10/24/2014 at 11:23 AM ET
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
As a kid, Ellen DeGeneres used to wander through other people’s homes with her mom, who sold real estate. But the comedian, who is launching her first housewares collection on QVC, couldn’t have imagined the impact it would have on her future.
In a video for the network, she explained how those early walk-throughs with her mother influenced her. “I got to see how other people decorated, and for whatever reason, I was drawn to that, I was drawn to other people’s aesthetics and what they chose,” she told QVC.
Now she’s the one doing the choosing. In July, InStyle reported that DeGeneres would be starting E.D., her own lifestyle brand with Christopher Burch, co-founder of the Tory Burch label. The QVC collection that she will debut tonight (8 p.m. EST) is called “E.D. on Air” and includes linens, tableware, holiday decorations and kitchen items. Judging from the products, her own style tends to veer towards graphic and modern, with a focus on clean lines and vivid pops of color.
Here’s a fun factoid about the brand’s name: “E.D.” is pronounced like “Ed” (as in Burns). “Ed is my nickname and Portia has called me Ed for a long time,” DeGeneres said. “Because it’s very personal to me, only people who really know me call me Ed, but now that I’m going to share my design aesthetic with the world … everyone gets to call me Ed now.”
Check out our five favorite items (all $30 or less!) from Ellen’s, er, Ed’s, er, E.D.’s new collection:
NOTECARDS
These pun-tastic missives mix two of DeGeneres’s great loves: Humor and animals.
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Courtesy QVC
PORCELAIN CUPS
Morning coffee gets a makeover when it’s served in a brightly colored mug with a distinctive pattern.
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Courtesy QVC
CERAMIC CANDLE
The whimsical, white-on-white stylings of this candle give it an almost Jonathan-Adler–inspired vibe. And no worries if the rabbit isn’t your spirit animal: It’s also available as a bear or a squirrel.
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Courtesy QVC
RUBBERWOOD CHEESE TRAY
Your party guests will be purring with delight over the fun, curvy shape of this cheese board and matching spreader.
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Courtesy QVC
TRIO OF SUCCULENTS
Does your thumb tend to be more black than green? No one needs to know that these adorable, realistic-looking cacti aren’t the real deal. Each set comes with three elegant glass planters, which would look lovely suspended over a sunny window area.
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Courtesy QVC
—Lexi Dwyer