THE DESIGN STAR
With more than a 12-year career on television and 15-plus years of experience in private practice, architect, interior designer and HGTV extraordinaire Vern Yip continues to inspire and captivate many. Here, AFM chats with the judge of “Design Star” about his new home collection as well as his design tips for desert dwellers.
AFM: How would you describe your home collection?
VY: It was based on the principle of making great designs without sacrificing quality and function. The entire collection was designed with a lot of thought behind it. Everything is scaled appropriately and is adaptable, giving you the ability to move things around and use them in many places. There is detailing, stitching and dimensionality with each piece. Everything is designed to work with you and allow you to personalize it to make it your own.
AFM: Do you have a favorite piece?
VY: It’s kind of hard to pick a favorite piece; it’s like picking your favorite kid. I’m fond of the Wool Felt Accent Pillow and the Chrysanthemum Wool Felt Accent Pillow. They’re perfect for fall and they’re both dimensional, not just having visual texture. The Lotus Quilt Set also has a tremendous personal meaning to me. My parents fled the communist revolution and gave up everything for me and my sister to have a better life in the States. When they came here, they started their very first business and called it Lotus. In the Chinese culture, the lotus is a symbol of renewal and rebirth.
AFM: What inspires your designs?
VY: I’m really inspired by traveling and going to people’s homes to figure out where the holes and gaps are. The great thing about it is the opportunity of meeting people around the country and seeing the differences and commonalities. You discover and notice things that people are missing in their life and it informs you as a designer. You become a problem solver.
AFM: What design tips do you have for those living in the desert?
VY: I think the desert is an amazingly beautiful place, and you guys have a landscape that is pretty monochromatic. You step outside and everything is basically the same color. For me, it’s thinking about what would put a smile on your face. Since it’s monochromatic on the outside, add a punch of color in the inside. Use colors you love and that express who you are. You want to make sure that you have everything around you to make staying inside enjoyable and comfortable.
AFM: What is the most common interior design sin that you see committed?
VY: I would say the most common is people buying everything all at once for an entire room. They buy a living room set that comes with everything from artwork to even fake plants, and they think it’s all going to work together. It does but it doesn’t have any life or personality in it. The goal is to pick things you love and mix and match to where it’s a unique reflection of you. Mixing and matching gives you the ability to make it work together for you. Inject your personality into the space.
AFM: What do you love most about what you do?
VY: I love the fact that I am able to transform people’s lives. Interior design is always being perceived as a superficial industry but to me, it’s the ability to transform someone’s space and their lives. It’s about giving them an ultimate space with their aesthetic interests where they can maximize their quality time in it. It’s really about impacting their lives in a positive way.
