425 Design

Be a Weekend Warrior: HGTV Stare Shares Tips

Robin Daly and Christian Ursino Robin Daly studied interior design and is a third-generation co-owner of her family business, Daly’s Paint & Decorating. Christian Ursino has more than 25 years experience in all aspects of interior design.

Have you seen David Bromstad in action? He’s the star of HGTV’s “Color Splash” and was recently the keynote speaker for the Seattle Design Center’s Eye on Design event. He got his start in front of the camera when he won a reality TV show called “Design Star” about four years ago. Before that he was an artist who also did design work for kids’ rooms, hotels and more. We had the opportunity to chat with him and learn more about his design philosophy and his place in the world of design. Plus, we picked up a few of his favorite “weekend warrior” tips so we can share them with 425 readers!

Q:

“When you think about design, whether it’s for a child’s room or a kitchen, what are some of the guiding principles you adhere to?”
A: “I always try and make it unique. I approach both of them in the same way. A lot of people think I start with color, but really, I start with structure. Like the headboard on the bed, for example. Then I build off of that. I do artwork, too; I paint and build light sculptures and boxes.”

Q: “Art is an important part of what drives you. How long does it typically take you to make a piece?”
A: “Thirty seconds to two hours! I try and incorporate at least one or two pieces of my art in every project we do for the show. When I do my own artwork, I like to create things from nothing. I like building with wood, working with materials that don’t bend and make them bend! That’s fun.”

Q: “How do you have time to do all this? As designers, we know how involved the design process is. Then add the time element of television, you must be crazy busy.”

A: “I don’t have time for anything! I love what I do, but it takes up so much of my time. I barely have time to breathe. Our season is 13 weeks long, and I mean we have 13 weeks to do everything. It’s a good 100 hours per week — for 13 weeks — it’s insane. Television is such a fun process; I am a little obsessed with it. You have to work fast — three days and you are done! Perfect for me, I have design ADD.”

Q: “What has been the most difficult or challenging aspect of your evolution as a designer?"
A: “I came at this from an artist’s background, not as a traditional interior designer. When I began, it was with a very modern, contemporary approach to everything, but now after 90 episodes, I love every different design aesthetic; traditional, art deco, French, Italian, Brazilian … I love that I am learning all the time.”

Q: “Where do you go for inspiration?”
A: “When I need to recharge, I love going to the beach with my iPod and chilling … Also, I come up with great ideas when I am at the gym; it’s when I can let my mind go. I look at European magazines for ideas; I like to see what they are doing with color combinations. I find that Europe is about one year ahead of us when it comes to color. They have a great approach to things.”

Q: “What is the main message about design that you’d like to pass on to our readers?”
A: “Design is fun, and it can really impact your life in a positive way. Just have fun with it, be brave and go for it. I mean, why not? It’s not brain surgery!”




David’s Colorful Weekend Project Ideas

1. Brighten the Kitchen
Paint the cabinets. It can make the whole room look completely different. It’s best to sand them first, then prime and paint them with a low-VOC paint. Choose bright white or neutral for a modern look, or let out your inner diva with a bright choice.

2. Great Room Accent Wall 
Instead of painting all the walls in your great room, choose the wall in your room with the largest piece of furniture (often a couch, or bed in the bedroom), or with an obvious focal point such as a fireplace.

3. Dramatic Dining Rooms
Instead of installing a trim or molding, add some drama to your dining room with stripes!  You can use painter’s tape to section off the areas to paint the stripes, and you’ll have a look that is design magazine ready in no time at all!  

4. Celestial Ceilings
Ceiling paint is formulated to hide imperfections. For a dramatic look that changes from day to night, try a blue ceiling!  David also has painted ceilings black and other vibrant colors.  

5. For the Kids
Draw circles of varying sizes on one wall and fill them with different colors. Circles are really easy to draw using a small nail and a piece of string to create a compass. You put the nail in the wall and draw the circle around it using a pencil.  Use different lengths of strings for different sized circles. Overlapping the circles also adds variety and interest. 

See David Bromstad
See “Color Splash” on HGTV every Saturday at 9 p.m. Visit him at bromstad.com. When he’s not taping his show, he travels the country as a spokesperson for Mythic Paint, mythicpaint.com.

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