Q&A With Candice Olson

If you had to pick a designer to do your home, who would it be and why?
John Saladino, who masters the perfect balance of history and minimalism in each room he does.

What are your three most prized possessions?
I am very sentimental. I love our family photos and how they bring me back to a moment, 3-D plaster castings of our kids' feet taken from birth until age two and a bronzed baby shoe of mine that my mother gave me for my 30th birthday.

Where is home away from home for you?
Skiing in Banff, Alberta.

If you could design for anyone, who would you pick?
Donald Trump. I would like to show him how to live elegantly and graciously while practicing a little restraint!

Style: Are you born with it or do you learn it?
I believe in instinct but that it only becomes true talent with drive and passion.

What's one of your secret talents?
Baton twirling

What do you read for inspiration? For fun?
For inspiration, Zink Magazine and Surfaces. For fun, Esquire, especially the yearly issue of Dubious Achievements.

Who is your style icon?
For fashion, Katharine Hepburn and Jennifer Aniston for their casual, classic style. For design, Ralph Lauren for being true to his brand while still staying meaningful and current for more than four decades.

What movies or music gets your creative energy flowing?
Any Tim Burton movie
Music: Jeff Buckley, Feist, Frou Frou and Metric

What is your best piece of advice for a new designer?
Treat your client's money as if it were your own or, frankly, you won't make any of your own.

What advice do you have for a new designer who wants a TV show?
Work hard for the opportunity and try to beat it to the door before it knocks!