Open-door

Tonight’s
episode marks the end of one chapter in my life and, together with you, the
beginning of a new and brighter one. To those who watched what happened, week
after week, congratulating me when I won or rallying with me when I didn’t—from
the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your kind words of encouragement (not to
mention your sense of humor!) helped me weather the strange, wonderful and often unreal world of Reality TV. 

While I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a popular show, and in particular to Margaret Russell for standing by me the way she did, watching
myself over the last few weeks, or rather, the character the producers created, I’m
reminded of how fictional reality television can be at times. Case in point: In my
recent run-in with Jonathan over the stylist comment in which I asked him how
he’d feel about being called an elf, we never saw that he had actually said to
me first, “Well, I could call you a pig if I wanted to!” In the editing, that
part, the other Elves omitted. Convenient, don’t you think? 

And
while we’re on the subject, the fact is: I really can do a number of different
things. I can cook, craft, garden, do flowers, decorate and entertain, thanks
in large part to Martha Stewart. She’s been an inspiration for me (and
countless others) for fifteen years, ever since I started reading her magazine
as a high schooler with a side gig arranging crudité. She too got her start in
catering, then built a company based on a very simple principle: Give people
information that would help them live better lives. She inspired a generation
to care more deeply about what it means to keep a home. And if I can play a
part in that effort for a younger generation, helping them to cook, decorate
and entertain not only more beautifully, but more affordably, I would be truly
honored. 

For me,
the work I do at Martha, together with the ideas I share here, are so much more real than reality TV. I mean, come on: How many of us have the luxury of designing a room
around a $40,000 chandelier? Nevermind, do it in a day and on four hours sleep!
I can tell you this: Give me $40 at the flea market here in New York, and I can
find (and refurbish!) a chandelier that would be so much more stylish and
one-of-a-kind! That’s the kind of design I love—the hands-on,
find-it-on-the-cheap and make-it-your-own style I live with everyday. Top
Design may be over for me, but the wealth of ideas I plan to share in hopes of
helping people cook better meals, throw better parties, decorate more
beautifully and entertain more elegantly—all while saving time and money—have
only just begun. I hope you’ll join me!

Lavendarroses