Join me this Friday, 11 AM PST for Your Place Your Space on knocradio.com and KNOC 1680 AM North Orange County. My guest this week is Jennifer Bertrand, talented designer, super mom and Season 3 winner of HGTV's Design Star.
Jennifer Bertrand
Designer for the Soul, Television Host, Guest Speaker, Author
With an acclaimed sculptor for a mother and a father who is the Director of the Albrecht-Kemper Museum, it would seem Jennifer Bertrand was groomed to be the talented designer and artist she is today. “It’s a lovely pedigree,” concedes the designer.
Bertrand’s worldly childhood and impressive family had a significant impact on her career choice. She spent the majority of her childhood soaking in the culture, architecture, art and infinite beauty of Italy, France and Germany. “Even as a child I was deeply moved by the timelessness and history of the museums and castles I saw -- there were many. I have seen just about every castle on the Rhine River and every chateau in the Loire Valley. Then, every time my family moved between Air Force bases, I watched my Mom magically transform our modest surroundings into an elegant environment.”
The designer attributes her comfortable modern meets whimsical design sense to her unyielding optimism. “I grew up on Disney and musicals,” she laughs. “Design doesn’t have to be stuffy -- I am all about creating beautiful spaces that lift the spirit.” It could not be more apparent in the designer’s aesthetic -- a palate of bright and vivid colors paired with bold patterns. The result? A layered look with unexpected surprises, leaving all who see it, smiling.
Bertrand is known as the designer for the soul, advising clients and friends alike that making positive and impactful changes are possible without breaking the bank, by using “what you have” and starting with one room at a time (one project at a time). “I believe that beautiful design should be accessible to everyone so I try to offer design advice with varying levels of sophistication. For example, one of the most impactful yet inexpensive ways to brighten a space is a can of paint.”
Bertrand is also a believer in “design therapy” and creating a respite for decompressing, learning, development and enhanced communication. “I feel that you can tailor your home aesthetically to give a happy boost and generate the flow of positive energy.”
HGTV casted Bertrand in its third season of Design Star in 2008. After taking the season by storm, Bertrand triumphed, winning the entire competition and moving on to host her own show, Paint Over! with Jennifer Bertrand. HGTV’s Paint Over! featured families in transition and tragedy in need of some positivity, which is where Bertrand came in. A married couple struggling with the husband’s cancer diagnosis received a meditation room and a beautiful new bedroom; a stiff man approaching retirement received a new family room filled with equal parts function and whimsy.
As the expression goes, “life imitates art,” Bertrand learned during filming that she was expecting her first child. Shortly after, her blessing took an unexpected turn as she and her husband welcomed Winston Bertrand into the world. Winston was born with mixed lymphatic and venous malformations and the months that followed his birth were filled with doctors’ appointments, experimental treatments, flights to New York to visit specialists, round-the-clock nurses, and generous friends and family. 
It’s evident from Bertrand’s sunny disposition and perseverance, that she practices what she preaches. “I have learned to accept help from people, I find comfort in the kindness of others and I definitely don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. I am a better person and a better designer because of the challenges I face. I am like the little engine that could.”
Bertrand has appeared in countless media outlets such as USA Today, The New York Post, Rachel Ray Magazine, Life & Style Magazine, InStyle Magazine and is a frequent contributor to NBC. She enjoys speaking to design schools, universities and women’s organizations throughout the country, about design and the power of positive thinking. She currently resides in Weatherby Lake, Missouri with her husband Chris, her son Winston, and her dog Sophie.
Comments(4)