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Last year, I was thrilled to get an exclusive interview with David Bromstad, the first winner of HGTV’s Degin Star. And now, I’m thrilled again because I got the chance to exclusively ask questions of the second Design Star winner, Kim Myles.
She’s just launched her brand new HGTV series, Myles of Style and she’s certainly a busy person! But thank goodness, she took a few minutes to answer some questions. She’s so postive and fun – I think you’ll see what I mean in her answers. Check it out:
Question: What will set your new show apart from the other design shows on HGTV?
Kim Myles: I do!! As a person who is passionate about design, but not formally trained, I have no fear of breaking the rules. Add a whimsical sensibility and super creativity, and you get some really exciting and unexpected design choices; it may not be to your taste, but I promise you’ll have an opinion one way or the other.
Q: What do you think was your key to success in the Design Star competition?
(click on “Read More” for the rest of the interview)
Kim: I think it was a combination of: My mother is an artist, so having a developed visual life was a given in my home. As a New Yorker, I was used to crazy energy and a fast paced lifestyle, so the brutal schedule didn’t faze me much. But at the end of the day, I think that it was just meant to be mine. I felt that when I applied, and that’s how I conducted myself throughout the competition: calm, assured, and just counting the days!
Q: If you could sum up your unique design style in a sentence or phrase, what would it be?
Kim: Eclectic Elegance with Edge.
Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced when planning for a brand new show?
Kim: Just wanting it to be a true reflection of my style and taste – I wasn’t interested in producing cookie cutter designs, so working ‘outside of the box’ felt like it might pose issues. Luckily, my production company and HGTV fully support my quirky take on design, so it was a bigger issue in my head than it ever was in real life.
Q: Was creating a new design show what you expected? If not, how was it a surprise?
Kim: Creating my show has been a surprising process. Helming a team is new to me,
TV is new to me, and designing spaces for people other than myself is new to me….when you get right down to it, it’s been the craziest adventure of my life. Every day brings a fresh challenge, and meeting them head-on is where I really thrive.
Q: How has the show affected your family? Did you have to relocate or make major changes in your life because of the show?
Kim: Oy. Well, I left New York for LA, and so did my husband and 2 cats (anyone who has cats, I’m sure you feel my pain!). It’s been a complete uprooting for my husband and I, and that carries its own challenges and adjustments. On the flip side, my family is in CA, so being near them for the first time in 12 years is a huge gift — All I can say is that living one’s dream is complicated business, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Q: What have you learned about yourself as a result of the Design Star competition and creating Myles of Style?
Kim: That I’m a very strong woman. Once I’ve set my mind on something, I will not be swayed off course. Knowing that I can ‘go the distance’ no matter what the circumstances is one of the best bits of self-knowledge that I’ve earned in my 30s.
Q: What advice would you give to the contestants on season 3 of Design Star?
Kim: Nap when you can, breathe deep at least 20 times a day to still your mind and slow the adrenaline, and just take it one day (sometimes one minute!) at a time.
Q: If you had to start over creating your show, would you do anything differently? If so, what?
Kim: Nope. I just stopped to really think about it, and no, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe that all things happen for a reason, and that what is meant to be will be, so I feel really great about my show, the process, and my future. Life is good!
I love her personality and her upbeat attitude! I’m definitely going to watch her new show on HGTV, called Myles of Style!
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What a fun interview! Makes me think she would makes some incredible designs!
Ok, I’m an HGTV addict…I can watch it 24 hours a day. HGTV is the best thing since sliced bread! Myle’s show is fun to watch and I find her designs to be fun and edgy!
Kim is so full of herself. She has no training in design and on the program acts like a know it all. She has her own brand of style all right. Candles, cheap looking light fixtures, cheap looking wall treatments, cheap looking rooms. Did I mention her designs look cheap? Yet, her budget is $5,000.
Notice she’s so arrogant, the first word in her interview was, “I”? Sorry, but I’m not impressed
I am so very dissappointed in hgtv!
kim is a design flop and with no real sense of design, and common sense,does not listen to the needs os the Homeowners nor is practical in the choosing of accessories and placement of furniture, and uses way to many cheap candles, always finds a way to block out windows and constantly puddles the curtains
her attitude is a know it all snippy, trying to make us believe that she knows what she is doing attitude
Style channel has a stylist contest IF she’d had any sense she should have entered that and have let someone win the design star contest who truly knew what they are doing!
