Biography of Vern Yip

One room at a time, Vern Yip is designing his way across America, having knocked down walls and made over countless homes and restaurants during his four seasons on TLC's Trading Spaces, on NBC's Home Intervention and through his private practice. Vern is now spreading the word on digital home makeovers through AOL and promoting the designs of Stainmaster carpet, Moen faucets, Procter & Gamble’s Bella & Birch Division and the integration of high-end electronics through Best Buy's new Magnolia store concept. Vern's most recent projects include his own show on HGTV, titled Deserving Design, with Vern Yip, airing Wednesdays at 9:00pm EST. Coming in 2008 will be the third season of the exciting prime-time HGTV series Design Star, where he'll be helping discover America's next great design talent. Also in the works is his soon-to-be-released book for Regan Books/Harper Collins titled Designing Spaces and a new home product line with a well-known national company. Whatever he does, Vern's award-winning work has a distinct flair that reflects his expertise as both an architectural and interior designer.

Vern runs his own design company in Atlanta, Vern Yip Designs and vernyip.com, where design tips are dispensed and top quality products, designed by Vern with consumer value in mind, can be purchased. With a bachelor of arts in economics and a bachelor of science in chemistry from The University of Virginia and an M.B.A. and master of architecture from The Georgia Institute of Technology, Vern has used his varied educational background to build a distinguished business. His creations and room transformations range in budget from the notoriously frugal showcased on television to eight-figure projects for high-end clients nationwide, including special event design for one of 2006's highest profile Oscar parties. Regardless of the budget, Vern's design calling card is his attention to detail married with precise, clean-lined interiors balanced with a sense of warmth. Many elements of his creations and eclectic style demonstrate an influence from childhood travels throughout Asia, Latin America and Europe. Often with Vern's designs, less is more and something in the room always "pops" due to its graphic nature.

Having characterized himself as the classic overachiever, Vern and his projects have amassed an impressive list of design awards including: 2003 Distinguished Southerner Award, Southern Living Magazine; 2000 Southeast Designer of the Year; Fusebox Restaurant, Atlanta, 1999 Best New Restaurant; and DeuxPlex Bistro and Night Club, Atlanta, 1999 Best New Night Club. Additionally, Vern is currently in high-profile partnerships with corporate clients including Procter & Gamble’s Bella & Birch Division, AOL, Moen and Stainmaster Carpets, for which he has been a spokesperson since 2002.

Recognized on the street, in home improvement centers and in public venues across America, Vern has been prominently featured in various publications such as Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times and USA Today. He is frequently seen on television shows such as NBC's Today, CBS' The Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and Live! With Regis and Kelly.