Design Star

Well, it's that time of year again. The newest season of HGTV's Design Star is underway.

The show is centered around twelve contestants (behind the blue sofa) who will be living together and participating in decorating and designing challenges. Each week one person (the one with the lamest design) will be kicked off the show one by one until they have a winner. The fortunate winner will end up being given his or her own decorating show on HGTV. It's a major award!

The three judges: Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and Candice Olsen.

There is a new host this season. Tanika Ray. Is it just me or does she look like Raven Simone's long lost (older) twin sister?

They have a mentor this time. Season one winner, David Bromstad. He designs all kinds of colorful spaces on his show, Color Splash Miami. He has good style and is a natural in front of the camera. Hopefully he'll be able to give the contestants some winning advice.

Here's David hoping for a part in the next Twilight movie.

Emily Henderson, the winner of last season's Design Star will be giving her opinion on the show each week through a video log on the Design Star home page. Emily now hosts her own popular decorating show, Secrets of a Stylist.

On the first episode the twelve contestants paired up and each pairing was given a room to decorate in the lovely New York penthouse where they will all be living. It wasn't expressed what their budgets were or how much time they were given to complete the job.

Cathy and Leslie decorated the living room. Cathy, a former news reporter (and possible drill Sergeant) had a definite way she wanted things done--her way. Leslie, a former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, found a coffee table made from recycled tires that was a hit with the judges.

Here is their room before. Check out that insane view!

And the after. This dining table was brought in at the last minute because the table they bought originally wasn't able to fit in the elevator or go up the stairs. (Apparently nobody measured beforehand.)

This picture perfectly expresses the pairing of Doug and J. They really had a tough time getting their styles to mesh.

Doug really wanted one wall to have a graphic pattern over it. J hated that idea so Doug covered a piece of plywood with the wallpaper and hung a mirror over it. The judges loved it. (And some expressed that they wished he had papered the whole wall!)

Aside from the incredible New York City view, the decor to me is just okay.

This picture actually caught one of the cameras on the door.

A bright orange room from Bret and Kevin.

None of the judges liked the orange or the sign demanding them to relax.

Tyler and Meg used the color purple. I thought their headboard was interesting even though it was too high to be a headboard and looked more like an art piece. (Is it me or is it hanging slightly crooked on the wall?)

Blanche and Mark were considered to have the worst room.

The judges mainly blamed Blanche. They thought her wallpaper panels were poorly executed.

They absolutely hated the tea light holders she attached to the wall above the bed. They compared them to grandma's doilies. (Poor Grandma!) And poor Blanche because she was the one they sent home. (Or as Tanika stated in a forceful voice, "We are Not going to produce your show!")

The last pairing was Karl and Kellie. Here they are chillin with David.

Their bonus room was the winning design. The judges LOVED the trees (asymmetrical stripes) on the bump out portion of the wall.

The room was very simple but had some interesting things going on.

The judges also liked the nook in the awkward space under the stairs.

Thank goodness it was latex! Kellie ended up spilling a large can of white paint on the floor. Luckily she was able to clean it up. (Product placement anyone?)

This photo makes me laugh. Not for Leslie doing the push ups but for the expressions on all the other contestants' faces. And to see where each is looking. (I used to make my son do push ups for every dirty sock he left on the floor.)

You can watch Design Star every Monday at 9/8p central on HGTV, the Home and Garden Network. If you've missed an episode or are like me and don't have cable or satellite and only use rabbit ears, you can watch the episodes online at http://www.hgtv.com/ . (It looks as though this picture was taken right after they finished the challenge since kellie still has white paint all over her shirt and jeans.)

Will your favorite win?

Or will the judges have the last laugh?


(You can read my post on the Design Star Winner here!)

(photo credits: david shirtless-treyevans; all-hgtv)