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. Yip has spread the word on digital home makeovers through AOL and worked hand-in-hand with companies such as Microsoft, Stainmaster carpet, Procter & Gamble, and most recently Kraft during their launch of the new Kraft Signature Sandwich Shop Chipotle Mayo.

Yip’s recent projects include his own show on HGTV, Deserving Design with Vern Yip; the fifth season of the exciting primetime series HGTV Design Star, where he served as both host and judge in the selection of America's next great design talent; and the exciting new special HGTV Urban Oasis. This past season of Design Star marked the first time famed television producer Mark Burnett, of Survivor and Celebrity Apprentice fame, was at the helm and it was the biggest and most exciting season to date. Yip also appears on HGTV in new episodes of Bang for Your Buck. No matter the venue, Yip's award-winning work has a distinct flair that reflects his expertise as both an architectural and interior designer.

Yip runs his own design company in Atlanta, Vern Yip Designs. With a BA in economics and a BS in chemistry from the University of Virginia, and an MBA and Master of Architecture from The Georgia Institute of Technology, Yip 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, Yip'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 Yip’s designs, less is more, and something in the room always "pops" due to its graphic nature.

Having characterized himself as the classic overachiever, Yip and his projects have amassed an impressive list of design awards including: 2003 Distinguished Southerner Award, 2000 Southeast Designer of the Year, 1999 Best New Restaurant Design, and 1999 Best New Night Club Design. Additionally, Deserving Design with Vern Yip was recently nominated for a 2009 NAMIC award for Best Original Life Style Programming.

Yip continues to be involved extensively in nonprofit work, and has served as honorary chair for Eleven the Event, the 2009 fund raiser for The Ulman Cancer Fund, where he established the Vera Yip Memorial Scholarship (after his mother), and is now working closely with UNICEF to help raise awareness of the needs of children around the world. At the end of 2009, Yip not only hosted the major fundraiser for UNICEF in the Southeast in his own home, but also designed the 2009 UNICEF Snowflake Ball that took place in New York’s famous Cipriani on December 2nd. Yip returned to UNICEF designing duties for the 2010 UNICEF Snowflake Ball and was honored with the duty of lighting the UNICEF Snowflake that hangs above New York’s famed 5th Avenue.

Recognized on the street, in home improvement centers, and in public venues across America, Yip has been prominently featured in various publications such as Entertainment Weekly, People, The New York Times, and USA Today. He is frequently seen on television shows such as NBC's The Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, and Live! with Regis and Kelly. Recently, both Deserving Design with Vern Yip and HGTV Design Star began airing weekly in Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, China, and South Korea through the L.I. (Life Inspired) network.