The collage of ideas proved beneficial when she renovated her new three-bedroom, three-bath digs last spring on her Bravo reality show Bethenny Ever After. Fans watched the trials and tribulations of the design process play out on weekly episodes covering everything from selecting the perfect powder room tile to dealing with prickly contractor situations. The old saying “all the world’s a stage” is not a new concept for Bethenny; her life has been an open book for the past several years. A stint as one of the original Real Housewives of New York City (sans husband) led to her show as a mother (daughter Bryn is now 2) on Bethenny Ever After. Taking a page from Martha Stewart, her first TV boss, she sold her Skinnygirl line to Fortune Brands’ Beam Global, landing her a cover on Forbes magazine as “one of the new celebrity money-makers.” She also envisions a home collection one day, “with pieces that would be unique, limited, and affordable.” This before photo shows Bethenny Frankel’s empty living room before the “Gomez Girls” brought it to life. Designing with a camera crew in tow was no doubt challenging, but the seasoned designers took it in stride. “We worked as a team and had fun. There were a lot of moving parts with the contractor, architect, etcetera—but at the end of the day we all worked well together,” Brooke says. “It all started with the [starburst living room ceiling] light fixture,” explains Brooke. “The inspiration book was the bible. It is very helpful to have clients know what they like. Bethenny wanted calm and a ’less is better’ approach. She knew what she wanted, and there was no hesitation. And that truly drove the process as a whole.” Furnishings are a mix of designer fabrics, custom wallpapers by Ted Tyler, and upholstery from Mariette’s line at Hickory Furniture coupled with Bethenny’s finds at Ikea, Restoration Hardware, and CB2. Many became plot points of the show, such as the purchase of the jewel-toned tile for the powder room and the American flag artwork. “I knew I wanted something from a vendor who was a New York artist,” Bethenny says. Lack of clutter and practicality is the order of the day. “I am a use-what-you-have type. I am all about not having a lot of stuff I don’t need.” How does she do it all? “I’m very organized and require everyone around me to be,” says the type-A Bethenny. “My schedule is intense, and I am a multitasker. I do not procrastinate, and it’s all about checks and balances. I just do it!” An accomplished woman for whom the word “yes” is a mantra, Bethenny’s dreams shine brightly.
