Episode 5 Recap: Party Time, Excellent
This week, the designers helped Hollywood celebrate its 125th birthday by creating lounges that evoked different periods from the city’s history…in 24 hours! (BTW, Hollywood is looking young for its age. Of course.) But all of the designers weren’t in the party mood — here’s the best and worst of this week’s challenge, including who went home.
Britany drew “Hollywood regency” style — her own style — but the pressure of designing Hollywood for Hollywood got to her a bit. Still, she pulled together a beautiful space, one she called “the best space she’s ever designed.” The highlights: Her geometric bookcases and black-and-white wall panels. Her camera challenge was scattered (a live presentation for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce event), but she still threw Danielle a few eye daggers when the panel announced the winner. Do I sense the start of a rift there?
Danielle drew art deco style, which fits her aesthetic, too: Remember her White Box Challenge? David did, and he challenged her to do something other than the same old black-and-gold color scheme. She brought in peach accents and accessories, which Genevieve loved. Everyone seemed to paint the floor this week, but I liked Danielle’s geometric design best.
Vern was in love with the lamps in the back, but I thought the panther in the front of the room was, ahem, quite fierce. After a couple of bad weeks, this was her comeback! She’s this week’s winner.
Hilari had the era of spandex and neon: the ’80s! (P.S., Your DeLorean joke may have fell flat with the crowd, but it made me chuckle.) She planned to do a rug out of spandex, but let’s just say, there’s a reason no one’s gone there. Luckily she trashed it in time to do a very cool Mondrian-inspired painted floor. The room’s small touches — like the punk rock studded leather details on the PVC pipe-walls — really made her room stand out.
Kris, your used car salesman schtick wore out your welcome with the judges (as did his ill-advised paneling). Kris said it best when he started this challenge: “A literal interpretation of the ‘70s would probably give you a room you’d want to remodel.” Yep, that’s exactly what we ended up with: too much furniture and a strange wall and floor hue really gave it that “time capsule basement” vibe. He also skipped the personality portion of the camera challenge again this week, leading the judges to say “We will not be producing your show.”
I was excited to see what Mikel would do with his midcentury modern card, since I’m in love with the low-slung furniture and warm, natural elements of the style. Unfortunately, Mikel didn’t exactly hit it out of the park. His set designer skills should have helped him complete the space on a tight time crunch, but it just looked like showtime came too soon. The painting was fine. The furniture was fine. It was all fine…but it could have been special.
When Rachel drew the Victorian card, she acted like a kid taking a stand against broccoli at the dinner table. After several “ew gross” moments and gagging sound effects at the thought of Victorian style, she pulled it together and finished a space. The judges liked her “window” into the display…
…but they didn’t like her depressing camera challenge (“I’m so happy this day is over” = not cute) and color palette, which Vern said must have been Smurf-inspired. She’s on thin ice with the panel.
Stanley, or should I say “Sci-Fi Stanley,” looked right at home designing a futuristic lounge. Unfortunately, the design panel in the present wasn’t too keen on the space’s centerpiece, a custom table with a giant, red vase on top.
Genevieve just got right out there and said it: it looked “so incredibly phallic and so vertical.” He said he loved Star Wars, and the coffee table looked like the newest torture device in the Death Star. (Darth Vader: “Stanley…you are my designer.”) In Stanley’s defense, most futuristic movies assume that along with regular cars and computers, all comfort has gone out the window…so in that sense, it was totally accurate.
Check back tomorrow for Meg and David’s reaction to the episode.
Now, it’s your turn: What did you think of tonight’s episode? Did the right person win? Did the judges send the right designer packing? Tell me your take in the comments below.
Loved Britany's room. I liked Danielle's room too. I just happen to prefer Hollywood Regency and have never been a fan of Art Deco. Now for the room that I thought you could have the most fun in, that would be Hilari's with all the bright colors and of course the 80's were all about fun.
Agreed–those three rooms were awesome–a three way tie. Maybe the camera challenge was the "tie breaker"? I think Danielle had the best camera time. I really loved Hilari's floor—that was my favorite element of all three rooms. I'm just sorry it was kind of hidden–it was so beautiful–the colors magnificent, but most of it was under the couch. I also love to see what Stanley will think of next! He is really really different–I would love to see all 4 of these people host a show–do you wish there could be more than one winner? i would love to see more from each of these 4 designers.
