CasaVerde w/Carter Oosterhouse

I had the pleasure to meet with, and interview Carter Oosterhouse of HGTV’s Carter Can and Red, Hot & GREEN in Chicago at the Luxe Home Open House last week.  Carter has made an incredible name for himself after being the “replacement for Ty” on TLC’s Trading Spaces.  With appearances on Rachel Ray, Oprah and starting his own foundation, Carter’s Kids (helping to combat childhood obesity through education & building playgrounds to encourage exercise/activity across the country), Carter is one of the ‘faces’ of HGTV with hosting 2 shows on the network.

Carter has come a long way from Traverse City MI, where he grew up and got degree in Nutrition.  He became interested in carpentry at a young age, following in his 2 older brothers footsteps (they are master carpenters & still reside in MI), and working along side them.  It was these skills that would lead to his “big break” on TLC….

Growing up in the upper Midwest was influential in shaping his design aesthetic & philosophy, incorporating natural materials, being mindful of how a product is made & how it’s disposed of are incorporated into all his projects.  This background helped make him the perfect choice to host Red, Hot & GREEN on HGTV.

Here are some of Carter’s tips for Kitchens & Baths that he shared with the audience:

l      Sweat the small stuff; look to accessories such as drawer/cabinet pulls to create excitement

l      Focal point/Eye-sore: make sure there is 1 focal point in the room (and make sure it’s NICE!).  Most use the stove or the kitchen table in the kitchen

l      Lighting: remember to use the 4 layers of lighting!

l      Countertops: there’s more to countertops than granite.  Look at other alternatives to create a distinctive space

l      Color: don’t be afraid of it!  And remember that color is brought in through tile, flooring, accessories as well, and not just the color on the wall

l      The kitchen triangle: this is the space of efficiency stating that the fridge, stove and sink are in a triangle to each other for a more effective floorplan

To find out more about Carter or on Carter’s Kids, check out his website at www.carteroosterhouse.com.  Also follow him on Twitter (and tell him where he can go shopping!).

Listen to more of my interview with Carter on the CasaVerde radio show where you can find out more about Carter, his foundation and what you can expect to see from him in the future (hint….there’s wine involved!).