Candice’s Recap: Episode 3
I’m still out shooting Candice Tells All, but don’t worry — I’m still watching! This week, the stars of HGTV’s Home by Novogratz, Cortney and Bob Novogratz, came by to give their perspective on our designers. This challenge was the most important one yet: working with actual clients in their homes. The designers were split into groups and assigned two rooms in two separate houses. The assignment: Give some old rooms new life.
First up was the Callegaris’ house. Leslie, Kevin and Kellie took the basement, and Doug and Mark took the living room. The Callegaris asked for a living room that would suit large family gatherings, with plenty of comfortable seating but still have room to dance. Right off the bat it was obvious that Doug and Mark were not working cohesively. It was shades of Doug and J from episode one’s loft challenge, and their lack of teamwork showed. From their disagreement over wall color to poor furniture choices and a complete lack of passion in general, the only thing they did as a team was throw the challenge away.
Their living room was ridiculous from top to bottom. Nothing about it matched, and all of the furniture was pushed up against the walls. Just because a family asks for a “dancing space” doesn’t mean you need to set up the room for a full-time dance party. Doug really dropped the ball on furniture selection, and his accent-wall color choice was even worse. Mark fought him on it, but should have firmly put his foot down. His wood wall was clever, but he should have spent more time with Doug to make sure the other 80 percent of the room looked as stylish as his wall.
Leslie, Kevin and Kellie’s basement had some wonderful elements. Leslie is starting to show that she thinks like a “mommy,” which is a good thing. That collage with the children’s handmade drawings was clever and really added an important personal touch to the space; I know viewers are going to want to try that for themselves. Kevin’s family-friendly office corner was kitschy and chic, just like him. I loved that while it was functional, it was still classy and had great elements of design. And Kellie — smart girl tackling those boring structural columns to make an island. Creating that space in the center really worked and, overall, the entire room did look like one designer created it instead of three. Mark and Doug should take note.
Next was Christina Scano’s house. Tyler and Meg took the dining room, and Cathy, Bret and Karl tackled the entertainment room. Cathy set out to do all of the shopping while Bret and Karl did the demo. Good for them for standing up for themselves and demanding they do some of the shopping to showcase their own style. (Mark should take note.) The room had definite high points and low points. The high? Karl’s gorgeous mosaic backsplash. This is the first time in Design Star history that someone has started and finished such a beautiful tile project — and to think that he even broke all of the tiles himself is so admirable. That really showed us who he is as a designer, and I love that he broke out of his perfectly painted mold (even if his camera challenge was about doing graphic lines on a wall). Bret’s area was just sad. The furniture looked like it belonged in an office, not a home and, again, he didn’t give us that “edgy” side he keeps promising. And Cathy — we know you’re a great shopper, but this is not “Staging Star,” this is Design Star and you need to start designing! Ditch the “all neutral, all the time” and start having fun! Okay, but I did dig that coffee table — I’ll give you that.
Tyler and Meg’s dining room was really pretty. It was really pretty. Did I say it was really pretty? Because that’s pretty much all I can say about it. Tyler’s wall was inventive and made a statement and Meg’s refinished hutch was smart, but I wanted to go in and throw some trinkets on the table and family photos on the hutch to give it some personality. The space looked generic and I agree with the panel — it just didn’t look personal at all. But, it looked really pretty.
Kevin definitely deserved to win because that shelving was fabulous. I’m also giving Karl an honorable mention because maybe he’ll come do that mosaic tile in my house. Unfortunately, someone has to go every week and this time it was Doug. That paint color was just unforgivable.
Next week we’re headed to the Jersey Shore and the designers will have another chance to step up their game.
What questions do you have about the episode three? Ask in the comments below; the Design Star Director of Programming, Loren Ruch, will answer the most-asked questions on Wednesday!
Cathy HAS to go. Tired of her attitude. Let alone that she doesn't want to work, thinks that everyone should work for her, and has decided she is queen of the set…she just isn't someone I would like to work with. I build houses…but have to hire others to make them pretty (I have no taste. I hired a designer to do my new house). I would NOT work with Cathy more than once.
The show is all about finding a person to host their own show. I'm a real fan of all things HGTV, but I definitely would NOT watch a show hosted by Cathy
I agree. I think those Emmy's she won are stuck where the sun doesn't shine because, she talks down to everyone. Who wants to watch someone like that?! I can barely stand to watch her right now!
Did anyone at HGTV really check Cathy's credentials to determine the validity of her Emmy awards?
Cathy's Emmy Awards are real. Cathy just isn't a real designer.
I'm not a Cathy fan yet as per performance to date, but I feel she has great potential. Many of the control-type people will struggle the timelines of a contest, but I've found the best results from those who are careful. I don't expect Cathy to win, but I do think she is a winner!
I wouldn't work with her EVER, unless i could slap the attitude out of her!
Cathy's "designs" are terribly textbook, and her "style" is the most pedesterian replicas of the things (i.e. the places) that she states inspire her. Her entry portfolio had a pretty orange office, that in the two photos you can view it in (in one photo, the orange office is an adjacent room in the background) that did not seem cleverly functional, nor particularly artful.
I expect the winner of design star to be enjoyable to watch, have an artistry or magic in their design, and supe-duper tuned in to how real people have to live their lives.
Loved Karl's backsplash–use that old experience and knowledge! And hey, a finished tile backsplash on DS.
I thought Meg and Tyler's dining area was wonderful–they must like working together. Tyler's wall was great. I haven't totally got my favorites picked, but Tyler is really high on my list.
Kellie is obviously really good at keeping a team together–this is twice that she gets high marks on working and playing well with others. Of course, that's not really the point of the competition, but she also did that fun little island. Leslie lucked out with the find of the children's artwork, but she did well with using that lucky find.
