Author: Breegan Jane

In this episode of my HGTV show, The House My Wedding Bought, Los Angeles sets the scene! I’m so glad I got to film in my hometown because I met the super cute couple, Katy and Tyler! They both embody the life, vibrance and freedom of LA. They also represent the variety the city can offer, too! Their styles were so different, but hey—opposites attract! I’m glad I got to be a part of their house and wedding journeys.

Weddings Wishes, HGTV Style

What I like about Katy and Tyler is they don’t let their differences overtake how united they are. But boy, did they have some contrasting views! Don’t get me wrong; they agreed on their $75K budget, but that’s about all. How did they want to spend their budget? Well, this is where things got interesting.

As most brides do, Katy wanted to have a lavish wedding day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! I knew exactly what I wanted for my wedding day, also, and I loved every minute of it! Katy wanted a very traditional affair, but she definitely saw her special day as an all-out party. And, she preferred to spend the majority of the savings on that event. Tyler, however, seemed to be more investment-focused and wanted to utilize most of their savings on the home they would be purchasing. That said, he wanted a more intimate wedding event with fewer people and a smaller venue. He wasn’t opposed to a nice backyard wedding. Katy was open to the idea, but I knew I had a lot of convincing to do to pull that off in the grand style she wanted. I had my work cut out for me!

Picking the Perfect First Home

One of the great things about being on HGTV is having expertise in finding different types of homes for clients. Once I figured out what Katy and Tyler both wanted in a home, I was able to hone in on different options that would possibly satisfy both of them. With such vast wishes for the perfect home, I knew I needed to make sure the options presented as much of an all-in-one package as I could find. I’m so glad I do this full-time!

The first thing I realized was location was extremely important to Tyler. He wanted something close to downtown LA where he worked. I get that. It’s a common consideration for many new homebuyers, and for good reason. We spend so many of our hours each week at our workplaces. It makes sense to want to eliminate a long commute. Trust me: I understand the headache that can come with LA traffic! I kept that at the forefront as I helped them look for homes.

On the other hand, Katy wanted a traditional home with a large backyard. I completely understand that, too. They have dogs, and it’s important to have space for them to run around and exert energy regularly. The challenge is, in Los Angeles, you simply don’t get much yard space the closer you get to downtown. There really wasn’t a middle ground between the couple’s preferences—and this was just one consideration where they differed!

Episode Takeaways

There were several takeaways that I hope HGTV watchers think about as they finish this episode. First, when it comes to buying a home, take your time! This is an extremely important decision, and you don’t want to make a mistake. If your first home is your forever home, you want to make the most of your money and investment. Katy and Tyler had to make a decision quickly because their lease was going to be up the week before their wedding. Not investing the right amount of time gives way to being impulsive. This could lead to several negative circumstances, including possibly losing down payments or deposits (as this couple did).

Also, couples should have several serious conversations about individual needs versus wants for the home they want to purchase. When two people want different things, the biggest challenge is compromising in a way that makes both people happy. With this couple, one wanted a modern home close to downtown LA, while the other wanted a craftsman-style home with lots of yard space. Would they each be willing to compromise location or house style if it gave them the home they wanted? Or, would a home that needed renovations be worth the sacrifice if they could save money? Sincerely discuss the non-negotiables and things that could be compromised before making final decisions on what homes you consider.

Finally, when you’re looking at home amenities, don’t let your eyes limit your possibilities. Many homes are clean slates waiting for color and texture to give them personality. Don’t let a neutral presentation turn you off when you look at homes. You can make a home whatever you want it to be! You shouldn’t pass on a home with great bones just because you don’t like the tile, colors, cabinet doors or drawer pulls. Those are easy changes you can make without spending a great deal of money. Know that you can always create the impact you want to see in your home.

Another Classic HGTV Episode!

I had a blast with Katy and Tyler, and I’m so excited about the final choices they made for their wedding and home. They met in the middle when it came to the options that were important to each other. I honestly think their marriage and future together will be better for it. What was your favorite part of this episode? I’d love to know in the comments below!

I had a blast hosting my HGTV show “The House My Wedding Bought.” I’m always honored to help clients, especially when they’re couples making two of the most important decisions of their lives. It can be challenging to navigate purchasing a home and paying for a wedding simultaneously. Thankfully, I have expertise in both to make the paths for these special events clearer!

