In the show (which premieres Thursday on HGTV and airs on Max), the Newport Beach, California-based designer overhauls homes for her California clients while also remodeling her own family home.

"It never stops," she tells Realtor.com." We're adding a barbecue entertainment area in the backyard because there's no grill around the pool. And we're also going to make some changes in our master bath."

Curious to see what she and her husband, Josh Hall, have been doing in their own home and elsewhere, we caught up with her to learn about some of the latest trends she loves and some she hates, as well as her hopes for the future.

Before the midseason break, we saw that you moved back to Newport Beach, California from Dana Point. How are things going?

I always thought it would be great to have a house with an ocean view, which is wonderful. But sacrificing the distance from friends and family and leaving my comfort zone - Newport Beach feels like home to me. As nice as Dana Point is, it doesn't have that homey feel, so we're glad to move back. I love where we are. I love being close to friends and my favorite restaurants, and I love riding my bike. The kids are very happy too.

What kind of renovations did you do in the new house?

We've made a lot of changes throughout the house. It's very modern, and modern - believe it or not - is probably my least favorite style. If you don't do it right, it feels a little cold, so we added our own twist to the modern style. We added an organic vibe - what I call Balinese style. We softened it; we added more wood grain.

Josh and I both love black, so we added a lot of black to the house. We used all-black coffee appliances that look super cool; they add an edge to the modern feel. We added a bar area because I think every house should have at least a small mini bar or fridge somewhere to put all your drinks. [We] added cool lighting, plants, redid the kids' rooms, we did it all.

What is your favorite feature of the home?

My favorite room is our bedroom. It gives a very peaceful feeling. It's all glass and has very cool bamboo that you can see. It has a resort vibe. It sits up high, so you feel like you're in one of those hotels where the room is on stilts. There's a cool chair in the corner, and I like to read there.

What is your best piece of renovation advice for homeowners in today's market?

Prices have gone up a lot. It makes it super complicated when homeowners have an idea of what they think they're going to spend, and those prices have changed dramatically in the last three years.

I would advise everyone to get multiple bids and get references. I think that's the biggest problem in this industry - not getting the right job, or you go in with expectations and the project takes significantly longer than it should.

What's the biggest design or real estate lesson you've learned since starting your career?

I started in 2009 and there have been about 16 different design trends along the way from 2009 to 2023. My goal has always been to design for the masses. Especially doing house flipping, we never want to alienate anyone.

You want all buyers to walk in and be able to feel that no matter what happens, they can come in with their furniture and it's going to be their style. Whether the homeowner tells me they're going to be here for the rest of their life or not, that's how I always look at it, what's good for resale?

What are some of the other challenges in real estate and design?

Everyone loves coastal design, right? Well, it can get a little boring because everyone wants almost the same design. I have a California coastal edge, but sometimes I want to mix it up, especially when people have a different style of house, like mid-century modern or super modern. We've seen a lot of the same design trends that we've been seeing over the last few years, and it gets a little complicated when I want to try something different.

Is there a coastal design detail that applies no matter where you live?

Living on the coast, I imagine it as an indoor-outdoor feel, lots of natural light, introducing wood grain, wood tones, natural oak cabinetry, real plants. So I think my current style could be transferred to anywhere you live.

What are your favorite popular design trends?

The big island! I love big islands. Especially with the kids, we spend a lot of time on the island. We eat dinner, do homework, do crafts, and play games here.

My advice is that when you choose a countertop material, make sure it is durable because families do spend a lot of time entertaining in the kitchen and around the island. If you choose a porous material, you may regret it later.

As a mom of three, what are your top tips for organizing a home with kids?

I have a very neat husband! But beyond that, organizing is important. We are constantly shedding, donating and giving away. It's about getting everything out of your closet or closet, really looking at what you don't use and don't need, and donating that stuff. You feel so much better when you can find things, you know where things are, and when you open a drawer and things look pretty. I just think that helps a lot.

Did you find it a challenge to meet Josh's preference for neatness?

Oh, yes, especially with three children, two of whom are not tidy. They have sticky fingers and touch everything, walls, cabinets. Just reminding them to wash their hands, which is a life lesson that should be taught anyway. For sure, [Josh] is neater than all of us.

Is there a popular design trend that you'd be happy to stop doing?

One style that was popular in the early 21st century that I didn't like was the heavy Tuscan [style]. Like travertine everywhere - believe me, I used to do it in the early 21st century and I didn't really like it, all the browns, the heavy carpets and all that stuff.

What is the most common problem that clients need help with?

It's really hard for people to put everything together. Even when I show clients the counters, the backsplash, the handles and all that stuff, people have a hard time visualizing it.

I've done so much renovation and remodeling work that I can walk into a house and in 10 seconds know exactly what it could look like, how the floor plan could be more functional, how you should remove the walls, what the flow should look like. That's my favorite part; I mostly enjoy the important part of remodeling. I don't really like picking out furniture, but I like taking down walls and making it a space that people can enjoy with their families.

In HGTV's "Barbie Dream House Challenge" (premiering July 16), you and co-star James Bender will take on Barbie's closet. Who has the better closet, you or Barbie?

I love my closet, but Barbie's is better. That closet is crazy. James and I got some inspiration from the movie "Clueless." Remember Cher's closet? That was pretty incredible. It was a lot of fun.

Your tagline on Instagram is "The Master of Realization." What's your next goal?

I really want to start a home decor line in a big box store. My favorite place to go is CB2 for accessories, but I think there's a gap in the market for bedding and everything, so I'd like to have my own home decor line. I would also like to have a tile collection.