Ask the Producer: Episode 4
Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder, Producer Loren Ruch, Kathy Ireland, Tanika Ray
We caught up with Loren Ruch, the show’s producer, to get answers to your most-asked questions from Design Star episode four, including: What happens to the eliminated designer after judging? Plus, learn how the crew scouted the B&B location and what the designers do on their days off.
How did you choose the bed and breakfast location for this week’s challenge?
Once we decided we wanted to do a B&B episode, we hired a location scout to scour a 2 hour radius around New York City to find the perfect property in need of a makeover. The minute he found the Spring Lake Inn, we knew we were in luck! The innkeepers were wonderful, and completely accommodating about allowing our designers to do whatever they wanted to the rooms. In the end, the Spring Lake Inn got a total transformation (including what Vern Yip called ‘the best room he’s seen in six years of Design Star’), which will hopefully be beneficial to them in garnering new business!
What happens to the eliminated designer right after judges’ panel? Is the outside-the-judging room footage really the goodbye?
The post-evaluation goodbyes in the Designers’ Lounge that you see on TV are truly the last times the designers see their eliminated counterpart. We whisk the eliminated designer back to the apartment to grab his/her suitcase and then put them up for a night in a hotel before sending them home the next morning.
Were the challenges filmed back-to-back or did the designers have days off to regroup?
It’s a pretty grueling process, to be completely honest! We shoot our episodes back-to-back, but there are four days off scattered through the entire shooting process – one of them which happened to be Easter Sunday this year. On their days off, the designers hang out at the apartment, cook for each other, work out and get haircuts, etc. They are not allowed to leave the property because we don’t want them to do any research for the show, so they really just use the days to regenerate and hang out together! Even the hairdresser came to their apartment so that they wouldn’t need to leave.
Is there a particular challenge that the crew has particularly enjoyed? What is your favorite Design Star challenge?
What a fun question! I think that weather has a lot to do with which challenges we like best/least. This year we dealt with a lot of rain, so anything ‘indoors’ was preferable to outdoors. I have to say my very favorite is this upcoming week’s Kitchen Challenge with Paula Dean. She had the entire crew in stitches, and my mouth literally hurt from laughing so much. Plus, the makeovers are FANTASTIC!! Additionally, working with Kathy Ireland on the B&B Challenge was pretty amazing, too. She was such a ray of light and positive energy that you couldn’t help but be happy around her!
What behind-the-scenes questions do you have for Loren? Ask in the comments below and he may just answer you next week.
The Kitchen Challenge Sneak Peak, has Cathy cluttering the whole kitchen with a bunch of crap, to the point that there isn't enough counter top space left to make a sandwich. She starts with what at first glance appears to be large petrified buzzard's nest, that at second glance is still something that shouldn't be in anyone's kitchen, unless you live in a grass hut. (Global perspective again?) And Cathy puts a vase of fresh eggs next to the sink? Great planning! That way if it gets knocked over there's a chance it will land in the sink and it will be easy to clean up the mess. It is always great to see a "designer" who has such deep understanding of "Form Follows Function."
And, Cathy, what's will the food all over the place? (Stupid bananas on a hook thing too.) Cathy, here's clue: see that big stainless steel box with the door in front? It's called a refrigerator. That's where the food belongs. It will last longer, trust me!
Did anyone else notice that rather "tall" counter clutter was also blocking the view of her partner (opponent) Karl's tile back splash? You literally can't see most of it, and where you can see it Cathy's clutter
breaks up the pattern to make it not noticeable. Quite spiteful of Cathy. Go figure.
Perhaps Karl will grow a pair, get a hammer and a garbage can , and smash any breakable clutter of Cathy's, and toss it all out, then stash the small appliances and knives, etc, in the kitchen cabinets, so that we can actually see The Kitchen, rather than the pile of garbage Cathy filled it with.
Not that I'm saying Karl's back splash is all that great.
erik… I have to agree with you on Karl's backsplash. I mean, great, someone came up with an idea of a mosaic backsplash! nothing about it was sensational, just glad that it wasn't something that you see too much, great comment!
