Design Tips From Vern: Season One

See how to be a Design Star in your own home using these ideas from Vern Yip.

PHOTO

HGTV Design Star judge, architect and interior designer Vern Yip.
Each week throughout the HGTV Design Star 2006 competition, judge, architect and interior designer Vern Yip shared his expertise regarding what the designers did well and not so well during their challenges.

Check out his great ideas from each episode below to transform your own home!

PHOTO

When faced with visual clutter (beds lining the walls), take a simple design approach to balance the complexity with some visual ease.
Challenge 1: Townhouse to Your House
For their first challenge, the 10 designers had to turn an empty townhouse in New York City into their "home away from home." As one of the judges, here are my tips for some things they did right and wrong and how you can apply them to your space.
PHOTO

Choosing a light-filled color to remove the castle mural is an obvious choice for this, and any, master bedroom.
Challenge 2: Designing to Sell
For their second challenge, the remaining nine split into three teams of three and challenged to design rooms in a house that's been on the market for eight months! Here are some things to keep in mind when re-selling your home.
PHOTO

Adding shiny metal plates to the sofa arms creates visual weight and detail to an otherwise plain piece of upholstery.
Challenge 3: "Wild Card" Design
Since everyone is now on a completely level playing field, the challenge becomes demonstrating how much "outside the box" thinking you can do with limited time, budget and resources. Beautiful and well-designed artifacts can exist anywhere and it is up to the remaining eight contestants to showcase their creative talents and personal style by re-imagining non-traditional home decor items in inventive and new ways.
PHOTO

Homeowners Kelley Woods and Tom Jerige are thrilled when they see their new kitchen!
Challenge 4: Designers' Challenge Kitchen Makeover
The kitchen is truly the center of the home and where most families spend the most significant amount of interaction time. Because it also has the most number of working components and appliances, some of the key things to keep in mind when renovating this room are quality, durability and layout. A great design in a kitchen amounts to only half the battle since this room receives the most wear and tear of any space in a home. Execution is critical here and should not be compromised.