Elaine Griffin

"A person's home -- what it looks like, where it is, how it's lived in -- reveals more about him than absolutely anything else in the world," says New York interior designer Elaine Griffin. "Now creating a beautiful home is definitely a time-consuming task, but, sugar, I promise you that it'll never be a thankless one! When you make the effort to style up your castle, it will love you back every time you walk in the door and say, 'aaaaahhhhhh.'"

Elaine is a graduate of Yale University and studied at the New York School of Interior Design. She began her design career in the office of architecture and design legend Peter Marino. A recognized tastemaker known for her infectious sense of humor, Elaine designed the Good Works Makeovers for Oprah's O at Home, and is ranked as one of House Beautiful's Top 100 American Designers. Her work frequently appears in design magazines and on television nationally.

A native of the Deep South, Elaine was the designer of the acclaimed Fall 2006 Southern Accents Showhouse at Hampton Island, Georgia. Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator is her first book.