I think it's funny to read comments about Cathy! Let's say that Cathy was a great designer and she had great ideas and we all loved her ideas. If this were the case, we would insist that her ideas be listened to. That's what Cathy thinks. You got to give her credit for making people listen! I actually thought her kitchen styling looked good. I like the big neutral pallet in the middle with the bread and whatever that vegetable was, and then the complimentary stuff around it. A boring countertop would be one that's empty. Cathy knows what she is doing here. She may not be the design star, but I just think we should only rip on her for bad ideas, not things that are possible great design moments. I never said I liked Cathy, I'm just saying that we should only pick on her if the reason is legitamate.
So you know as little about design as Cathy.
Paula Dean did not think so. Paula called it messy.
Also on Kitchen Challenge Sneak Peak, we see Kellie and Mark. Mark explains" that he is meticulous? Is that the "new" slow? Last episode it took him all day to learn to tie knots and "create" what looked like a tangled rope hanging on the wall, that said nothing to me about his "talent." So it appears his time management skills are going to leave the back splash that Kellie chose, uncompleted. Of course Kellie is crying AGAIN! Hey Kellie, you're allegedly a designer, so why didn't you do it? It still holds true: If you want something done right, then do it yourself!"
Kellie is the typical cryer on the show. Just design and suck it up. This is not the bachelor!
I think this Episode 5 will test Kellie. Can't wait! My favorite is Meg, but whatever! I would like to see Kellie, Cathy and Meg paired up. That would really be a clasher!
Is it possible to find out the manufacturer, etc. on the carpet on which Leslie spilled black paint? We are carpet shopping now and need something very easy to clean as we have our young grandchildren in our home on a fairly regular basis.
Cathy makes me NOT want to watch Design Star. Will pick up on next season
Oh who are you kidding – that would require you to get a life…
I have to agree with the above posts, regarding Cathy, I came to this site to post something to the network to express my frustration about her and I am glad to see that I am not the only person who dislikes watching Cathy. Cathy makes me NOT want to watch the show, she doesn't work well with others and I don't understand how that is not played into the part of selecting who gets voted off. She hasn't displayed any efforts with the other designers, she has only shown that she knows how to shop, that is not what I want to see as a viewer, I would never watch her show if she wins Design star.
I totally agree about Cathy, lower the volume every time she is on. The rest of whatever team she is on is so busy picking up her slack, they don't get the chance to shine. This is unfair to the rest of the designers. The only thing she seems to be good at is b?)(**&^^, shopping, and accessorizing. Beam her up, Scottie!
Depends! If I just needed to watch someone go shopping, I might want to watch Cathy's show. Sometimes we get so bogged down on having to design things, it's a real nice breather to just have a shopping show once in a while.
I agree with you 100%. Cathy is in a world of her own. She is out to destroy all of the contestant. Her designed was so messy that Paula Dean even made a negative comment. Her hide was saved by her one minute of TV time. I would never watched her show either.
I am enjoying this season of DS. I like the addition of celebrity guest judges, and the pace is brisk and exciting.Being from N.J. it was also nice to see the real "Jersey shore". Thanks for making this a great year.
Would like instructions and paint colors of the three designer room at the jersey shore. Want to recreate it in my new apartment!
Would like instructions and paint colors of the three designer room at the jersey shore. Want to recreate it in my new apartment!
If Cathy wins this season's Design Star, I will not watch her show. She is rude and not at all what I expect from HGTV.
I have to say, I really find this season's host Tamika's hosting style very grating. She does exactly what they caution the designers not to do, come off as phony and stagey in her delivery. I tune out every time she speaks… I love the show and look forward to each new episode, but… next season… NEW HOST, PLEASE.
Pril, I think you are very smart! You coined the words in exactly what was needed, thank you. I totally agree with you, and ditto. Tamika has talent, but it's overwhelming for this show. You know who would be excellent at Tamika's position? Emily! I think Emily is fun to watch, nice to listen to, great tv personality, knows design, a little bit mean, but that would be so cool! I hope they get Emily to be the host next season…. yea! thanks pril…
I have no idea why the producers felt Tamika would add anything to HGTV. She is a very "full of herself" personality, and does not add anything of value to the flow of the show. She was phony even on an entertainment show about celebrities!