Hilary Farr, the host of Love It or List It, founded her design firm, Hilary Farr Designs, in 1994 and has been a real designer for years.
For many fans of the show, Hilary and David’s clever bickering is one of the things that makes Love It or List It so interesting to watch.
Hilary may only be one half of this charming duo, but her years of experience as a real-life designer have helped her to convince homeowners on and off the show to fall in love with their homes.
The Love It or List It hosts really make the show
Most of the house-hunting shows on television have to rely on the “will they or won’t they?” drama of the format to keep their shows interesting. But Love It or List It puts an intriguing spin on this predictable trope.
The show’s hosts, Hilary Farr and David Visentin, go head-to-head in every episode as they try to convince the homeowners to keep and upgrade or sell and upgrade their homes, respectively.
Although this format certainly does not make it easier for the homeowners who appear on the show to come to a decision, it is great fun to watch.
Is Hilary from Love It or List It a real designer?
David usually covers the “List It” side on Love It or List It and shows homeowners a variety of properties that could serve them better than their current dwellings.
On the other hand, Hilary usually takes on the “Love It” pillar of every episode, renovating the homeowners’ current homes to make sure that they have absolutely everything they need to stay, and live comfortably.
Both Hilary and David do their absolute best during the show to sway the homeowners to their side, but there is no denying that Hilary’s chic and practical designs are stunning enough to make just about anyone want to “Love” their homes.
It sometimes seems like Hilary and her team pull off their impressive re-designs practically overnight. But in reality, it has taken her years as a professional interior designer, designing spaces for clients across the globe, to hone her skills.
Hilary actually started developing her keen eye for design at a young age when she used to help her mother with her renovation projects.
She eventually continued with the renovations on her own and even acted as an interim set designer when she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.
Now, she not only as a professional designer acts, but she is also the president of her design firm, Hilary Farr Designs, a host on Love It or List It (which is still going strong), a judge on a few other television shows, and a speaker at the occasional public event.
Love It or List It is not Hilary’s first role on television
Hilary’s established design skills are not the only reason she appears so comfortable in front of the cameras on Love It or List It.
In her youth, Hilary wanted to be an actress, and she actually managed to land quite a few roles (between all the set building).
Hilary appeared in Layout for 5 Models (1972), Sex Farm (1973), Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1973), Legend of the Werewolf (1975), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and City on Fire (1979).
She was even featured in a production of “Grease” alongside Richard Gere.
When did Hilary start designing professionally?
Hilary officially moved away from being a casual designer and set builder when she founded her business, Hilary Farr Designs, in 1994.
If you count all the designs from Hilary’s own business, and everything that she has done on the show in the last couple of years, she has now designed well over 200 different spaces.
Hilary has even been enlisted to help celebrities like Jenna Elfman and Jennifer Hudson design their homes.
Hilary’s solo endeavors
Hilary and David’s unique on-screen chemistry may be one of the main reasons why fans still tune in to watch Love It or List It to this day.
But you can still catch some of Hilary’s solo work on Tough Love with Hilary Farr, which also airs on HGTV in the United States.
If you want to make your home feel like it has a bit more of that Hilary-charm, you can always have a nosey around for Hilary’s branded products, which include everything from printed fabric to rugs.
And, if you are looking for more of Hilary’s classic non-nonsense approach, you may even be able to catch her as a judge or mentor on other interior design- and home renovation shows like Brother vs. Brother and Makeover Manor.
