“There’s nothing more beautiful than the sight and sound of people laughing; it transcends all cultures and ages.” -Candice Olson

http://www.hgtv.com/candice-olson/bio/index.htmlhttp://www.nj.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2011/07/candice_olson_in-terview_family.htmlhttp://www.candiceolson.com/http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/16/Homes/10_questions_for_Cand.shtmlhttp://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-05-03/lifestyle/35263703_1_divine-design-design-firm-interior-designhttp://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-05-03/lifestyle/35263703_1_divine-design-design-firm-interior-design

Candice Olson Interior Design

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Growing up I was always interested in HGTV. It appeared to be one of my earlier inspirations to become an Interior Designer. I was always looking to see when the next Divine Design show was on. I enjoyed watch-ing the show due to a very skilled and talented designer named Candice Olson. Her show stood out from the rest, because of her style and her unique way of transforming rooms. Candice’s show was always engaging and the result was always a surprise. She shared valuable tricks of the trade and inspirational ideas. Olson’s projects are very good examples of good design that one can learn and follow. Candice Olson graduated from the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University, Toronto. She now holds the elite position of the lead-ing Interior Designer in United States and Canada. Her skills got recognized early in her carrier. Time Magazine called her as “the one to watch”. After college she worked for the top Toronto’s Interior Design firms after which she started her own path as a residential and commercial Interior Designer. Her TV carrier began when “one of her award-winning design projects were featured on a Canadian station”. Candice is not only a designer, but is an author of several books and she even has her own very successful collection of home goods that many Interior Design showrooms carry. “I simply love classic design when it’s reinterpreted. These collections reflect the spirit of this design philosophy; clean pared down lines and forms rooted in tradition yet made to feel new and modern with unexpected or stylized scale, finishes and detailing. This contemporary take on tradition creates a look that’s at once current yet timeless, fresh yet familiar…the essence of both beautiful design and a beautifully designed home”, shared Olson. Candice’s designs have been called timeless. Inspiration is sometimes a key to driving a well-balanced design in terms of color and texture. Candice gets her inspiration ideas from fashion shows. “I do a line of bedding which is very fashion-driven.

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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, 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.” Ralph Lauren is also Candice’s major influence due to his long lasting carrier. Traveling is an important aspect of her inspiration and way to stay true and current to her design. Her approach is a similar one to a intro-ductory studio class. Creating design based on a fashion designer is a good way to learn color about their lifestyle, color and style selection. Candice Olson designs are different from others, due to her unique way of choosing to highlighted elements, creating truly function space and the process she takes to reach that. “She has an obsession with the way lighting can transform a room, and those questions about how occupants use a space, help her decide on its most necessary features” wrote Jackson in her article Candice Olson interview: Family life, design shows and her new kitchens and bathrooms book. Olson often uses lighting to control the mood and function of the space. “I really look at the day-to-day lifestyle of the homeowners” says Candice, “I try to walk through the day”. She looks at everything a homeowner does, starting at the door and going into small details like putting away groceries, location of the fridge, space needed to move and work in to the occupancy of the room.

Kitchen designed by Candice Olson. (Brandon Barr/)http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-05-03/lifestyle/35263703_1_divine-design-design-firm-interior-design

to reach its full potential.” Natural elements are needed to soften the man-made materials; a mix of stone and wood, chrome and glass. Beautiful tactile fabrics make up a beautiful design. There needs to be “wow” factor in every room. “That’s how I start the design process” states Candice. “It could be a beautiful fireplace or a view. If the room doesn’t have one, that’s when the design process gets exciting. You fake it or create it: a fireplace, a waterfall, a feature wall. And finally, a good dose of reality. As a mother of two I know it’s not all about the pretty. Sometimes it’s good upholstery cleaner! Living rooms should live up to their name. They’re rooms we live in, and living is messy.” Candice wants her designs to be portrait as family friendly and not stylized magazine pages. Judy Stark, Times Homes and Garden editor asked Candice Olson to share several tips on what to get rid of in home. Candice recommended: “Fussy draperies. They’re like a showgirl sitting in the middle of the room. They can really date a room. Windows should be clean and simple.” We can learn from this that this may have something to do with lighting and use of natural light. Candice thinks that people underestimate light and think of it after the room plan is complete even though lighting should be thought out prior to creating a space. “A big monstrosity of a TV cabinet with the television concealed behind doors. Get over it, honey, TV is here to stay” says Olson. Candice brings her own twist to designing a space and she keeps it very real, even if it comes to telling the truth about a TV cabinet. As a homeowner, it is important to identify what is your big-gest mistake in the space or why it doesn’t work. Based on Olson’s opin-ion homeowners make one of biggest mistakes that breaks their design. “They don’t look at what their own lifestyle is. They see a beautiful room in a magazine, or on Divine Design. If you have four kids, a dog and a husband, you can still have a beautiful room but you have to take into consideration some of the practical aspects that are part of every lifestyle.” Candice recommends trying and identifying what you like before you hire a designer. This can be done by simply creating an inspiration board, look-ing for inspiration in commercial buildings and being open to room swap which is often one of her tricks on her show. A top designer and distinguished, well known host, Candice Olson is an excellent interior design educator. One can learn about her process, selection of materials and elements that make her designs functional and attractive and successful. Her designs are timeless and elegant. Olson share great tricks on creating good design and facing reality about your lifestyle and needs. She stresses the importance of lighting and ways it embellishes a room and creates a functional retreat. Her work is practical and timeless reality of a contemporary home.

By Natalia Haywood

Candice Tells All

Candice has several design tricks she can’t live without. Good light-ing is a must. “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