If you know HGTV, you know David Bromstad—color-obsessed designer, “Design Star” season-one winner, and exuberant host of My Lottery Dream Home. But behind the public persona is a tight-knit Midwestern family that has cheered him on for decades. Among them is his older brother, Dean Richard Bromstad—a name fans stumble upon when they go down a Bromstad rabbit hole and then wonder, “Who is Dean, and why does he look so much like David?”
This in-depth profile brings together what’s publicly known about Dean, why he’s occasionally mistaken for David’s twin, and how he fits into the story of a family that embraced art, hard work, and backyard goofiness in equal measure. Dean isn’t chasing the spotlight; he’s the brother who pops up in a Facebook photo, at a family gathering, or in a nostalgic shout-out—and then happily returns to his private life. That, in itself, is part of the appeal.
Quick orientation: Dean Richard Bromstad is David Bromstad’s older brother and one of three elder siblings (the others are sisters Dynelle and Dyonne). The resemblance between Dean and David fuels periodic “twin” rumors, but they are not twins.
The Bromstad Family Snapshot
Scandinavian-German roots and a Minnesota upbringing
The Bromstad family story begins far from red carpets. Richard Harold David Bromstad and Diane Marlys (Krueger) Bromstad raised their four kids in Minnesota. The family’s heritage—Norwegian through Richard and Swedish/German through Diane—is part of the “Midwest nice” fabric you see whenever David reminisces about home.
Siblings and birth order
Dean is one of three older siblings to the youngest, David. The roster looks like this: Dean Richard Bromstad, Dynelle Renee Bromstad, Dyonne Rachael Bromstad, and then David. Photos and anecdotes shared over the years show a playful, supportive clan that rallies around one another’s milestones.
Who Is Dean Richard Bromstad?
A quieter life by design
Unlike his brother, Dean keeps a low public profile. He appears occasionally on family social media or in lifestyle write-ups that orbit around David, but there’s no quest for fame attached to his name. He’s the type who shows up for the group selfie, smiles, and then slips back into regular life without a fuss. Multiple entertainment outlets that chased the “twin rumor” emphasize the same thing: Dean is private and surfaces only now and then. The List+1
School, work, and career notes
Reporting that has compiled publicly available details about the Bromstad siblings notes that Dean attended Dassel-Cokato High School (the same district where the family lived) and pursued a career in sales, with coverage pointing to long-term work at Infinity Group, LTD beginning in 2002. As with any detail about a private citizen, that information comes from secondary lifestyle reporting rather than Dean himself—but it aligns with the broader portrait of the Bromstad siblings following down-to-earth, non-celebrity career paths.
Note on sources: Because Dean isn’t a public figure, much of what’s known comes from family mentions and lifestyle features summarizing those mentions. Where specifics are reported, this article cites them and treats them as “best available public info,” not as invasive biography.
Why People Think Dean and David Are Twins
The resemblance—and the reality
Spend two minutes scrolling through family photos and you’ll see it: the Bromstad genes are strong. Articles that debunk the twin rumor point to face shape and smile similarities—while also noting differences in coloring and eye color—that can mislead casual observers. The verdict is simple: Dean and David are brothers, not twins.
How the rumor keeps resurfacing
Rumors often ride two currents:
Side-by-side photos from different years (David’s evolving hair, beard, and tattoos) make the same person look like two different people.
Family selfies where Dean and David share a frame can look like a twin reveal to fans who don’t follow closely.
Entertainment outlets have repeatedly addressed—and put to bed—the myth.
Dean’s Role in a Public Brother’s Life
The off-camera support system
David’s public journey—from Disney illustrator to HGTV Design Star champion to host of Color Splash and My Lottery Dream Home—is well-documented. Less visible is the family scaffolding: the people who watched premieres together, sent texts after long shoot days, and celebrated wins without asking for anything back. Dean is part of that scaffolding. Stories and social posts highlight the family’s habit of gathering to watch David’s shows and cheer him on.
The “normalcy anchor”
Public-private sibling dynamics can get complicated when fame arrives. In the Bromstad case, Dean’s steady privacy seems to serve as a normalcy anchor—reminding fans (and probably David) that there’s life beyond ratings and room reveals. When the camera stops rolling, there’s a backyard, a kitchen, a TV on the wall, and a family that’s still trading jokes and recipes.
