I switch over to Bravo to catch "Flipping Out" then back to HGTV to watch "Color Splash." Even though some of the shows have similar premises - transforming one lucky homeowner's space into something spectacular, the designers and styles are all so different. Take for instance Candice Olsen vs. Antonio Ballatore (girly and chic vs. rugged and cool). The temperament and personalities of television designers vary greatly. I won't call out the divas, but they know who they are.
Antonio Ballatore/The Antonio Project: Antonio was the season four winner of HGTV's Design Star and now has his own show, The Antonio Project. I am a big fan of his signature hot pink birds and also love his design of Mario Lopez's home gym.
Jeff Lewis/Flipping Out: Jeff Lewis is the type of person you hate to love. Recently, he has had to scale back his honest opinions when he transitioned from house flipper to interior designer with a clientele. His designs definitely have a consistency - contemporary, rich woods, and overall neutral colors. His biggest strength is making the space feel like a home.
Candice Olsen/Divine Design: It seems like Divine Design has been around forever! Candice Olsen designs always come with glitz and glamour.
Kathryn Ireland/Million Dollar Decorators: I love Kathryn for her fun personality and approach to design. Nothing is too precious and the design centers around creating a home. Her style is modern and bohemian, which is also reflected in her textile line.
Emily Henderson/Secrets From a Stylist: Emily's style could be summed up as vintage bohemian and she is really good at switching up the style to fit her client's objectives. She loves shopping flea markets and can pull together a space on any budget.
David Bromstad/Color Splash: After I get over the fact that David is incredibly good looking, I really admire his creativity. David started his career in the creative industry as an artist and after winning HGTV's Design Star, he now transforms interiors using bright paint colors and original art.
Cortney and Robert Novogratz/Home by Novogratz (formerly 9 By Design): HGTV picked up where Bravo left off and snatched up Cortney and Robert to host their own show on HGTV. The couple proves that anything is possible, even caring for seven children while managing large scale design projects. Their designs are innovative and change dramatically from one to the next. I can't wait for the premiere of their new show this Saturday, July 16th on HGTV!
I realize there are even more talented television designers than I listed above, but these are just a few of my favorites. Who's yours?
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
Comments (70)
Sarah Richardson all the way. I like David Bromstad, but his designs aren't my style. I like Emily Henderson's designs, but she is SO DITSY.
Jeff Lewis stresses me out.
Yeah, where was Sarah Richardson? (Oh, right. There was her recent audio interview with AT!) But seriously, I love anything redesigned by Sarah OR Candice.
I really like Kenneth Brown from HGTV's reDesign. I find that Like Sarah Richardson, he's particularly good at explaining the process of design.
David's my favorite of the designers shown since I like ample bright color.
Another vote for Sarah Richardson...practical, livable yet elegant.
My favorite TV designer is Samantha Pynn from HGTV's "Pure Design." It's not because I'm in love with her designs; instead, it's because she is SO FREAKING HOT. OMG
I feel like she's flirting with me and me only during every episode. Love that girl...
My two favorites are Antonio and Candice....the rest are basically non-existing.
Antonio is gorgeous to look at, and I love that he is not scared of translating his set design experience to regular households and they end up looking amazing and over the top with just the right vibe to live in. The only thing is that he loves his dog tooooo much.
And Candice.... I could stay all night up just listening to her. There is something warm and fresh about her tv persona.
...And where is Genevieve?...I like her a lot too.
Sarah Richardson, Candice Olsen, and David Bromstad
All there designs aren't my style but they always seem to accomplish the right design for the right job. They can come by my house any day.
Come on people! Genevieve Gorder! Her designs are so well thought out! I don't think I've ever not liked one of her designs. And Emily Henderson? Ditsy? Why because shes blonde? I'd like to see you develop that level of depth in designs. Shes just bubbly, and happy, and loves what she does!
david! he is a great designer.
Sarah Richardson here as well, if I ever had the money, she is the one I would call.
But I do like watching Antonio and Jeff Lewis and David is just eye candy!
I like practical and livable decorating so Sarah Richardson all the way!
Candice, Sarah, Vern and David...in that order. As much as I love Sarah...Candice is the goddess.
Jeff Lewis- All the way. I would live in any one of his designs. Just a great, clean aesthetic.
I really like Emily Henderson too. I enjoy watching her take one style all the way and then blend two styles so a space works for multiple people. I find her tips about design and how she works interesting, plus I think she's just fun to watch.
love Sarah Richardson's designs!
sarah, candice always on my dvr.
Ditto with Sarah and don't forget Tommy!
