Q&A

Frank Fontana regularly appears on the HGTV series Takeover My Makeover and last year moved to Chicago to be the new lead designer and host of Design on a Dime: Chicago, also on HGTV.

What trends do you see happening?

I definitely see a comeback in wallpapers, but not just your grandma’s wallpaper; it’s really deep textures and animal prints. As for paint, we’re going to see a lot of muted pastels. On the flip side, for people who are bold, I love black. I’m pushing black walls.

Do people get worried when you suggest black walls?

Yes, but I consult with them and really try to give them exactly what they’re looking for. Once in a while, though, I get lucky, where they say, “Do whatever you want.” And I’m one of those designers who doesn’t feel [that] a dark wall creates a small space. A wall is a wall. The eye can create an illusion, but if you buy into that illusion, then you fall into a trap. I’ve seen a lot of amazing things done with small spaces.

Any negative reactions?

I had a split decision with a couple this year. The husband was fanatical about it, but the wife was like, “Well, it’s gorgeous, but I would’ve loved it if you would have…”—and it’s always these ridiculous requests.

Like a skylight in a second-floor apartment?

Yeah. Like, Hello! It’s unrealistic. I’ve produced probably over 30 home-makeover shows, and that was my only incident. It’s a good ratio.

What are your favorite Chicago shops?

I’ve only been here six months, but I’ve come across a couple of spots. There are these hotel-refurbishing companies that go in and buy hotel stock. So they have, like, a hundred tables or so that they sell [really cheap]. One place is called Cooper Hotel Furniture (1929 S Halsted St, 312-226-2299) and another called Fort Pitt (1400 W 37th St, 773-247-3523). They both sell some great stuff that’s still in amazing quality. You can find picture frames, and giant mirrors with gilded frames, you can get for about $100. We’ll get sofas for $150 in good condition. It’s insane. And what we do is buy that stuff and refurbish it to make it fit our [own] design.

Have you run into Oprah since you moved here?

No, but I’ve heard of a lot of Nate Berkus sightings. I’ve had a lot of comparisons to him. I think he’s a good designer, but given the situation where you probably don’t have a budget…. Look, I bet he’s a great guy. I’d love to meet him, and I put a friendly open challenge out to Nate to come on my show with a budget of $1,000 to see what it’s really like.—KA

The new season of Design on a Dime: Chicago begins airing this month.