Fancy vs Glampy

When it comes to home and wedding desires, Francis and Kristen couldn’t have been more polar opposites. Fancy Francis, or “Francy”, as his fiancée’s family calls him, appreciates the finer things in life. He had no problems letting me know when it came to the house he wanted, he preferred a new build with all the bells and whistles. And, he didn’t want to obligate himself with many modifications, maintenance or sweat equity. His wedding mindset was no different; Francis put grandeur over an extensive guest count. Prioritizing plated dinners, multiple courses and a live James Brown cover band, his tastes were definitely the more elevated between the pair. The catch? He only wanted to spend $10K on his ultimate wedding wishes. (How’s that for an HGTV kicker?!)

Kristen, on the other hand, wanted to spend the bulk of their $30K savings on their special day. Instead of opting for a quaint guest count, she wanted all of her family and friends—at least 150 of them—to attend her glamping-themed wedding. Going for a buffet versus plated meals, Kristen hoped to still save for a charming, farmhouse style home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large backyard. While I’m in no way playing favorites or endorsing one person over the other, I get Kristen’s thought process. A couple can take their time getting a home together and making the necessary investments over years. A wedding, however, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There were big dreams and big bucks proposals on all sides of the couple’s dreams. Getting the best of both worlds required some serious negotiating to truly get them to “the house my wedding bought”!

Home Buying Options Galore!

As with most couples, Kristen and Francis wanted to do a lot with the money saved for their home and wedding purchases. But I wondered if the expectations on either side were as realistic as they needed to be. I decided to present high-, low- and middle-range options for homes and wedding venues in the Austin area. I wanted to show them that having a budget was only half the battle, but that there were plenty of ways to get what they both wanted with a little compromise.

The first home I showed the couple wasn’t a new build, much to Francis’s dismay. BUT, it did come in at a lower cost and lower down payments. This would get them below their monthly mortgage payment goal. Even without the thought of a wedding, that’s a wise notion; there’s a high potential for more savings while making a great investment. While the second home was a shiny new build, it was more expensive and would force Kristen and Francis to go above their anticipated monthly budget. The third home was a new build that would allow them to be under their monthly budget. However, to give the home the personality they wanted, it would require a little financial investment to make some cost-effective upgrades.

None of the options were bad, but they did force both Francis and Kristen to consider what they were willing to sacrifice. The older home would cost less IF Francis would be willing to do some maintenance and upgrades himself. The second home would be great IF they were willing to have a greater monthly payment for years to come. The third house would be an excellent choice IF they were willing to invest in some cost-effective upgrades. Decisions, decisions!

The Perfect Place for an HGTV Wedding!

Such was the same with choosing the wedding location. I ended up showing Francis and Kristen two different venues that catered to each of their preferences. The first was a historic hilltop venue that offered a gorgeously elevated landscape and amenities to create epic photo memories. It was the kind of place HGTV dreams are made of! The historic church at the venue offered great space for all of Kristen’s family and friends, as well as the live band and games Francis wanted. This satisfied all of Kristen’s desires, but it was a bit too much for what Francis had in mind for a smaller, more intimate wedding.

The second wedding venue option was a beautiful winery setting that was as cheap as I’ve ever seen. That left more room for food and wine, two priorities the couple shared. There was a catch: the venue only allowed 75 people for an event. This would force Kristen to cut her guest list in half, but it would offer the smaller, more intimate setting Francis was fighting for. Still, Kristen would get the camp-y vibe she wanted for her wedding, sort of, and they would be saving money for the dream house they wanted for their first purchase. While I didn’t have a perfect option to fill EVERYTHING they wanted without some sacrifices, there were enough choices to make some great decisions, both for the present and future.

Final Choices

So, what was the final verdict? You should check out the episode on HGTV or discovery+. I think the final decisions will shock you. I know I was! What matters most is they both chose to compromise and consider each other in their ultimate decisions. And, I believe they chose the most cost-effective options for their budget and home investment. As staunch as they both were with what they initially wanted, I’m very proud they made the perfect choices for the life they were building together. And, I wholeheartedly believe they are both proud to tell their friends and family, “THIS is the house my wedding bought!”

The first episode of my HGTV show, “The House My Wedding Bought,” was the perfect example of what great savings can do for both a home purchase and a dream wedding. It was also a great example of how different each partner in relationships can be when it comes to purchasing priorities! I’m glad I started with a couple that was fun to work with, as most of my clients are. Here’s what happened with Ray and Allison.

Should You Spend More on a Home or Wedding?

I found it so interesting that out of the two, Ray was the one who wanted to spend more money on the wedding! That’s atypical, but it makes so much sense when you get to know him. He’s the socialite of the two, and I could tell he loved being the life of the party. For the wedding, he wanted to have 150 guests, a DJ and a live drummer. He also wanted multiple food stations, several bars AND drink donkeys roaming the event. To his credit, he did prefer to split their $60K savings down the middle on the wedding and home.

