Dooce’s Recap: Paint catastrophe! Explosions! Grenades!
We begin with the men returning to the apartment without Trent, and there seems to be a sigh of relief from everyone. Alex admits he’s disappointed with his performance so far, and he plans to step it up this week. I think that’s one refrain you always hear in these kinds of competitions: “This week I’ll show them!” Along with, “I’m not here to make friends.” I’m just waiting for that one.
This week’s challenge starts outside a flower shop when Candice announces each designer gets to choose the flower that inspires them the most. None of the contestants know which flower any of the others are choosing, and finally Vern walks out with a bouquet made up of each team’s combined choices. They must design a studio apartment based on the overall team bouquet and also incorporate their own individual floral inspiration.
The men’s bouquet is, as Courtland describes, “easy on the eye.” Clean, minimal, soft and fresh, made up of ranunculus, tulip, calla lily and snapdragon. Whereas the women’s bouquet is much more overtly romantic and whimsical: orchid, daffodil, carnation, hyacinth and wax flower. Immediately Dan starts to try to fight for himself and warns the women that in the last challenge they tackled too many construction-heavy projects, meaning ALL HIM. Can they please shop a bit more this time? Does he really have to say that to a car full of women? IN NEW YORK CITY?!
The spaces are 650 square feet, bright, full of light. Immediately the men decide to break the space up into a series of seating areas. Michael suggests a wall of open shelving to separate the living and sleeping areas. While shopping, Tom suggests this challenge is more about the form of the flower, not necessarily the color, and they choose several accent pieces that give off a luminosity. The judges told him last week to bring his knowledge and experience into play, and I think someone was paying attention.
They plan to focus on the finishes, meaning they want an array of paint: matte, semi-gloss and eggshell. Michael says these are crucial to the story of texture in the room. We see Alex furiously writing down how much paint and what kind they need. I get the sense this is some sort of foreshadowing of conflict. Look at me! I paid attention in English! FORESHADOWING! CONFLICT! You guys, Design Star is like Shakespeare!
The women start shopping, finding furniture with fancy, romantic lines, and then back at the apartment you see them taping up the room to paint molding. And there’s Dan doing construction work, hanging the rod for the sheers around the bed. Even Emily expresses concern that he isn’t taking his interests seriously enough. And you can see him attaching batteries to tools with a bit of exasperation. Oh, Dan. You and my husband should go out for beers! You’d feel a lot less alone.
And back at the men’s apartment, that foreshadowed conflict? IT HAS ARRIVED. Alex bought the wrong paint. Paint catastrophe! Explosions! Grenades! Michael is the most distraught, going on and on about how he didn’t think they could translate their concept without the semi-gloss paint. Courtland says, “The number one rule is semi-gloss, semi-gloss, semi-gloss!” It is? I thought it was, “No one talks about semi-gloss.”
Michael explains the semi-gloss is so important because of the layered paint effect he wants to create to showcase the inspiration of the ranunculus. Courtland isn’t sure how his flower really plays into the room, only that the wall of built-in shelving could possibly reflect the fact that the calla lily looks like it’s hiding something. Alex attempts an art installation to reflect the snapdragon, but he can’t even get it to stick to the wall. He is so stepping it up this week!
Back with the women we see Dan working on another construction project for Nina. You guys! Is this the first time I have brought up her name this week? BEHOLD, MY RESTRAINT! And I can’t say anything nice. Because she’s picking on Dan, saying that he’s more of her assistant than anything else. It’s not her responsibility to be civil! And then this thing that she’s creating for the wall, just…just…stop it already! Stop painting murals on the wall! Someone had better stop her so that I can move on to something else. But no one is. So I’ll force myself to move on.
Did you guys hear that Nina paints murals? On walls? It’s true.
It’s down to the final fifteen minutes, and Tom sounds like he’s giving birth. I just had to bring up this part because, really. That’s exactly what it sounded like when I was giving birth.
In walk the judges, and this time the teams have to stand there and listen as the judges walk around the room. I could not possibly handle that kind of awkwardness. I’d start itching sores that don’t exist and fall over. The women hear whispers, one of them being, “We’ve seen that before.” Oh please! PLEASE! Let them be talking about that mural on the wall. Because the world can’t handle seeing one again!
I like the overall design of the women’s room, especially the vibrant walls and mixture of furniture. However, I think it lacks cohesion. The room feels like it starts and stops in too many places, where maybe they were trying to go with contrasts (billowy sheers vs. hot pink squares on the wall) when what they got was a bunch of noise.
