BeBe Design House

During our weekend at SCAD, I had one of those full-circle moments. On the outside I was cool, but on the inside I was dancing for joy.

I met Genevieve Gorder.

Not fangirling, not losing it… just two moms standing there, trying to be cool in front of our daughters, talking about life, her experience on Trading Spaces, and our careers. And somehow, in between all that, getting a little emotional about sending our babies off to university.

That part hit me more than anything.

Because like a lot of us, that show meant something. Back in college, I was obsessed. I’ve always loved design, but that era made it feel possible. I had my whole imaginary design crew in my head—Genevieve, Paige Davis, Ty Pennington, Vern Yip… all of them shaping what I thought this industry could look like. I met Ty Pennington while working at Abbot Pharmaceuticals (another life time).

Then I’m standing there years later, not as a fan—but as a designer, a mom, a woman in the same space… having a real conversation.

I also had the chance to talk with her husband Christian Dunbar, and that conversation was just as real. He shared some solid life advice with my daughter that I know will stick with her.

Both of them were so generous with their time. No rush, no ego… just present.

And honestly, seeing them not as “design icons” for a moment—but as parents in the same season of life—shifted something for me.

It reminded me that the people we look up to are just… people. Living, building, raising, figuring it out like the rest of us.

And somehow, that made the moment even more special.



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