Allison proved to be the more investment-focused one of the couple. Her wedding tastes were much more reserved and focused on an intimate event. I wasn’t shocked that she wouldn’t rule out eloping at one point! That being said, Allison preferred a smaller backyard wedding with fewer frills. Growing up in Hawaii, she simply wanted to be surrounded by tropical flowers, and that wasn’t an unreasonable request in my book. Focusing more on the home, Allison wanted to budget $10K on the wedding and use the rest of the savings on the house.

When I look at Ray and Allison, I saw how opposites could attract, as the old saying goes. But when I looked at how they wanted to utilize their savings, opposite desires proved to be a serious balancing act of give-and-take. I decided to show them home and wedding options that ranged in price and amenities, and crossed my fingers that one (or more) of the choices would please them both.

House Hunting for the Best Value

While house-hunting, Ray was more about the plug-and-play amenities. One of the only things he agreed with his partner on was wanting a more open concept for the home. But he *had* to have his “dude dungeon,” and he didn’t want to put money into maintenance and upgrades. His ideal home was ready to move in with all amenities ready to be used. He also wanted a large backyard for their dogs—and for over-the-top entertaining. It’s not often that I work with couples where the groom is pickier than the bride! (Maybe an HGTV first??)

Though she wanted to spend more on the house than her to-be husband, Allison’s house requests remained practical. She wanted to find a modern farmhouse with lots of windows and natural light. She was very open to working with Ray on his house requests. But, she wanted to maximize the investment and money put into whatever they decided as a couple. I hope all couples consider that as they work together. Whatever the wants and needs are for your home, make sure you get the best bang for your buck, and don’t focus on things that can be easily modified or acquired down the road.

The couple saw three homes. They first saw a below-budget home in a cute cul-de-sac that needed minimal customization. I then showed them a brick home that met their financial goals and monthly payments. But, it needed some personalized renovations that would take more of the savings. I finally showed them a farmhouse build that was higher than the rest, but could be managed with some exterior upgrades. The choices ran the gamut, but it was up to them to decide which fit their needs most. If you’re an avid HGTV fan, you know how hard these choices can be!

Picking the Best Wedding Venue

I wanted to make sure that the wedding venue Ray and Allison had didn’t lack any of the accommodations they wanted for their special day. And, it was important to me to make sure the venue would help them utilize their savings in a way that maximized their home investment. There were two places that I thought would fit the bill perfectly.

We first looked at The Terrace Club, and I chose this space for a couple of reasons. It was outside, which appealed to Allison. It also had a large open space with pockets of space for more intimate activities or grouping. This allowed both of them to get the sort of atmosphere they wanted. But with the amenities they wanted, the space would cost them close to $25K, which was much more than Allison wanted to spend.

The second venue, Vintage Villas Wedding & Event Center, was also an outdoor setting, but it had an AMAZING view of Lake Travis. It was ridiculously inexpensive to rent, and with on-site catering, it was a steal of a venue. The flipside was that it allowed fewer guests, which blind-sided Ray’s 150+ attendee plans. He was also concerned about the traffic noise that could interrupt their ceremony, so that had to be considered. Still, the total cost would give them a bit more to spend on their house.

House vs Wedding: Decisions, Decisions!

So, which house and venue did they choose? You’ll have to catch the show on HGTV or discovery+ to find out! I will say that they made really great and wise decisions that set them up nicely for their future together. Though they disagreed on some things, they came together in the end, and that’s ultimately what matters. It makes me confident they’ll be excited to show their friends and family, “This is the house my wedding bought!”

My interior design career has been such a journey. It’s been traditional in some senses, and VERY untraditional in many others. What started out as a teenager designing a retail store and airplane hangar-turned-production office, turned into a successful interior designer and HGTV host. Throughout that journey, I learned there are no quick or easy shortcuts to gaining expertise in this industry. And while I wholeheartedly believe you should hire a professional designer for more extensive home renovations, I have learned some helpful interior design hacks to create small but significant makeovers in your home.

Furniture Arrangement Hacks for Your Home

When people think of interior design, furniture is usually one of the first aspects to come to mind. Perhaps that’s because furniture occupies so much of what we see in our home spaces. For this reason, it is essential to get your furniture arrangement and configuration just right. How do you do that effectively? That’s one of my first interior design hacks.

