Judges’ Recaps: Casey & Courtland
Vern’s Thoughts
Repurposing existing furniture, Casey and Courtland are given the task of transforming a dated dining room space into something with real design panache. Casey smartly repurposes a side table, converting it into an upholstered ottoman with a found rug. The end result is high-end in appearance and representative of much of what is happening in design today. Her window treatments also are beautifully made and contrast nicely with the brick wall.
Courtland also does some very smart design work, creating two uber-sleek sconces using parts from dismantled lamps and copper piping. The conception and creation of a plank dining room table also adds a nice textural quality to what was an otherwise bland piece of furniture. The infusion of bright orange into the space, however, was a serious misstep that cheapens the overall atmosphere the team is trying to create. Although textural wall treatments are a strong suit of Courtland’s, this color was completely off-putting and did not work well with the existing brick wall it intersects. A soft white or neutral, along with added texture, would have worked beautifully with the white chairs and brown furniture dotting the room, balancing and lifting the heaviness of the brick walls.
The team also seriously wastes time painting a brown wood china cabinet a slightly darker shade of brown. White would have worked beautifully here as well. Overall, there is real creativity on display in this room and both Casey and Courtland show us that they are talented in a plethora of ways.
Genevieve’s Thoughts
When light and nature are two of the most coveted elements in NYC, I’m perplexed as to why these two decided that a brown/terra cotta shade would be a great wall color choice. Not only does it suck ALL of the light out of the space, it takes away from the one real highlight of the room, the masonry on the opposite wall. On top of that, painting an already brown armoire dark brown — really? What were you guys thinking?
In order to make the brick wall the focal point it should’ve been it’s necessary to pull back on the opposing walls. They should’ve brought in light, creamy, smooth textures to give the space a greater sense of grandeur while highlighting the earthy color and rougher texture of the bricks. I think that the light sconces made of piping are the highlight of the space and I enjoy how the brass element was threaded throughout the room onto the dishes, radiator, etc. The big eyesore, however, is the giant block of tangerine in the middle of the brick pattern adorned with strange quilts and trays — ouch. A better choice would’ve been to leave this wall alone and add a bright accent color to the armoire; a complementary color to the brick, such as a green or butter, would’ve been much more powerful.
just love this dining room..love to have it nyself..david you are awesome and i love your painings..i paint to so i get ideas off of your painting's..i watch your show faithfully..you are one of the best..there is no other channel but HGTV is there..?? lol…
I loved Casey's glass box….i'd like to have it in my home!
I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON…
I would love to see Geneveive in person!! =D
I agree with a number of other commentors – what have you done to HGTV Design Star. This season has been boring, boring and boring. The team concept should only be used at the beginning and not throughout the show. The chairs that Casey recovered were horrible and that side table that she called an ottoman wasn't much better. Please go back to the original concept for the next season.
i agree. i love candice olsen but why on earth the judges chose antonio last year over dan, is beyond me. this year's challenges are too wierd.
Seems to be dull this season to me also. Couldnt watch the whole thing. Need something different , inspiring, exciting. I think it was the group dynamics. whaT DO you all think?
btw Genevieve you've been decorating in the suburbs far too long- the merlot walls compliment the brick nicely and make the dark wood china cabinet (it is NOT an armoire) feel balanced in the space instead of floating in a pastel soup like in the other room… And I see old books and white dishes, nice, not spray painted plastic like in the other, who would want to eat in that setting? City (small space) decor does not always follow your narrow set of rules.
I thought last night elimination was a joke!!! You seemed to get rid of the best designer (Courtland). I don't think I have to watch the show any more. I agree with going back to doing original concept for next year…
Courtland would have won. One of the judges suggested that a girl should win. The wall was exceptional that Courtland did. The room was the best. Courtland deserves a shot at his own show.
Bruce I totaly concur,,, Courtland is gone, i won,t be watching anymore this soon, and he should have won
I meant anymore this season..sorry
The best designer is Courtland hands down. He has a such a great attitude. Always positive and supportive. What a joke he got eliminated. Like you said, one of the judges suggested that a girl should win, even suggesting that Casey is a bombshell and they can attract more men to watch the show. It's all about the ratings folks and reaching out to new audiences. Women watch the show anyways, so they're reaching out to men. With Michael, what a better way to reach out to the gay community with an over the top, flamboyant, (always highly annoying) gay person. Can you imagine all the guest celebrities he would bring onto his show. For the producers, it's not about the best designer.. its about ratings. Go get'em Courtland! I loved your heel kick on the way out. YOU ARE THE BEST DESIGNER THIS SEASON.
