Pittsburgh makes inroads on HGTV's 'Design Star'
Stanley Boyd Palmieri and Luca Paganico use their eyes -- and their hands -- in a way most people can't.
Their outstanding work was recognized by HGTV with their selection as two of 12 finalists vying to become the next "Design Star." The show premieres Tuesday in its seventh season. The winner receives his own show.
"I am proud to represent Pittsburgh," says Palmieri, 34, a Hampton High School graduate. "Luca and I are the Steel City boys, blue-collar guys who have a tremendous work ethic. The group of designers we worked with is the most talented group ever on the show."
Paganico agrees.
"Thousands of people tried out, but only 12 are on the show," says Paganico, 36, a Penn Hills High School graduate. "They really challenge you to do things under crucial deadlines and budgets, but I know how to handle that. It is nice to be recognized for my work on a show like this. Pittsburgh is such a best-kept secret in terms of work ethic and talented people like us."
Palmieri says he can build anything he imagines. He received his masters of fine arts in combined media from the University of Albany in New York and his bachelors of fine arts in sculpture from West Virginia University. During his undergraduate studies, he found a love for metal sculpture and functional furniture.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Palmieri founded Artistic Landscape Creations with two of his closest friends. He missed the passion and fulfillment that comes with making art. So, he decided to pursue his master's degree. In graduate school, he found his niche and started designing and building restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Palmieri describes his designs as "artistic industrial." He takes concepts evolving from his limitless imagination and combines that with raw and recycled materials influenced by his construction and sculpture background.
"I place people in a moment, become the provocateur, and incite them to interact," Palmieri says.
Locally, Palmieri created a new look for Oakland's Pittsburgh Cafe and the North Shore Saloon, as well as Dragonfly Sushi Bar and Grill in Morgantown, W.Va. -- all three with Pro Builders LLC.
"I think Stanley is great," says Eddie Babilonia, who lives in New York, and is the former owner of Dragonfly. "He has a lot of vision and creativity. He has that kind of vision that most people don't have. He can see something before it is developed. You can't teach what he has."
Babilonia says he would put his money on Palmieri to win the "Design Star" title.
"He has such a passion for what he does," Babilonia says. "He is always thinking about what he can do to make something better."
Palmieri says he crosses the boundaries between art and design. His business -- Stanley Boyd Palmieri Design -- is based in Virginia Beach where he lives with his wife, Samantha Lynne Hilton, a corporate controller for a finance company. He has done work in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia and all over the East Coast.
Paganico, who lives in Plum with wife Alishia, says he knew he had a natural passion for design when, as a child, he would frequently rearrange his bedroom and draw on the walls. After graduating with a bachelor of arts in industrial design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he kick-started his own firm by designing a golf-course clubhouse, bars, restaurants and condos. He loves showing people the fun in design and describes his style as modern and eco-friendly.
He uses the term "designology" to describe the fusion of two different styles to create a unique new design.
Paganico's works include Savoy, DejaVu Lounge and Prive Ultralounge in the Strip District and Loews movie complex in the Waterfront. He has done work from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas.
He recently redesigned a condominium on the South Side owned by Josh Dziabiak, a Beaver County native and founder and owner of the event-ticketing software website showclix.com.
"Luca was incredible," Dziabiak says. "It wasn't long before he had a vision for how it would look. I didn't understand it until it was all done and came to life. He has so many ideas that it is so hard to keep up with him. There were so many things going on at the same time that I had to ask him to slow down so I could take it all in."
Paganico's ideas were completely un-traditional, says Dziabiak, who had asked for a comfortable living space that was also funky so it would be an environment for inspiration for his creative side.
"I can visualize things before you do," Paganico says. "And I really love sharing ideas with people. When I walk into a room with a client, I just start talking about what can be done and then I bring those ideas to life. And I won't sacrifice design for speed. I will make sure every detail down to covering a screw is done. I take your style, and add salt and pepper to it and call it 'Luca-licious.'"
Paganico is a design consultant under the name Paganico Designs.
"I don't like to make museum-type spaces," Paganico says. "I want you to be able to live in and enjoy the space. This show is a pretty interesting competition where we all fought for our jobs, but also became friends in the process."
The show offers the stress and drama of designers creating quickly with limited time and limited tools, says Palmieri. He says it took time to get used to cameras bumping into his head a few times as they zoomed in on his work. The show was filmed in Los Angeles over six weeks.
"I am happy to show the nation my talent," Palmieri says. "I don't want to offer boring designs. I want to offer innovation and something different and unique. I want the 'wow' factor when you walk in and see the finished product. I want to make Pittsburgh proud."
David Bromstad, the network's charismatic and original winner of the popular reality competition, is back for a second season as mentor -- this time also assuming the host role.
Each week, HGTV designers Genevieve Gorder and Vern Yip are joined by guest judges.
This is an awesome show, Paganico says.
"We saw a lot of hard workers like ourselves," he says. "Stanley and I are both the kind of guys who speak our minds. If you are looking to see some really good designers and see how they problem solve, you should watch this show. It is also a chance to support two local designers who work hard."
