‘DREAM’ MAKER
‘American Dream Builders’ judge Monica Pedersen builds up hope in her hometown
Decor doyenne Monica Pedersen rose to fame creating chic, budgetconscious living spaces on HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and “Dream Home.” Now, with a book and a new baby under her (tool) belt, the Wood Dale native is back on the air — though this time, she’s swapping blueprints for a red pen as one of three judges (alongside former NFL player Eddie George and fellow Chicagoan Nate Berkus) on NBC’s new series, “American Dream Builders.”
The design competition show, midway through its first season, follows two teams of designers as they complete weekly renovations and vie for a $250,000 grand prize. After each overhaul, the judges — plus a “neighborhood council” made up of real-estate experts and neighbors — critique the designers’ work, then ask the losing team to eliminate a member. “It definitely feels better to be on the judging side than the designing side,” Pedersen laughs. “I’ve been there, done that.” While it’s a relief to be out of the hot seat, Pedersen admits judging has its own challenges. “Personally, my style is traditional — I tend to make things a bit more feminine, but also very livable,” she explains. “I had to take that out of it as a judge, because not every space on the show would work with my design aesthetic.”
As the show inches closer to its finale next month, Pedersen teases that viewers will get a closer look at the judges’ rapport. “Our roles will grow, because you get down to fewer and fewer contestants. But I wish viewers could see more of [the chemistry between judges]. We really do all get along,” she says. “Nate’s style is different than my style, and Eddie — well, we laughed [that] Eddie’s style was like a 1990s bachelor, which is fabulous. But we all respected each other.”
On April 27, Pedersen will step into another role, hosting LOSS’ Annual Blossoms of Hope Brunch for the fourth time. LOSS, short for Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide, is a cause near and dear to the designer’s heart: “I lost my twin brother to suicide when I was in high school. Our family was lucky enough to be part of the LOSS program — it was very, very small back then,” says Pedersen. Ever since, she’s been determined to pay it forward, facilitating groups for people struggling with a sibling’s suicide, monthly meetings for affected families and fundraisers for the charity. At this year’s brunch, in honor of her longtime support of the foundation, Pedersen will receive the Charles T. Rubey LOSS Award. “It’s a huge part of my life,” she says of the organization. “I really feel like without support from that program, I don’t know how my life would have turned out.”
Fortunately, thanks to the group’s support and Pedersen’s personal strength, life has turned out very well. The Highland Park-based Pedersen is happily juggling her newborn daughter (who she lovingly calls “Hollering Holly”), her longtime marriage to husband Erik and her often-chaotic career — all with her sense of humor intact. Case in point: When reflecting on how she temporarily moved her clan to LA to film “American Dream Builders” this past fall — only two months after giving birth — Pedersen remarks, “It’s an experience, let me tell you. I was a Chicago girl out in Hollywood with my baby and an extra 20 pounds on me. Oh lord!” She stops to laugh, then adds, “What was I thinking?”
Watch “American Dream Builders” Sundays at 7 pm. on NBC. For tickets to the LOSS brunch ($60 adults, $15 children under 12), email Hfash@catholiccharities.net.