Nine amazing decorating ideas from TV's 9 by Design (plus more of their decor secrets!)

The 9 by Design family

Robert Novogratz muses that before his family’s show 9 by Design began airing last year, he and his wife, Cortney, had five design projects on the go; by the time the eight episodes had aired, the self-taught design duo’s firm, Sixx Design, had received over 250 job offers from around the world. As a result, it’s hard to believe them when they say that little has changed since they became television personalities. “Sure, more people recognize us and we get invited to more parties, but other than that, the show doesn’t really affect our lifestyle,” he says. That lifestyle, however, is so far beyond ordinary that perhaps fame barely factors into the family’s day-to-day reality.

The husband-and-wife design team have seven children, from two to 14 years old. The size of their family explains the name 9 by Design. Their new series, Home by Novogratz, premieres on HGTV in June. But the two New Yorkers (he’s 48, she’s 39) continue to take on residential and even a few commercial projects. They have an insatiable appetite for creating spaces that express their quirky mix of iconic high design, funky bric-a-brac and intense colour.

As if they didn’t already have enough on their plate, the photogenic family recently signed with One Management — the first step to becoming the faces for various advertising campaigns. They’ve also launched a product line, and they have a book in stores and another one in the works. Yet one of the things that make Brand Novogratz so appealing is that nothing comes across as scripted or planned. The couple’s urban-bohemian spirit and approach to design is as wacky as it is wonderful, and they seem to get a kick out of each new challenge, whether at work or at home. “Creating a brand is super-fun,” says Cortney. “We love doing different things with our work and our family.”

It helps that they run their design business from their West Village six-storey house, which means some quiet time when the kids head off to school and valuable face time whenever they’re home. And everyone pitches in. Twelve-year-old twin daughters Bellamy and Tallulah are especially helpful with the little ones, says their mom. The constant presence of cameras obviously means capturing moments high and low. But the couple maintain that the producers of 9 by Design are sensitive to any outbursts. “They were especially good to the kids, and backed off if one of them was having a bad day or a meltdown — it happens to all kids!”

Having such a large clan does present logistical challenges, especially in a place like Manhattan. The family has two favourite restaurants — Felix and Arturo’s — within walking distance, and getting pizza or takeout is not uncommon. They no longer fit into a single vehicle, so

Robert and Cortney have to drive separately when they take the family to their country home in New England.

Married for more than 15 years, they both have Southern roots (his are mostly Virginian; she’s from Georgia) and come from big families, which may explain their breezy nonchalance when it comes to their busy household. Robert notes that the kids keep them young, both in their design sensibility and in their attitude (he jokes that Cortney is the more mature parent).

Their current home features a basketball court that doubles as a movie theatre, but they’re already planning their next move. Apparently, Breaker, who’s 10, wants an indoor skateboard ramp. No surprise there — in the Novogratz family, it seems, life is one big, wild ride.

Kitchen with island and apple centrepeice

If feeding a crowd is your reality, a large kitchen island that doubles as an eating hub, prep station and storage area is the key to success. Keep finishes simple so the island doesn’t overwhelm the kitchen.

Project: Kitchen in 5 Centre Market residence

Dining room with black chairs, horse painting, red bowls

If your budget is tight, try a simple colour scheme like this white-on-white one, and let a single piece of art make the design statement.

Project: Kitchen in Hamptons Farm House

dining room with beige chairs, yellow transparent vase, white flowers and fan

dining room with beige chairs, yellow transparent vase, white flowers and fan

4. Paint everything

Walls, floorboards and bead-board ceilings come together when painted with the same white hue. It’s the perfect casual background for unusual pieces like this antique bed and planter.

Project: Sleeping porch and office in Great Barrington residence

dining room and living room

Forget formal living rooms with huge, intimidating sofas. Groupings of chairs are easier to move around to set up instant conversation areas.

Project: Living room in Great Barrington residence

6. Add touches of natural texture

Organic accents like branches in a vase, woven tables, cork and cowhide are easy ways to warm up a modern room. Don’t forget a dash of red too!

