The designer and ‘ Trading Spaces ’ mainstay exercises a practical mindfulness about what she put into her household .
As aTrading Spacesstan from path back , I jump at the luck to interviewGenevieve Gorder , one of the original six designers on the OG home makeover tv set show . We spoke over Zoom one December morning , with her draw in up on the lounge in herblack - painted living room , which she says is everybody ’s favourite room in the NYC townhouse she apportion with her teenage girl and husband .
On screenland and in mortal , Gorder is affectionate , gross , soulful . She talks about home with the worked up focusing of a psychologist and the Zen of a spiritual master . “ home base is so hallowed to me , ” she says . “ It ’s a character in our lives . ”
This ego - described “ extroverted hip - hop kid from Minneapolis ” take outside relations , sociology , and anthropology in college , finally getting a vivid design degree and move to New York City to crop in product design beforeTrading Spacescame calling . The striking show debuted in 2000 and ran for ten seasons , including two season of a reboot that start in 2018 .
TV and television are still Gorder ’s primary mass medium , but she also never really stopped design product . In addition to her latest show , At Home with Genevieve , streaming for free on Crackle , her latest productions are aline of washable rugsthrough My Magic Carpet on Amazon and a line of merchandise of jewelry with Manya . She has previously launched wallpaper , cloth , and pillow .
Genevieve Gorder’s House Rules
The uncouth theme in Gorder ’s approach to home is all about being knowing — about what you keep in your nursing home , how you decorate it , how you think about it and treat it , and what you do in it . “ call up of your home as the master of ceremonies of your life , ” she says . “ Your place is the founding to you . It ’s a display case of your life . Be heedful with her . ”
Genevieve Gorder
Your home is the introduction to you . It ’s a showing case of your life . Be careful with her .
Avoid These Three Things at Home
No shoes . “Shoes drag in everything , ” Gorder says . Take them off at the door , no exception .
No agenda . “I want you to mill around . It ’s when there ’s no real design that the house really hums . ”
No harsh lighting . Gorder disapproval recessedoverhead lighting , and especially LED . She always get sure there are multiplelayers of lightin every elbow room and commute her lighting outline as the weather and season call for . For example , during the winter when days are short , she relies on candlelight , both real and electric or battery - operated , to light up her house and set the temper .
Go Easy on the Climate Control
Gorder also tries to use her HVAC system as small as possible . She does n’t like the way running the warmer dry out out the air . ( And she ’s from Minnesota , so she bed cold . ) “ You ’re cold-blooded ? Put on a sweater , ” she propose . She go humidifiers during especially wry portions of the yr . “ If it ’s not moist at bottom , we ’re sick , ” she says .
Pick Up After Yourself
Genevieve has an unwritten rule that everybody living in the house should contribute to keeping it clean , including take out the chalk .
“ My mom and dad were hippies , ” Gorder says . “ develop up , our organizing and cleansing was n’t neat . I like I come fully lade with expert cleanup habits , but creatives do n’t cerebrate like that . However , I ca n’t live with soil or too much clutter . I want order . ”
I am my most unionized ever when people are make out over . I love make everything feel good , and that include cleaning .
Use Entertaining to Keep the House Looking Good
When it comes to entertaining , Genevieve is unflappable . Her house is often headquarters for vacation celebrations , greaser nights , whatever . Thanksgiving for 55 is no big deal . “ It ’s theater , ” she say . It ’s also an exculpation to get the family looking its best .
“ I am my most unionised ever when people are come over , “ Gorder sound out . “ I screw pee-pee everything feel full , and that includes cleaning . ( I live with a teen and a furniture designer — not the most organized people . ) That ’s when I even get a piffling bossy . Iclean everything!”“I always have ice and drinks , “ she adds . “ I do a touch cocktail , plus prosecco , wine , and something non - alcoholic . I also make this sour pick dip that everybody wants . ”
Always Bring a Gift for the Host
Gorder loves to take care of people throughcooking for and hostingthem , so please do n’t stress out about try on to facilitate her in the kitchen . “ Your job is to have fun , ” she says . “ You ’re not here to work . I need your time and your conversation . We are here to change feeling , have conversation , and to laugh . ”
That said , “ Always bring agift for your host , ” Gorder counsel . “ vino , intellectual nourishment , something she would n’t bribe for herself . A feeding bottle of gin . A pair of tongs . expend a little and give back . Getting a boxful of chocolates or a really nice bottle feel honest . ”
We have category dinner party as many times a calendar week as potential . That ’s where you get your kid to spill their beans a fiddling snatch . That ’s sanctified meter .
Have Dinner Together
“ We havefamily dinneras many times a hebdomad as possible , ” Gorder says . “ That ’s where you get your fry to spill their beans a lilliputian bit . That ’s sacred sentence . ”
Don’t Neglect Your Own Bedroom
When it amount to decorating , some mass estimate the private place can wait because so few people see them , but Gorder discord , wholeheartedly . She call back the primary chamber is where you should start : “ You know that saying , put on your own oxygen mask before helping others . The bedroom is your oxygen masquerade party . ”
Rethink Your Yard
Gorder call up it ’s high clock time we redefine what nominate a beautiful yard , and it should n’t be all about an expanse of eatage .
“ We do n’t have the proper environs for turf lawns , ” she says , name to the amount of weewee and criminal maintenance they require . Instead , she like planting a yard , even a front G , of wildflowers . “ The big gullible thou is outdated , ” she says . “ Nature is the divine . Nature is the new luxury . ”
