Lose one designer, gain another. While Tyler Wisler has been working his way toward East Coast stardom, another TV designer has made her way to the islands to set up her business.
Lauren Makk, an interior designer who arrived at celebrityhood via A&E’s "Trading Spaces" and "Drill Team," said she came here on vacation last year "and fell in love with everything. I love the aloha spirit, I love how it’s family oriented, I love the nature aspect. I always liked the idea of living in a different place. I just didn’t know it would be Hawaii until I got here. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to work."
The designer was born and raised in Oklahoma City, where her father was a builder and her mom a contractor. Raised on hip-hop and graffiti culture, her big plan was to travel the world as a graffiti artist.
"When my mom found out, she said, ‘No way, you’re going to college,’" so Makk attended California State University at Northridge, where she combined her knowledge of building with her love of art in the study of interior design.
She graduated during a booming real estate market and quickly found work as lead designer for an L.A. company that worked on model homes. Four years into her career, she spotted a classified advertisement for an interior design competition. It turned out to be "Trading Spaces."
"It was never my ambition to be on TV; I just fell into it," said the vivacious and fast-talking designer, who was recently chosen to host her own HGTV show, "Glam Slam," on which she’ll travel the country helping homeowners to glam up their spaces, possibly including Hawaii homes in the mix.
"I don’t think the producers will have any trouble coming to Hawaii," she said.
In spite of the gloss of television, Makk professes to be just a country girl who would love nothing more than to help those on a budget transform their spaces.
"I bring my own blood, sweat and tears to the installation process. My graffiti days are over. I like to have nice nails these days, but I’m happy to get dirty with clients, help them move things around. It’s a lot of hands-on work, not all prim and proper.
"It’s part of being a designer. We’re perfectionists; no one else can do the work for you."
Although a homeowner might expect to pay a steep price for Makk’s celebrity status, she assures there’s no "TV premium" to work with her.
"I’m not a hoity-toity designer. My mama didn’t raise me to pay full price for nothin’, so I’m always watching out for my clients, not retailers," she said. "Having grown up in the business, I know when someone’s trying to pull the wool over my eyes, like if someone says you need to replace your plumbing when that’s not necessary. I’m always protecting my clients’ best interest.
"So many people need help, and it can be something as small as, ‘Come on over and help me pick paint.’
"A lot of times people can do fantastic things using what they already have. A good designer is able to see that and help you rearrange your space."
Lauren Makk’s website is www.laurenmakk.com.
