While we keep up with Leanne Ford year-round, once she’s back on our TVs, it’s tough not to admire the wardrobe stylist-turned-interior designer even more. And, chances are, you might not have even known that last little tidbit we slipped in. That’s why we thought it’d be helpful to share 10 things we love about Leanne Ford. Keep reading to learn more about one of our favorite Pittsburgh designers.

She stays true to her fashion roots.

As we mentioned above, once upon a time, Leanne worked in fashion. While she’s no longer a wardrobe stylist, one look at her outfits and it’s clear to see that she still pays attention to what’s trending. From puff-sleeve blouses and monochrome ensembles to her trusty Doc Martens, Leanne’s wardrobe is anything but boring.

She’s eager to mentor fellow design lovers.

While Leanne’s Instagram and show offer plenty of inspiration for wannabe-designers, the 39-year-old HGTV host wants to outstretch her helping hand even further. As of February 2021, Leanne has teamed up with The Expert, a 1:1 video consultation business that teams hopeful designers with experts in the field.

“On a search to find a way to help the most people during quarantine I was thrilled to find @theexpert,” she captioned the post celebrating the announcement. “Now I can spend an hour or even a half hour with you and get you rolling in the right direction on your projects and at any phase. It’s also been a great place to mentor budding designers and answer all your questions. I couldn’t be happier that they finally figured out a creative solution for all of us. Yahoooo!”

She likes to honor the era of the homes she designs—not totally transform them.

While Leanne has a signature look thanks to her love of white paint, she’s on a mission to maintain the original integrity of each home she works on.

“When designing kitchen spaces I do my best to honor the style and era of the home,” she captioned a photo of the kitchen revealed in the first episode of Home Again With the Fords.

She focuses on unique qualities—not perfection.

In a world that’s become so obsessed with perfection, Leanne likes to keep it real and highlight the unique attributes of each home she works on. It’s this very approach that makes her so beloved by fans.

“And this is why I love you and your work!” one Instagram user commented on her quote post (pictured above).

She’s a champion of other women in the design world.

Despite being an HGTV celebrity, Leanne remains a down-to-earth person who celebrates wins just like the rest of us. And, within her celebrations are often accolades for other women in the design space.

Upon her feature in Domino, she posted to Instagram that “...the girls on the pages of those magazines were sooooo cooooool. I would rip them out and save them in a box that I carried from apt to apt, then house to house. And as I stood there for this shot I kept flashing through those images. Realizing that ... here they were in my house. In my project.” She then proceeded to call out each designer individually who made an impact on her in that moment, proving once again, she’s not afraid to shift the spotlight—she wants to share it.

She puts family first.

As much as we love Leanne for her creativity and impeccable design skills, one of the things we admire most about the HGTV star is her devotion to her family. As it turns out, it's a major reason for her move back to Pittsburgh.

“...This move was all about coming back to family,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “It’s funny how having a child changes all of your choices and aims and ambitions. I for one never thought I’d stop life, never thought I’d schedule around nap time, never thought I’d leave the ‘city of dreams’ for a couple of barn doors and a grandma. (Plus the rest of them!) But guess what, I haven’t looked back. Turns out the good stuff is at #home and our family are our besties and dinner in a beat up old fashioned garage is (almost) as good as those vibey spots we loved so much in #Venice. (Ok, so maybe the foods better at @gjelinarestaurant but we’ve got brick floor, low lighting and some good wine here too.)”

She’s not afraid to be unorthodox with her design endeavors.

One look at the photo above and you’re probably loving the walls just as much as we are. Well, guess what? Leanne created them with coffee.

“I was trying to figure out how to bring warmth and history and some life to these walls, while simultaneously noticing how much coffee was going to waste every day in our house,” she wrote in the caption of the post. “So I swooped it up one day and rubbed it on the walls. I couldn’t believe how ‘good’ (to me!!!) it looked. Who knew!”

She advocates for love.

Knowing how empathic Leanne is, it’s not surprising that she’s also one to regularly advocate for love and kindness on Instagram.

“I always go back to this,” she wrote, referring to the quote pictured above. “And as a mother I feel my duty even more these days. Teach our children to love each other. Teach us to love each other. Through it all. It’s not everything. But it’s a start.”

She’s super relatable.

At this point, you’ve likely found more than a few things about Leanne that you can relate to. But, if not, let us be clear: She’s just like you and me. She gets excited about career wins, she has good taste in TV shows (as evidenced by her nod to High Fidelity in the caption of the photo above), and she knows the value of a classic pair of Chucks. But let’s be clear, that’s just scratching the surface when it comes to Leanne.

To keep up with Leanne, follow her on Instagram @leannefordinteriors. And don’t forget to tune into new episodes of Home Again With the Fords on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.