Judge’s Recap – Episode 3: Casey, Emily, Nina, Stacey and Dan
Vern’s Thoughts
The women’s team has recruited Dan to join their side this week and the results are largely positive. For the women, Dan brings needed carpentry know-how and experience with outdoor design. What sets the women’s patio apart from the men’s effort is the overall cohesiveness of the end product. Each person on this team makes their individual instrument heard and known, but it is the overall statement that makes them this week’s challenge-winning team.
Casey selects the xylophone which she interprets to be bright and clear, and we see and feel this inspiration throughout the entire patio design. The design of the fence, the points of light dotting the space and the choice of light materials throughout help to translate this feeling. Dan selects the guitar, which he says is upbeat. The translation of the guitar, however, is manifested in low lounging furniture which conveys a relaxed and casual style. Although the guitar can certainly be interpreted as being relaxed and casual — much like Dan himself — his interpretation of it being “upbeat” doesn’t necessarily translate to what we are seeing in front of us. Upbeat guitar could have been interpreted through a bar area with bar-height seating, some bright lights and an infusion of brighter colors. For me, Dan is an extremely talented designer but there is a disconnect between his words and what he has produced.
Emily’s instrument of choice is the tuba which she sees as being low and slow; she also has translated her instrument into the low lounging seating, which is evident in spades. The low and bulbous forms of the seating all suggest a certain sluggishness that is associated with plopping yourself down and turning the dial way down. This seating area looks like the tuba and Emily largely succeeds in her efforts to translate her instrument. As a designer armed with an impressive set of skills, it’s good to see Emily stepping things up consistently to offer up great design. She is someone who has grown considerably since the first challenge and will need to continue to grow if she is to stay in this competition.
Nina’s instrument, the French horn, is interpreted by her to be bluesy and mellow and we see it translated beautifully in the wall mural with accents of brass tucked into the corner. Nina is clearly comfortable as an artist and she uses her skill set very effectively in this challenge. Two brass plates anchor the corner of this mural wall while pieces of wood elegantly drift away from them. Nina’s freeform lines counterbalance the structured nature of the wood and brass, much like music balances the structure of melodies with freeform notes. Although some of the competitors might not like Nina’s intense nature and opinionated approach, she has serious design chops and should be viewed as a major competitor. Once again, Nina’s design skills help her rise to the top of the pack. In future challenges, we will be looking for her to grow and continue to offer us new sides to what she is capable of.
Stacey selected the trumpet as the instrument that inspired her the most and she interprets this instrument to be upbeat and bright. Stacey largely succeeds in the manifestation of her interpretation. The wood fence and the table setting are both easily interpreted as upbeat and bright with points of light from the candles and gleaming glints of light bouncing off the silverware and metallic rims of the glasses. Overall, the women and Dan have presented a very cohesive design while still showcasing their individual skill sets. This team is finally stepping things up and we look forward to seeing more of their inspired design interpretations in the weeks to come.
Candice’s Thoughts
This room exudes a melodic, laid back, playful elegance indicative of this team’s chosen instruments. It does so in a harmonious way, thanks largely to the unifying power of color, an unexpected plum which is both bold and beautiful that wraps around the space.
Music has the ability to intrigue and draw us in, and the linear wall sculpture that seemingly disappears into the reflective metallic corner is a fantastic visual metaphor for this. I love the beautiful blend of contrast here: the marriage of low-slung casual lounge furniture that reflects the casual nature of the guitar, xylophone and tuba with details like nail-head trim, damask and metallic fabric accents that reflect the more formal attitude of the trumpet and French horn. The staggered timber wall is a playful patio feature that helps define the dining area as a space for fun and good times —the perfect spot to celebrate being this week’s challenge winners!
At first, I didn't like Nina since she threw Courtland under the bus and she had poor communication skills in the second round, and of course I thought she was a bitch, but in this round, the way the wood is displayed along with her artwork, it made me flip sides and now, instead of thinking she's a bitch, I think her skills are very inspiring and the wood would definitely be something I would wanna do in a home.
