Genevieve Gorder Biography: Age, Husband, Daughter, Net Worth, TV Shows & Design Career
Genevieve Gorder is a celebrated American interior designer, television personality, and lifestyle expert known for her signature warmth, barefoot style, and intuitive approach to home transformation. With a career spanning over 20 years, she rose to fame on TLC’s Trading Spaces and went on to lead hit shows like Dear Genevieve, Stay Here on Netflix, and Best Room Wins on Bravo. In 2023, she debuted At Home with Genevieve, expanding her influence into food, fashion, and wellness. Beyond TV, Gorder has built a personal design brand through product collaborations with Crate & Barrel and My Magic Carpet, and is a recognized voice in lifestyle media. This biography explores her television career, brand ventures, personal life, family, and net worth.
Table of Contents
Early Life & Education
Genevieve Gorder was born on July 26, 1974, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she was also raised. She is the eldest of three children and the only daughter of Diana Drake and Jon Gorder. Her childhood was marked by simple joys and creative freedom. She often reminisces about those early days through heartfelt memories. In one post, she shared a throwback to age eight, saying she was “lovin’ my swimsuit and the tire,” recalling the simplicity of childhood adventures in her Minneapolis backyard. Another cherished moment was attending Sesame Street Live with her father, dressed like hippies for their special father-daughter outing. She humorously recalled the moment, noting, “My dad’s cord jacket is… way too big and I’ve got busted hair, surprise!”—a detail that captures the playfulness and nostalgia of her early years. These vivid experiences helped shape her appreciation for creativity, connection, and storytelling—values that later became central to her design philosophy. She attended Lake Harriet Open School in Minneapolis during her early school years, where she jokingly noted in a kindergarten photo, “Smiling apparently was for chumps and smirking was in.”
As a teenager, Gorder embraced adventure and spontaneity. In a 2013 reflection, she shared a memory of swimming in frigid Lake Superior at age 16, a moment that captured her love for bold experiences and nature—traits that would later influence her free-spirited design aesthetic.
Growing up in a household that appreciated historical preservation, she developed a natural affinity for design through her parents’ renovation of old Victorian homes.
She attended Minneapolis South High School, where she played soccer and the violin. Gorder initially enrolled at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, with plans to study international affairs. However, after discovering a passion for design, she pivoted to the visual arts.
In 1994, she moved to New York City and began an internship at MTV, which transitioned into a full-time design role. She remained in the city to pursue her creative ambitions, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from the School of Visual Arts (SVA)., eventually moving to New York City where she completed her B.F.A. in Design at the School of Visual Arts. Her creative journey began with an internship at MTV, which transitioned into a full-time design job.
Professional Career & Television Highlights
Genevieve Gorder’s professional career spans over two decades and showcases her as one of the most recognizable faces in American interior design and television. She first gained national prominence as one of the original designers on the groundbreaking TLC show Trading Spaces in the early 2000s. Her approachable style, creativity, and signature barefoot presence quickly made her a fan favorite.
Following her success on Trading Spaces, Gorder hosted and starred in several successful HGTV shows, including:
- Dear Genevieve (2009–2012): A popular makeover series where she offered practical and emotional design solutions to real families.
- Genevieve’s Renovation (2014): A deeply personal docu-series chronicling the transformation of her own New York City home.
- White House Christmas (2015): A holiday special where Gorder highlighted festive decor at the White House.
- Design Star (Judge, 2009–2012): She served as a judge, helping mentor the next generation of design talent.
In 2018, she expanded her reach to streaming platforms as the host and executive producer of the Netflix series Stay Here, where she helped property owners across the U.S. transform their short-term rentals into stunning, marketable spaces.
In 2019, Gorder returned to cable as the host of Best Room Wins on Bravo, a competitive design show in partnership with Elle Decor. Her role as a mentor and creative guide once again reinforced her position as a trusted expert in the design world.
In 2023, Gorder debuted a new show titled At Home with Genevieve, a lifestyle series that aired for one season. The show explored various facets of home and personal wellness—from food and health to gardening, pets, fashion, and home decor. Co-starring Stacy London, the series showcased Gorder’s broader interests beyond traditional interior design and reflected her holistic approach to home and life.
Outside of television, Genevieve Gorder has collaborated with several major brands, including Crate & Barrel, Capel Rugs, and Scotties. She also launched her own line of washable rugs with My Magic Carpet, making designer style more accessible for families.
Cultural Roots & Personal Beliefs
Genevieve Gorder is of Croatian and Norwegian descent, a heritage she embraces with deep personal meaning. In a 2010 Facebook post, she reflected on this dual identity with poetic pride, sharing a conversation where someone said, “Your cheeks down are Norways, but from your eyes up we own. The eyes are the soul my dear, and your soul is Croatian.” She added, “My tribe is here, on the Adriatic, in the sun with the crazy people, I belong.” Gorder often spends summers in Croatia, where she feels a strong spiritual and cultural connection to her roots.
In contrast, her Norwegian ancestry has been documented in remarkable detail. In a 2015 post, she shared that a cousin gifted her a “Norwegian treasure chest of family history”—containing 600 years of family records and photos. While expressing awe and gratitude for the depth of that legacy, she also wished her Croatian side had an equally detailed archive. Years earlier, in a 2010 Facebook post, Gorder had joyfully traced one of her Croatian ancestral lines back to the year 980 using Ancestry.com, calling it “amazing.” These discoveries—both personal and ancestral—highlight her deep connection to heritage, identity, and origin stories that influence her worldview and creative spirit.
Gorder’s appreciation for heritage and personal history also extends to her grandparents. In a 2021 Facebook tribute, she honored her grandfather—a Slavic-American WWII veteran, engineer, composer, and lifelong preservationist—highlighting his immense cultural influence and the values he passed on. She affectionately referred to him as her “forever teacher,” recalling a life of resilience, curiosity, and wisdom that helped shape her worldview. She recalled his words: “All those things make a great story but in the end, what you realize is that your whole life is really about one thing… love.”
Marriage and Children
She was previously married to Canadian actor and TV host Tyler Harcott (2006–2013), with whom she shares a daughter named Bebelle, born on January 24, 2008. Genevieve frequently expresses her deep love and admiration for Bebelle on social media. In a heartfelt 15th birthday post, she wrote, “There are not enough words in any language to explain the love I carry for you in this world and all of nexts… you are magnificent.”
She married Christian Dunbar, a renowned furniture designer and builder, in a visually stunning Moroccan desert wedding on September 22, 2018. That same love was reflected in 2022, when she marked their 4-year anniversary with a heartfelt tribute to their Moroccan desert wedding—calling it one of her favorite days ever and thanking him for his heart, support, and love. Her appreciation for Christian’s role in their family continued into the following year. On Father’s Day 2023, Genevieve praised him in a heartfelt post for stepping into the role of father figure to Bebelle, writing, “We LOVE you, we FEEL you, and we SEE you.”
Today, Gorder lives in New York City, where she balances motherhood and a dynamic design career. Her approach to interior design centers on emotional and spiritual well-being, often incorporating energy cleanses and personal storytelling into the spaces she creates. Her work reflects not only aesthetic talent but also a profound respect for memory, ancestry, and the unseen energies within a home.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Genevieve Gorder’s estimated net worth is between $2 million and $4 million. Her income sources include television hosting (Trading Spaces, Stay Here, At Home with Genevieve), brand collaborations (Crate & Barrel, Capel Rugs, Scotties), and her washable rug line with My Magic Carpet. She also earns through design consulting, digital media, and speaking engagements—cementing her reputation as a multifaceted lifestyle entrepreneur.
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