It's difficult to have a single favorite TV designer as they all specialize. My favorite current tv design personalities are Sheila Bridges, Sarah Richardson and Candice Olson. Add to this list some old HGTV favorites, Michael Payne, Kenneth Brown, Lee Snijders, Ali Azhar, Angelo Surmelis, and Chris Madden.
Wow, I am the first to say Novogratz. I also like Candace Olsen.
When I win the lottery, I am calling Jeff Lewis. Then I will call Sarah Richardson to do my summer house.
candice is my all-time favorite, i also love sarah & tommy, emily henderson, and genevieves last season of dear genevieve was great, lots of rooms i loved. excited to see the novograts- i never watched 9 by design.
i also love nates show.
I enjoy watching pretty much all of the mentioned designers, but my favorites would have to be Candice Olsen and Sarah Richardson.
I love John Gidding on Curb Appeal Block! Jeff Lewis is a riot, and I like his designs.
Sarah Richardson is my absolute favorite followed by Candice Olsen and Samantha Pynn. My husband and I are both looking forward to the Novoratz's new show, as well. I wish David Bromstad had stayed in SF. I love Flipping out but does anyone really watch Million Dollar Decorators?
Sarah Richardson is #1, followed by Genevieve Gorder, Nate Berkus, and Emily Henderson.
I'd go with David Bromstad, because I know he would create a space that would completely blow me away, but it would also be a space that I would enjoy living in from day to day.
I always enjoy watching Candice Olsen, Antonio, Vern Yip, and Genevieve Gorder. I think I just prefer strong color/graphics, and practicality on a level that's not overly sophisticated. The kid in me always gets input in my design choices. :)
Sarah Richardson & Emily Henderson all the way! Also love Candace but I miss her old show with Chico :(
Sarah Richardson for her peaceful presence with a dash of reality and a heavy dose of Tommy.
Emily for her ability to put things together that should really not go together and make magic.
Kathryn Ireland for Jacqueline and champagne before noon.
I would like to Kenneth Brown back - he was so approachable yet sophisticated.
Shiela, Vern, Candice, Sarah, Genevieve and Nate. I can sit for hours and watch them.
The Novogratz spaces are cool, but they stress me out.
Candice - hands down.
Sarah, Emily & Genevieve!
Sarah Richardson for sure. I like Candice Olsen's solutions to design dilemas, but I usually think at the end it's a whole big mess to dust - Divine Over Design.
I found Richardson's earlier shows boring, initially. It took seeing Sarah's Summer House to make me like Sarah Richardson. It had to do with the challenge of getting a summer cabin on an island with only boat access ready before she had her second child, so the various issues surrounding those problems, as well as the inclusion of her husband (Him: "Those are all white." Her: "No, this one is slightly blue [etc.]") improved my opinion of her as a personality.
love sarah AND tommy -- he's under-appreciated i think -- emily's a cutie but voice drives me wild --candice too over-done -- and don't forget taniya and samantha
It sounds like this should have been set up as a poll.
We could also have a poll for least favorite designer. Is Hildy still around?
miss emily henderson is by far my favorite. i love the results and her approach.
I guess I'm the minority - I don't care to watch Candice, though her rooms are usually lovely, if not to my taste. I just find her off-putting. Love Color Splash and Genevieve and Vern!
Out of that group Emily is my favorite.
I love Emily but sometimes I think her final look is just too cluttered. In general, she creates looks I can really get behind.
Antonio and David create great looks that I could never actually live in.
I'm excited to watch the new Design Star. Seems much better than last season.
Candice and Emily
I love Candice Olson and her designs are timeless and beautiful, even if they are not always my style. If you look at some of her older rooms (some, but not all) still have relevance today.
And Emily because her designs are very close to my own style and design aesthetic.
Genevieve Gorder is so great...and FUN! I could totally hang with Genevieve. As for Jeff Lewis, I'd have to slap him upside the head.
Post another vote for Sarah Richardson :)
I love Sarah! I always think how I could easily live in her rooms. However, I'm starting to wish I was glamorous enough to live in a Mary McDonald room! Kim Myles is a toned down version of her and wonderful to watch.
David Bromstad is just plain adorable, he's not my style, but he's kind of infectious. In a good way.
Am I the only one wh cant STAND Sarah Richardson? What's with the SR lovefest? And her voice-- Genevive Gorder lite! HGTV stacked a Sarah and a Genevive show up next to each other the other day and I though they had the same narrators!
Srsly, Sarah's designs are OK but not for me-- too designy and thought out. Like model homes. I like it when a home's style develops more organically and over time. Emily pulls off that look well.
Candace's show seems like it's been on forever because she's just that dang talented and it deserves to be on forever. Timeless designs, in other words.
