Quote Of The Day By Hilary Farr: 'It's Not About The Value Of The Pieces. It's About The Value Of The...'

Hilary Farr has lived a lot of life. While she was born in Toronto, Canada, she was raised in London. During her childhood, she developed a passion for performance — first, while she was attending the Royal Ballet School, and later, as an actress. She ultimately decided the silver screen wasn't for her, however, and decided to focus her efforts on a career in interior design. 

Her design firm, Hilary Farr Designs, began making waves in Canada, especially thanks to Farr's then-innovative idea to stage homes for sale. As her reputation grew, it was clear she wouldn't stay away from the spotlight for long. Her popularity in the interior design world and her previous experience on camera led her to the gig most know her for: co-host of "Love It or List It," one of HGTV's most popular and long-running shows. She was on the show for 19 seasons across 15 years, cementing her reputation as not only an HGTV icon but a household name. Her HGTV career didn't end there; she's also seen plenty of success with another popular show, "Tough Love with Hilary Farr," in which she, aptly, gives tough love to homeowners who are struggling to find peace in their existing spaces.

Farr's extensive careers in both the arts and design worlds have given her valuable experience and a unique perspective on what it means to create a space that works for you. That's why she's the source of House Digest's quote of the day.

Hilary Farr's full quote reads: "It's not about the value of the pieces. It's about the value of the memories that they bring to you. You can refresh them. You can keep them, and very often if you just have them redone, you can make them look fresh and much more in tune with the new way you're decorating your home and what is on-trend."

This quote comes from a 2022 Realtor.com interview with Farr, fresh off the heels of her extended stint on "Love It or List It" and at the inception of her new solo venture, "Tough Love with Hilary Farr." The piece covers her decision to move on to a new project and offers plenty of no-nonsense advice for homeowners who aren't satisfied with their existing spaces. In particular, she zeroes in on which items to keep and throw away during a renovation, and while sentimentality and tough love don't always mesh, she acknowledges the importance of items that homeowners have developed an attachment to over the years.

Farr's direct style of giving advice might not be sugarcoated, but it's far from brutal. Her intention is for her clients to create a space that's beautiful but still feels like home, and her tip to update and refresh nostalgia-laden items is the perfect example of her balanced approach to renovations.

Our houses aren't just perfectly curated displays of items — they're where we live our lives. According to Farr, the pieces we keep should reflect that, but it doesn't mean we have to turn a blind eye to style entirely. Updates can maintain the nostalgic value of a piece while still allowing it to mesh seamlessly with the rest of your space, and more often than not, tiny changes can make a major impact on an item's look.

The inside of Farr's own home reflects this approach. "In my bedroom, I have a beautifully carved walnut chaise that my mother used to sit in, in London. There was a big bay window there that brought the morning sun in, and sunshine in England is rare," she shared in the Realtor.com piece. "All I did was reupholster it in white, and it actually looks completely perfect with just about any decor. And every time I walk past it, I remember my mother."

Sentimental pieces, whether they're family heirlooms or simply items you associate with positive memories in your own life, can almost always be worked with. If they're still in good condition, a change of stain, a coat of paint, or even a quick hardware swap can bring them into the current day and give them a more fashion-forward look. Many furniture flips are easy to DIY, and if you're willing to put in some effort, you can create new memories while updating your most cherished pieces.

• "The most important thing is to understand what gives you pleasure. If it's orange, paint it orange. Bring in orange, whatever that is. Don't allow yourself to be completely influenced by whatever is so-called on-trend. Don't be influenced beyond what you are drawn to." — from a 2022 Realtor.com interview
• "You want to feel that every day is something different and special and grasp for those challenges. That's really what I think drives me, anyway." — from a 2023 People interview
• "I think you can be very direct, and I think that's actually an act of kindness." — from a 2024 interview with Be Kind Entertainment
• "You need to ask yourself, what is my starting point? What do I have to work with? It should always be functional, but should the pattern be intrusive? Should it be whimsical? Or loud or lusty? It can depend on so much, including the wall color." — from a 2023 Homes and Gardens interview
• "I have always talked about the fact that you should never forget what a home truly is, which is four walls and a roof, but it's also a safe place and a sanctuary. Ultimately, that is the bottom line." — from a 2023 Vulture interview