Designer? Who is kidding who? She is the biggest joke that HGTV has ever played on the public. She is a kindergarten crafter if I have ever seen one. Within one year, her designs will be in either a trash dump, thrift store or garage sale.
She was never be or will be anything but a so-called hairdresser. Or she can go back to scooping ice cream.
This show is an absolute disgrace.
I find people either love or hate Kim Myles’s style. She does keep an eye on the budget, which I certainly appreciate..those who don’t should watch Candice Olsen! I’m betting that those who find her work “tacky” aren’t happy unless the designer has spent at least $20,000. I find her innovative, imaginative yet practical, and one who delivers the goods…she’s the only designer I’ve seen that actually uses existing pieces in a room, instead of throwing everything away, which really gripes me sometimes. NOT very green!
I find her innovative, imaginative yet practical, and one who delivers the goods…she’s the only designer I’ve seen that actually uses existing pieces in a room, instead of throwing everything away, which really gripes me sometimes.
Sorry, Andrea, I’ll have to disagree with you.
Exactly what existing pieces has Kim left in a room that you’re referring to? I can’t think of any of her remodels that she left an existing piece, except the “botique hotel room” makeover where the husband wanted to keep the cabinet that Kim turned into a wine cabinet (in the bedroom?OMG)
Practical? You say Kim is practical? You’re kidding, right? She removed 6 kitchen cabinets and replaced them with open shelves. If that’s so practical, why don’t we all have open shelving in our kitchens? In the guestroom episode where the homeowner wanted a place for overnight guests and entertaining, Kim’s stadium seating was the most impractical, uncomfortable mess. Oh, and back to that bedroom makeover; Kim removed the large overcrowded dresser and replaced it with – nothing. Yes, nothing. How practical is that? Who has a bedroom with no dressers? Kim had 2, count them, 2 walls of candles, one of which could’ve easily had a dresser. I’ve said enough. Kim’s budget is $5,000. She should get a prize for wasting that much money on an impractical and ininspired design.
Well, Franklin, for someone who professes to dislike this designer so much, you apparently watch a lot of her shows. Some people like open shelving, particularly in a small kitchen when there’s no money to seriously renovate. Again, with tiered seating for a “theater”, I considered it a good solution for what the client wanted and can’t share your opinion of it being uncomfortable or impractical. The people she designs for seem quite happy with her work.
By the way, removing cabinets, dressers, etc., and using candles on shelves has been done before, by Bromstead, Olsen, and Yip, to name a few.
She consistently re-uses furniture pieces in her designs. If you can’t remember any, perhaps you were too busy picking apart her innovations.
I can agree with you on one thing, though. You have said enough. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, especially on “style” , but enough, already.
Sorry Andrea, you’re wrong again. Have you even watched the program in question? The one you raved about?
1. The open shelving in the kitchen was Kim’s idea. The homeowner reluctantly agreed (what else can she say? The contract says they will let Kim remodel however she wants.) So, Kim took out 6 perfectly fine kitchen cabinets and replaced them with 12 open shelves. The lower cabinets were left because the cabinets were all fine to begin with. It was just a change Kim wanted to give the kitchen an “edgy” look.
2. The client in the stadium seat episode didn’t ask for it, nor did she even specify wanting a media room. She wanted a place to entertain and sleep overnight guests. Kim botched another one.
3. The bedroom I talked about above, Kim removed the only overstuffed clothing dresser and replaced it with NOTHING. Come on, Andrea, would you want NOTHING for your clothes to be stored in? Nothing? Instead, she used 1 wall for the candle display.
4. You say Kim constantly re-uses furniture pieces in her designs? Please tell. As I said before, the only piece Kim ever kept was the cabinet she turned into a wine storage unit in the BEDROOM. And you call this girl practical? Come on, Andrea, give us a break!!!
I suggest you know what you’re talking about before you want to discuss the program. It’s obvious you don’t. What are you, paid to write something good about Kim? Well, they’d better give you a raise because you’re going to have to look pretty hard to find something good about this wannabe’s designs.
