Kari Whitman is transforming the look and feel of celebrity homes, one room at a time.
Kari Whitman is transforming the look and feel of celebrity homes, one room at a time. The actress-turned-interior designer is the host and executive producer of the new WE TV series titled “Designer To The Stars: Kari Whitman,” which follows the artist on a whirlwind process as she goes furniture shopping and even tests out technologically advanced toilets, hoping to provide her celebrity clientele with the rooms of their dreams.
Whitman began her career as an actress on hit shows such as “NYPD Blue” and “Baywatch.” It was while on set one day that she decided to transition her focus from acting to designing.
Whitman explained that, ever since she was a little girl, she spent many days decorating her bedroom, which was the “coolest spot” in her circle of friends.
“I’ve always had a great affinity for design,” Whitman shared. “In college, my friends would come over and I would have the coolest spot. Then one day I decided to turn it into a career.”
Now, several years later, the booming designer and entrepreneur is redecorating and remodeling the rooms of top celebrities, including Jessica Alba, Virginia Madsen, Mario Lopez and Kurtwood Smith.
In “Designer To The Stars: Kari Whitman,” the 42-year-old transforms the rooms, kitchens and bathrooms of both television and film actors. With only eight, half-hour episodes, Whitman turns rooms that are in shambles into modern day masterpieces.
Although some projects prove to be more challenging than others, such as recreating a bathroom from scratch or refurnishing a kitchen, the pieces slowly begin to fall together once you look for a way to “fix it,” said Whitman.
“If there’s a problem, you just fix it. It’s always challenging with more celebrities because their time is so short and they don’t have a lot of time to spend with you. But it’s a really rewarding way to work.”
Another important aspect of Whitman’s work is looking at how she can make her clients’ “ideas happen for them and bring out their design styles.”
Since she only had six weeks to complete six celebrity rooms, Whitman turned to her surroundings for inspiration. For the kitchen of Jessica Alba’s parents, the designer came up with a nifty idea of inserting candles on new staircase iron handles to accent a modern day-Asian feel Alba so desired.
The artist admits she gathers inspiration from observing everything she comes into contact with, saying, “I’m very aware and very visual. I really watch what’s going on around me. If there’s something I see that I like, I take a picture of it — the corner of a building or the color of a dress.”
Other than being a designer to the stars, Whitman is also an animal activist and a “green” campaigner. A celebrity she has jotted down on her list of people she would someday love to create a room for is former vice-president and Oscar winner, Al Gore.
Environment preservation is not only a fundamental part of Whitman’s life, but it is also a part of her career. On “Designer To The Stars,” the home trendsetter shows viewers how they can incorporate recycled and “thrifty” products into their designing process and create a more environment-friendly way of living.
Wall Makeup, a personal paint kit by Whitman, is also available for decorators who want to make their own paint color without having to buy excess paint. The essence of the product is simple: “It saves money, saves time and saves the environment.”
Many who watch the show will also be moved by one of Whitman’s other passions — animals. The former actress, who has been a long-time animal activist, is the founder of “Ace Of Hearts,” a non-profit organization that provides caring homes to rescued dogs. To date, more than 1,000 dogs have been rescued because of her continuous efforts.
Her love for animals and interior decorating has helped the artist formulate “doggie designs,” like finding the right furniture fabric that is stained-resistant and safe for dogs.
She said, “I save lives and educate myself on some cool doggy ideas. And most of my great clients end up with a rescued dog. Most of them, at the end, have a dog from me.”
With such an abounding passion for the people around her, the forgotten animals on the streets and the fragile environment we live in, Whitman is filling in the outline for a better way of living.
For more information on Kari Whitman, visit her official Web site – KariWhitmanInteriors.com.
