Episode 1: First Impressions + Bad Collages
HGTV Design Star Season 7 Designers
You can get to know a designers’ style from their portfolio, but it’s not until you see them under pressure (read: the first challenge in a potentially life-changing competition) that you really see what they can do (and what makes them tick.) Here’s what went down on tonight’s premiere. (Spoiler alert!)
Bex and Kris
Bex and Kris worked together (or should I say…near each other) on an oddly-shaped master bedroom with a massive black marble fireplace. Kris came off a bit bossy, but I loved his playful, modern inspiration piece — a glass table striped with neon tape — and the way he paired it with the oversized matchstick. I wasn’t as passionate about the passionate plum wall color, and the judges weren’t too keen on the reddish-purple hue either.
As a fellow pun-lover, I have to give Bex props for creating not one but two pun-inspired art pieces — a constellation-bedazzled daybed (Since all the contestants are stars…get it?) and a gear-shifting art piece she came up with while “spinning her gears” for ideas. Tee-hee-hee.
Unfortunately, too-large holes made the constellation a bit too blinding to be effective, and the judges agreed that overall the daybed was too clunky. “Whoever gets to sleep on that bed is the one who chooses last,” quipped Genevieve. The neon gear piece added a fun touch to the room and did a nice job tying together the two designers’ styles. (Side note: Did anyone notice Bex’s hat in the elimination room? It looked remarkably like the plum paint swatch!)
Miera and Jordan
This odd couple (Ms. Coastal Casual and Mr. Clean and Modern) seemed like they were headed for conflict at first, but in the end their bedroom space came together pretty well. After a small hiccup with their upholstery fabric, they managed to create a polished, cohesive space.
Danielle and Luca
After being assigned to work together on the biggest room ever, Danielle took the design lead while Luca took more of a project management role. Vern dinged him for that at evaluation, saying “It’s Design Star, not ‘logistical manager star.’” The judges loved the color and artwork Danielle chose for the warm, gray great room. I’m curious to see more of Luca’s style on the next episode.
Britany and Mikel
Britany came into the bedroom space with a vision — geometric walls, bright colors and lots of contrast — that left Mikel’s “vintage glam” aesthetic playing second fiddle. But he did eventually find and reupholster an ottoman that spoke to his style well enough that he gets to live another week. Britany’s geometric feature wall was a highlight for me, and the judges agreed.
Rachel and Hilari
Rachel and Hilari worked together on the lounge area, and the judges loved its glam-and-natural vibe overall.
Hilari was determined to have a TV in the space (“We can’t talk all the time. Plus, I’m addicted to reality TV,” she said.) but the budget only allowed for pint-sized one that looked even more puny when surrounded by layer upon layer of black molding. Not a good look.
The judges loved Rachel’s custom cocktail table and moose head vignette, and they named her this week’s winner. Her easygoing, girl-next-door personality doesn’t hurt, either. Let’s hear a couple of moose…er, grunts?…to celebrate!
Congratulations, Rachel!
Yuki and Stanley
Is it just me, or do about half of eliminated Design Star contestants go down either A) choosing off-color hues they “stand behind” or B) throwing together last-minute artwork? Unfortunately, Yuki made both fatal mistakes tonight and was the first to go home. Yuki, we’ll miss you!
Vern was full of quips when he saw this space — he said he hope the green and purple walls would “go away when he closed his eyes,” and he wished the “wind-swept collage” would just “blow right out the door.” Stanley may have been saved by his handmade metal sculpture, but his contribution to the collage (empty frames and what looked like trash) wasn’t much better.
Now it’s your turn! Who is your favorite designer so far? What room did you love? Hate? Be heard in the comments below.
The judges proved that they are clueless. All of them saying how great that white moose head on a black background. A "Designer" that used painted animal heads, should find a genuine horse head in their bed!
I'd have to agree with you Erik. I just don't ever get it. I absolutely hate the animal heads and painting one does not a designer make.
I agree. We have seen those heads turn up on one design show or another every season for the past half dozen years or so. In 2040 those will be the go-to props whenever a movie (or whatever video-type entertainment is available) is looking to create an early 21st century styled room.
Love some of those rooms and it was a good start of the season.
I wonder why none of the "gay" designer (and one of the blond chicks) got any background on their intros. No family history, nothing .