What We Can—and Can’t—Say About Dean
What’s clear
He’s David’s older brother, raised in Minnesota in a close, supportive family.
He has favored a private, non-celebrity life and career, reportedly in sales for many years.
He occasionally appears in family photos and is sometimes drawn into celebrity coverage because of the resemblance.
What’s appropriately off-limits
There’s no reason to list addresses, workplaces in granular detail, or personal contacts. Dean hasn’t run for office, taken a public board seat, or signed on for a reality show. The combination of respect and restraint is the right approach for any profile of a private person who happens to be related to someone famous.
The Bromstad Ethos: Work Hard, Enjoy the Color
David’s trajectory (and what it reveals about the family culture)
David’s résumé doubles as a window into the family’s values. He studied at Ringling College of Art and Design, pivoted from Disney to entrepreneurship, then fought his way through a TV competition to win a hosting slot and build a national brand. That arc screams work ethic and grit—habits that usually form at home. Wikipedia
Shared joy, different lanes
It’s telling that the sisters have popped up on-screen, while Dean has largely declined. This isn’t a split; it’s role preference. In any family, some members run toward the microphone, some toward the spreadsheet, and some toward the grill at the reunion. Dean’s lane appears to be the one where you show up and keep things grounded, not the one where you trend on Tuesday.
Public Moments Worth Noting (Without Overreaching)
Family watch parties & selfies. Posts over the years show the Bromstads gathered for premieres or holidays, with David expressing gratitude for the “best family ever.” These glimpses are affectionate, not performative.
Look-alike chatter. Lifestyle outlets return to the look-alike angle because it’s a clean, harmless hook that underscores the closeness of the family.
Dean’s privacy. Even when outlets go searching, they usually land on the same conclusion: Dean prefers a quiet existence and pops up only in the gentlest ways—often via his dad’s or brother’s posts. The List
Lessons from a Low-Key Life
You don’t need the spotlight to matter
Dean’s presence in David’s story is felt, even if it isn’t broadcast weekly. Families are full of unsung co-stars whose support, patience, and everyday encouragement make big public wins possible.
Privacy is a perfectly valid choice
In an era where the algorithm rewards confessionals, it’s refreshing to see a sibling choose quiet. The lesson isn’t anti-social; it’s pro-boundaries.
Fame doesn’t cancel family
The Bromstad through-line—holiday photos, watch parties, goofy selfies—suggests that fame is an overlay, not a replacement, for the life they already had.
(FAQs)
Is Dean Richard Bromstad David Bromstad’s twin?
No. Dean is David’s older brother, not his twin. The pair share a strong resemblance, which fuels the recurring rumor. The List+1
Are there other Bromstad siblings?
Yes. The four siblings are Dean, Dynelle, Dyonne, and David (the youngest). Wikipedia
Where did the family grow up?
The Bromstads are from Minnesota, with Scandinavian and German heritage—Norwegian on their father’s side; Swedish/German on their mother’s.
What does Dean do for a living?
Coverage about the siblings indicates that Dean pursued a career in sales and has worked long-term with Infinity Group, LTD beginning in 2002. As a private citizen, Dean doesn’t publicize his résumé, so this reflects reporting compiled from lifestyle features.
Why is there so little information about Dean?
Because he chooses it that way. Dean doesn’t seek media attention; he turns up in family photos or mentions and then returns to his everyday life. The List
How did David Bromstad become famous, and what does that have to do with Dean?
David won HGTV’s Design Star in 2006, then hosted Color Splash and later My Lottery Dream Home. Dean’s connection is familial, not professional—he’s simply David’s supportive brother.
Conclusion
There’s a certain grace in being known enough: known to the people who matter, known for showing up, known for keeping a family stitched together through ordinary days. That’s the portrait that emerges of Dean Richard Bromstad. He is not the TV host, not the Instagram personality, not the public brand. He is the older brother—the one whose presence helped make the public victories steadier and the private moments sweeter.
For fans of David Bromstad who came looking for the mystery “twin,” the answer is better than a rumor. It’s a reminder that behind colorful rooms and camera crews lies a family that looks a lot like everyone else’s—proud parents, goofy siblings, and one brother who’s quite content to let the spotlight pass him by.
