Design Star Dish: Vanilla Ice on Guest Judging and Becoming a Designer

All right, stop, decorate and listen. Last night, rapper-turned-home rehabber Vanilla Ice pulled up a chair along Design Starhost-mentor David Bromstad and judges Genevieve Gorder and Vern Yip to help weigh-in on the show's always-popular White Room challenge. So we threw a few questions his way just to see if he could still flow like a harpoon. And yep, when it comes to home design, anything less than the best is a felony.
TV Guide Magazine: Which of the designers last night surprised you the most?
Vanilla Ice: The biggest surprise was the difference in all of the designers. It was tough to judge because I had to keep an open mind about the creative design and how far they could take it without looking ridiculous.
TV Guide Magazine: Did any of them let you down?
Vanilla Ice: I guess the biggest letdowns were the ones that really thought they did well when they didn't. There were a few that had a good idea that they didn't [execute] that well in the challenge and even admitted it. That was commendable.
TV Guide Magazine: As a person of ink, did you find yourself rooting for Stanley?
Vanilla Ice: I liked him! But I must say this has nothing to do with tattoos, and if Stanley was bad, I would have let it be known. I liked his versatility and daring approach.
TV Guide Magazine: Be honest, were there any moments when you were thinking, "Who the hell would want that in their home?"
Vanilla Ice: There were many moments I thought, "What were they thinking?!" But that's what makes this a great show. If everyone was the same or close in ideas and design, then it would be a boring world.
TV Guide Magazine: Please explain to the uninitiated how you have gone from the guy in the big pants to a house flipper to a DIY host.
Vanilla Ice: I found another passion in home architect and design about 15 years ago. I have been making money in real estate for a long time, and then I got the bug for design. I love a challenge, and the harder the challenge the better the reward and gratification when finished.
TV Guide Magazine: Do you have your Vanilla Ice doll in a special place at home?
Vanilla Ice: [Laughs] My mom has all that memorabilia! I still laugh when I see it, but I love it. We are who we are because of who we were. I still love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. [Laughs] Good times.
TV Guide Magazine: So what is your design aesthetic?
Vanilla Ice: My style of design is all over the place, depending on the demographics of the area. I like to showcase the modern state-of-the-art home features, like pneumatic elevators, panoramic gaming rooms, theaters, lazy rivers and tiki huts. I like to incorporate all this with class and elegance. It's a challenge sometimes, and when you're selling a house you have to do it in a way that's appealing to both male and female. I love the Gilded Age's grand elegance, but I have been known for going transitional and ultra-modern.
TV Guide Magazine: Who do you listen to when you're working on a house?
Vanilla Ice: Unfortunately we can't listen to music while filming, but if I wasn't filming, it would be reggae or Frank Sinatra. And of course hip-hop!
TV Guide Magazine: Now that's it over, which of the judges scared you the most?
Vanilla Ice: None of them scared me at all! [Laughs] Are you kidding, Vern and Genevieve were great. They were very hospitable and easy to work with, and David is great as well.
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