"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 beautiful designed home." -Candice Olson
Candice Olson is a inspirational designer who has taught many throughout her career. She has inspired others through television, books, lectures, magazines, ect... She has her own unique style that people fell in love with and made her nationally known.
Candice first started her career as a residential and commercial designer. Later, after her work started getting publicly noticed, did she switch to television. She started as a designer in Canada after attending the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. In 2005, The Candice Olson series, started airing on television. "Candice's unique style is one she explains as a combinatio of traditional style, scale and proportions, while using clean, crisp, simplistic attractiveness of present day style" (http://candiceolson.org). She published her first book 'Candice Olson on Design; Inspiration and Ideas for your Home' in 2006. Her second book was titled 'Candice Olson: Kitchen & Bathrooms' and released in 2011. Her other television show include Divine Design and Candice Tells All; both aired on HGTV. She is also a judge on Design Star also seen on HGTV.
When asked what her definition of good design was during an interview with Aphro Chic she responded, "Good design is all about the basics. It's truly about form versus function. You have to ask clients, how do they actually want to live in their home? It goes beyond what you see in magazine clippings. My job as a designer is not just about color and decor, but about structure, renovation, and layout. From there it's all about finding the personal side of the client's style. You want to open the front door of a home and be able to read about the client who lives within. Good design should look like a designer hasn't even been there, instead you should see a space that continues to grow evolve. People get tripped up on magazine of lifestyle photos, but is that really what a family with five kids, a dog, and a habit for eating nachos should live in? Many times people need a reality check and need to see how they can get the home they want in a smart way. Good design is an investment in time, energy and money. As a designer it's my job to help the client be really smart about what the investment is all about." - Candice Olson
I love her answer to that question. A good design isn't necessarily about making a space look like they do in magazines. A good design is about if the client can function in the space you designed and still have it look aesthetically pleasing. Candice acknowledges that and makes her designs look fantastic along with making sure it functions the way the family needs it too. That's one of the things that makes her work so great.
I also love how her designs incorporate many different elements and that she always adds a little bit of uniqueness. The picture above is a good example. I love the way she does the headboard. It's not a typical headboard that is seen in other spaces. I also like the shelves above the nightstands with the mirrors behind them. That is also a unique idea and adds interest to the space.
I started watching Candice Olson's shows when i was younger, and that's when started getting interested in Interior Design. Her designs are inspiring and a lot can be learned from them. Not only did I learn from watching her shows, but I learned a lot from reading what she has to say about design. She not only has a lot of knowledge about interior design, but she has an instinct about design that separates the good designers from the great ones.
"Design is so exiting now. People are realizing the power of design. Design can change the way they live--their lives can change for the better. They can feel better, entertain better, love better." - Candice Olson
http://www.hgtv.com/living-rooms/top-12-living-rooms-by-candice-olson/pictures/index.html