Thank you! I feel the same. I`m finished with the show. The judges need to be eliminated.
umm right!! I would have bet money he would have won! I can't believe he's not even in the top 3 for the online show. He is an amazing personality!
"Courtland deserves a shot at his own show." Agreed, Bruce!!! Now, if the judges would read these comments Courtland would have a chance at his own show!
I am truly upset with this season, but what we were given out of the 4 Courtland was the best. He is someone I would want to watch and deserved he own show. Courtland may do a lot of color but it is not all he can do. Casey and Courtland’s dining room was so much better than the other two, how do you get cut from that. Michael was all over the place, throwing fits, who wants to watch that andlet’s face it, Emily should have been cut the very first show. I am done with this season.
Tina, I agree with everything you said. I just watched the elimination of Casey, which out of the three, seemed to produce sensible and realistic design. Michael's flirting deal on camera is obnoxious, and Emily goes way too fast and definitely is scattered. I would never pay either of those two for design or decorating. Courtland was probably my vote for design star, with Casey as runner-up. And, vern Yip suffers from short man's disease and a heavy case of self importance. The way he talks to the designers is demoralizing at times, and he is just hard to watch–fortunately, he's not on the entire hour. The worst episode for Vernie was when he was so angry and he dressed down the designers. He continually portrays himself as the end all to design…I realize that he has some prestigeous awards and accomplishments, but they do not translate into an engaging host. He might be4 okay if he was just doing his own show, but putting him in a position to judge is not a good idea.
There were "moments" (green ceiling, black mirror – even though it had nothing to do with fruit salad) that I liked this week, but overall…still not loving this season!!!! Honestly do these "high-end designers" know anything about DIY? They are all very poor in execution of the repurpose challenges.
I've never commented here before, but feel compelled to now. I've been a loyal viewer for years but just can't stand this season. First off, it is so wasteful. No actual homes are being redone, just rooms that will be trashed straight away. How is that along with your green theme of the network? And the designers for the most part are completely unlikable. Alex was the only one who was charming at all. The actual reality part has gone out of this reality show. I don't know what trend they are trying to jump on or what focus group told them that this was the right direction to take the show, but it seems way off. The three left are so bland I can't image watching a show of theirs.
Many of my friends and I have also been faithful viewers and agree with you and all the of others who believe this season is extremely disappointing. Where are the designers? No one has been asked to design anything….just team up and create around "stuff." And the "stuff" became interpreted with wall art, paint, and mini displays. Set design? Perhaps. Room design? Haven't seen it yet. There may actually be one or two good designers but they may also already have been sent home not having had the opportunity to display their skills. I am glad to see some egocentric "designers" gone. Confidence is one thing arrogance is another. Some of these competitors should remember that when one starts criticizing another it's time to take a good look at oneself. Hopefully, Design Stars will redesign the program for the next cycle!
Yes Cortland is the guy with the best "on-air-presence" but who knows if he can design. Since the first episode when he was thrown under the bus by Nina the B***h, no one has had the chance to show their own stuff. I would like to see Cortland come back back – he has the best attitude. Tom was an idiot and unfortunately Cortland was stuck with a bunch of bad designers in almost every show ( I would say "challenge" but there was nothin' challenging so far). And yes, it's a china cabinet…it is NOT an armoire. We all keep hoping there's a happy ending but the Hero has been eliminated
Dan seemd to have potential too.
Cant believe that Cortland, the best designer of the season, has been booted!
Loved Cortland's lighting and orange wall….so inviting with the brick walls and red accent wall.
This room is sooo much more warm and inviting than that sterile white/green/black mess.
I can't believe Courtland was booted either – I am finished watching this year – and no matter which designer wins in the end, I would never watch a show with any of them as a host. Casey is a pure dud, Michael is obnoxious and I can't stand listening to Emily's voice for the entire show, let alone listening to her on her own show! Not sure what happened to Vern Yip – he used to be a really sweet guy when I watched him on other design shows – and he used to host one called 'Deserving Design' and it was a really great show. Genevieve and Candace act like two shrews, too. Fame has sure gone to all of their heads. No more 'Design Star" for me. The only other designer I could stand besides Courtland was Alex – or is it Alec? Sorry for the memory lapse – but he did have a great screen presence as did Courtland.