It’s always helpful to be able to visualize where your furniture will go. It’s okay to verbalize where a couch or ottoman will be positioned, but nothing beats actually being able to SEE what that arrangement looks like. My best friends will tell you I’m known for stopping by for a visit and ending up rearranging furniture to get a different feel or look for the space. When possible, and if you already have furniture, don’t be afraid to actually move things around in different configurations in your space. You’ll be able to really see, not theorize, how things look and determine if it’s to your liking.

Measurements are Major

If you don’t have furniture, measurements are a MUST. Be sure to get specifications (length, width, height) of your pieces, and use colored tape to map them out on the floor where you’re looking to place them. This will allow you to check out how your furniture interacts with natural light at different times in your home. You may find the sun falls directly where you watch TV in the evenings. That glare in your eyes won’t be good!

Speaking of the television, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to arrange furniture around it. Many people make that mistake. Instead, arrange your living space in a way that best facilitates interaction and engagement for the people who will use it. Family time and entertaining conversation will create many more lasting memories than a TV show ever will, and that’s what matters most. Talk about interior design hacks that will NEVER lose impact!

Never Design Without Product Samples

One of the biggest interior design hacks I swear by might also be the one that saves you the most time. It’s simple: get actual samples of what you plan to use in your space. I employ this most when it comes to the metals and finishes I incorporate in my home. I love using brass throughout my home, but it comes in so many different shades and finishes. My surefire way to always get it right is to order samples of the items I’m looking to purchase. I try to stick to the vendors that have great return policies to guarantee the perfect match before committing to the wrong product or extensive installation process.

This suggestion also works well with swatches for rugs and carpets. I always look to get fabric samples to lay out in the space to see how it feels and looks in the area I’m designing. Having several options to see and place gives me more security and peace about the choices I make for coordination. Paint swatches do the same. I always get several colors in the same family to look at. I sometimes get actual paint samples to try to determine which looks best for the overall space and design. Getting product samples before final purchases will help you avoid making costly or time-consuming investments related to your home projects.

Mix High- and Low-end Features

Another one of my quick-and-easy interior design hacks that many people don’t consider is choosing to splurge on some elements of your home design and saving in other areas. I know you may be thinking, “Duh, Breegan.” What I mean is, be intentional with what you spend more money on based on visual impact. For example, the wallpaper you choose will have a huge impact on the aesthetic of your space. I would get high-quality wall coverings that are durable and bold. On the contrary, you can create beautiful artwork that looks professional without spending much at all. How? Go to the library! Select photos and get them printed and framed, and you have great, inexpensive complements to your wall designs.

Such is the same with your dining room tables and chairs. You’ll get a better bang for your buck and overall space design by investing in the more significant piece of furniture—the dining table. Make sure it’s well-built and constructed of quality materials. The right tables can be passed down as heirlooms or resold with retained value. Do NOT, however, spend a great deal of money on your dining room chairs. They’re a more highly-used (and abused) element and, as such, will most likely be replaced sooner and more often. Dining chairs aren’t investments, unlike sturdier tables.

These are just a few interior design hacks I’ve learned throughout the years. They’ve helped me save money and time for myself and my clients. It’s always good to think about small steps that will bring out the best in our home interiors AND keep the best in our wallets. Do you have any hacks or tips that you use for home renovations or refreshes? I’d love to hear them! Let me know in the comments.

January can be a paradoxical month. The new year is in full swing. Ironically, though, as much “newness” as the first month brings, it also creates a time of settlement and silence. After the holidays, things settle down, and we all get back into our grooves, whatever they may be. I personally take this time to focus on self-care, detox and cleanse my inner self of impurities. I also take the time to do a winter “deep clean” to prepare for the coming spring season. It’s a great time to consider refreshing your space, also, and I have just the right tips to do it efficiently and effectively!

Make Room in Your Rooms!

Many people think about buying new things to bring fresh energy to an interior room. I say no to that. One of the most important steps to refreshing your space can be summed up in one word: PURGE! Take “out with the old” literally! That chair collecting dust in the corner that you roll your eyes at? Yes — get rid of it! The knick-knacks on your shelves? Let. Them. Go! If there’s a lot to get rid of, clean one shelf a day. There’s absolutely no time frame for cleaning your house. (But do it sooner rather than later.)

Create an open area in your room, and sit with it for a while. Live in it. See how it feels before you purchase something and fill it with another piece of furniture. Buying doesn’t always fix problems with interior visuals. We all know what too many purchases look like: clutter. That’s the opposite of what we want in the new year. Fix the look of your space by undoing.

Rearrange Your Decor

Before you pull out the plastic to purchase something new, try moving existing things around in your rooms. Get a different perspective of what you have. This is an easy way to begin refreshing your space without spending one dime. You know what they say: sometimes you have to use what you’ve got to get what you want!

