DESIGN ON THE MOVE AMANDA PAYS, CORBIN BERNSEN LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE ... WHEREVER IT IS.

Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor

It's said that moving into a new home is the third most stressful life event, following death and divorce. Not so for actress-designer Amanda Pays and her husband, actor Corbin Bernsen.

They've renovated 15 homes in the 18 years they've been together, and have lived in many of them. Although they relish the prospect of starting anew, there are unique problems that come with having bought, renovated and sold as many houses as they have.

``A Realtor just e-mailed me a listing, and I took one look at it and said, `We've lived there already,''' notes the British-born Pays with a smile. ``We've looked at and almost bought so many houses. I don't want to call it an addiction, because it's not. But Corbin and I love to move. It keeps us kind of inspired and buoyant.''

Inside the gated 1940s Encino home they just sold, Pays enthuses not just about the excitement of searching for a new home, but the rituals that come with it -- like browsing the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena at sunrise for inspiration.

``Corbin and I like to get up at 6 in the morning and have a cup of coffee, and off we go. We don't have to buy anything, it's just visually stimulating. It's food for thought.''

When they bought their current home about two years ago, the couple had the interior of the four-bedroom, four-bath, 3,000-square-foot home painted white. Seagrass rugs were put down, and they had recessed lighting installed. They also redid the kitchen with help from IKEA. The cosmetic makeover took about three fast-paced weeks.

Then, they set about decorating it with their favorite art and accessories -- including roadside finds as well as gems purchased during their travels. In the entryway, there's a whimsical painting by Sao Paulo graphic artist Gustavo Rosa that reminds them of time spent in Brazil. A multicolored lamp on a table was a Rose Bowl find.

``Amanda does the interiors, because she's amazing with color,'' says Bernsen, who is a regular on ABC's ``General Hospital'' and also stars in the USA series ``Psych,'' premiering July 7. ``It's definitely a partnership. We love it. It's our favorite thing to do.''

As for the furniture, the place is filled with Pays' own line of upper-end upholstery and occasional furniture produced with Directions Furniture, based in Atlanta. Her designs are clean and modern, and can be covered in a variety of colors and textures from her rich palette. They also have star appeal. Pieces have been bought by Nicolas Cage and first lady Laura Bush.

It's her ``keen eye for mixing and matching of colors, fabrics and textures that gives Amanda her style,'' says Bernsen, who admires his wife's talent for blending elements of modern culture with the classic sensibility she grew up with in England. And, in fact, each part of her collection is named after a beloved region in England.

``She's been a joy to work with,'' says Directions director Sherri Lewinger. ``She really has a handle on what she wants. She's fresh.''

Many of the pieces are large-scale -- for example, the York chair, which sits in Pays and Bernsen's master bedroom. ``Actually, two people can fit in it,'' she confides with a smile.

As a busy mom to four sons ranging in age from 7 to 17, form definitely follows function with each piece.

``I always want to design things that are going to be practical and comfortable as well as aesthetically pleasing. But with four boys I definitely think: Can my children bounce on that?''

Pays also thought of her eldest son, Oliver, 17, when she needed a drawing of an olive leaf for one of her table designs. He was happy to help. ``He's a wonderful artist.''

Pays and Bernsen's own artistry as renovators first garnered notice after they spent three years redoing an English country-style home in Beverly Hills, and then sold it to actor Steve Martin in 1995. The house included a wine cellar, screening room and music room as well as a guest house made of stone.

Doors were imported from England, and wooden beams originated in a barn in Connecticut. ``It was just a great house. We went all out,'' Pays recalls.

Over the years both have pursued their love of design in tandem with their TV and film work. Pays, who gained TV fame in the innovative series ``Max Headroom,'' figured out a way to combine her two passions when she hosted ``Breathing Room'' on the Fine Living Network.

``The show focused on sanctuaries in the home where people escape from all the chaos. I was interested in that personally. But the houses on the show were more high end, and my angle is always that you don't have to have a lot of money to create those spaces. We can all have breathing room. I've definitely adopted that philosophy.''

More recently, she made a guest appearance on ``General Hospital,'' playing a female James Bond-type spy.

Pays isn't sure where her family will move next. But she's confident she and Bernsen will know the place when they see it.

``We're always open. We've found that houses just come to us. It's like, OK, this is the next one. Ready, everybody?''

Diana McKeon Charkalis

[phone] diana.charkalis(at)dailynews.com

Amanda Pays' furniture line for Directions is available locally at Bedfellows, 12250 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, [phone], and will also be offered soon at Blueprint Furniture, 8366 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, [phone].

For more information about the line and other locations in the U.S, call Directions at [phone].

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(1 -- cover -- color) Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen At home with STYLE

(2 -- color) Pays' York chair, below, will be offered in a smaller size this fall. It's accented with a pillow from Jonathan Adler, one of Pays' favorite designers.

(3 -- color) At right, Pays' Wisley table features an olive leaf design created by their eldest son Oliver, 17.

(4 -- color) Pay likes to mix flea-market finds like the lamp, left, with timeless pieces like her Wisley table, named after one of her favorite gardens in England.

(5 -- color) Pays' Hastings chairs, below, can work in a classic or modern setting. First lady Laura Bush bought a set for her family's ranch in Texas. Bernson and Pays also enjoy collecting wines.

(6 -- color) Seagrass rugs add texture to Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen's current home where her pieces are used throughout. The York sofa, above, is a favorite of actor Nicolas Cage, who has one with chairs to match.

(7 -- color) no caption (Amanda Pays

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

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