Design Star 2011

Cafe Society
1

Design Star returns to HGTV tonight at nine (EST), so it seems appropriate to begin the thread today.

This is one of those shows that usually warrants a season thread rather than episode threads, but if I’m wrong about this season, feel free to start more threads later.

After the episode, want to discuss early impressions?

2

I still miss Clive, somehow…

3
  • Orange room truly ugly and poorly done.
  • And why praise someone because they found a really cool table made of used tires? Yes, it was really cool - but that is not a “designer” choice, it’s called lucky shopping that day. Just because I have an excellent jacket doesn’t make me a fashion designer, it means I went to the right store when they were having a sale.
  • Don’t these people watch past episodes? I mean, really - once again a piece of furniture that doesn’t fit in an elevator and cannot get into the building…that is what tape measures are for, idiot.
  • Don’t these people watch past episodes? Part II - seriously, you want to build huge pieces of furniture in that time, and you are shocked that you don’t have time to finish them and put a coat of paint or something on it? Hey, next time how about making a 40 foot by 40 foot carpet from scratch, using needlepoint, in three days - that sounds like a plan.
4

DMark, sometimes I wonder if admitting that you’re watched past seasons disqualifies designers from being on the show since the same mistakes are made season after season. Of course, it could simply be arrogance and they figure that they can get away with [design sin] that [designer] in season __ didn’t because they’re more awesome.

Don’t they watch III is: why do they never seem to understand that whining about someone being hard to work with is not a defense, and it’s not being put upon to have to cooperate. The point of working with others on the show is to see if they can listen to other people’s wants/needs…just like you have to with even a pain in the ass homeowner who nonetheless has every right to expect their ideas will be respected and incorporated into designs.
I totally agreed with the judges about both the strongest and weakest designers this week. Blanche’s contributions looked like something you’d praise a bright, if still a bit clumsy, first grader for coming up with and executing. On the other hand, the tree mural in the bonus room was a great element in a surprisingly well done room. I liked the great room too, even though I couldn’t shake the idea that it was a little like watching Michelle Obama and Courtney Love co-designing a space.

5

Karl ROCKS!!

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I don’t think I really understood what they liked about the “best” of the white rooms this time.

But I did like Meg’s accidentally creepy room. Imagine if it’d been on purpose! With the right color pallet, and a few more deliberately creepy elements…

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I thought the white rooms were supposed to at least look like a room of some kind when finished - was it always the case that it could be anything, even non-functional?

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The hostess said something early in the episode about not having to be practical, which does seem like a change from past seasons.

9

The last winner did the white room up to look like a giant ocean wave had crashed through it.

10

So, the right person was booted - that room was hideous, and the color choice was a disaster from the get-go. Would also like to see bearded man go, as well as the myopic ex-newsreporter, as all she seems to be able to do is shop for tables.

Karl is looking better and better…nice back splash, and amazed it got finished; this is usually where people get stuck with 1/2 of a backsplash finished before the buzzer sounds.