9 By Design



Show Outline

9 By Design - is it a studio? A fashion house brand? Or is it a runner of things to come? Or does it specifically referring to the Novogratz couple, whose nomadic lifestyle has not come in the way of expanding their family? As husband Bob says, "Never say never" when asked if plans to expand the family brood are on.

9 By Design is a reality show on Bravo TV tracking the life of a design couple and their seven children in urban New York. The show is produced by Left/Right Inc., Banks Traver and Ken Druckerman are the Executive Producers.

Touted to become Manhattan's next reality TV superstars of a lifestyle drama, the family's chaotic lifestyle is filmed on camera. Bob and Cortney Novogratz is the self taught designer husband-wife team owning the New York design firm Sixx Design. The couple specializes in renovating and refurbishing dilapidated and rundown city buildings and structures, transforming them into superbly designed and outfitted million dollar homes fit for the rich and famous. Their life is whacky and indeterminate; they are constantly on the move, living in homes while renovating them and moving on to their next project after striking million dollar deals for their current homes. They have moved home no less than 15 times within a 5 mile radius; on two occasions they moved home three times in a year. The young, hip couple move into homes, often renovate and redesign them, sell them for a good price and move on to find themselves another project. In their view, they don't "flip houses"; rather they build homes for themselves, and then throw parties that rich people come to and want to buy their houses.

In their words, "we wanted to show off New York City, much like 'Sex and the City' did". To them, exposure on national television was a conscious decision aimed at branding them as a family and a company. They say that constantly moving, renovating homes and selling them is challenging business, but they are risk takers and overall, the risks have paid off handsomely.

The Family

When the show opens Bob and Cortney and their seven kids between the ages of 12 and 1, with a newer addition soon to come, are on the lookout for a temporary home after listing out their townhouse in SoHo. The 8000 square foot, 5-bedroom townhouse is their current residence. The Novogratz couple had modified the house to their liking and even installed an indoor basketball court for their children. But the bug has bitten them again and they want to move. Eventually they find a two bedroom apartment where the children will have to share a single bedroom.

In the show's first season spanning eight episodes, the camera will follow them as the new baby arrives; the couple are shown designing and building six projects of a large scale, including a 24-room boutique hotel in Jersey, designing a private gymnasium in Hoboken, a beach house in Amagansett, a 10,000 square foot glass house in Manhattan and many more.

Reality in Life

Bob and Cortney have the strong middle class Southern family upbringing to their demeanours and attitude, which explains why their practical survival streak is so stubborn. It also explains their desire to have a large family. Starting out as self-taught designers with no connections in New York City in the early 1990s, they started pulling out and renovating rundown homes and apartments. They created masterpieces of design and architecture fusing the vintage and modern with artifacts and items that were both everyday as well as unique. When their first home gained enough attraction and desire from the musician Suzanne Vega to move into it, they accepted her generous offer and moved on. Some more renovation of homes followed and they soon realized that they had stumbled on the perfect business proposition of their lives.

The series brings out life's reality smack in the face of the viewer; a firsthand view of how one family uses the odds to their advantage. It also showcases design ideas for people interested in redesigning and renovating their homes. As Ken Druckerman says, "the show is like your life; you have two children, they have seven; you live in an apartment, their home is a 9000 square foot house on a highway where an S&M once stood. They are the bigger, more ingenious, creative family".

Bouquets and brickbats

The show has undoubtedly caught the fancy of viewers although some of them are outraged by the kids' constant uprooting by the couple. On the whole the audience has warmed to them as the most photogenic television parents. The family has earned the "Cooler than Yours" tag because it shows the children equally cool about the idea of going live on television.

Contrary to what most viewers think, the couple were initially hesitant about putting their lives on public view and violating the children’s' privacy. Money wasn't the motivation because they had made millions over the years; their work ethics and zest for life has propelled them into the arc lights. Eventually after a great deal of thought, they agreed to let the camera into their home and follow them around. The kids were excited too and the producers respected the family's wish to draw the line at certain levels and stepped no further. They had a lot of fun filming the show with people who were like friends around the house at all times. But the controls rest with Bob and Cortney and they call the shots.

Bob feels that not all reality shows end up on the right side of people's lives; there are many couples who got a divorce after being on reality TV and he feels that’s because they may not have had a good marriage in the first place. He and Cortney share a great marriage and understanding of each other and they wouldn't let anything affect their lives. Adds Cortney, "Just like every other show, people will love it, people will hate it. What matters to us is that the kids get an education putting an entire show together with us; and we are all in it together. It's going to be a fun ride".

A family drama showcasing true reality!



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