MEET THE DESIGNER: ANGELO SURMELIS
Designer of the Times
By Robert Sharoff
CTW Features
HOMESTYLE 2009 - Issue 4
Angelo Surmelis, the host of HGTV’s popular “Rate My Space” reality show, is very much a 21st Century designer. He blogs, he tweets, he’s on MySpace and Facebook. He’s also an advocate of that movement of the moment, sustainable design.
All of this - plus a personal style that is less about snarky remarks and more about constructive solutions - has established him as one of the more engaging figures in the makeover show universe.
He seems like what he is: a regular guy from Chicago marooned in that most irregular of cities, Los Angeles. Your taste is never on trial with Surmelis. But he’s been around, knows what works and is eager to share what he’s learned. HomeStyle spoke with Surmelis recently about his life and design philosophy, as well as how to avoid “the land of beige.”
HOMESTYLE: How has the recession affected home design?
ANGELO SURMELIS: I think it’s had a big effect. People are rethinking and rejecting the whole idea of excess and wastefulness. There’s a real desire right now for design that’s eco-friendly and sustainable. I think it’s a good trend.
HS: What does sustainable mean when it comes to interior design?
AS: A lot of things. It’s not just about putting up solar panels, though that can certainly be a part of it. To some degree, it’s about working with what you have, refurbishing and conserving rather than throwing everything out and buying new. It’s also about using recycled materials and energy efficient lighting. None of it is that complicated. But it can make a big difference.
HS: How has your style evolved over the years?
AS: I used to be very minimal, very modern. Today, however, I’m more forgiving. I used to have a hard time appreciating something like country style - overstuffed couches,
traditional tables, that kind of thing. Today, however, I like it, or at least certain
aspects of it. I can see the appeal.
HS: You’re a Chicago guy now working and living in Los Angeles. How do the two
cities differ?
AS: There’s a lot of history and tradition in Chicago - particularly in regards to the architecture - that ultimately has a big effect on how people style their homes there. They love their Barcelona chairs. LA, on the other hand, is far more transient. Nothing gets old here. Everything is about putting your personal spin on the latest trend, which usually lasts about five minutes.
HS: You sound like you miss Chicago.
AS: I do. But there are some great things about LA, like space and climate. You spend a lot more time outdoors here. Colors are sunnier. Many people have what amounts to outdoor rooms and spend a lot of time in them.
HS: The LA design trend I keep hearing about is Hollywood Regency. Is that a style you identify with at all?
AS: No. Hollywood Regency is too formal, too dressed up. It’s actually very un-California. I can’t live that way. I like comfort and coziness.
HS: Is glamour part of that equation?
AS: Of course. This is Hollywood. But you don’t want a whole room full of shimmery furniture and objects. You can’t breathe in a space like that.
HS: I hear you’re getting ready to launch your first furniture collection. How would you describe it?
AS: Kind of modern, kind of classic, really comfortable sofas and chairs, traditional prints in young colors, that kind of thing. Not like your parents’ furniture but still kind of familiar. It’s also affordable, which I think is important right now.
HS: I know you grew up in Chicago, but what was your family like?
AS: My background is very blue collar. My parents were Greek immigrants who worked in a restaurant an uncle of mine owned in the suburbs. They didn’t have money for babysitters, so they would take me to work with them and I would hang out behind the counter.
HS: Were you aware of design back then?
AS: Not really - though I do remember being very fascinated by the restaurant’s milkshake machine. Basically, my family couldn’t afford design. That part of my life didn’t begin until I was in college. I started off wanting to be an architect and then switched to fine arts. After graduation, I wound up building sets for theater companies in Chicago and then in New York and LA. I also did some designing on the side, mainly for friends, one of whom told me that I should start charging for this. So I did.
HS: What’s harder - playing a designer or being a designer?
AS: For me, playing a designer is the hard part. In some ways I was not really prepared for TV. I love the interaction with clients. I don’t necessarily love having a camera in my
face all day long. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but it has been an adjustment.
HS: You’ve designed or re-designed more than 300 rooms on your show since it began - how long does it take you to size up a room these days?
AS: Not long. And anyway, it’s less about sizing up a room than about sizing up the people who are going to be living in the room. I need to know where they’ve been, where
they want to go and what to avoid. All of that takes about 20 minutes.
HS: What happens next?
AS: I start spitting out design ideas. TV is all about time. Nothing takes longer than a day or more than $1,000 to pull together.
HS: If you could give one piece of advice to people thinking about redecorating, what would it be?
AS: Take some chances. Don’t be so cautious. Ultimately, the land of beige just isn’t that much fun.
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