Ask the Producer: Design Star Finale and Meg’s New Show!
Each week, Design Star producer Loren Ruch gives us the inside scoop on the show. After this week’s finale, he discusses the panel’s final deliberation. Plus, what you can expect from Meg’s new show HGTV’s Great Rooms.
It must have been hard for the design panel to choose between these two talented designers! What made them ultimately choose Meg as the winner?
It was an extremely tough decision because our design panel liked both Meg and Karl so much. In fact, the deliberation took nearly four hours! They reviewed all of the camera challenges and design challenges, and ultimately selected Meg as the winner. Meg and Karl had each won two challenges throughout the season, and then split the win in the tiny houses episode, so it was a very, very even competition all the way around.
What was it like for Meg to meet so many of the HGTV talent right after the win?
Meeting our HGTV talent was a huge moment for Meg. When she said “Oh my God, you’re all real,” it was a true ‘light bulb’ moment. She told me it was in that moment she realized winning Design Star was a life-changing event!
The original concept for the Meg’s series was Design Crimes. How did that idea evolve into HGTV’s Great Rooms?
If I’m going to be completely honest, HGTV’s Great Rooms is the same show as Design Crimes. Meg uses her criminology background to investigate the crimes in her fellow Chicagoans homes, and then redesign the spaces to be more beautiful. This may sound crazy, but I believe that there’s power in words, so instead of focusing on something negative (like the word “crimes”) I’d rather we focus on the positive (like “great”), which is why we changed it to HGTV’s Great Rooms. “Great” is a double entendre in the show, because not all of the rooms are true great rooms, but they are all GREAT!
When did Meg’s show begin filming?
Meg’s show started to shoot about three weeks after we completed production of Design Star. She needed to get working on her designs immediately following our finale. Honestly, she hasn’t slept much since we started shooting Design Star back in March!
Can you give us any clues about what we can expect from Meg’s new show? What did you think were the best on-set moments?
I can say this with 100 percent sincerity – I think that Meg’s makeovers in HGTV’s Great Rooms are some of the biggest and best makeovers that I’ve ever seen on our air. I truly believe that our viewers will be blown away by the level of talent she displays in this show. By the way, HGTV’s Great Rooms debuts Saturday at 6pm ET/PT – so set your DVR’s!! Learn more about Meg’s new show >>
Note: The picture is one of our entire crew – look at how many people it takes to get a show like this on the air! I want to take this opportunity to thank the best crew in the business, and the best viewers in the world…we love our HGTV fans!
Meg's Moo-alicious Makeovers. That's what her new show should be called. I just finished browsing some of the photos they put up on the website of great rooms she supposedly designed with her team. If you thought the green was garish in the minihouse, you should see the hideous red and other odd colors schemes she selected. Just pitiful. Now I can say for certainty I will be watching something else!
We should boycott the judges shows also for inflicting this travesty on the viewers.
Come one Anna. I'm a die hard Karl fan too. We know who the winner is. Let's not over do it with meanness. No need to call her names. Really. You are giving the rest of us who are just as disappointed and upset that Karl's victory was stolen from him, look bad. lol.
Think they can understand our outrage without the name calling. Please?
Don't have anything against her as a person, she was just not the best and that HGTV decided that it was OK to give to a mediocre designer than then Karl, who was clearly the best.
Well said, Lydia.
Design is so a matter of choice. My tastes are totally different from yours and yours from someone elses. Most of what was really liked or not liked was presentation and personalities. And again – it's hard to find someone that 'everyone' likes! We just aren't made that way. We are going to irritate someone somewhere! What I really like in a designer is one that can give ideas that the normal person can 1. afford 2. mimic with items they like 3. and understand what makes 'good' decorating
I think most people would agree that is reasonable. So what about function, scale and placement
along with affordability, mimicing items you like and understanding good decorating?
Where does that fall into the picture?
I personally did like Karl the best. I think that Meg has potential, but I'm not sure if I would tire of her presentation sooner than I would karl's. He tends to design based on architecture and I do like that. As for the Judges, I generally wondered why they think that their design ideas are so 'superior' to any of the designers they have on the show. But then- how would they ever vote someone off if they didn't use their own design as the 'standard'? I guess if the show generates this much discussion – it will probably continue happening! I know that HGTV has brought on some of the other designers at various times – I hope they will give Karl a chance – and maybe Mark and Kelly too! I think the audience would appreciate it.
Give Meg a chance with her new show,talent isn`t measured by your weight or looks! But I do agree Karl`s little house was better planned than Meg. Also how can HGTV even consider Debbie Does Dallas,oh! I mean Donna… IF you can consider her garish,overdone whorehouses decorating then maybe I need to watch another channel. Include Dina & the Novo-gross-its also in that bunch! I WON`T BE WATCHING ANY OF THEM !!
You are right. DESIGN talent isn't measured by your weight or looks. It's measured by DESIGN talent. hello.
Sorry, under normal circumstances I would give Meg a try. I did last year and the year before when they picked Antonio and Emily. I didn't necessarily agree with the judges decision then, BUT I understood where they were going with it because both had some good 'measure' of design talent.
