Former TV Show Home Designer Kim Lewis Begins New Adventure In 'Pearl,' Her Vintage Ford F-150 Ranger
March 21, 2017 by Ford
◾An iconic blue-and-white 1977 Ford F-150 Ranger belonging to former 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' production designer Kim Lewis is a familiar sight in Austin, Texas, home to her new studio, Kim Lewis Designs
◾Hailing from a longtime Ford truck family, the Texas native learned to drive in her grandfather's Ford F-150, so when she went to build her design business looking to establish a tough brand identity, Lewis sought out a vintage Ford truck she calls 'Pearl'
◾Lewis and Pearl's story figures into Ford's yearlong 40 Years Tough celebration – marking F-Series as America's best-selling truck for 40 straight years and best-selling vehicle for 35 straight years
AUSTIN, Texas, Mar. 21, 2017 – Texas-based designer Kim Lewis, no stranger to the spotlight, has come to appreciate the value of iconic design. As a production designer on 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,' Lewis helped design and renovate more than 120 homes across America over the course of six years.
'No pressure there,' laughs Lewis, sitting on the back of her treasured workhorse – a vintage 1977 blue-and-white Ford F-150 Ranger she calls 'Pearl.' She bought the truck after moving back to Austin from Los Angeles to launch Kim Lewis Designs, and it's become an integral part of her global design business.
Lewis, hailing from a longtime Ford truck family, learned to drive in her grandfather's 1978 Ford F-150. That truck remains in the family to this day, and is what inspired her to find her own vintage Ford truck. 'All around Texas, people know Pearl – we're two peas in a pod,' says Lewis. 'She's exactly what I needed to start my business and has become part of my brand. My Ford truck was built for life and built for my work.'
In 2006, working as a marketing manager for a furniture company, Lewis seized on an opportunity to design for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.' Her first project, which took her all the way to Alaska, was a success. Within two years, she would take over managing the show's entire design team.
'I was constantly running to and from the airport to work on projects all around the country,' says Lewis. 'It was a modern-day barn-raising, as we worked with local communities to help raise people up and inspire them.'
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Today, Lewis designs restaurants and tiny homes all around the world – using Pearl whenever possible to travel to job sites or to deliver furniture and accessories. She recently worked on a Thanksgiving Day makeover of Dallas Fire Station No. 43 with the Dallas Cowboys, Fox Sports, Leary Firefighters Foundation and Ford Motor Company, which donated a 2017 F-Series Super Duty to the firefighters. Lewis has also launched an accessory line to provide women in places like Ethiopia, Ghana and Honduras with sustainable economic opportunities. She frequently travels to developing countries to train and assist women, finding new inspiration for design along the way. For details on Ford's 40 Years Tough series, including more on Lewis and Pearl, or to share your F-Series story, visit www.40YearsTough.com. About Kim Lewis Kim Lewis is a 'Little lady with Big ideas!' She is best known for her work as the Lead Designer behind 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' and founder of Kim Lewis Designs in Austin, TX. In six years with the television show, Kim designed over 120 homes in 43 states. Her work has been featured on television networks ABC, HGTV, TLC, National Geographic, Spike TV and FYI's 'Tiny House Nation.' Written and online publications include People, InStyle, House Beautiful, Washington Post, Austin Woman, TyPennington.com, BScene Magazine, Forbes.com, The Design Network, and others. Clients include celebrities, Jewel and Tiffani Amber Thiessen. Kim is a motivational public speaker, and works in Ghana, Cambodia and Honduras to build therapeutic art centers for children. Her passion to empower through creativity has led her to producing a leather and home decor product line with at risk individuals around the world. In 2017, look for her new line of tiny homes. Check out more of her work at http://kimlewisdesigns.com/. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company's core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
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