Project: Guest room at the Bungalow Hotel

7. Install a dramatic light in your bedroom

If you have only one piece of furniture to invest in, make it a splashy, unusual light fixture. It’s an instant statement piece in any room, from a kitchen to a hall or bedroom. Matching the fabrics on your bed and drapes also creates a beautiful designer vibe without looking overdone.

Project: Master bedroom in 5 Centre Market residence

8. Sprinkle in bright, kid-friendly pieces

Bold melamine makes a graphic design statement on a table without compromising durability.

Project: Bedroom of Holleder and Five in Novogratz residence

9. Hang full-length drapes in a nursery

Floor-to-ceiling curtains with simple horizontal colour blocks add a touch of formality to kids’ rooms without seeming fussy. Minimalist modern furniture pieces like mini Eames chairs and Ikea beds keep the look simple.

Project: Major’s bedroom in Novogratz residence

Decor secrets

Q. What defines a family home? You’ve certainly produced enough of them!

Cortney: Most importantly, they need to be comfortable and inviting. We ask all our clients, “What are your interests and how do you live?” When I meet someone, I want the design to reflect who they are, not who their decorator was. Sometimes we have couples who don’t have the same tastes: One is modern, one is traditional. So we always say, “Enjoy the process: You found each other for a reason. You can pick out a paint colour for your bathroom!”

Q. Do you ever compromise design to make a home family-friendly?

C: We’re always aware of what kind of kitchen table we need, because we want to be able to colour or spill wine or dance on it. Nothing can be too precious. So many people have nice china and only use it on holidays, and that’s weird to us. Use it every day, and enjoy it.

Q. Do the kids have all-access, or is a no-jumping-on-the-sofa policy in effect?

C: The kids are learning to hang up their coats and make their beds. We’re teaching them to take care of things. Our whole house is open. We love artifacts and antiques, and sometimes they’re chipped — and that’s great, because they’re not perfect. And Robert is great about exposing the children to art.

Q. How do you balance highbrow and practical design?

Robert: There has to be a sense of style and happiness. Colour, for instance. When you walk into a house and it’s beige or grey, it has a totally different vibe from one with pops of colour and quirky fun.

C: Also, we watch TV and movies, so we’re honest about it. We don’t disguise it. Have cool and interesting things in your home and people won’t notice the TV. They’ll only see your collections, photos or art .

Q. What’s the secret to designing stylish kids’ rooms?

C: Years ago, our nicest things were in the living room—but nobody went there. So we’re always telling people to pay attention to their kids’ bedrooms. The goal is to have a hip home where every room is used.

R: We’re not that young anymore, but we do have young kids, so we have a youthful home. We go into the houses of people in their 40s, and they look like their grandmothers’ homes. You don’t have to design it like a college apartment, but it should be fun and fresh.

Q. Is it weird that strangers know so much about your family?

C: When we were first approached to do a reality show, we said no, but then we started thinking of it as an opportunity. No matter what, our kids see their parents take risks, and if we succeed, we succeed together. And if we fail, we move on to the next thing.

Q. How different is the family when the cameras are on?

C: Well, the crew tends to move right in . But we still have to finish homework and live our lives.

R: To be honest, the kids are not perfect; they have breakdowns. But those parts aren’t filmed. There are no perfect kids out there.

Q. So what’s a date night for you?

R: We have a big house, so we get away or hide out in one of the rooms. We don’t go out and party until 5 a.m. like we used to — we’re usually in bed around 11 — but we have a pretty good life.

Q. And will you ever be finished with the houses?

C: Truly, there’s nothing better than to design and build for yourself. It’s an amazing luxury we were able to build a business from. It’s fun.

Q. Do you ever consider the day you’ll become empty nesters?

R: Major’s two and I’m 48, so he’ll be out of college in 20 years. I’ll be 68 and lucky if I’m alive!

C: Hopefully they’ll be doing exciting things, and we’ll be visiting them from time to time. We’ll still be building, for sure.