My kids have recently been enjoying indoor play, so I brought a table I had outdoors, inside. I’m not sure if it’s going to stay, but I knew I didn’t typically use it outdoors during the winter. On colder nights we enjoy putting puzzles together, so I made it a puzzle nook for our family by the fireplace. Take a look at the things you use inside and outside your home. Repurposing items can bring life to a space and rekindle the use of things like tables and chairs. You’ll be surprised how different something looks if you put it in a different environment.

Bring Purpose and Intention to Your Interior

I preach “functional” design, but I rarely consider that without considering the look that’s presented in a room. You wouldn’t just put paint on a canvas because paint brings color. What you do with the paints has to create something memorable. That’s how I think when designing a room. So when I think about keeping my yoga mats and weights in a common area of my home, I cringe. Breaking my visual aesthetic hurts my heart. But I had to get over it, and it was a great step for me. It can be one for you, too, when refreshing your space.

The reality is, our spaces are intended to meet our needs. There’s really no point in having a beautiful house if it doesn’t work for your lifestyle. I love yoga and working out, so my home should make space for that. It wasn’t easy, but I finally just let go. It’s important to have visually pleasing spaces, but it’s also important to practice what I preach when it comes to the health and good habits I want for my life. Everything won’t be perfect in your space. And that’s okay if being intentional with the space means you set yourself up for things you want to do more often. Renewing your mindset can oftentimes help in refreshing your space. Try it!

Cleaning the Kitchen and Bathrooms

Kitchen and bathroom cleaning can be soooo daunting, especially when you consider tackling the cabinet space under the sinks and typically unseen places. Honestly, nobody wants to deal with that. But that’s precisely why you should. For cabinet cleaning, take it one drawer at a time. Bite the bullet. Put a good playlist on, and just do it. I think it’s a great idea to clean the “junk drawers” around this time of year. It’s called “junk” for a reason, so get rid of what you absent-mindedly put there because that’s where junk goes. (Newsflash: junk actually goes in the trash.)

Do your bathroom and linen closets a favor and toss out ruined or worn linens. You know: the things with the kids’ spaghetti stains on them, the towel that got caught in the dryer and ripped, or the cloths with the infamous bleach spills on them. You don’t use them, so let them go. Or, if you simply have to keep them, cut them up and repurpose them. They can be great rags for washing the car or cleaning carpet spills. But you don’t need 20 of them in your linen closet. Make space for the one you would use for company. That’s all you need for your family and guests.

These are some first steps for refreshing your space and starting your year off spacially lighter. I challenge you to try at least one, and let me know how it goes. I promise you’ll feel better about the new possibilities in your space!

Being a guest judge on the Food Network series Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown has been SO. MUCH. FUN! It’s ironic that I’m a person who doesn’t prefer to be in the kitchen (and wouldn’t have the time if I did). Nevertheless, creatives easily connect with other creatives, and that was my experience with Kardea, Nacho, and all of the amazing bakers and “gingerbreaders.” Regardless of culinary skills, there were so many other ways in which we were all alike. What’s more, there were several great take-aways from this particular episode, the show’s season finale. Here are just a few tokens of wisdom that resonated with me.

In Baking and Business: Just Do It!

One of the things that I appreciate most about this week’s contestants is their courageous spirit! Their backstories were just as interesting as their work in the Food Network kitchen. Maryann, a software developer, simply decided one year to enter a gingerbread competition. While she admitted her first attempt wasn’t that great, she realized she improved with time. 13 years later, she was good enough to be featured on the show! Sireena’s story was very similar. She worked in a hotel that wanted to have a gingerbread house in the entrance of the hotel, and she volunteered to create it! The houses continued to get better and better! 20 years later, Sireena is showcasing her baking skills on national TV. 

I loved hearing these stories from the contestants because it reminds me so much of my industry. I’m asked all the time my best advice for budding and aspiring designers. Without fail, my answer is, “JUST DO IT!” Literally go out and do whatever it is you want to do. Get some training, learn about what it is you want to do, and don’t think about it any more. In many cases I think people talk themselves out of going into interior design because the profession seems daunting. Well, it can be, but you’ll never know if you don’t attempt it. I know I’m a better designer because I chose to do what my heart wanted, and I believe these bakers are, too!

Taking Chances – Try it; you might like it!