The men’s room, however, is slick from front to back, as if the design had taken months to create. You can feel the luminosity Tom was talking about earlier, and everything flows. Fresh is the first word that comes to mind, in fact, and they discussed this word in their initial meeting together. The room really does look like their bouquet and not just in color.
Judgment time and SOUND OF NEEDLE DRAGGING ON A RECORD. They just changed the rules! Because of the strengths and weaknesses in both rooms they feel it is unfair to judge them as teams. And so, instead they will be judged as individuals. Okay, I don’t like this. You’re sending one message to work as a team, but when you throw something in there like this, who in their right mind would want to cooperate? I don’t like this one bit. Again, it doesn’t matter, because my job is to write recaps. And talk about awful wall murals.
Nina, Courtland, Dan and Alex are the bottom designers, meaning everyone else makes it through to the next week. The bottom designers head off to make their host presentations. The following day when they face the judges, they are each given a chance to explain how their individual flower fits into the room. Alex undercuts Courtland when he explains it wasn’t Courtland’s idea to make the wall of built-in shelving. Uh-oh! Looks like someone isn’t here to make friends!
Dan talks about clusters, how he’d seen clusters of daffodils growing in fields in his youth. He then tries to defend all the construction in the room, and Vern sternly points out, “You’re not a contractor, Dan!” This is a design competition. Exactly. Not a Let’s Paint Wall Murals Contest.
Nina claims she is all over this space, taking credit for everything from the fabric to the furniture, waving off the mural as just a blip in the room. And I was right! They had seen it before! PHEW! I’m not just walking around with squiggly wall murals haunting my head.
Alex explains the snapdragon “is really simple in shape” like asparagus. Um, what flower is he smoking? He then goes on to say it didn’t make him feel flowery or fluffy, but determined, and the judges give him credit here for speaking from the heart.
Down to the bottom two: Alex and Dan. Dan’s host presentation is cheerful and friendly, but he doesn’t explain anything about what inspired the design. He’s just pointing to things and saying what they are. Alex’s combines both: cheerfulness and the inspiration behind the design. He’s getting better, much better in terms of hosting, and that shows he’s learning. This means Dan is going home, and my heart just broke into pieces. He sacrificed too much to help the women. And I don’t know if they can hold it together without him.
This show makes me so angry!!! The only way we'll get our original DesignStar back is not to watch this season. It's all about the Neilson ratings anyway. I dont think they care one bit what we say on these forums.
What's with the judges this year? Their prancing around atop the high horse, especially Vern, is getting tiring. And the way they all huddle in to debate results is astoundingly unprofessional. I say, ditch Vern and bring Clive back.
I also miss Clive!!!!
Yeah! Me, too!!
Vern irks the hell outta me.
Clive, come back!
Wow great show guys! I think you are absolutely right. Alex would make a much better show than Dan. I am going to set that up to record on my DVR. Really? I am done watching this show forever. I am sure Nina will win the whole show since she is such a multi-trick pony…
Alex is much much more inexperienced and it shows in his work he always forgets to do something or can't finish his own projects without someone else helping him so he can get it done in time it is way clear he is not ready to be a design star.
This season of design star is HORRIBLE. The show has lost the intimate feel we used to have with both the judges and the designers. I don't feel as though I care about any of the designers and that is rare for me. The judging is way too harsh and dramatic…. I'm so sick of hearing "so were UNANIMOUS?" My complaints are honestly endless, going with Mark Burnett was a very bad idea.
I miss Clive and the other two ladies who were with him in the first three seasons. They should haven't had Alex and Dan in the bottom two. Should have been been Courtland and Nina with Nina voted off! Would have been so happy!!! Don't forget to vote for your favorite person!
Hello All,
Oh my god I knew Nina would do a wall murul again and the judges would get sick of it doesn’t that women no how to do anything else I hope for her sake she does because you need to know much more than how to scribble on the wall. I do feel bad for Dan he did give to much of himself to the girls I wonder how they will do without him? Alex his t.v. interview went good he really knows what to say but still I wonder he doesn’t have a huge amount of experience and I believe it shows in his work.
That was unfair to Dan….if he told the girls he couldn't help because he had to do his own stuff…the judges would probably say he was not being a team player……I admit his little clusters weren't any good…but out of him and Alex…I think Alex should have gone home from his past errors….each show he has some kind of mishap. Talking a great game means nothing…actions speak louder than words.
