Home Design Recipes

Cathy Hobbs, ASID, a five-time Emmy award winning newscaster turned television host and interior designer, is a nationally known and well-respected interior design and home staging expert who has appeared on such programs as Good Morning America, World News Tonight, The Meredith Vieira Show, The Nate Berkus Show and George To The Rescue. She was a finalist on Season 6 of the hit reality television series HGTV Design Star. Considered the "go to" authority for some of Manhattan's top brokers and brokerages, Cathy is "one of the most influential people in the home staging industry" according to RESA (Real Estate Staging Association). In addition to being a frequent guest on local and national programs, Cathy has been a nationally syndicated interior design writer for Tribune Content Agency, appearing weekly in hundreds of newspapers and media outlets. She is a LEED AP, recognized and credentialed by The U.S. Green Building Council and is also an NCIDQ certificate holder. The headquarters for her company is a one-of-a-kind net zero, carbon neutral, passive warehouse recently awarded a prestigious grant by NYSERDA (New York State Research & Development Agency). As a prominent leader in the home staging industry, Cathy is both a sought-after authority and speaker as well as a home staging trainer. She is also an active member of RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) and served for a year as the green expert for "The Life Improvement Squad" a national campaign with IKEA and O, The Oprah Magazine. Cathy also toured with Oprah's "The Life You Want" Weekend as the interior design expert. A graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, she also holds a degree in marketing and finance from The University of Southern California. Cathy splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and New York’s Hudson Valley. Nigel Barker is an internationally renowned photographer, TV producer, creative director and entrepreneur who opened his New York studio in 1996. He served for 17 seasons as photographer and judge on the hit TV show, America’s Next Top Model, which aired in over 140 countries, and hosted Oxygen Network’s modeling competition series, The Face, starring alongside Naomi Campbell. Barker also created the VH1 Reality show The Shot, and his podcast The Shaken & Stirred Show is currently in production for its TV release. His latest hit show Top Photographer premiered to rave reviews and a second season is in the works. Barker’s presence in the fashion and entertainment industry has resulted in an array of exciting projects, including the creation of his own furniture line (the NB1 & NB2 Collections), a skateboard collection with ShutNYC, three signature fragrances with Demeter, a unique custom NB Photobooth, and, as ambassador for AC Hotels by Marriott, he created the first ever specialty gin & tonic glass, as well as many more innovative projects. As creative director, Barker currently works as CMO for the sustainable fashion brand EcoFashion Corp. He is also a founder and partner in the NYC/LA gym, the DOGPOUND. His latest project is The Barker Company Espresso Martini, which launched to rave reviews in September 2024. Barker has directed and produced films, documentaries, and commercials for Hollywood clients to international charitable organizations and was awarded the “Film Heals” Award for Humanitarianism at the 6th Annual Manhattan Film Festival for Dreams Are Not Forgotten. Using the power of photography and motion pictures, he has been able to spread his humanitarian message to vast audiences through films, PSAs and traveling exhibitions. He has worked with several charitable organizations, including the Special Olympics (where he serves as a Champion Ambassador), the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society International, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation (as a two-term board member), Jumpstart (as a two-term board member), the Edeyo Foundation (board member), CARE (as a Global Advisory Council Member) and the USO, where he serves as a digital advisory committee member. This is Barker’s twentieth anniversary as a Wish Granter for the Make A Wish Foundation. Drawing upon his over thirty years of experience in the fashion and beauty industries, he has two books—The Beauty Equation, published by Abrams, and his latest book, New York Times bestseller Models of Influence published by Harper Collins. Nigel currently lives in Woodstock, NY, with his wife and renown Yogi, Cristen AKA @ChinTwins, and their two children Jack and Jasmine.