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.
Sadly partner combinations played a role in Yuki's getting kicked. Who could work with a steel worker prima-donna?
LOL gabber, great point! He'll probably be the next to go.
Back off Stanley, you guys. Yuki made terrible color choices. If Stanley had a weakness, it was cooperating with her too much.
Stanley pushed Yuki to do the collage and added his take on the collage with the paper. I agree that the colors weren't great together, however, if she was being inspired by her Fleur de lis that she sent in as a piece that represented her and where she was from, those color do coordinate with all things New Orleans/Mardi Gras. Stanley didn't contribute to anything accept the metal sculpture and threw her under the bus, but not taking any responsibility for the collage at all. Unfortunately, this was a case of bad partnering and little involvement by one of the partners and it never ends well for the partner who has to do it all. Yuki will be missed. Maybe a twist will bring her back!
I find Stanley both annoying and a little hard to look at, as well. He's a talented sculptor, but I would have to see what he can do on a whole room before taking him seriously as a designer. I think he did leave too much up to Yuki. The judges simply didn't like those color choices, but I've seen worse on the old show "Color Confidential."
I agree-Yuki also chose a great sofa and designed a fabulous floor! All Stanley did was create metal sculpture and make a hot mess on Yuki's collage. Yuki contributed way more than Stanley did.
I think that they all missed on window treatments…ugly!! Especially the canopy-like ones over the beds.
Yes, I agree! Those canopies have been done in previous seasons as well. BORING!
I agree with those — P.U. (Plum Ugly)
Kris took credit for the match stick, but it was Bex who found it in the store and wanted it in the room.
I was wondering when someone would point that out. I don't know why she didn't. It was her idea which he TOTALLY took credit for.
I think they should both get credit for it. Bex did find the matchstick, but Kris was the one who suggested the red line of tape down the wall.
He did insist on wall color that Bex tried to tell him was a mistake.
I noticed that also. When Bex found it in the store, Kris didn't want her to use it but it somehow ended up with HIM getting credit for such a 'great art piece'. Whatever.
Does everyone forget that Kris said in the beginning, when they were looking at it in the store, that they could run a line of color to the matchstick from his table? And that's exactly what happened, was it not?
I agree with you HGTV Loyal. Kris is a jerk.
Loved Rachel's room, sans moosehead.
I actually agreed with the judges this week. Rachel's room was spot on fabulous, except of course for the black molding surrounding the TV! I don't generally like mooseheads any where…but I did after seeing in in the finished room. Kudos to Rachel on placing it on the black wall and for trying to bring a bit of Minnesota to life in her work! I loved the table…loved loved it! Creativity is what this show should be about and playing it risky…not safe. Danielle's room while it was pulled together nicely seemed safe to me. Rachel, on the other hand, went a more creative route. I did like Brittany's wall but not Meira's hand-painted Chevron.
Loved Meira and Jordan's room the most
Me too! I love the combination! Miera should have been recognized more for her design!
I agree (although one of the judges did comment favorably on her hand-painting on the wall). Unfortunately, it seems to be too often true that middle-age women are the least visible of all people. So I hope her years of expertise (as well as her impressive portfolio) will not go unnoticed because of her age. I like seeing an older person on DS for a change.
Danielle was the most creative. White moose head on black wall…. what is creative about that? Nothing…..Danielle filled a big empty space in a way that aw inviting. Hope to see of her designs
White moosehead very Jonathan Adler nothing new. Danielle has great style am looking forward to more of her designs. Yuki's floor should of saved her, Enter text right here!
If so, then who should have gone home? Her collage was the worst thing ever, plus the hideous colors of the room and couch. Ouch!
The collage was good until Stanley put his frames and trash all over it and threw it up on the wall! He So should have been the one to go!
I agree with all of your comments. Well said!
For the first time I agreed with the judges. MIRACLES HAPPEN!
My favorite designer is Danielle, so far. Love Britany's geometric wall, though.
I like Daniell's work. She is creative. Love David the most!!!:)
I also did not find anything special about that white moosehead on the black wall. It looked pretty empty. it was big black wall with just moosehead. It probably looked nicer when you see it close up as opposed to just seeing it on tv. Just saying.;)
I thought the judges totally missed the winner last night. I thought Danielle's room, with Luca's work was the winner, hands down! They kept raving about the white moose head on the black wall – haven't they ever seen David's show? And David's pants last night? Ugh.
His pants WE'RE awful and he's too tan. Oompaloompa orange is NOT an attractive skin tone.