We have received so many questions about what it was like filming a tv show, so we are taking a moment to answer the most asked questions below. Initially, when The Design Network approached us about filming for The Reveal, our team was excited for the opportunity to share the design process and all the nitty gritty details and reasons ‘why’ that most people don’t get to see. The show premise is made for interior design enthusiasts and takes viewers inside home transformations across America. The timing couldn’t have been better—we’d recently completed four projects that had a combination of great visuals and storylines for filming. At our design firm, we’re always juggling multiple projects in various stages, so it felt serendipitous that these homes were fully installed and camera-ready. Each project became its own episode and gave viewers a glimpse inside our creative process.
Since the initial airing, we’ve received lots of messages about the filming process. Today, we are taking you behind the scenes of shooting The Reveal with Leia as she answers all of your questions and shares what it takes to get four different projects ready for their close-ups.
How did you manage to design and install under TV show deadlines?
Most of our projects take about 1.5 to 2 years from the initial meetings to the final install. All four projects featured on the show had been previously installed, so it worked out perfectly and we were able to return to shoot, after the clients had already lived in the spaces. I have to say I was a bit worried about things being different upon our return from how we left them at our installation, but to my surprise, everything was exactly as we’d left it – right down to the placement of the vases on the counter. It reminded me how meaningful these spaces are to my clients and how we are designing spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but they are completely livable.
Was the show scripted?
Not at all! One of my favorite things about the show is that it’s completely unscripted. The producers gave me talking points, but they really wanted it to be in my voice. I had the creative freedom to explain my design choices and process naturally. Of course, that also meant being mindful of filler words like “um,” which can be tough habits to break. Everything you hear is authentic.
What did a typical shooting day look like?
Shoot days were very focused and intentional, but also a lot of fun. I love collaborating with other creatives and seeing their perspectives. Watching a videographer shoot my projects from different angles or seeing things in ways I hadn’t considered was really inspiring.
In terms of styling, everything you see on camera is exactly as it is in real life—no props or staging. While my team did bring in some fresh flowers, I wanted the homes to be authentic. Another important note is that we filmed without any artificial lighting. As a designer, natural light is one of my most important considerations, so embracing the homes’ glass walls and big windows was key. We never shoot with the lights on or reveal an home to our clients with the lights on. Natural light is the most important design element.
What was it like capturing the project reveals?
Honestly, the best part of the whole design process for us are the client reveals. The hugs, the tears, and seeing their reactions make all our hard work worthwhile. It’s a moment when they can finally live in and enjoy the space we created for them. Many of our clients are very private and prefer to be off camera and we actually didn’t film client reveals for this show. One of our favorite reveals to date, that we were able to catch on camera, was for our South End Project. Our clients were so involved and a huge part of the process and we all felt the love as we revealed each room of their new home to them. Rewatching this clip (featured below) is very special. It’s a documented moment of all our work and collaboration when they see their new spaces for the first time.
“I loved how the show let me dive into the nitty-gritty of my design decisions—why I chose a specific material or why I made certain design choices.”
Which LTW Design projects were featured on the show?
Were there any hiccups while filming?
One of the biggest challenges was fitting all the rooms into the half-hour episode timeframe. Some of these homes are huge, so we had to choose our favorite rooms and really dive into those.
Another challenge was shooting in the Northeast during the winter months. None of the landscaping was in bloom, which was a bummer bc several of our projects have stunning outdoor spaces and pools, which were hard to showcase during that season. The shorter days didn’t help either—we had to race against the clock to shoot as much as we could before the sun set at 4:30 PM.
What did you take away from the experience of filming a design show?
I loved how the show let me dive into the nitty-gritty of my design decisions—why I chose a specific material or made certain design choices. It felt like I was sharing the real “behind-the-scenes” thinking that goes on in my head with viewers who appreciate the details of design. All of these details that we never really share bc unless you’re a designer, it’d be TMI so it was fun to have the opportunity to share it on a platform where viewers had an interest.
Being on set was also such a creative, collaborative experience, and there’s something so satisfying about watching a concept come to life from beginning to end. I feel grateful to be a part of it, to share some of our projects in the past years and to have worked with an inspiring team.
Xx Leia
Watch all episodes of The Reveal featuring LTW Design on The Design Network. If you don’t stream TDN, you can watch them here. You can also view more of our latest projects my visiting our portfolio.