, the furniture and accessories collection also includes rugs, wall art (including the 3D-patterned wall tilesshown in the photo above) and tabletop items in a wide range of contemporary styles. There are modern geometric rugs (from $250) and Belgian-style velveteen settees (from $600) as well as a nature-inspired gilt branch chandelier that retails for under $500 and a set of five industrial-style reclaimed-wood-and-steel nesting tables priced at $699. For a list of retailers,visit Donny Osmond Home.

We teleconferenced with Osmond, who will release his 60threcording, Soundtrack of My Life, in January 2015, and his wife for a chat about his new family business.

A lot of entertainers put their names on bedding or accessories. Youre selling everything from furniture and lamps to electric fans. What made you want to do this?

Donny:Youd think that being in show business, wed have a palatial home, but its more of a family-oriented casual, comfortable space. And thats what we want to offer people. Debbie really has a way of making a house feel like a home and now that were almost empty nesters, its something that we can do together for the rest of our lives. (Laughs) And Ive always loved my fans and now I am selling them.

Debbie: A lot of electric fans tend to be awful-looking, but we had a company called Deco Breezeshow us ones that looked really cool and dont have to be hidden in the corner of a room.

Is Donny Osmond handy around the house?

Debbie:I am going to be honest: He is not a great plumber, but he is my total lighting guy. He can wire a whole house. If you need an electrician, call Mr. Osmond.

Donny:I started by wiring recording studios for myself. And weve taught all our kids woodworking and painting.

How did you become interested in home decor?

Donny:When I was 14 or 15 and I was one of the big teenyboppers of the time, we lived in the San Fernando Valley and my room was a tiny cracker box. I was really into electronics, so I had a workbench and I put my bed on a motorized lift that would go up into the ceiling. Id push a button and the bed would come halfway down, just above the workbench. So I built myself a little chrome platform elevator that took me up to my bed. When I woke up in the morning, Id push another button and my closet would come out of the ceiling. It was my James Bond room. Everything was dark brown with shiny chrome; red, white and blue furniture because of the bicentennial, and purple shag carpeting. Then I married my wife and she changed my evil ways. And I still drive Debbie crazy because I rearrange the furniture just to change things up.

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5 Questions: Donny and Debbie Osmond unveil new home furnishings line