The fence was the first thing I noticed, but eventually forgot about. Is having a broken fence like that even legal? When we had an above ground pool we were required to take the ladder out, or lock it up (part of the ladder swings upwards with a place for a padlock to secure it) and I’ve always assumed that they were more strict about access to in-ground pools.
Well, here in Nevada, you don’t need a fence around the pool IF you have a fence/wall around your entire yard. This is to ensure no neighbor kids wander over and fall in while you are not home. The designers did indeed put a new fence around the entire yard, so that would make the insurance/legal points moot.
Now regarding having an active 2 year old running around the yard without extra precautions, well, that is up to the parents. There are alarms you can install in case someone falls into the pool, and there are special locks and alarms you can set so if your kid opens the door to the backyard to go out unattended, you will hear it and can stop them.
Still, this is a huge problem - every year in Vegas, newscasts regularly report horror stories of toddlers dashing out to backyard pools (even with parents sitting nearby) and drowning in a matter of minutes.
I would hope this was talked about before they ripped up the fence around the pool and the parents signed off on it - it would have been stupid to do otherwise.
So, it is down to Dan and Antonio!
I thought Lorri’s room was so-so, and thus was not all that upset when she was given the boot. The wooden headboard structure was a bad idea, even if she had finished it.
I wasn’t as impressed with Dan’s hanging boats, but the rest of the room was good.
Antonio’s office space was good - but a few green plants (or bamboo) would have given it some class - it looked a bit sterile.
It will be interesting to see the final show, as it is no secret that Dan and Antonio are not exactly best of friends. My bet: Antonio wins, but to be honest, I think Dan’s show would be more fun to watch.
It also seemed a shame they didn’t reuse the bricks from around the pool. They could have ground it up into dust to redden the soil around the edge to really give it a desert look to increase the oasis feel. They could have made a path with the bricks that forked to the play area, barbeque pit, and pool with a fountain at each path. Or use the dust to redden the concrete to add a little flair or color.
I agree completely. As soon as I heard that the judges were picking the winner I thought that it was going to be Antonio because they realized that his abrasive personality wouldn’t get the votes, but they want him because he’s so different. So they changed the rules to ensure that he won.
I think Antonio was going for a very sparse, sterile look in the office and thus purposely didn’t put in the “designer touches” the judges wanted to see. Like the tan walls, he probably knew it might hurt him but he wasn’t going to compromise his vision. What he could have added was lots of pictures of Kathy Griffin, perhaps a abstracted poster of her. It would add color/flash to the room and, being a celebrity, Kathy would have loved it.
I’d love to see Dan’s show, but would it be very different from David Bromstad’s show? Or last year’s winner - her show also is “paint based” decorating.
Antonio won as predicted.
I liked Dan’s final result. Looked damn good. Antonio’s was lacking a little something that I can’t put my finger on.
Well, I’m pleased with the outcome, anyway 
Even though I was horrified by the winner’s living room design for this episode.
I’ve never watched design star before this season - how long is typical before the new star gets their show?
Hot daddybear FTW! 
(I have been rooting for him since the almost-beginning)
I am royally pissed off at HGTV.
I put the final show on my DVR so my SO and I could watch it together today (he works nights) and the bastards on HGTV started showing promos of Antonio’s show LAST NIGHT! I happened to flip through the channel and saw it…geez, they couldn’t have waited a day or week?
Also, Dan’s house was far, far better.
I think it was pre-determined awhile back that Antonio was going to win - they kept talking about how he is “different” and would always heap the praise. Not that I think for a minute that HGTV is homophobic, but I think Dan was passed over simply because they didn’t want yet another pretty-Gay-boy doing a show, and besides - he looks too much like David Bromstad on Color Splash (winner a few seasons back) minus the tattoo.
Dan got robbed.
I knew Antonio was going to win the way the judges were so in love with him. I don’t think I could stand to watch his show, but I’m not much for decorating shows anyway. I’d like Dan to decorate a room for me, though.
Dan was the better designer. Didn’t care for Antonio’s living room at all. Those red chairs with that distressed cabinet…blech. And Antonio’s kid’s room with the little bed shoved in the cover completely lacked character. Dan’s custom bed with storage was much better.
I got the distinct impression that Vern liked Dan better and the women liked Antonio better. I agree that they shoved Antonio through because he had a more distinctive personality.
I was impressed that both of them finished an entire house in 4 days.
BTW, is it my imagination or did we used to vote for the winner?
Yes, but I think after the debacle of Miles (Miles For Style) winning last year, they realized maybe the voters are idiots too.
Explain said debacle please.
IMHO, she could be the next Oprah. I would bet you that Kim Miles won because of her on air personality. From day 1 she looked relaxed, friendly, and comfortable on camera. Way more than any other contestant. I remember the first hosting opportunity that year and it was, “Whoa, where did that come from” because she looked like she’d been in front of the camera for 20 years. Kim would probably win an award for HGTV personality with whom you’d most want to share, if not a beer, then at least an Appletini.
Unfortunately, her design skills nowhere match her personality. The next winner also was much more warm and fuzzy than talented. (Based on seeing her show once, I’d say more talent and less personality than Kim). I’m betting the producers realized that America votes for the contestant that is most likable and wouldn’t know good design if it bit them in the ass. So this time they went with the person they thought could carry the highest rated show. Also, by picking the person themselves and shooting everything months ago, they had time to gear up the winner’s show and get it right out. Picking the star and then having them fall off the face of the earth for 6 months couldn’t have helped ratings.
An area rug in the sitting area big enough for adults to actually sit on it? What was that placemat on the floor?
I liked Dan’s better (I was a fan of his since the apple wall) but even he had way too much in that kid’s room. A huge room for baby and guests, in a rich family’s house, and you have the guest sleep on a daybed??
I loved Dan’s purple room for the teenage girl, especially the high bed on top of the desktops and storage.
Antonio’s show begins New Years day at 1pm
It had already started I thought? They did Design Star this time around in a fashion to show the winner’s show directly after the last episode of DS I thought.
Nah, they did a one-off special about him remodeling his own house that weekend. On New Year’s day his real show starts.
I guess that’s what I get for not watching it huh? 
I thought this was just another “preview” and that his show doesn’t start until March.
As I mentioned ages ago (post up above), I think Dan got robbed and am not thrilled with Antonio. His special after he won proved it as far as I was concerned…did his own house and not all that great. Worst was taking some gawdawful, cheap-ass, Mexican tattoo and blowing it up to use as a headboard. Oh yeah, I am sure the HGTV fan base all wanted to have that monstrosity slapped on their headboard.
I think Antonio would be perfect to design biker bars in Encino, but other than that, I would sooner get design tips from my local Lesbian at Home Depot.