Million Dollar Decorators

We've kicked off a special series with the designers on Bravo's new show Million Dollar Decorators (Tuesdays 10 p.m., EDT), which follows LA's most sought-after interior designers through their work and personal lives. Each of the designers of Million Dollar Decorators have shared the rooms or vignettes that have most inspired them, be it from their own portfolios or elsewhere, exclusively with us. From Kid Rock's kitchen to Adrian Grenier's eco-friendly home, come take a look at some favorite spaces from these top-notch designers!

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard	Jeffrey Alan Marks	Kathryn Ireland
Mary McDonald	Nathan Turner

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with interior designer Kathryn Ireland, a cast member of Bravo's hit new reality show Million Dollar Decorators, about her career, her clients, her shopping routine, her decorating advice, and her experience on the series. If you haven't read the first part of our interview, be sure to, and then read part two below!

CasaSugar: I know you spend your Summers in France. What do you see as the difference between the way the French and Americans decorate?

Kathryn Ireland: Gosh! Very differently. The French French or people that have houses in France? I mean there’s something completely alluring about the French way of life when you think of the French countryside — the bucolic landscape, sitting under trees drinking rosé. I just love farmhouses. I don’t like the grand; I’m never drawn to anything grand. I like sort of living in a cow barn. Finding places that are interesting for me — it’s very much about the exterior of the countryside. I’m a country person at heart.

I think what I’m drawn to about the French is that people inherit pieces, which is also European. I grew up with a mother that decorated our house. She knew what to do, and I think there’s something so inherent about creating your own home, which is what I’m trying to teach my clients. You know a lot of people have hectic lines and it’s a full-time job trying to get couches and sofa and tie it all together, and some people just don’t have that talent to know what goes with what.

CS: Do you have any tips for bargaining and dealing with dealers at markets?

KI: Oh I’m a great bargainer! I go to Morocco. Marrakech is one of my favorite places, and in fact I’ve just come back from there. I’m doing a container sale for One Kings Lane on August 6, and that was so much fun.

But yea, I know how to haggle, but I also know when I see a good thing and it’s a good price. You know when you do a house and you get a budget, I know what I’m working, and I say let’s not get picky. I may spend a bunch of money on a piece of artwork for the kitchen. It’s about where the things that do matter. For example, in my kitchen in Santa Monica, I have a Damien Hirst in my kitchen and it’s fantastic. It makes the room.

Continue reading for the rest of our interview!

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with interior designer Kathryn Ireland, a cast member of Bravo's hit new reality show Million Dollar Decorators, about her career, clients, shopping routine, decorating advice, and experience on the series. Check out the first part of our interview below!CasaSugar: So how did you get involved in Million Dollar Decorators?

Kathryn Ireland: I was a guest judge on that show with Margaret Russell, Top Design, and I met with someone from Bravo and a girlfriend of mine, Brittany Lovett, brought up the idea to Bravo to have a decorating show with kind of an ensemble cast. And actually originally, it was three of us, and I happened to be the only one that ended up doing it. So I’ve kind of been there from the beginning.

I’ve also done a show in England called Design Wars, where I was on the air every day for a month making over a house that was actually a competition. I was representing England, and there were five other countries, and we all had to make over an identical house, kind of in the style of our country. So I’m pretty comfortable with being in front of the camera.

CS: How is balancing the show with your client base and your day-in and day-out workload?

KI: It’s juggling! I didn’t take my usual Summer holidays off, and I’ve got the kids, and even though they’re older, they still need parenting. Probably even more so now than when they were younger. So, you know, it was challenging, but ultimately it was really fun.

I was only interested in doing a show that was going to be amusing. I think too many of these shows are just dull, and I am more interested in entertainment than anything else. And I think the idea of this ensemble cast was very well cast, because I think we’re all incredibly different and we work well together, and I think it’s a good mix of characters.

Continue reading for the rest of the interview!