Though this week’s Food Network focus was all about the “gnomies,” the baking twist in this episode introduced the spice cardamom into the bakers’ baskets. Cardamom, a relative of ginger and turmeric, was new for many of the contestants this week, but they all decided to give it a go. Natasha created a cardamom gingerbread white chocolate cranberry pudding! Talk about complex flavors! Jennifer’s team used the cardamom with a lemon drizzle over homemade cookies, and they looked (and tasted) amazing. The cookies were used as steps in the overall design, and they looked great. 

When I think about the baking twist this week, I realize how challenging it may have been for some of the contestants. As I look to create innovative spaces for my clients, I often have to do some general convincing with each build. When it comes to colors or patterns, clients tend to want to play it safe and go with what they know. But where’s the fun in that?? You can have fun with color in ways that aren’t permanent. 

That’s not to say you have to opt for hot pink tiles in the bathroom, however! Instead, you can use a bold-patterned rug in your living space that can be removed when you’re no longer in love with it. It’s a small way I work with clients to take risks and enjoy the home renovation process! Who knows what you may come up with? Being willing to take a chance is one of the keys to tapping into one’s greatness. It’s what I saw with these designers and their gingerbread creations. Nothing but amazingness can come from that kind of audacity.

Attitude is Everything

If I know one thing about life, it’s this: Murphy’s Law is ALWAYS in effect. This week’s show was focused on gnomes, but the contestants all shared a focus on making very intricate gingerbread scenes. The challenge is, details require a lot of attention, and that can get lost in the hustle of creating if you’re not careful.

Such was the case with Maryann’s assistant Meg, who accidentally knocked over their very delicate mailbox pole. They didn’t have extra material as backup, so she had to fix it! Instead of getting flustered, she simply told Meg to try to fix it…and kept working. Had she lost her cool, things wouldn’t have gone as well as they ultimately did. Sireena had a similar incident while creating her “Holiday Forest Gnomies” scene. She accidentally broke several leaves made out of fragile isomalt, and there was absolutely no time to start over. Her positive attitude helped her rebound quickly, and she was able to repair the damage and continue creating.

I realized early on as a designer that making plans is a great idea, but I should always prepare to throw those plans in the can. Things go awry often. The question is, how do you deal with unforeseen challenges that come your way? I’ve learned to anticipate them and have Plan B’s for everything. If Plan B happens to fail, I know life isn’t going to end. As cliché as it sounds, your attitude about your endeavor determines your altitude. It’s true in design, and this episode proved it’s also true in gingerbread baking.

Gingerbread Geniuses!

I’m so glad I got a chance to participate in this season of the Food Network Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown. The contestants were all masters of their crafts, and they helped spark more creativity in me as I continue my journey as an interior designer. Did you have a favorite episode? A favorite gingerbread scene? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments!

Food Network is serving up all the feels this week on Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown! One of the best parts of the holidays has to be all the beautiful decorations that can be found all around us this time of year. Many of us have beautiful memories of seeing bright and shiny window displays as we walk or drive around our towns during the holiday season. Well, we challenged three teams of gingerbread enthusiasts to create a window display with an animated element. What happened next? Well you’ll have to keep reading for my take on it!

Baking is a Balancing Act

If you have been watching the Gingerbread Showdown on Food Network, you know that each team’s creation must be at least 24 inches tall at one point. When you’re talking about something as potentially fragile as gingerbread, that’s quite a feat! Each of the contestants found out first-hand that balance can make or break the experience (literally) if it isn’t taken very seriously. 

Matt and Chelle’s “Gazing Through the Window Pond” theme included an RV that Santa used to visit the window pond and gaze down at the earth. Balance quickly became the priority as Matt remarked about each gingerbread piece acting as a support to one another. It was imperative that the royal icing be capable of holding the RV structure together. So you can imagine the shock and awe that accompanied Matt’s discovery that he had been mistakenly using buttercream to secure the gingerbread instead of royal icing! 

We “decked the halls” with Sarah and Alexis with their family living room theme, and weight distribution again played a major role. The back wall of their gingerbread house was shaping up to be the essence of heart and the holidays. It was slated to display picture frames with photos of Sarah’s and Alexis’s family members. Unfortunately, when assembly time arrived, concern grew over worries that the royal icing wouldn’t be strong enough. Sarah and Alexis ultimately decided to nix the wall altogether in favor of a “safer-better-than-sorry” approach.

From Baking to Building, Balance is Best

It won’t shock any of my loyal readers when I mention that I’m not a cook. But, while I lack culinary skills, I do know my way around a kitchen—at least, the design of them. One of things I always consider when I’m designing is weight and scale. The two concepts apply to a plethora of design elements. A well-balanced space is achieved by mixing the right combination of pieces, textures and colors. Tuxedo kitchens are an excellent example of this. I use light colors on the upper surfaces and balance them out with darker hues on the lower ones. The effect is a light and airy space that still feels grounded and significant. 