Oh yes, just loved the re-purposed mirror with the glued on chopsticks. Acording to the client, the chopsticks have all fallen off. Great design-Not.
Again the arguments
IMHO kimis not the design star we expected, no practicality, no commen sense
overbearing to the poor Homeowners and doing as she please
face it folks try living yourself in one of these rooms and then come on here to tell us how you love it and how practical it is
as for renewing this mess
kim has connections and they are even promoting her new makeup line
and when the real truth comes out on how all the DS’s contest were prepicked and done with and over with before the voting even began it will probably not shock a lot of people
and in kims case its not WHAt you know its WHO you know right?
Good Grief!!! A new cosmetic line. Have you seen her latest video on the HGTV Website where she is giving her view of the DS3 competition? Makeup-smakeup- She looks like a clown, frizzy hair, and too muck makeup.
She’s got some friends and relatives that keep telling all the rest of use how great she is. Saying GO-KIM-GO!! I totally agree with them.
She should GO away for good. It’’s time for her to return to her ice cream store.
btw…Franklin I think its pretty clear who the winner was in that debate. I think its probably hard for some people who just plain like Kim’s personality and charisma on camera. While she makes a pretty good host, confident and edgy looking, she does indeed lack the skills as a designer. You know some people are just great salepersons and Kim has no doubt tried her best to sell ketchup popsicles to eskimos. I’ve seen plenty of great shows with budgets of $2K and I know it can be done without horrific ham-fisted design. Please get her off TV so that when I do have the chance to unwind and get some design inspiration I have something good to watch!!!
I’m not a fan of her designs either, but to each their own. I just want to know if he’s a dwarf of some kind? Her body shape and proportions seem like she is. No, it has nothing to do with her designs, I’m just curious. :\
Helen, I have looked all over the web to see if anyone has any info on that very topic. It’s like the proverbial “elephant in the room” that seems so obvious and yet no one mentions. The very first time we all caught a glimpse of her was during opening interviews of the contestants with the Judges at the start of Season 2. Right away I thought she must be a dwarf of some kind. It certainly has no bearing on her abilities or intelligence. I was and still am just curious to know if anyone knows more about it.
As for her designs, I have been really really disappointed. They lost some really good people in that show – Sparkle Josh, Will and Adrianna(? the girl from Latin America). Left with obnoxious, immature Will and Kim, we all rooted for Kim.
But her designs are horrible. I would not want her touching anything in my house! The horrid bedroom, the bleacher-seating in what could have been a charming little Casita-retreat. You had to work hard to ruin that cute little building and that she did. I tried to imagine how it would be with guests all sitting or lying around napping on mats on the bleachers facing 2 people who would end up on display in armchairs on the floor. What an uncomfortable seating arrangement!
Myles, Constance Ramos, and Chayse Dacoda all get high marks for consistently turning out frightfully bad design!
I want to ask a question. Kim refurbished or refinished an old fireplace and it looked fabulous. How do you refurbish a fireplace. I have an entire wall that is brick surrounding the fireplace and in bad need of something. Please tell me how to do this.
Everytime I watch Myles of Style I am more obsessed with trying to figure what the heck is going on with her body type than the style… it’s like a bad accident you drive by and totally have to peek at. So intriqued that I Googled it and found this blog! Omg I know strike me down and call me late for dinner but I think you guys nailed it. She has a bit of Little Person going on.
I am floored at the negative responses about Kim Myles, everyone seems so blatantly hostile and unfair. Who cares what her body type is, she was one of the best personalities on HGTV, and that was enough to make her loveable. I don’t take her no nonsense honesty to be arrogant at all, she’s keeping it real. So, for those who would rather be lied to, there wouldn’t be much to learn from such an experience, if you know what I mean. I think people are just not accustomed to thinking outside of their own boxes, and would rather reject such an outstanding talent as Kim Myles, than to embrace her superior qualitites. I mean the girl stood side by side, as far as equals go, with the best of HGTV. That’s what happens, and is to be expected, when people limit themselves and deny the truth, and are so unwilling to see the exceptional artistic beauty inside of such a gifted person as Kim Myles. I feel fortunate to have seen some of what she did. A huge mistake on your part HGTV to remove Kim Myles.