This is Kim Lewis. You might recognize her from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, or Tiny House Nation. I would like to borrow a) her hair, b) her wardrobe, and c) her freckles, but – most importantly – I would also like to borrow her decor opinions, because I love a good door…and the doors that she designed for Rustica Hardware miiiiiight just be the best. Like, in the world.
Kim worked with me to help pick out the perfect doors to install in our not-quite-yet renovated garage – you can see her selections here – and while I had her ear I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask her a few questions about how to incorporate super-bold design elements into your decor…and play the Match-the-Kardashian-to-the-Door game (it’s a classic).
Hi, Kim! I obviously think you’re fabulous and need to discuss all your fabulousness for posterity. Tell me a little about how you got to the designing-awesome-doors part of your life?
Well, I started my design career working on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and while traveling with the show I designed over 120 homes across 46 states. After that, I worked on Bar Rescue, Bakery Boss, Tiny House Nation, and some other shows. A few years ago, I decided to return to my Texas roots and start my own design company. We design restaurants, hotels and art centers around the globe, as well as tiny homes.
What inspired your collection for Rustica Hardware [pictured above]? Is there any throughline between the the three designs, or do they all just represent different looks you love?
I’ve always believed design should take us to a time and place, and that doors have the power to set the tone. The collection is travel-inspired – each door is nostalgic, and each one reminds me of a place I love. Marfa, for example, is a quirky artist’s town in West Texas that won my heart on a glamping trip – and clearly it involved an Airstream. Palm Springs is a whimsical, retro, bold, throw-back town, and so the door evokes that ’50s vibe. And Joshua Tree was designed to evoke the sweetness and calm of watching the sun set in the California desert. I designed the pattern on the door as a nod to our Native American roots.
Kim Lewis at home with the Joshua Tree door
Come on, tell me: you must have a personal favorite. Which one would you (or did you?) put in your own house?
Of course I love them all! In my own home, I went with the Joshua Tree to match our sunset desert vibes. The light wood and white steel mix is soft and neutral, while the pattern functions as a piece of art.
The idea of a statement door can be a little overwhelming – if someone loves these doors but doesn’t know how (or where) to integrate them into their home, where should they start?
Going out on a limb and designing your own space can certainly be intimidating, but I always try to remind people that our homes should reflect our personality. Don’t be afraid to express yourself through art, architecture and color.
The best place to start is with the big picture: think of design like fashion, and pick a style you respond to. I think that every home should have some strong elements that act as conversation pieces – and adding dimensions to the walls of your home can really bring it to life. That’s why I love barn doors so much – they’re functional works of art.
I knew I wanted to put the Marfa in our garage, but wasn’t sure what to install in the doorway between our garage and kitchen. It was a little tricky because the door had to match our kitchen decor, but still look good in close proximity to the Marfa. Can you tell me how you narrowed it down?
The Marfa door evokes a real sense of nostalgia and has a big personality, so we didn’t want to take away from that. Mixing materials is a good way to ensure fixtures in a design don’t “fight” each other visually. Since the Marfa door is aluminum, we paired it with [the Bryce’s] lighter, natural wood tone.
Speed round: I’m going to name a Kardashian, and you tell me which Rustica door they’d be. You know, if they were a door.
Funny…I’m one of those people that has worked in TV for so long that I don’t watch much of it. I’ll give this my best shot…this is a no judging zone, right?
Kim. Joshua Tree.
Khloe. Leather Modern Range.
Kourtney. Palm Springs.
Kris. Powell.
Kylie. Mirror.
Kendall. Marfa.
Rob. Guardsman.
As a certified Kardashian Expert, that was pretty spot-on. Well done.
Check out Kim’s collection for Rustica Hardware here, and click here for more info on her picks for my house.
