Whatever happened to HGTV star Genevieve Gorder after leaving the network
Genevieve Gorder was once one of the most recognizable faces on HGTV, known for her bold design ideas and memorable television presence. While viewers first embraced her through shows such as Dear Genevieve and Genevieve’s Renovation, the interior designer eventually stepped away from the network in 2014.
Since then, many fans have wondered what became of the designer who helped shape the modern era of television home makeovers. Although Gorder left HGTV more than a decade ago, she has continued building a career across television, design, and business.
Before becoming a household name in home design, Gorder actually began her professional life in a completely different field. In an interview with the design website Room Fu, she explained that interior design was not originally part of her plan.
“As a graphic designer, I didn’t know this would parlay into interior design down the road. It was a happy accident,” she said.
That unexpected turn eventually led to a long career in television and design consulting. Gorder also launched her own design firm, gg studios, in 2009, allowing her to continue working with clients while maintaining a presence in media.
A career that expanded beyond HGTV
Even after leaving HGTV, Gorder remained a visible figure in television and design entertainment. In 2018, she appeared on the Netflix series Stay Here, where she helped owners transform struggling short-term rental properties into more attractive destinations for guests.
Speaking to People about the concept of the show, Gorder compared the competition among rental listings to modern dating culture.
“It’s just like a dating app,” she said. “They want the cutest girl on Tinder and they want the most beautiful house on AirBnB or whatever app they’re using.”
The series followed Gorder as she traveled to eight different properties across the United States, redesigning spaces to improve their appeal to travelers. According to reports, many of the renovated properties saw significant booking increases after the redesigns were completed.
The show ultimately ran for only one season, but it highlighted how Gorder’s design expertise remained in demand long after her HGTV era ended.
Her television career continued with additional projects. In 2019 she joined Bravo’s renovation competition Best Room Wins, where designers competed to create luxury-looking rooms within a $25,000 budget. Gorder served as one of the show’s judges alongside Whitney Robinson, the former editor-in-chief of Elle Decor, with a rotating guest judge appearing each episode.
Although the series lasted just one season, it reflected her continued role as a recognizable voice in home design programming.
Returning to familiar ground on television
Gorder’s television journey actually began before her HGTV fame. She was originally a designer on the popular series Trading Spaces, which aired from 2000 to 2007 and helped popularize home makeover television.
When TLC revived the show in 2018, she briefly returned to participate in the reboot. The revival maintained the original premise but aired in a television landscape that had dramatically expanded its focus on affordable home design.
In an interview with DuJour, Gorder reflected on how much the design industry had evolved since the show first aired.
“There’s a whole multibillion-dollar industry built on affordable design, now at your fingertips,” she said.
However, her return to Trading Spaces was short-lived. According to comments she made to People, her departure was not her decision but the result of a scheduling conflict with another series that had already been planned.
Despite the brief return, the appearance reminded viewers of the early show that helped launch her television career.
Health challenges and personal milestones
Behind the scenes, Gorder was also navigating personal challenges. In 2019 she revealed that she had been living with Lyme disease for nearly nine years and had also been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, another autoimmune condition.
Speaking on the podcast Made Visible, the designer explained that the experience forced her to rethink her approach to work and rest.
“I think what I learned by having two autoimmune [diseases]… was it’s okay to rest,” she said.
To manage her symptoms, Gorder adopted a gluten- and sugar-free diet and made time for exercise and rest. She explained that maintaining her health was essential not only for her career but also for her role as a mother to her daughter, Bebelle.
2018 also marked a major milestone in her personal life. After divorcing actor Tyler Harcott in 2013, Gorder married designer and model Christian Dunbar. Rather than holding a traditional ceremony, the couple exchanged vows privately with her daughter present before celebrating with friends and family in Marrakech, Morocco.
“I’m so chill I don’t really like big, planned formal events,” she told People. “It’s a love party. Just come have a great night.”
Expanding into new projects and partnerships
Gorder’s creative interests have also taken her into unexpected areas. In 2019 she collaborated with mobile game publisher Jam City on the game Vineyard Valley, applying her design knowledge to help shape a virtual renovation experience centered on restoring a fictional winery.
Her connection with HGTV continued as well. In 2021 she hosted the special White House Christmas, giving viewers a look at the holiday decorations inside the historic residence. During an appearance on The Rachael Ray Show, she described that year’s experience as particularly meaningful because it included an interview with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
More recently, Gorder launched a lifestyle series titled At Home with Genevieve on the streaming platform Crackle in 2023. The show explored topics beyond design, including food, fashion, and everyday home life.
In 2025, another chapter closed when Gorder listed her long-time New York City duplex in Chelsea for approximately $4.35 million. The nearly 2,500-square-foot apartment, which she had renovated and featured on HGTV years earlier, had been home to her and her daughter for more than a decade.
Then in February 2026, Gorder entered a new partnership with Kohler for the launch of Reveal by Kohler, a bathroom remodeling service designed to streamline renovations. Kohler executive Erica O’Brien said in a press release to Supply House Times that Gorder’s style and design experience made her an ideal collaborator.
More than ten years after leaving HGTV, Genevieve Gorder remains active in television, design, and business — continuing to shape homes and inspire audiences well beyond her original network spotlight.
