design star

HGTV is casting for the seventh season of its hit series Design Star and on the hunt for talented interior designers, architects, contractors, artists, and other design experts. Do you want to be a design star? Contestants should have extensive design knowledge, a "personality that pops," a clear and unique design perspective, and lots of energy and enthusiasm. According to Casting Director Jennifer Sullivan, they're also looking for "industry professionals with specific design-related skills such as upholsterers, seamsters and seamstresses, art directors, stylists, set dressers, lighting designers, and textile designers in addition to actual designers and decorators." So it sounds like the upcoming season will involve a lot of hands-on work!

Interested in applying? There will be open calls in Las Vegas, LA, Austin, Charlotte, Miami, NYC, and Boston. If you can't make it, you can upload or mail in a home video that shows your personality and introduces yourself. Head to the casting website for more information!

Last night on the premiere of Design Star, the contestants were challenged to make over their penthouse rooms. There were definitely highlights in each room, but I was most impressed by Kellie and Karl’s bonus room, which showed the designers' innovative use of odd spaces and ability to create custom focal points on a small budget. I especially loved Karl's tree mural wall, which he painted in two beautiful blues. The designers' use of contrasting yellow in the furniture and accents really made the wall pop. Karl created this wall by using blue painter's tape — definitely an economical way to make a major impact in a space. You could easily do the same on a wall in your home. Just make sure to firmly press down the tape's edges to create a crisp line. Have you tried to do a similar mural with tape? How did it turn out?

Did you miss last night's episode? Watch it online now!

Earlier today, I shared the first part of my interview with fab stylist and HGTV Design Star winner Emily Henderson. Tune in Sunday for the 10/9 central premiere of her new series, Secrets From a Stylist, and get excited for the premiere with the second part of my interview!

CS: I loved the way you repurposed the tacky fake flowers into that chic white chandelier in the dining room challenge. What's another inspired repurposing you've done in a style shoot or home?

EH: I'm not the biggest repurposer. I do a lot of refinishing of furniture, where I'll restore it to how it should've been. A lot of people paint out furniture unnecessarily sometimes, and it ruins the piece.

Anything can be a vase if it can hold water. I use jars, teacups, anything that's watertight, for plants and flowers. When you're shopping in thrift stores and flea markets that's something to keep in mind.

Also, any piece of fabric can be turned into a throw pillow. Scarves and retro-patterned sheets are two good examples . . . Even if you don't sew you can take them to a tailor and they'll do it for $20 or $25.

CS: The premiere of Secrets From a Stylist features your friend, Glee cocreator Ian Brennan. Not to gender stereotype too much, but do you think that there are any typical issues that men face when tackling home decorating?

EH: Yes! Ian is much more stylish than most guys I know, but he definitely balked at wallpaper, because wallpaper is inherently decorative, and decorating is inherently feminine. So when I suggested wallpaper he kind of balked. He immediately associated it as "granny" and I had to work with him to get past that.

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It's no secret that I'm a big fan of HGTV Design Star winner Emily Henderson. Her chic yet livable style and sparkling personality really impressed me on the show, and I can't wait for Sunday's 10/9 central premiere of her new series, Secrets From a Stylist. In the first episode, she makes over good friend and Glee co-creator Ian Brennan's LA pad.

Yesterday, Emily and I chatted about her experience on Design Star, her new show Secrets From a Stylist, and ways to make a house reflect your individual style.

CasaSugar: Congratulations on the win! I was really pulling for you.

Emily Henderson: Thank you! That's so nice.

CS: You grew up in Coos Bay, OR. Do you think growing up where you did has affected your aesthetic?

EH: There's very little high style in small-town Oregon, and that's not a dig at all. There aren't even department stores. My exposure to style was very unpretentious. I grew up with just the things that I needed, and that lends itself a lot to my style. My parents are both teachers and they had six kids, so we weren't exactly rolling in dough, so we went to thrift stores way before it was cool to go. We had such freedom to buy weird stuff, and my parents didn't really monitor us; I could bring home whatever I wanted from the thrift stores to a large extent. Almost because there were no fancy stores in our town I learned to like whatever I liked because it was weird and old, and that has something to do with [my aesthetic]. I started loving old things when I was very young, like 5 years old.

I see people from Oregon and they read my blog, and they say, "We relate to you." The vintageness and the unpretentiousness came from there. I love New York, and I don't mean to say it's pretentious, but there's something laid-back and unfussy about Oregon that I love.

Check out Emily's tips for decorating, flea marketing, and lots more!

This Sunday marked the last episode of Design Star. Emily took the grand prize, and I'm definitely excited about her new show. While the designers' tastes were inconsistent throughout the season, with plenty of hits and misses from everyone involved, I did find myself impressed by quite a few of the designs.

Looking back at photos from the season, one of my favorite rooms was Casey's flower power design from Episode 4. She took her inspiration from a hyacinth, which she represented with her wall colors (check out the faux molding that Nina painted in the room). I also love the pops of red in the ottoman pouf and throw pillows, which add a beautiful contrast to the soft blue walls. However, the most unexpected and fun element of the room is the indoor swing.

We've seen other indoor swings before, including one in Padma Lakshmi's home, as well as in the home of hotelier Sean Macpherson. To pull it off successfully (and for better movement), a lofted ceiling is the key to swinging success, but it can work in smaller spaces as well. Is this something you'd ever consider installing in your home?

HGTV Design Star winner Emily Henderson has a lovely blog called The Brass Petal about "all things stylish . . . or so she thinks." I found her to be the most sophisticated of the designers this season, and I love her bohemian, vintage meets modern aesthetic, so there's no doubt in my mind her blog is a guide to all things stylish.

So naturally, when she posted this photo of her own living room, it piqued my interest. She's actually switched the room up since this photo was taken, but I am partial to this design. I love how she mounted the Red Cross flag; it's quite a clever and useful trick. With such a large scale, it also makes a great impact. Furthermore, the wood and leather elements lend a great warmth and masculinity to the room, which is balanced beautifully by the sweet, girlishness of Emily's blue velvet sofa and floral cushions.

Here are some items that will help you get the look in your home.

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