Q&A
Designing with the Stars
Louisiana-native and Los Angeles-resident interior designer Kenneth Brown makes his first trip to the Pacific Northwest to share design secrets with consumers at Seattle Design Center’s “Eye on Design” 2008 consumer event
BY
Lindsey Rowe
PHOTOGRAPHY
Courtesy of Sara Coe, Seattle Design Center

Kenneth Brown may be an HGTV-star who designs interiors for celebrities, but it’s his warm personality and approachable style that make him appealing to designers and design-lovers around the country.

After earning a degree in Interior Design from Louisiana State University, and studying industrial design in Manchester, England, Brown moved to Los Angeles, where he now lives and works—he’s currently remodeling his loft on Hollywood Boulevard. Best known for his HGTV show reDesign, he has also been recognized by House Beautiful and Western Interiors as one of the top 100 designers in America. reDesign is currently on hiatus, but Brown is a designer to watch. He’s now working on a series of interior design books, a new TV show, a furniture line and a line of products for babies (he’s expecting his first child, a girl, this summer).

On his first visit to Seattle, Brown shared interior design tips with the audience at Seattle Design Center’s “Eye on Design” 2008 consumer event, sponsored in part by Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. After Brown’s presentation, we jumped at the chance to ask him some more personal questions.

What lessons have you learned from designing for celebrities that you share with all of your clients?
Everybody gets treated the same. Celebrities don’t always have great taste; they can hide in their homes and be who they really are. Most people think celebrities live a certain way, but it’s really no different than what your house looks like. Madonna has a shabby-chic kitchen, who would think Madonna’s kitchen would be shabby chic?

How do you think your work changes lives?
Think about all the things we do to keep healthy … yet we give little attention to the structure that harbors us. The healthiest thing you should have is your home.

What inspiration do you take from your home state of Louisiana?
Respect and hospitality. The color palette: the colors of old, decaying houses in New Orleans or a humid old oak tree with moss on it. I think people are drawn to [that color palette] because it feels welcoming, it feels warm.

You’ve said you admire midcentury-modern design. What do you like best about that style?
I don’t know if I like the modern look as much as I like the lifestyle. It’s pared down—the houses were the right size for the people who lived in them. Think about all the cars that were coming out then. People were taking chances and I love that. I think it also represents a time when people were trying to understand design, to think outside of the box.

What kind of art do you think looks best in homes?
I love abstract art. It’s calming to me and there’s more fluidity to it. I love abstract landscapes; I love having a horizon line. I’m always looking into the future.

It seems designers fall in love with chairs more than they do other pieces of furniture. Is that true for you too?
I have a bad chair obsession; I have 13 chairs in storage. It feels safe to be able to mix them with anything, [whereas] a sofa feels permanent—you’re making such a big statement … I love chairs that have interest in the upholstery.

What are your two cents on “green design?”
It’s about not looking green. All rooms can be green no matter what they look like. And no one has the answer. Any little difference you make can help.

For Kenneth Brown’s design tips and tricks that he shared with his Seattle Design Center audience, check out our SH&L blog, Design Dish.