You already know we’re fans of the popular HGTV show House Hunters, but we’re also pretty interested in their reality competition show HGTV Design Star, recently renamed HGTV Star. The first episode premiered on July 23, 2006, and so far the show has run for eight seasons, plus one All-Stars season.
Meg Caswell competed in the show’s sixth season, and she was announced the winner on the season finale episode which aired September 12, 2011. Viewers may remember her for her high-energy personality and love of vibrant colors. Following the competition, Meg went on to host her own design series Meg’s Great Rooms.
Though Meg leads a very busy life, we had the opportunity to ask her a couple of questions. Check out her answers under the cut!
What are some of your favorite memories from being on the HGTV show Design Star?
I love the lifelong friendships I made with the other contestants. Three of us are from Chicago and we still stay in touch! What an experience that was to be alongside such talent — we got to share our ideas and designs. I know I became a better designer because of the whole experience. Not to mention being judged on my work was a whole new experience so it makes me strive to be a better designer with every new project. Now I wonder, “What would Vern [one of the show's judges] think?!”
Describe what a typical day consists of for you.
Even though my firstborn is due this spring, I’m still incredibly busy. I have never been one for sitting down.
This spring I’m chairing The Arts Council of Wilmington & NHC’s first Designer Showhouse where local designers compete to design a room in a historic home in Wilmington, North Carolina. In addition to chairing, I am designing the dining room, which will be on display along with the rest of the house from May 2 – 18. When I’m not working on the show house, I’m still in business for myself, designing rooms in homes across the country – everything from nurseries to kitchens!
My charity work is such a passion. I continue to do work with Project Ladybug and the Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. I’m also helping another charity redesign bedrooms for children with disabilities and illnesses. Most of these little angels don’t get to leave their rooms very often and could use the extra spark of happiness in their life, Welcome Home Angel (located in Wilmington, NC).
How do you envision your life and schedule will change with the birth of your first child?
I cannot wait to meet my son for the first time and intend to spend plenty of time in our newly designed nursery, getting to know him and starting our life as a growing family! We will have the summer together to get to know each other and for me to learn the ropes of being a new mommy. I rarely babysat for kids growing up so this will all be very new to me.
That being said, I don’t intend to ‘sit’ still for much longer after that!
The new baby will be getting a crash course in life of mommy… we will be traveling as soon as he’s up for it – for both work and vacation. If he’s anything like his mom, he’ll take to planes, trains, and automobiles just fine!
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We would like to thank Meg for so graciously carving out the time to answer our questions. Her little one was due in May, but if you check out her blog he came a bit early – congratulations on being a new mommy, Meg!
If you would like to learn more about HGTV Star, visit the main page on the HGTV site. Or you can watch full episodes from each season – here’s your chance to see Meg in action if you hadn’t before!
Interview with HGTV Design Star Winner Meg Caswell by Sarah