The only thing I don't agree with the judges on is the fence, I did like the way it was in those random lengths, however I hate the look of it because it doesn't tie in with the wall at all and I would've stained the fence a darker tone to give the space more drama, if that had been done, I would've loved it, instead, it just looks like a bunch of random slabs of wood were just stuck there and the plants make it look even more dated, like the kind of fake Ivy I see in home listings where the homeowners stick it above their kitchen cabinets and that to me just screams old fashioned, and not in a good way.
I think Nina is finally learning to work as a team member rather than a boss. But I really think what has happened this time is the others are not backing down like they did the last challenge. I still do not trust her, what she did to Courtland was wrong and shows she will win at any cost. I would rather have a win I worked hard and honestly and really earned.
Nina is not nearly as good as she thinks she is. She is underhanded and manipulative. She needs to go!
Another thing I see in the space is a dingy table with a bunch of cacti placed on top of it along with a white tablecloth, and that to me just makes the space feel even more "grannyish" if the girls and Dan went with items to make the space more dramatic, it would've tied in perfectly along with Nina's wall, and there are plenty of stores around New York, I don't think it would have been that hard to find something that represented their instruments and made the space more cohesive.
So all in all, when it comes to this patio, I have to give a big thumbs up to Nina's design I can see why she has risen back to the top and she's earned it, but for everything else, it didn't quite do it for me and I kinda wonder what the judges were smoking before they walked in.
I am with you, I am a big Nina fan. SHe shows intelligence and creativity and tat she really wants to win. Love her
Unfortunately, you judges continue to favor Nina. I'm here to tell you that no matter how good she is all my friends and I agree that if she wins we will not only ever watch this show again, but there is no way in $%^$% that we will ever watch her show or any show she is in.
Nina is a bully and a B*&&(* and you see all her influences because she does what she wants and ignores what everyone else does, which means that her part of the design ALWAYS shows more than the others. I know this is a competition, but what you stupid judges need to remember, the public will not watch a TV show based on design knowledge alone. You get a bitchy personality like Nina and her personality will kill any chance of her show have any ratings. You need to take her personality into consideration as well as her knowledge. Her ideas are no better than the others, she just bulldozes over the others and dominates the space. I'm getting tired of seeing this happen every week and have you judges reward her bulliness by presenting her with the award of having the best ideas of the group. I agree with the others on the ladies (and Dan's) team that Nina did "too much" by adding all those stupid white strings and swirls to the purple wall. It looked much more sophisticated without all that business. And Candice, I watch your show all the time and I know you would never add that type of garbage to your designs. It simply did not do anything for me or any of my friends. I wish you would take Nina off the show. Every time the show focuses on her, I either change the channel or mute the sound. I hate her that much!!!!
wow, you hate Nina a lot. I like her, I think she is way hot and has got major talent. She is by far the most intersting contestant on the show. Love her to pieces. Big big fan. SHe is hot hot hot
SHe speaks so intelligently, all her inbterviews are flawless never speaking badly about others, I dont know where you see that she bulldozed over everyone, Isaw her be very quiet and keep to herself.
never speaking badly about others? are we watching the same show? seriously?
Wow, you must be a major meth-head. To not see what a major-league no-talent b!tch Nina is, you have to be tweaked out of your skull as you watch this train wreck of a reality show. And newsflash: "Editor" has ONE "t".
right on
Since they also have to *work* with other people if they get their own show, and Nina doesn't seem able to (or likely to learn how fast enough), she won't last.
It is still early in the competition, and many designers are left.
You said it Carolyn. Can the judges just imagine how she'd treat the staff, the carpenter, assistant, producer, when something went wrong. On David's show something always goes wrong, that's life, but he handles it with grace and humor and always succeeds in pulling off a great design. Nina would throw everyone else under a bus, put them down, and not pull everything together. The other design stars all have something in common, great atitudes. Kim Myles wasn't my favorite but she was such a sweetie that I watched her anyway, Antonio is so vibrant, and David is a darling with a fantastic sense of humor. Hello HGTV my family also has talked about this, we will never watch any show with Nina in it, she's grating, mean, and not that great at design.
I could not agree more Nina has to go. If she wins I will never watch this show again. I do not like her at.
I couldn't agree more!
I COMPLETELY agree with Carolyn!
As far as the purple wall is concerned, the painted squiggles make it look like a junior high school girl "decorated" it! And the only one who objected was Emily.