Used to like Antonio (probably based on his looks) but he's done too many rooms that I wouldn't want. I dont like David Bromstead's style either, but he's fun and cute... even if he prefers men :(
I know Emily Henderson only from AT and a few other online pages, but I would probably hire her to do my house. I like Candice (isn't her last name Olson, not Olsen, though?!?!?) and I like Sarah but I don't think I could actually LIVE in their style. Emily probably represents the phase I am though right now the best.
Kenneth was fairly good but he was a bit too traditional for me. Never seen anything with Antonio - I don't think any of his shows aired in Canada.
I prefer Candace and Antonio. Antonio might be a little out there but he always listens to what people say and works his butt off to give them a beautiful, one of a kind room without it being too over the top or kitchy.
I must be the only person who absolutely can NOT stand David Bromstad. Sorry. He has two formulas for his rooms 1. blue & brown 2. orange and red. That makes up a good 70% of his shows. How can it be called color splash when he never goes outside the box and uses different colors? Again, just my opinion.
Sarah Richardson. I like her clean designs and how she pulls a room together. I was tickled to death when I saw a plate she'd framed for a guest room in a local antique store!
I like David Bromstad, but he's such a huge presence. He makes me nervous, like he might step on me by accident.
I detest Emily Henderson. Such a ditz and that squeaky voice and her twee plans. And those damned tights she's always wearing!
Trufflesauce: you are not the only one. Can't stand her!!
Love the work of Katherine Ireland and the Novogratz duo.
Candice Olson all the way.
Genevieve all the way. I think she has so much imagination to her designs, and she always thinks outside the box.
Ya know, I like Candice, but her designs are very "throw up an expensive wallpaper and put in a non-venting fireplace." Seriously, every time, even in kitchens.
I don't watch hgtv too often anymore, but I remember really liking Antonio's stuff. He tends to pull off things that I wouldn't ever normally like - like a cockroach decal or a hot pink rhino head. That's saying alot, I think!
Sarah, Antonio, Candace, and David all have my vote.
I love Genevieve. I haven't seen a space she designed that I didn't love...even if it's not my style. She listens to her clients and gives them what they want. I also love Emily Henderson's style but her fast speaking and the squeaky voice get to me....ugh
Sarah all the way...but only if she brings Tommy =)
david bromstad. :)
I made an account just to comment!
Antonio is my choice of favorite designer. While I admit that HGTV does have many talented designers, there's no one whose designs I gravitate toward more than Mr. Ballatore. From his style to his personality, he has it all and that's what hits all demographics. He breaks the mold that most networks have for their designers. He's not your typical cookie cutter kind of guy. He has edge, he's bold, and he leaves you wondering, "what took him so long to be discovered and on TV?" He's truly inspiring and there is not one episode that by the end, you're not speechless and super stoked for the next one. We need inspiring, teaching, passionate, mold breaking kind of people on television keeping our interests at its peak like Antonio Ballatore does. I appreciate all he does, and there's no other designer I can say I have the same choice of words for.
Antonio is a breath of fresh air - he's my number 1. I still do love Candace and Genevieve. I thoroughly enjoyed Emily on Design Star...but seriously think the style diagnostic on her show could be revamped...but her designs are fab!
Okay so Candice Olson has my number one spot, David Bromstad my number two, Love Antonio and Jeff....they are both very entertaining.
Antonio, Antonio, Antonio, with Candice in 4th place
Antonio, of course! Then David Bromstad and Genevieve....Love them for their connection with their clients, and their ability to think outside the "designer" box!
Sarah, Emily and Genevieve as well. They all love to shop at thrift stores!
Candice is my favorite but I really like David's work very much. Saw him at the Alameda Antique Fair a couple of yrs. ago and stopped him to tell him how great I thought his work was and of course he was as nice as he is on his show!
Tough question. Emily, Sarah R. (with Tommy of course), Genevieve, and the Novs. All so great!! Candace and Vern are solid staples that I love too.
I love Emily! Both the show and her designs are unconventional, which makes it a must-watch for me.
Antonio all the way baby! I love how he connects with his clients, and then blows their minds with a one-of-a-kind design especially for them. Design isn't about changing out pillows, paint or a rug, but making a statement his clients didn't know how to - did you see the graffiti wall in the loft, or the little boys hands out-flung with the doves in the LA contemporary?
Emily Henderson is the best thing going. She knows her stuff. Her style is a breath of fresh air. She layers styles instead of sticking mainstream, big box looks.
It's a toss up between Candice Olsen and David Bromstad. Candice for grown up elegance and David for fun style and color!
Antonio all the way. He always nails it with some WOW factors and makes it so personal for his clients on every design. He could do a room in my home. A Big Thanks to DESIGN STAR for getting Antonio and Chewie on our televisions and DVRs.
my favorite is Angelo Surmelis :)