Divine Design

I was astonished to find that IMDBs page for "Design on a Dime" has so many comments and Divine Design has/had none, especially given that DD is the best design show on HGTV. How on God's Green Earth did a show wherein a bunch of people spray-paint plywood, think maple leaves are "tropical", and glue raffia and placemats to everything (DoaD) manage to become more popular than a show wherein the end product is a space you would actually want to *live* in like Divine Design!?!? Hélas.

Maybe it is symptomatic of the US view of development wherein "kids" who should have been emancipated into adulthood at puberty are instead kept in some kind of artificial "adolescence" so that they can be both controlled as if they are the Tomoguchi pets of their bourgeois neurotic uptight and lonely parents, and made to spend 6 billion dollars each year on sheer crap like Ashley Simpson albums and paint-ball guns. Hence, the room-redo in the parent's house/prison at age 16. Plywood and spray paint are good for that maybe? Ugh.

BUT, back to real matters here... I am always seriously impressed with Candice Olsen's (hope I am spelling that right) ability to really *listen* to her clients and deliver something that surpasses all expectations. Whether it is a "High Tech" space for a young dot.com couple or a Country Kitchen for a family with 8 kids, Olsen always creates a space that is absolutely stunning. She can make Country look sophisticated and High Tech look warm, soothing and inviting. She really thinks through everything in advance -- the right materials, lighting design and impact, traffic patterns, the hierarchy of needs within the space -- and balances everything to perfection. She always has a great mix of textures, matte and reflective surfaces, she designs for "all the senses" thinking about where to put the stereo components and when might be nice for a meditative water feature, for instance. And she thinks about how actual people will fit and interact within the space. I think she is a genius who covers every base.

Olsen, it seems, is also incredibly tall. I wonder if just her phenomenological experience of space as a tall person throughout her life has led her to be acutely aware of how spaces work and this has given her the special insight reflected in all her choices. Then again, maybe she's just sensitive and smart.

I love her crew too, but especially Chico. Everyone seems to be a master at his/her craft and to enjoy working together. Together they create artificial paradises. Hence, the "Divine" half of the name, I guess.

The only show that occasionally comes close to DD on HGTV is Debbie Travis's, but she is rather hit or miss. Sometimes she does an amazing job and sometimes the end result is a little cheesy. I think Olsen and Travis are both from Canada? Interiors in general must be much more tasteful up there.

If you wish to be inspired, to see what an interior is *supposed* to look like and how it is supposed to function, and to learn some great tips that don't all include spray paint and plywood, I totally recommend Divine Design. Sorry for the rant above...it was just the only way I could explain the popularity of "Design on a Dime" to myself.

I wrote a much better review before, but then my browser crashed and I lost it, alas.

I've been watching "Divine Design" for several years and it's truly become my favorite HGTV show. It's true that the intent is not to stimulate the viewers into getting ideas for designing beautifully with low budgets, like the majority of the other design teams in other shows, but I can't argue against her. One of the differences is that she's a gifted professional, with a qualified team, unlike teams like the various ones on "Design on a Dime". I love the sketches that she makes, which clearly demonstrate her organization and competence as an artist. And of course, her humor and her and her team's funny clips where they dress up and do some skits and stuff, which are indispensable in the show.

I've been watching her show (available on the W network in Canada) for years. Her designs are truly inspirational and never just thrown together. She shows how well-designed spaces can look awesome and have some whimsical touches without being tacky. All the elements in her rooms truly relate and belong and will likely stand the test of time. They are personalized statements customized to the individual client that also takes the style of the home into consideration.

She seems to like a challenge and shows how to work with and around building structure that she doesn't want to change. Good design tips and ideas are shown. Sometimes she makes it look too easy, though I find she is now showing more behind the scenes work and mistakes that had to be corrected. Her show could be an hour long and and it would still be worth watching.

She has Divine Design books and now DVDs. She also has her own line of Candice Olson fun, flexible and fashionable furnishings and accessories.

If you are into home renovation, I highly recommend watching the brawny, overall-wearing Mike Holmes (also Canadian) and his very educational and eye-opening show Holmes on Homes, or whatever his current project is. His trademarked slogan is "Make it Right". He also has books and videos available.