Antonio Answers Your Questions
During the premiere of The Antonio Project this past Sunday, we chatted with Antonio live on Twitter and Facebook and gave everyone a chance to ask him questions. In case you missed it or just want to see his answers again, we’ve complied them all here for you. Enjoy!
Q: Do you have any tips for homeowners who want to buy fixer-uppers?
Antonio: 1. Do your homework 2. Get a reliable inspector 3. Be sure it’s a place you can love during the hard times of bringing it together. 4. Don’t buy a can…of worms. 5. Add 20-30% to your budget, anticipate going over!
Q: You’ve worked with photographer Annie Leibovitz…are you into photography too? Do you own any of her work?
Antonio: I love photography. I have collaborated with some of the best photographers as a set designer. Working with artists like Annie is what keeps me inspired. I don’t own any of her work, but I do own a LaChapelle
Q: Which other cast member from Design Star did you like working with the most?
Antonio: Jason and I bonded over the kitchen challenge. We are an unlikely pair but he kept me laughing. I’d be happy to work with him again.
Q: Has your life changed since winning?
Antonio: I’ve got a lot more friends on facebook and I got mobbed at Trader Joes. ha!
Q: Are you married? Any kids?
Antonio: Single, no kids. Just Chewie and I.
Q: Tell us about your dog, Chewie
Antonio: He’s an Olde English bull dog, also sometimes called a Victorian bull dog. He is a rescue
Q: Is Chewie named from Star Wars?
Antonio: Yes…not that I’m really into Star Wars. But he looks like Chewbaca!
Q: How do you want to respond to the people who want to congratulate you?
Antonio: To the people who are saying congrats: I am humbled by everyone’s support and I won’t let you down. I am going to bring it!
Q: What do you think was the most difficult part of this project to tackle?
Antonio: The most difficult part was opening up my life to everyone. Design is subjective. This is MY house and how I want it to be.
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
Antonio: Too many to count!
Q: What is your favorite tattoo?
Antonio: My last dog’s paw print, and the date of her passing. It’s on my rib
Q: Did Kathy Griffin slip you her phone number?
Antonio: LOL! No I haven’t talked to her since the challenge
Q: Any other celebs you have designed for or would like to?
Antonio: Doing set design, I have worked with almost every celeb in Hollywood. But I’d love to design something for Mickey Rourke.
Q: What was hardest Design Star challenge?
Antonio: Physically, the back yard. Mentally, the kitchen.
Q: And what was your favorite?
Antonio: The finale
Q: Any advice for aspiring set/prop designers?
Antonio: 1. Assist a great set designer 2. Get in anyway you can 3. Bust you’re a$&.
Q: Did you ever think you would be this adored?
Antonio: Um, am I really adored? I try to answer every email, sorry if it takes awhile. I appreciate every fan, and I’m going to work hard to do the best show i can.
Q: What is your fave color to use in design
Antonio: Hot pink!
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up
Antonio: When I was a kid, I wanted to be a musician and go on tour. Then I achieved that dream and had to come up with a new goal.
Q: What is your suggestion for helping the average homeowner pick the right color for a room
Antonio: Get plenty of samples, paint swatches, and check it out at different times of the day. Plus if you want custom, you can mix your own paints.
Q: Are your friends going to be a regular part of your show? Or just this special?
Antonio: I want to involve everyone I know because these are the people that inspire me to do what I do.
Q: Talk about Connor from the kid’s room challenge, he’s so cute!
Antonio: Connor and I are buddies for life. Conner is amazing. His older sister sent me a video of him with tattoos and a bandana on his head. It is hilarious.
Q: Any advice for an aspiring 14- yr old interior designer?
Antonio: When I was a kid, I redid my room once a month. Try it, it’s good practice. Think outside the box and don’t be intimidated. Do your own thing.
Q: Love all your shirts! WHERE do you find these?!?!
Antonio: My t-shirts are from my friend’s bands, friend’s motorcycle shop. Also I have a bunch from my buddies at supreme, www.supremenewyork.com
Q: What’s your ethnic background. Where are you originally from?
Antonio: I’m 100% Italian. Born in NYC
Q: What are some of your fave TV shows?
Antonio: No Reservations and Six Million Dollar Man
Q: What do you mean when you say “recon”
Antonio: Recon is short for reconnaissance, a preliminary survey to gain information
Q: Did you get in trouble for the turkey incident in the grocery store?
Antonio: Um…kinda. LOL
Q: Do you really not have a living room? Where do you watch TV?!
Antonio: The house was 800sf when I bought it. I put a 1000sf addition on it which includes a TV room/den. We just didn’t focus on that part of the house in the show. I love my TV room/Den. It’s where I keep my record and book collection along with my big flat screen.
Q: Where did you get the throne?
Antonio: I got it at a store in Hollywood on Melrose and Larchmont
I absolutely love the show and look forward to March. Antonio, you are so creative, incredibly charming and talented. I can appreciate everything you do and would be honored to have a makeover done by you in my home. You are truly the whole package! Congrats! Can't believe you are single.
Gee Kirsten, I guess the long list of Internet Design Pan Handlers, trying to get a free Angelo – Rate My Space make over , got you thinking: "nobody in their right minds would want Antonio to do a make over for their house, so I'll lie and say nice things about Antonio, and HGTV will come over and Antonio will makeover my place, and then after the cameras and Antonio leaves, I can throw Antonio's "designs" in the dumpster, with the rest of the garbage, and keep the free kitchen appliances and fixtures!" Is that about how your plan here is supposed to work Kirsten? Come on Kirsten give it up. Admit what a little sneak you are. Yes, Kirsten, IT WAS THAT OBVIOUS!
I feel really sorry for you.
And I'm still laughing at you!
Always the conspiracy theorist, aren't ya, dpisme? I never thought a true fan of A's would have ulterior motives. After watching "antonio's treatment" on the studio project (with his merry band of talentless thugs), I see your point at long last. The man has little talent, imagination, creativity or vocabulary. He proclaimed endlessly that he was "stoked" by his own work. I wasn't impressed at all. I don't plan to waste another moment of precious time watching him waste everyone else's time.