Nina & Courtland will say whatever is needed to get to stay, ….if Alex had not spoken up about the shelf unit being Toms idea….Courtland might have tried to take that credit too…just as Nina tried to sound like she influenced everyone else….this will eventually work against her….I didn't like either of the rooms…very disjointed….but if they chose to do another segment with guys vs gals, the next guy will know….gals are on their own! How about that horrible New York show afterwards…YUCKO !!! Who wants to talk rich folks and their million dollar issues…?
You need to understand that they edit what they want you to see …. I believe that it was Courtland's idea
Michael mentioned it and Courtland agreed to the idea…Courtland was caught in a lie and he knew it, that's why he shut up…Courtland is as bad as Nina…They're both fake…Should we expect kisses to each other in the next episode?
I thought the shelves were Michael's idea initially, too. And you're right…although I can tolerate Courtland much better than I can Nina, *both* of them have "the big head."
It was michael's idea, Tom designed the shelves, and courtland used it as his design.
Honestly, not to play the race card or anything, but…last year there was Tashica, this year it's Alex…is Mark Burnett doing this on purpose?! Is he trying to tell the viewing public something about the way he views the world?
It has nothing to do with race because, Kim Miles is a woman of color, and she has much talent. I have no idea how he view the world, but this is 2010 racial people in this day and age are "SICK"
Ugh! Why am I watching this program? There is no interesting design. There are no personalities that I would even want to watch. Design Star has gotten worse and worse every year. The judges are as obnoxious as Nina. I love Candace's show, but like another poster, I'm beginning to look at her in a new and not very flattering light. I felt the same way about Vern several seasons ago. Vern and Genevieve were fun in Trading Spaces, but their own shows are boring. Dan was a likeable person. Maybe a "contractor" show would have been a refreshing change from all these Designers with a capital D! I'm just not in to reality shows with losers as the stars (judges and contestants both).
I agree a contractor show would be an awesome change from design shows and house hunters
I have to agree. This season's 'concept' just isn't working. What is the point of taking dissimilar music or flowers or fashion and trying to get them to all 'work' in a single room? Does anyone design that way in real life? The past season's were far more straight forward and you could actually see who was doing well, or who have a good concept, and you could take ideas away from it. This season, I don't see any of that. I would never take any of these rooms as a finished product. When the heck are they going to start working on REAL LIFE needs, requirements and desires?
"UGH" – that about sums up my feelings about this show, too! I totally agree with EVERYTHING you wrote!!
Too bad HGTV couldn't design a better show with judges that are at least able to hide their feelings of superiority AND who don't bore us using such monotone voices.
Yes, I agree that we are looking at the judges in an unflattering light. There's no constructive criticism during the process and the whispering conferences are stifling, ugly and nonproductive. It would be more constructive for them to talk about line, form, cohesiveness, etc. and use these opportunities as teachable moments…that would demonstrate more humanity involved in the process.
So right on about the judges. Candice is the only one that has (or had) a great show. Trading spaces was so much fun, but Vern and Genevieve on their own are not very interesting.
I wonder how HGTV is planning to market to a very unhappy viewer base. If this blog is used to sell products, what sponsor would want to associate with a failure of a show?
C. Flynn
I thought that Alex should have gone home in the last episode, so this was his time to REALLY go home. Just because he talked his way out of it, doesn't mean he deserves to remain. I am really shocked that Dan went home as he was the glue that kept the girls together! What a great guy, too. I'm sorry that Candace caved in, as I always have thought she had a good heart. I'm not surprised with Vern or the designer I thought was terrible last year to nearly everyone, Geneveve! She is beyond mean spirited.
Most of these designers seem to think that they have arrived, but I am yet to be impressed or wowwwwwwd! maybe designers with a little less experience would make for a more enjoyable show—less ego.
I agree with you Laura. I would llike to see someone who has a dream of designing and given a chance to do a season.
I can't believe they let Dan go. I'm sorry judges, but design is more than stupid murals painted on the wall. It is construction, paint, labor!! I dont see Candice, Genevieve or Vern building the benches, beds, putting in the fireplaces, potlights, etc. on their shows. Get a clue!!!!! And I'm sorry…you couldn't pay me to live in either of those studios. They were over designed, illogical with terrible paint schemes. I found it terrible. The poor owners of those studios are gonna have to go in and repaint.