But enough is enough already. HGTV and DS has played me for a fool for the last time. And to think they let such a gifted designer and genuine person like Karl slip through their fingers! All these blogs are a testament to that if nothing else. He wasn't just an ordinary run of the mill designer – Karl was truly exceptional. If he was an average designer, I don't think so many viewers would be so heart broken or feel betrayed.
p.s. agree on the donna and dina situation. i don't be watching hgtv at all. good riddance!
bunch of no good cheaters. it's the freakin Home and Garden Network. DOES THAT EVEN MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU PEOPLE WHO WORK OVER THERE? We come to you for some wholesome good and information on TV and that's how you act. Very nice! NOT.
I'm not surprised that I chose someone who didn't win as my favorite, but I am surprised and heartened by the overwhelming positive responses Karl's designs and camera presence are receiving. I thought (and still think) he won, no question; Karl and Meg are not in the same league and comparing the two doesn't elevate Meg — it only harms Karl. I expect that he will be better off elsewhere.
The challenge was interesting and very unfair: Meg was presented with a dining/living room and her crime solving was handed to her in the form of Tiffany Blue, "brown tones", and dining room furniture. Karl got the feeling of Tuscany coupled with street art, grittiness, and the Brooklyn Bridge. (Heck, why not Aztec folk art and Japanese minimalism or the feeling Iceland and the grittiness of, say, Baghdad?) Karl also got the more difficult layout. Karl shopped for his furniture while Meg did not. Karl had other challenges such as toy/shoe organization and child safety whereas Meg might have thought of her clients' forthcoming child or perhaps she simply didn't care — we never saw her give any attention to the forthcoming problem.
At first, I thought Karl's room was his worst work, despite that he brilliantly nailed every other challenge. Upon closer examination, his room is actually very beautiful; the colors he chose are really wonderful (especially the green, a color I normally don't like on interior walls) and his painted stairs really brought them into the space. The cabinet from Ligne-Roset is flat-out wonderful and I thought the graffiti on the armoire was sheer genius — I could never have imagined doing such a thing. Karl's space-planning was perfect, as he placed the sofa (a beauty) along the traffic corridor while keeping the toys away from the doorway. The moldings gave the room more character and were the perfect scale for the room. I love the brown band all the way around the room, making the small pictures really stand out. All in all, another home run.
As for the camera challenges, I've been praising Karl since the beginning. I find him funny, relaxing, confident in what he knows, and a talented teacher — his ability to present detailed information is just what this format needs. Again, there's simply no comparison to Meg who I find utterly unwatchable. I certainly don't wish her ill and I hope she is as successful as she can be but no one serious about design and entertainment could ever prefer her style of presentation to his.
To expend any more pixels on this decision and on Design Star generally is, for me, a waste. I am glad to read so many of your comments that recognize talent; I know that ultimately Karl will benefit from this experience as will all the others.
Yes. It seems Karl has inspired and turned many young people to art and architecture. We will see a whole new generation who will appreciate it now because he was on Design Star!
Isn't that the best thing in the world? I know I'm gushing a little but truly he is one of a kind. Also, would you expect any less from a man who loves design so much he would do it for free if he could? LOL. The camera caught him saying that once
Well, I guess you could expect less but he is apparently very gifted in what he does. Good luck to Karl!
Great post. I completely agree with you.
To correct the above: Meg did mention the baby while she shopped for the rug. I want to be fair, although it didn't seem to make any difference, as the rug was covered with furniture in what I don't consider a very child-friendly layout. Sorry for such a long post.
I was thinking about the gigantic Buddha toppling off the pedestal, so dangerous for a baby friendly home.
Karl's room was a very difficult challenge (merging street art , gritty, industrial with Tuscan, European country) per owner's likes/preferences and Karl came out with one unique design (i.e. the Brooklyn Bridge art on the TV cabinet) — wonder if each of the judges could have pulled it off??? I really would have liked Meg & Karl to design the same rooms in the final competition. In my opinion Karl could have had his own show; he shines with his pleasantness, and the kind of warmth and honest professionalism we the lay people would like to deal with. Why can't HGTV judges select one great all-around talented designer like Karl? Do all winners have to be a super extrovert?
GIVE KARL A SHOW. DESIGN STAR IS 0-2 for the past 2 years! Emily's show is just dull and Meg's will be the exact same:( Karl is AMAZING, Meg just poorly arranges flowers and throws coffee on the floor. Deal with the facts: KARL IS A SUPERIOR ARTIST, ARCHITECT, AND DESIGNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST OF LUCK KARL
I LIKE CHEESE
Really?? I am allergic. What is it like?
Mushy.
I agree with some of the posts regarding HGTV programming. I did like House Hunters but it is getting to be too much. Would love some design shows in the evening to enjoy. I notice many of them are at odd hours or on Saturday afternoon! Why is Sarah Richardson on Saturday afternoon? It seems more of the makeovers are online now or are they?
I want the house hunters shows to be cut back 75% they are on way too much and most are just for people with way too much money to spend… Bring back more design shows…trading spaces, design on dime, while you were away.. many others that have good design for affordable budgets. not $80,000 kitchens how about $4,000-$12,000 kitchens…
Don't know if you mean purely for decorating but if you are looking for shows that do reno then i would suggest DYI's "$10,000 in Your Pocket" and "I Hate My Kitchen". They work on budgets around that size and I have seen some good episodes.
Not everyone's cable provider carries DIY. The only DIY shows I see are the ones also carried on HGTV. I would prefer reruns of all the design/decorating shows to the neverending reruns of House Hunters, House Hunters International, House Hunters: Urban Living, My First Place, Property Virgins, For Rent. Property Brothers is okay because it combines househunting and design and the brothers have good on-screen personas.