I've always felt that color is intrinsically personal. It evokes a tremendous amount of emotion. If there's a color you respond to, that's something you can incorporate into your home. No one can tell you it's wrong.

I don't believe in having spaces in the home that don't get used. We pay so much for square footage that to waste it is criminal.

I live in a beautiful vintage building that was built in the heart of downtown Chicago.

I am not ever in the business of making anyone feel bad.

Layering in different patterns will keep things from appearing too studied.

Even as a 10-year-old, I remember trying to explain to my mother and stepfather how upset and frustrated a messy room made me. But they just couldn't grasp it. They wanted me to be playing with baseballs and frogs while I wanted to be scouring garage sales.

I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same with TV. Being famous or having a show was never the motivation. I got a call and was swept up by the challenge of that first small space redesign.