A coffee table is going to show "global perspective"? Really, Cathy? Couldn't you just say, "It's a cool coffee table"?
Can you imagine if one of the men had said "sorry, thats women's work" like Cathy said about the men having the muscle, and doing the heavy work. They would have been thrown off the show, no matter what kind of designer they were. I guess if you are African American, AND a woman, AND an emmy winner, AND a TV personality, AND the perfect designer…you can do what ever you want.
Yeah. I caught that too. I thought it rather inappropriate as well. Global Perspective Cultural Sensitivity Training, perhaps?
I don't see how Cathy's race or gender has anything to do with this issue. I really can't stand the woman, but I don't think they would have been "thrown off the show" had Bret or Karl made a similar retort. Of course declaring any form of work as gender specific is inappropriate, but let's not throw out any cards in annoyance. I think it's just enough to say Cathy is overbearing, annoying and not easily liked.
I WILL NO LONGER WATCH DESIGNER STAR UNTIL THEY START JUDGEING PEOPLE ON WHAT THEY DO. AND NOT WHAT THEY THINK THEY CAN DO ON THE NEXT EPISODE AND THE WRONG PLEOPLE GO HOME EVERY TIME.
Who do you think ought to have gone home this week?
Oh stop. You think this was about race? It was about TASTE, and lack thereof. Mark did try to tell Doug about his color choice, but Doug didn't listen – and the judges independantly agreed that it was in bad TASTE. And if you think that 'organ meat salmon' is a good color choice, then I'm not sure if continuing to watch Design Star or HGTV at all is going to help you then.
When you're through screaming, you might learn to use spellcheck instead of watching DS.
Wow. I'm black and I cant STAND Cathy. However I bet she is a queen of completing a project on time and under/on budget. Her energy is all about getting things DONE. But we are inspired by people who LOVE their work and it shows in how they work. There is a huge market for Cathy's home staged look so her JOB is not in danger.
Doug was STUBBORN and could not see past his own delusions of greatness. Even when he was cut, he was SUPRISED!!
Could Doug be a designer for the next up and coming rapper designing a 10k platinum diamond-encrusted table lamp? you betcha. keyword = TASTE.
Luv your writing style! LOL!
I find interrupting the designers for the "one-minute hosting challenge" annoying and useless when they need all their time and wits to work on the assigned project. Cathy is so full of herself. The right person went home tonight. Kevin's shelves are more decorative than practical since they are quite shallow but they are visually interesting. I would have given Kellie the win for beefing up the columns and for turning that in-the-middle-of-the-room clutter into a partition wall between the TV area and the kids area, with cabinets for storage underneath and countertop for eating. Functionality is the key to good design, aesthetics comes next. She killed three birds with one stone!
i am with you on all counts!
I think the camera challenge makes sense in the context of what they're trying to win, but it would make more sense if it was always directly related to what they were doing. Like, "Here's a camera. Explain to the audience EXACTLY what you're doing right now, and why."
Totally agree..I think they should let them have some prep time for camera challenge. Very few on HGTV could stop a project and do a perfectly times 30 second tip in ONE TAKE.
Let's all remember, as much as most of us love David Bromstadt, in his winning season he was always lauded for his designs but criticized harshly for his hosting skills. He won the fan vote (that's how they won on the first few seasons) and his own show, where he LEARNED how to host.
I loved the backsplash. We have done a ton of tile, but never a broken tile backsplash. My QuEsTiOn is…. how do you finish the edges of the design? Do u just caulk around the grout or buy some edging pieces? Please give more information on the finishes.
Please get rid of Cathy next so she'll have more time to go "global" ……ugh.
Id like to see Mark & Karl do a project together. As well as they have both done whle working with buttholes, it could be awesome putting their ideas together. Not sure why judges trashed Mark about not being more involved. If he had done anything more everyone would whine he doesnt play well with others.
Kevin is funny to watch and obviously has some unique talents, but I sense the judges are kinda trying to nuture him along in the hopes he will do something unusual & grand. I enjoy out of the box thinking in design just as much as other areas but lets not turn it into wacky just to be wacky.
I think it will come down to Kellie vs. one of the boys: Karl, Mark, or Kevin (ranked in that order)
Somewhere along the line Kevin may another "kitsch attack" and on a big project may get bogged down/unable to manage all the subs, etc. Karl has the natural talent to not screwup anywhere down the road.
Place your bets
Cheers,
Harvey
What about Tyler? What an artist! He always gets the job done, beautifully, and works well with everyone!
It really bugged me that the Callagaris family was not asked about THEIR favorite color(s). Can't imagine how else Doug got away with that color. Maybe it was edited out. I wouldn't appreciate a designer coming into my space and ignoring my color ideas.
I coud not understand where the Callgaris family was supposed to dine after this make over.. Previously, they had a dining table in the room as well as lounge furniture. Perhaps, this was also discussed and edited out?
Kudos Tyler on the wall… and Karl on that backsplash! Really loved Meg & Tyler's room as a whole… I almost would've been willing to put up with another week of Doug's bad design to have sent Cathy home…
Really tired of the "global perspective"… How is that the person with "global" perspective is the one person who can't work with anyone else?
kinda like obama.
Don't you mean Omarosa?
No. No. No. Give me just one comment area on the internet where I don't have to be assailed by political smack talk. Just let me enjoy my summertime Design Star picnic without bees and ants.
HAHHHHH, love it. i dont understand politics.
Do the judges watch the video we see of the interaction between various designers? It seems so obvious to the viewers that some characters do not allow others to express their views in the design (ala Doug last night). What might Mark have done? Of course, we see the edited version…