Nina's "work of art", inspired by the beautiful dress was an embarassment to watch. She seems to have delusions of granduer about herself as an artist, and such a huge ego she shuts down anyone with a different opinion, which doesn't help when working on group projects. A good designer would not just listen, but "hear", their coworkers ideas and compromise well.
David Bromstad is a very good example of what Nina needs to learn…he puts forth his ideas, listens to others', and, especially, he WORKS WELL WITH OTHERS NINA!
I checked out Nina's so called designs on her profile on HGTV's website, and they looked quite shabby, sloppy and amaturish.
If this woman gets her own show, I will definitely tune out of Vern's, Genivieve, and sadly, Candice's shows, and NEVER watch the "Nina show" to see her harass and bully the poor people who would work with her!
Jeanine W. Santa Barbara, CA
I would have to agree with your whole post. My friends and I feel the same way. We feel like the writting is on the wall and that the judges already have chosen their winner. If Nina does win we will never put on this show again. Also what is up with all the dog gone group designs? I want to see if they can design a whole room on their own. Is'nt that what the show is about? It is called design star not group stars.
Am I hearing things, or did the judges criticize other contestants for their all-too-literal interpretations of the musical instruments? What could be more literal than a “staff” for a musical inspiration?! And the free-form, random metallic “melodies” reminded me of an EKG from an asysolic heart! Granted, she’s an artist, but aside from that, where else was the French horn, and its subtle hues transposed to the space? Where was the challenge in doing yet another art installation? A purple wall, in an otherwise white-washed room, is like a crashing cymbal- not the intricately woven resonance of that instrument. And the boys (Court, specifically) were clobbered for not unifying their room- Sedona? But, as I posted on “Dooce’s”, it was “The Blue Note” crashes into Cape Cod! Why not a water-wall, with the trickling sounds of the drops, evocative of the xylophone? Or Stacy’s “little & loud” trumpet? New Orleans jazz fest, “Mardi Gras” with spicy-hot food & colors on at least the table arrangement! Not those naked little trees, looking almost embarrassed placed for what? I was embarrassed for them! I wanted to “Charlie Brown Treatment” them, with a blanket & some love… Actually, they were trying to avoid the fate of the ivy! And I guess they are all on diets (or plan on a caterer) where’s the fire-pit at least the guys can cook! Poor, poor Dan… Relegated to ranks of “lowly carpenter”! Ladies, you should know how to use tools to build a basic picked fence! When you become a star, you will need one to hold back your adoring HGTV fans! If not, it can shield you from the most important element lacking here-INSPIRED, IMAGINTIVE & FUNCTIONAL DESIGN!
…"A purple wall, in an otherwise white-washed room, is like a crashing cymbal- not the intricately woven resonance of that instrument"…
Spot on, Lorifadil!
The only thing I thought Nina's 'contribution' honestly reflected was the disharmony she selfishly creates in this 'band'!
Typo: should be “Asystolic” heart! My thoughts are faster than fingers on keyboard!
I had to post again, because this space falls so far short of the amazing designs I’ve seen on HGTV, that I can’t believe any of the contestants have designed anything for anyone! They have giant budgets (evidenced by stores they’ve purchased from, & probably the reason this has NOT been disclosed to the viewers), tools & other building materials at their disposal, Trump’s fantastic outdoor spaces in prime NYC location, & this is what they’ve come up with?! If I were “The Donald”, I would make sure there was a restraining order barring bad designers from getting within 100 yards of my building! He has impeccable taste (HGTV’s Kendra Todd is his protege) & don’t believe he’d let them spend his money so flippantly with such unsatisfactory results! Candice, why didn’t you comment on the lack of conversation areas to the girls’ +Dan’s space? Or that they left the floor completely bare? Does NY lack floor coverings, & I don’t mean the ubiquitous outdoor rug! Instead of a wall mural, that hits you over the head like a cowbell, why not do a floor “mosaic” with paint, stain or grass-like carpeting (not the old AstroTurf, but the new stuff has come a LONG way) to add a bit of unexpected whimsy (a key element of Jazz riffs) to lead you through the space?! It would “engage”, quoting Stacy, both the seating & eating areas, unifying them without being so predictable. A lot more lyrical, than literal interpretation of the French horn, yes? The table is downright depressing, not elegant, just an afterthought it seemed. Vern quipped last year about the missing, appetizing components of Tashica’s kitchen dressage… & I LOVED his Christmas special, where he so carefully chose things for each guest to set a gracious, beautifully appointed table-scape, setting the scene for luxurious festivities…So why no mention of this HUGE misstep on Emily’s part? After all, she is a prop stylist, but a stack of dishes, glasses & cacti (probably made a wrong turn on the way to meet Courtland in Sedona!) is not going to impress anyone, except maybe “Cascade”. And Genevieve, this looks like a patio people have written you to fix, because there at a crossroads, marriage is falling apart over her love of color & his liking the white, spartan, & utilitarian approach to design. Please don’t try to sell me on this space, it’s insulting. And although I wasn’t that crazy over the boys’ space, I felt it displayed much more creativity, level changes, areas of activity/coversation & problem solving than the girls’ space had to offer. Sometimes less is more, but the girls made less seem desperate- for attention (to details & personal accolades)! While the boys may have been in different time zones; the Twilight Zone (episode where the the kids escape their loud abusive parents, & swim to the safety of Grandma’s house)!