Weight isn’t only figurative. As an interior designer, I also often deal with the literal weight of a home. It isn’t unusual for a client to inquire about ways to enlarge their rooms by knocking down walls or removing unwanted beams. While I’ve successfully spearheaded construction on several properties, I can tell you that those beams are often there for the support of the house. That means, eliminating them for the sake of the desired aesthetic isn’t always wise. Much like the gingerbread bakers, beginning with the end in mind and mindfulness regarding weight distribution are both essential.

Rain or Shine, the Baking Must Go On!

Food Network shows and contestants are no stranger to challenges. However, I’m not sure if these bakers expected the weather to be an obstacle they would need to overcome! This week as each team worked to construct their window displays, it poured outside. The humidity from the rain impacted the gingerbread and potentially changed the fate of some of the teams’ creations. 

MJ and Beth’s window display was adorable! They decided to go with an antique toy shop theme with a little boy and his dog peeking in through the window with excitement. It was an incredibly elaborate display that relied on isomalt for many of the “glass-like” elements. We all quickly learned isomalt gets less and less transparent as the humidity rises in the space. That’s disastrous since MJ’s theme took the idea of “window” display pretty literally!

I watched as MJ and Beth diligently worked away to complete their edible build. The gingerbread, absorbing more and more of the moisture in the room, began to bend. The items held on with isomalt slid off. Still, the ladies kept a positive attitude. They stated that the isomalt looked like frosted glass, and the gingerbread took on an even more antiqued appearance. It was, as they described it, a “happy accident.” I loved watching the two of them persevere through those difficulties without complaining. They found innovative ways to fix mishaps (hello, blowtorch!), and they achieved an amazing result in the end.

Positivity Under Pressure

I’ve had my fair share of weather-related surprises while working on design projects. These occurrences have impacted everything from delayed deadlines to shipment changes. I don’t think I have to tell you that clients aren’t usually thrilled when that happens. Through it all, I’ve learned to breathe through the rough moments, prepare the client for the probable “what-ifs”, and maintain a positive purview. It might sound cliché, but when your back is up against the wall (or gingerbread, lol), panicking never helps. I appreciated seeing the resilience in these bakers.

Risky Baking Business

The twist this week was right up my alley! The teams had to incorporate champagne, and boy did they! It was a bubbly Food Network time as each of them added the sparkly beverage to their gingerbread designs. While every take on the twist was different, they all shared one thing. The teams were all willing to take a risk to win the $10,000 prize. Matt and Chelle marinated apples in an attempt to sustain more of the champagne flavor in their cheesecake. Sarah and Alexis appeared to go slightly overboard with their champagne addition to ensure we truly tasted it. And MJ and Beth added champagne pearls when they feared the chocolate would steal the show. 

Did their risks pay off? Well, you’d have to ask their opinions. I can tell you that, even in design, I have to be willing to take the less traveled path to get the result I want. I take risks with my design, I go against the grain, and I trust my own instincts, even when they’re less popular. Taking risks isn’t for the faint of heart, but it can be the thing that gets you the win!

I continue to be impressed with how these talented cooks, bakers and builders use their medium to create things of beauty each week on the Food Network Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown. This episode kept both the judges and contestants on our toes! What about you? What were your favorite moments? Let’s chat in the comments!

I have been thoroughly enjoying my time on the Food Network Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Edition! Each of the teams continues to shine and showcase the best of their pastry passions week after week. There hasn’t been a week yet that I haven’t walked away astounded! With this week’s “Dreaming of a Bright Christmas” theme, I feel like I literally saw light bulbs going off with these pastry chefs! I may not know my way around the kitchen like they do, but they highlighted so many principles that are staples in my interior design business.

Planning and Baking: Like Hand in Glove

If you have been following the Food Network show each week, you know the teams get the theme before they come to the competition. It’s one of the first things you notice when you watch – they already have gingerbread made and ready. HGTV knew the time constraints participants would have, as it takes a bit of time to make gingerbread. This focus on preparation and planning is so key in starting the competition off right.

