“Versailles” interior designer Kim Coombs talks designing for a mega-mansion, the Siegels and more – Orlando Sentinel

Creating a cohesive design for one of America’s most famous mega-mansion projects isn’t an easy task, especially when you’re shooting for reality TV. However, interior designer and KCBO Design founder Kim Coombs, who appears in the new ‘The Queen of Versailles Reigns Again’ documentary series, says she’s glad to have someone like Jackie Siegel when it comes to the daunting task Motivated people spearhead the project.

“It was really great to work with her,” Coombs said of her boss, with whom she has worked on the Versailles project for years. “She’s actually smart and when she’s focused on what she wants, she’s [get] It’s done.She has some wild ideas [but] just a matter of talking to her [and seeing] What her needs and wants are. “

Combs said the overall vision for the design of the house has always been to create a space that reflects the dynamism of the Siegel family.

“It’s almost like telling the stories of their lives and what they’ve done,” she said. “They have all these antiques, and it’s really about telling the story in a way that appeals to the whole family.”

Combs has appeared on “The Queen of Versailles Reigns Again” several times and said she’s been keeping an eye on new episodes as they debut on the Discovery+ service. While the series does contain some of the family’s quirks, Combs is happy that it also shows another side of the Siegel family.

[ ‘Queen of Versailles Reigns Again’ revisits Windermere mega-mansion construction ]

“I think it’s funny. I love how they portray this family as good as they are, as human as they are. I think a lot of people want to focus on wealth or different extremes, and those are definitely there. But this family, the nuclear family And the way they manage themselves is lovely.”

As for the unique challenges of designing a 90,000-square-foot mega-mansion? Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Coombs said that keeping the cost of the project in check has been one of the biggest hurdles she has had to overcome.

“It’s a very expensive house, so you start to think about the cost of all these very fancy rooms,” she said, adding that a specific challenge came from the gold dining room on the wall. “There was $110,000 in gold plating on the walls alone, and I decided because there was so much gold, I would put it on silver foil as well.” Due to the unique nature of what Coombs and Siegel were trying to accomplish with the room, it had to be commissioned Three independent artists to work with precious materials.

“The process was a bit of a hassle because I was worried it wouldn’t come together,” Coombs said. “We couldn’t find anyone who could make it look real and real. Then when we did, it was a home run.”

In a previous interview, Jackie Siegel said that while the house is still under construction, she aims to have it completed by this time next year. Coombs agrees it’s a feasible goal, and hopes the nearly two-decade-old project can be completed soon.

“The most important thing is to weave them together and make sure it’s harmonious in the end.”

Season 1 of “The Queen of Versailles Reigns Again” is now streaming on Discovery+.

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