"The Donald" has "impeccable taste"?!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! ROTFLMAO!!
To call Donald Trump a vulgarian with horrible, nouveau-riche trailer-trash taste is to insult nouveaux-riches trailer trash living in Wal-Mart parking lots throughout the South and Midwest.
Gold-plated bathroom fixtures are a hallmark of staggeringly BAD taste. And not in the John Waters "so awful it's kind of cool" bad taste either. It's sincere in its awfulness.
Run.
Should read: “the girls are in the ‘Twilight Zone’… Also should be “they’re at a crossroads” not “there”. My apologies…
Ive seen Verns designs on Trading Spaces and I LOVEEEED them all!! Seems to me (even tho he is OMG fabulous!!) that he is being a bit rude… However the designers are competing for their own tv show, so he is most likely being critical and open minded of what people want to watch. LOVE Vern!!
… would have him in my home if I could afford him lol 
__Even tho Stacy did good on the previous design .. wasnt hard w/suit : / … I think she needs to go. She is not a team player and has no communication skills. If David B' had her communication skills his show would be more a drama than a design program. He is working with a trainee and he is very appriciative and communicates with her well. He has been a great example of what a Design Star should be.____Alsoit does not take massive budgets to redo a room, regardless the room. Vern has done may rooms for 1k and they have been unbelievable beautiful. ____Hated to see Trent go but, sadly he did not voice his opinion and make his design statement show. Was glad to see Alex stay … I was hoping they eliminated Courtland >.< fugly walls design____Overall .. Stacy needs to go!! Love Alex and Nina 
I agree, I am a big Nina fan. I think she shows lot of passion for what she does and is very creative. She is by far themost interesting character and she is nice to look at. =)
I think it's time to get your eye prescription checked again…You say her picture looks bad, well find me one that looks good.
what? she is so sexy and her intelligence just seals the deal. I would be controlling too if I had to work with those lame girls whining all day and not doing anything.
I don't know wht you are not seeing but Nina is hot.
Yeah until her wanting to control every aspect of your life starts wearing on your last nerve…All I'm seeing is a HUGE ego that matches her HUGE nose.
Nina is "hot", if "hot" is bitchy, untalented and egomaniacal. She's the girl you'd ditch at TGI Friday's because she's too abrasive and loud, and more so with every Bud Light she drinks.
She does "Bohemian Chic". That's a style? I still say: That translates to "scarves with bangles and Pier One tchotchkes draped over and around IKEA As-Is furniture". And her "artistic" dribbles and doodles on every damn wall? Pathetic.
NO. TALENT. Design Star: FLUSH THE B!TCH.
@WildNights: Don't ever "drunk post" again.
Seriously.
Your post reads like completely moronic, Sarah Palin-esque word salad. And here's a hint to make yourself sound like an intelligent adult: LEARN TO SPELL, AND TYPE WHOLE WORDS. We're not texting to our 14-year-old girlfriends here.
Vern… Reread your comments about Dan and then watch the episode…. Dan describes says the guitar makes him think of relaxing and lounging around with your family. No where does he say the words "upbeat" (that was Stacy).