Leslie and Randi had a clear vision for their “Artsy Christmas Lodge.” They wanted to incorporate  Christmas colors in their scene, so they opted for traditional red and green. But I love that they used coloring with alcohol! The addition of alcohol allowed the colors to dry more quickly and not ruin the gingerbread. Any stitch in time with these competitions helps tremendously when you only have 10 hours to complete a gingerbread scene! Daniel and Marla were no different in their initial baking plans for the “Christmas Gingerbread Greenhouse.” Daniel knew to focus on the intricate piping work for his gingerbread scene. This would allow him time to build the actual house. He also set to stand all of the bottom panels of his house upright first before working on his second floor. His gingerbread pieces were extremely fragile, so this planning was pivotal to his build success.

I have a mantra that I mentioned in episode one of Food Network Gingerbread Showdown: prior proper planning prevents poor performance. The wisdom of that continued to ring true in this episode. In my business I always ask myself what would happen if something I ordered was damaged on arrival? What would happen if a client didn’t like a chance I took with a design element? Instead of simply hoping for the best, I make sure I have reasonable, achievable plans to answer those questions to prepare for the possibility of failure. All of the contestants did that, and their final presentations were better for it.

There’s No “Can’t” in Culinary!

Have you ever been to a gingerbread contest with master gingerbreaders??? Let me tell you, week after week I never cease to be amazed! The teams dream up ideas and somehow they find ways to construct edible treasures that look like they come straight out of fairytales. Christina and Ana’s “dreaming Alex” slept in a bed tucked in with a cozy blanket. When we went over to take a closer look at their creation, we were all convinced that the blanket was their non-edible component. I mean, did you see it? It looked like fabric! Imagine our surprise when we learned it was in fact edible! Christina and Ana made the blanket out of wafer paper and gelatin. It’s a process that takes hours and hours to complete, but the result is perfection!

Daniel and Marla impressed all the judges with their realistic windows made from gelatin sheets! I couldn’t believe how beautiful they were. They gave the house such a modern look. Daniel wanted the light to shine through, and boy did it ever! I watched idea after idea take shape as the teams assembled their houses. These Food Network challenges reminded me of a parallel concept in interior design.

Desserts and Design: The Common Denominator

I often tell people that being an interior designer is like being an artist, a magician and a therapist all at the same time. I say that because the process of creating a home can require designers to use their creative side to come up with ideas, their emotional intelligence to tap into what the client needs and feels, and a little bit of magic to pull everything together by a deadline, lol. I’m regularly faced with taking a client’s desire that feels impossible and making it come to fruition. I use innovative thinking combined with a healthy dose of perseverance to accomplish these goals.

Say a client has a modest space, but they want it to feel cavernous. This is the time to pull out all my tips and tricks to give a room a spacious feeling. So whether it’s knocking a wall down, choosing a paint color to brighten the space or changing the furniture configuration to give way to a light and airy feeling, I am always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the effect is achieved. Baking and designing both demand limitless imagination and a ton of courage. I see a lot of those qualities each week in these teams. I see that same quality in myself when I’m doing what I love most: designing!

Varying Takes on the Baking Twist

Jesse Palmer has a way of throwing a little surprise in participants’ baking plans each week, and this week it involved creating a dessert with pâte à choux. The natural choice for all the teams was to create snowmen for the dessert! Christina and Ana were the first to get started, though, so the other teams switched gears. As the theme focused on a “bright Christmas,” Leslie and Randi went with creating pâte à choux light bulbs. Daniel and Marla crafted Christmas trees from the pastry dough and used spun sugar to decorate it. Though the texture of the spun sugar didn’t make the tasting experience what we judges wanted, it was a creative take!

So, the twist portion of the program came with its own additional twist! I relate to this in so many ways as a designer. I draw inspiration from  everywhere, so I’m always jotting concepts down to try out as soon as I have the time. Creative people know that what you picture in your head isn’t always how the tangible product emerges when you’re finished with it. That can be both a good and bad thing.

One of my favorite metals to design with is brass. It instantly elevates any space. The challenging part about working with this metal is that it comes in a variety of shades. If I’m designing a bathroom with a golden faucet and handles and I want my light fixtures to match, I often have to go back to the drawing board several times before each component is a perfect match. I’ve learned to order samples to avoid this problem, but it isn’t always a sure thing. Sometimes the idea I started with gets ditched in favor of a newer scheme. While it can be tough to let go of the original plan, flexibility in design has always served me well.

Lessons from the Kitchen

The teams benefitted from their ability to pivot when necessary to create one-of-a-kind gingerbread designs. Mistakes and issues happen, and the best laid plans often don’t work out as planned. But knowing this—and preparing for it—will almost always lead to less stress and inevitable success. That’s a lesson that goes beyond cooking and designing, don’t you think?

Did you watch this week’s episode of Food Network Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown? Which was your favorite gingerbread house? Let me know in the comments!