Friday Fifteen with Friends: Alison Victoria

Published: March 18th, 2016

Innovative, funny, expressive and practical… these are the qualities Alison Victoria brings to her work, her life, and her popular HGTV show, Kitchen Crashers.  A native Chicagoan with a passion for Paris (I’m with you on both, Alison!) she is dedicated to combining great style with common sense solutions. That’s a perfect combination and earns her being our feature in this week’s Friday Fifteen with Friends.

 Name: Alison Victoria

Occupation: TV Host, Kitchen Crashers (HGTV)

1. Antique or modern?
Vintage and modern all day long! The combo is a win win!

2. What has inspired or informed your interior style?
My personal style is derived from all of my trips to Paris. I live in a Historic brownstone built in 1905 so it was easy to bring Parisian elements into the restoration. I never push my design aesthetic on my clients. I love to give them what they want, but I enjoy it even more when I bring things into the design that they never even knew they wanted.

3. Which colors do you use most?
Gray is the new neutral! From walls, to cabinets it creates the perfect base for a layerable space.

4. Favorite materials or textures?
I could live in a sea of mohair – I collect fabric samples and would sleep on top of them if it wasn’t so weird. I’m also “crushing” on crushed velvets and mixing metals. Brass is back in a big way, and I like to lie to myself and say I had something to do with it in the kitchen space.

5. How do you make your home double as a work space?
As someone who works out of a home office, I think it’s a fine line. I like being able to separate the two, but also try to be resourceful. Making sure the home office space is truly separated from the rest of the home is key.

6.  What household item could you not live without?
Coasters. I am obsessed with them! I have marble countertops in my kitchen so I’m constantly slinging them at my guests as they walk in.

7. What household items are a necessity to host a great party?
Serving platters. I am a huge collector (hoarder) of them. Different sizes, shapes and materials, from marble to gold to walnut. I love to entertain and they make all of the difference when you’re serving your guests. It’s all in the details and the little things truly make a big difference.

8. Tips for hosting at home?
Keep it simple. Pay attention to the little things and don’t take yourself too seriously.

9. Which design website, TV show, or magazine would you be lost without?
Hands down – Elle Décor. TV show – Fixer Upper (HGTV)

10. Design rule you love to break?
What rules? I was always good at breaking them anyway…

11. What is your favorite room in you home?
Not surprising…. my kitchen.

12. What is your most treasured possession?
Vintage Hermes playing cards I bought at an antique mall in Santa Clara.

13. What is your favorite thing about Chicago—design-related or otherwise?
I love a big city with a small town feel.  That’s Chicago. The history, the architecture, the inspiration I get from roaming the streets. It’s eclectic and magical and when you think of architecture – you think of Chicago. As a designer, it’s the perfect city to call home.

14. To which city or country would you move for the design?
Paris

15. How would you describe your style?
Vintage & Modern with a sense of humor. Design doesn’t always have to be so serious.