I agree with erikcreature. The moosehead was a total do-over of A) David Bromstad himself, and B) Antonio's pink doves, which were much more unexpected. Definitely not something to win over.
Love your show. I am currently in the process of painting my apartment. I was very overwhelmed yesterday looking for a shade of grey at my neighborhood Home Depot.. I fell in love with the gray color on the wall.. Can you please share the brand and color of the gray paint that was used on tonight's episode!!
Nice start to the season…hated the moose head…loved the free form Chevron paint…no one seems nasty…yet!
I didn't appreciate Luca's cross armed defensiveness in the evaluation room. Not sure he'll be easy to watch this season.
Are you kidding? You probably need to watch again. Kris was a snot! Although it seems they did a great job of editing some of the unpleasantries.
'great job of editing'= an overabundance of commercials; I don't think that this show was 45 minutes long. Not that it needed any more time to show the shopping expeditions. Or did I misread the title? Shop star? Also, I don't think Kris was snotty; he clearly has no desire to play well with others. Lastly, I could tell by Yuki's demeanor that she would leave first. No confidence, no inspiration, no vision. THEN I saw her color palette; yow, that was painful.
Yuki, Best of luck to you. Remember that first off doesn't mean dead last. This coming from the first designer voted off last year, to becoming the designer for Travel Channels "Hotel Impossible" on every Monday night.
xoxo
I love this!!! Yuki is so talented, and I was sad to see Stanley take over her collage…. So sad!
I agree, he made a bigger mess of it with the cruched paper and spray paint. Weren't the frames his idea to begin with?
I thought you looked familiar. Love Hotel Impossible. Good for you, landing on your feet like that.
Hotel Impossible is my new favorite show. I like your designs. (Think host is sexy looking)
Thank you, Blanche! I feel like this is just that start of good things to come.
Blanche, you were my FAVORITE from last season. The judges were so wrong in eliminating you, and if I was one of the judges, you would have eventually made it to the final two and won! I will be a FOREVER fan of your's, Blanche!
Nice of you to write in, and congratulations on your post-DS career. I think Yuki is gorgeous and has a good speaking voice, poise and personality, and there should be further opportunity for her out there as well. I don't think she should have been the first to go, either.
Thanks for the positive support Blanche – Yuki deserves it. She is a very talented designer and a super interesting person. I wish she had more time on the show so people could have gotten to know her better. Her backstory is fascinating and so is her home town. Bay St Louis was destroyed in Katrina and the local artists and store owners here are are a special breed. Yuki opened her store her after the storm to be part of supporting the Bay in it's rebuilding, she believed in our town and we appreciate that! Hopefully she will follow a path like yours and others will be able to get to know her like we do here!
BTW, I miss Candice!
Blanche your a sweetheart! xo
I'm sure this post will not be posted considdering it isn't GLORIFYING continued "CONTIVED' show. Season after season endless comments spoke of getting back to what WORKS with Design Star from the past and the ONLY thing from the past is Vern And the first winner David. For MANY seasons now loyal viewers have stated how they feel and this new premier only PROVES those comments were never taken into considderation. Once again the network is about SHAMELESS CHEAP 'manufactured' drama and call it a design competition. COME ONE HGTV get serious!
AMEN!!!!! and AMEN!! Where do they get these people? I sit stunned and amazed at EVERY SINGLE SERIES at bad color, stupid dramatic installation and an overall lack of putting a tasteful and professional finish on these projects. I wish, I wish, I wish I were a judge on this show so I could point out and finally say what is tragic about each and every room. I would be the Simon Cowell critic of this show because SOMEONE HAS TO SAY IT!!! Why do the judges say anything positive about these rooms when THEY ARE NOT??? Will the director and producer of this show STOP editing the truth. Do you think we're blind? Do you think we can't see and hear when things are wrong? Your audience is much smarter than you think. It doesn't take two seconds to search the internet and read comments on this mess.
Please don't get upset about this, its only a TV show. I like it. I like the format. Of course its silly so are most of the reallity shows on TV. But at least it never ridiculles folks. Ahem Tottlers and tiaras.
Of course nobody with taste would decorate a room like this. If you want good taste get Candice.
Or apply to be a candidate on the next show.
it should be called "Paint Star on $0 budet and only 10 hrs. to do the job (but with trivial drama thrown in)