Yasmine Ghoniem: Career Trajectory and "Grand Designs Transformations" Season Two
Early Career and Education
Yasmine Ghoniem, a Kuwait-born, Sydney-based interior designer and musician, graduated from college in the US in the early 2000s. After studying visual communications in Dubai, she transferred to study interiors in the US. Following graduation, Ghoniem faced employment challenges, which resulted in a six-month period of living in her car in 2004. Her initial employment included working as a sales representative in a carpet showroom. She secured her first interior design position at an architectural practice with an annual salary of approximately $US20,000.
Ghoniem worked at various US practices for three years, followed by a year of volunteer work, before relocating to Sydney. She was employed by a hospitality interiors firm prior to establishing her own practice in 2020.
Professional Recognition and Television Career
One year after founding her firm, Ghoniem was recognized as Interior Designer of the Year at the 2021 Interior Design Excellence Awards. In 2024, she began co-hosting "Grand Designs Transformations" (GDT), a television series focusing on home renovations in Australia. The program's second season documents aspects of Ghoniem's pregnancy, culminating in the appearance of her baby daughter, Sahara. Ghoniem indicated that her pregnancy occurred after a seven-year period.
Insights on "Grand Designs Transformations"
Ghoniem described her experience co-hosting GDT as providing exposure to diverse renovation projects and budgets, which she contrasted with her high-end design work. She noted that GDT Season Two will feature themes of intergenerational living and varied project scales, with budgets ranging from $10,000 to $2.5 million. When asked about her largest project budget, Ghoniem cited approximately $40 million, declining to specify the project. She cited a project in Fitzroy North by Eric and Nicki as her favorite from the season, noting its distinctive facade and the clients' specific design motivations.
Design Philosophy
Ghoniem defines brilliant interior design by originality and authenticity. She observed that contemporary design practices often involve repetition of ideas, influenced by platforms like Pinterest, which she views as both beneficial for quick trend overviews and potentially detrimental to originality. She advocates for revisiting historical design masters and finds inspiration in movies, travel, architecture, art, and diverse cultural influences, stemming from her background with an Australian mother and Egyptian father, and having lived in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Sydney. Ghoniem expressed a preference for incorporating color in interior design, stating it is cost-effective and impactful for uplifting human experience. She also expressed a preference for tiny homes over larger residences, emphasizing the importance of utilizing all available space to create a vibrant living environment.
Design Trends and Advice
Ghoniem identified specific design trends she hopes will not return, including "squiggly mirrors," "ball-shaped cushions," excessive use of arches, and "feature walls." She advised homeowners to prioritize planning, suggesting it should take nearly as long as the construction phase. She also stressed the importance of allocating a budget contingency to prevent compromises during the renovation process.
Broadcast Information
The new season of "Grand Designs Transformations" is scheduled to air on ABC TV and ABC iview from 8:00pm AEST on January 8.