The Design Cookbook: Recipes for a Stylish Home – Kelly Edwards
A visual feast of appetizing and controversial design elements, just two of many aspects that make this book a great success. Kelly Edwards has skillfully taken design elements and broken them down in a step-by-step process. She gives us all the ingredients, spice, and character of various designs formatted in cookbook style. I think this is a fantastic way for the everyday home designer to explore interior design. The imagery of interior spaces are glutinous with elegance and style. The Design Cookbook has defiantly inspired me to try out some these fabulous recipes for design.
Check out what I found out in speak with the Master Chef herself…
* Who was your intended audience when creating The Design Cookbook? Can you break down the format for me? I wanted to create a book that everyone could enjoy. From the high-end designer to the DIY’er, I wanted something for every skill set. Actually it was my dad came up with the idea. One day I was telling him that I wanted to do a design book and he said, "Why don't you make one that looks like a cookbook?" I thought, “That's ingenious!” Truth is... people love to read cookbooks even if they can't cook. It's such a great approach to design. If you give someone a photo, a recipe and a list of ingredients it makes it so much easier to complete a room! I wanted to show people that with a recipe for a room, they can be their own designer.
* Where does your inspiration for design stem from? I get inspiration from other designers. I have about a million magazines. Whenever I’m looking for inspiration I turn to them. Some are even 10 years old. I can find plenty of ideas in all of them. Even if I can’t find something I’m looking for I may see a color pillow and think, “That’s the color I’m painting the room.” I also love Pinterest. It’s truly the Mecca of ideas.
*DIY Projector Art (pictured below) - Using chalkboard as a design element has really taken hold, what are your thoughts of the chalkboard as an element of design? Do you feel the chalkboard is a lasting ingredient in design or a temporary fad? Chalkboards have been around for over a hundred years. It’s slowly transitioned from the classroom to the home. I think it’s a classic staple that will be around forever, similar to school house chairs. I love them!
* How did you decided on the designer featured in your book? For me it was about getting a variety of different designers so there would be an array of different designs styles. If I did a book only on color, people who love rooms that are more neutral couldn’t relate to the photos. I wanted everything from mid century modern, to rustic, to traditional to be incorporated. Even though I have the most eclectic mix of designers in the book, I still tried to keep the photos consistent enough so that each page could transition in to the other.
*Are you formally trained in interior design? What is your design history before HGTV? What made you want to pursue interior design? I actually have a business degree. I was living in Chicago when I just picked up and moved to LA. My first job in television was sweeping floors for the set of the Power Rangers. I thought it was so cool. I knew I always wanted to work on the set of a design show though. I came from a home where Bob Villa was a staple on TV every Saturday and an extremely handy Dad. I learned everything from him. Eventually I started working behind the scenes on Design on a Dime as a Design Coordinator. Two years later they asked me if I was interested in co-hosting the Chicago team. The rest is history. It’s the most amazing life I could’ve imagined!
The Design Cookbook: Recipes for a Stylish Home is currently available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. This truly is the perfect gift for any occasion, especially makes a great house-warming present. ;o) I encourage you to check out Kelly’s book (some of the amazing images from the book below) and for more about the designer herself check out Kelly Edwards inc.
Happy baking!
Erin Martin Kitchen 
Kelly's Chalkboard Art Project | 
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