Cibola grad places third on 'Top Design'

  An interior designer who graduated from Cibola High School certainly knows he's a leader in his field now, having just finished in third place on the popular TV show "Top Design."

  Preston Lee and his designs proved popular over the weeks, saving him from weekly eliminations on the Bravo network show, which broadcast its finale last week. The show premiered Sept. 13 with the promise of giving the winner $100,000 and a four-page spread in Elle Decor magazine.

  "I think it went really well," Lee said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "The viewers voted online and via the phone, and there was a really positive response toward me and they actually voted that I should have been the winner."

  He added that doing the show proved to be a blast, but a truly hectic experience all the same.

  "I think that six weeks of filming was probably one of the most stressful times of my life - 14-hour days, getting no sleep. You were constantly challenged from the time you woke up. I think America saw that we worked our butts off."

  But Lee certainly didn't need a TV show to confirm that his career is hot. The young designer is often hailed as a "rising star" in Southern California, where he has designed for high-end projects spanning Hollywood to Palm Springs - including some celebrity homes.

  Lee doesn't get back to Yuma anymore these days, but he spent his high school years here. Before coming here, his family lived in Texas and New Mexico. He graduated from Cibola High School in 1999. His mother, Jacque Lee, now lives in Amarillo, Texas.

  After high school, Lee lived in Australia for a year through a Rotary exchange, then moved to Phoenix for a year.

  He eventually moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. He also studied for two years under designer Kenneth Brown, who has created his own show on HGTV and TLC networks.

  Lee started his own design firm at age 21. He quickly learned that he not only had the artistic sense required for the industry, but the stamina and perseverance as well. He also found that he loves the rush of unveiling a daringly different living room or den only to receive rave reviews from clients.

  "You are constantly challenged and you continually have new clients with different end results," he said. "When clients absolutely love that end result, you really get a huge reaction. So there is a huge payoff when you do a good job."

  To go on "Top Design," Lee sent in a video and photos of his work. Friends back in Yuma watched each week as Lee unveiled new designs that propelled his popularity further and further with fans around the country. But Lee's biggest fans were his mom, sister and niece.

  "My mom is my biggest fan and she has been enormously supportive."

  Lee works a lot in Southern California, but he also works quite often in Phoenix and New York. He mostly focuses on residential design but has done a bar and restaurant, plus some offices. He's currently working on a plastic surgeon's office in Beverly Hills.

  Lee has also designed for celebrities like Kelsey Grammer and Jenny McCarthy, plus several performers from the soap opera "The Young and the Restless." Another high-profile project involved designing the set for "Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency," a popular reality TV show.

  "I think like any artist it's just in your blood and you either can take your talent and use it at the next level or you can become an average designer," he said, describing his approach to design. "I really hope to dress to impress and make people think outside the box. I like aggressively styling for clients who are constantly surprised."

  Lee says he plans on taking his work to a wide geographical scope, plus start coming up with his own pretty things for designers to mix and match.

  "I plan on eventually having my own showroom. I also want to have my own line of furniture and accessories, and plan on expanding my design internationally for everyone to enjoy."

Preston Lee on the Web
* To see video interviews with Lee go to  www.bravotv.com/Top_Design
* Check out a photo gallery of Lee's work at www.design-and-style.net

---
Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.