It’s been five seasons of Scott’s Vacation House Rules‘ challenging flips, exciting designs, and a whole lot of flannel. Now that our dynamic duo has returned, we decided to sit down with Debra Salmoni to find out what she’s been up to lately.
How does it feel to be on the fifth season?
“It’s unbelievable! We haven’t really had a big break between seasons, so one has rolled into two, three, four, and now it’s five. It’s fun.” Debra and the team have seemed to be on a non-stop roll. Transforming income properties into unforgettable getaways takes a lot of work, but when you have as much fun as they do it doesn’t feel like work.
Related: Scott and Debra Kick Off Season 5 With a Coastal Cottage
How has your design approach for income spaces changed over the seasons?
“We always try to up the ante. This season, we’ve taken on bigger projects that typically previous seasons we wouldn’t even consider. So, I think that is what changed quite a bit from previous seasons.” With so many projects in quick succession, it would be easy to fall into habits. Despite this, Debra’s designs remain as fresh as ever.
What draws you to a rental property now that you’ve helped create so many?
As an expert on vacation spaces, Debra has seen everything that might attract a guest. We wondered what draws her to a destination. “I’ve rented properties before; my favorite thing is design. One of the properties I stayed at last summer had this beautiful wallpaper from a Canadian artist. One of my biggest things is that, if I’m going on vacation, I don’t want to compromise.”
Is there a style of home or architecture that you especially enjoy designing for?
“The beauty of our job is you get to see everything.” With the show constantly moving around, showcasing the various places people escape to, it also gives them a chance to see all different kinds of properties and architecture. “We did a couple of restorations this season. So, instead of pulling out the old existing and putting in new, we really tried to preserve what was there.”
What were your favourite moments while filming season five?
As fun as the whole process of making a new season is, there’s always standout memories. “One of the biggest moments for me was that I got to do a really fun excursion with my son and daughter. They got introduced to the Scott’s Vacation House Rules family, so that’s one of the highlights, that my sweet Lizzy and Tom get to be shown with me. Then, I would say we got to do some lassoing”.
Related: Scott and Debra Wrangle the Ultimate Ranch Rental
Would you say your pun game has improved while working with Scott?
“Absolutely, I say weird things now. I can’t help it, they just come to me, and people are like ‘wow, that’s very Scott of you’.” No job is perfect, some even come with hazards. For her, the biggest threat is Scott McGillivray and his puns. With the endless stream of them, working alongside Scott runs the risk of them rubbing off on you.
What are some of your favourite ways to make a space pop?
“I love heavy textures; I think it make a room interesting. The bolder the colour, the better, especially in vacation properties.” Knowing how to make a space stand out and wow every new guest is challenging enough, but Debra also needs to balance that by making the property comfortable during their stay. “We’re dealing with themed properties, so you’re adding in different and interesting wallpapers, bold colour, and we love to lean on those heavy textures.”
Read more: Scott and Debra Create the Little Pink Cottage of Social Media Dreams
Last but not least, plaid or overalls?
After five seasons of watching the duo rock their best country-cottage fits, we just couldn’t part ways without getting Debra’s vote. Plaid or overalls, which is better? “I’ve got to tell you right now, I’m going to go with overalls but I do love plaid. I would wear overalls with plaid!”
