Design stardom wasn't always the plan. Hailing from Calgary,Free DIY chicken coop
Resource! Alberta, Olson played on the national women's volleyball
team while pursuing a major in medicine at the University of Calgary.
Prompted by an interest in her minor, fine arts, she applied to the
Ryerson School of Interior Designin Toronto and was scouted by a design
firm while enrolled.
Now Olson, 46, is married and living in Toronto with her two children, ages 5 and 7. Her design empire is flourishing.
Her new series on HGTV, "Candice Tells All,How is TMJ
pain treated?" zeroes in on the underlying design principles that
inspire her transformations, and her book,When the stone sits in the kidney stone,
"Candice Olson Kitchens and Baths" (Wiley), hit stores in April. She
has started her own brand of furniture, fabrics, lighting and bedding
called the Candice Olson Collection.
She spoke with us by phone
from Toronto about her journey from humble beginnings at an Alberta
burger joint to design fame. Here are edited excerpts.
What was your first job?
Well,
my first job ever was at Bob's Bigger Better Barbecue Alberta Beef
Burgers. I got paid $2.50 an hour to work at a tongue-twisting drive-in
burger joint. It was very glamorous.
My first design job was
at a commercial design company that specialized in retail and
hospitality design.Find everything you need to know about Cold Sore including causes, I began working for them while I was in school, and that became my whole world when I graduated.
"Candice Tells All" highlights basic design principles. What is one rule that you consistently adhere to?
It
doesn't matter how much time, energy or money you put into a project.
If the lighting is wrong you've wasted it all. Layering your lighting —
overhead, accent, low-level — is vital in order for the room to reach
its full potential.
You never mention how much things cost in your books or on TV. Why is this?
We
don't give numbers because the shows run in over 100 countries and
prices fluctuate. I mention when I have to cut back and what I
sacrifice, and viewers know when the budget is high because we'll be
doing a big addition or tons of custom cabinetry. Plus, we've always
considered ourselves an inspirational show. It's not so much about
saying, "Here's granite," but more about saying, "Here's the color, and
this is why I'm using it in relation to the backsplash and the
cabinets."
What is the biggest mistake people make when decorating a family room?
People
don't design it for themselves! I always tell people to do a big
reality check when approaching this room. Ask yourself, "Who is using
this space?" Then, design it for the youngest person. If you have a
2-year-old, pick fabrics and finishes that will suit them so you're not
afraid to use the space. People often think they live a lifestyle that
they may not.
If someone had $1,000 to spend on a room in their house, what should they do?
Dimmer switches! I cannot stress their value enough. They can totally change the character of a room.
What is your favorite interior paint color?
Any
smoky gray, especially when accompanied by a wood-toned floor. It is
the color of an impending thunderstorm, and it's just so chic.
What store can you never walk out of empty-handed?
West Elm is rocking out these days. For those good-quality-for-the-price accent tables and pillows, they do a fantastic job.
Where do you get inspiration?
I'm
big into getting all I can from the spring and fall fashion shows. I
do a line of bedding which is very fashion-driven. Trends that hit the
runways tend to hit home fashions, especially bedding, very quickly.
Colors like banana yellow and gray, or fabrics like lace and ruffles,
were huge on the runways and then in home stores within a year.
I
really admire Ralph Lauren, both his designs and his business savvy. I
always remind people that this isn't just a hobby, this is a career,is
the 'solar panel
revolution' upon us? and Ralph Lauren has been able to withstand the
test of time. He bridges the gap between classic fashion and classic
furniture smoothly and with a sense of longevity.
Commentaires