Wow, I didn’t see that one coming. There is no way That Danielle’s room was tops. That dull brown couch w the black color scheme looks cheap and not inventive. Especially in front of a flat black plywood board. For the above person who said Brittany was childish for stating her opinion in a respectful way is as you pointed out, well childish, in and of itself. It couldn’t be clearer that they have to prop up Danielle. Two weeks in a row she hasn’t finished her rooms and yet is still here. Somebody tell me one truly original idea that she has completed.
I think that, in contrast, the design by Kris had original elements and a point of view. Hillary had a great room and Mikel was impressive under pressure, changing his focal point from fireplace to artwork.
It is frustrating to watch this network overlook the obvious design talent.
No design is truly 100% completely original. All design comes from inspiration somewhere. With the exception of the Kardashian and family makeovers, Danielle has shone and been deservedly in the top 3 for 4 out of 6 weeks. That's why she is still here.
What store did the Victorian lamps come from?
I do not understand why Mikel did not simply turn that large painting sideways and hang it above the fireplace. With modern art who would know? And, he could have kept the fireplace in the middle of his wall.
Still, Danielle deserved to win. A gorgeous space, and her camera challenge was natural and well done. Brittany did not seem to understand that she lost in part because her presentation was so awkward. Both rooms were brilliant.
At first, I also thought Mikel should have turned the artwork on its side, above the fireplace. However, that is so clearly a Rothko piece, and it would not have been the right way to hang it.
Then again, the art was hanging horizontally in the prop shop…
it was NOT a a real Rothko or even a picture of a Rothko but a poster designed in the style of Rothko…if only it had been a real Rothko nothing else in the room would matter. I was hoping Mikel would hang it so the two dots were on the bottom…looked too much like a face to me and why not hang it to one side of the fireplace so the fireplace was still there, with flames…the room would have been much more lively and MCM is not about symmetry…
Mikel's room had more problems than just the painting. And turning it sideways would've dwarfed the fireplace. His piddly white bench in the middle acting like a coffee table was too small and boring too. That made me rethink his critique of Britani's couch in the last challenge, she seems to know what she's doing compared to what he brought this week.
Hilari was Mikel's partner last week, and he thought the sectional she bought was way to big for the space and gave her a lecture on proportion. But she stood her ground and insisted on buying the sectional, which turned out to be perfect for the room, which Mikel later admitted fit very well in the room. The judges also loved the sectional. Mikel did get along well with Hilari though. You can tell they are friends despite their disagreement over the sectional. They joke with each other a lot and would make a great team on a show together. I also wish I had that great fireplace Mikel bought, even though he didn't get to use it. He does seem to have a fear of over-furnishing a space, but then ends up with pieces too small, such as his coffee table, which I agree with you, Terry, was insufficient for that space.
Judith, I wondered the same thing about Mikel!
I like Meg and really enjoy her new show. I was surprised when she won last series but have been very impressed with the rooms she is designing now – good eye, wonderful use of color, and inventive. They are rooms for real people to live in. She also had a very engaging personality.
While Meg may be more abundant than the usual on screen waif, she is hardly obese, and the fear/hatred in your comments show more about you than about her. I suggest counseling.
Meg is obese. I suggest you get you eyes checked. Her "designs" stink, frumpy, dumpy, senile grandma "designs" at best. Your new glasses will help you see that too.
you sad, pathetic, litte creature…this column is for comments about THIS season of 'design star' moron. and i'm pretty sure you've exposed yourself over the last few weeks as a talentless, sarcastic twit, whose immaturity outweighs his ability to filter his hatred for man/womankind. go back into your hole, you disgusting slug!
I did comment about this season's DS. You didn't!
You're trying to prove a point by subscribing to the same tactics and equally worse language?
Brittany – your room was AWESOME and I think you deserved to win based on the design. Danielle was second on my list.
Where can I get that panther!?!?
I feel so badly for Brittany. That room was BEAUTIFUL! She didn't settle and it paid off in the room. Then to not win? What? Brittany- you have a forever fan!
Unfortunately, I think it was her camera challenge that lost it for her. It was terrible and she looked really unprepared. Danielle, while still not great, had a much better camera challenge for a very beautiful room. That's why she won.
Britany nailed this week and was completely robbed. I’m surprised at the judges choice. They even said there was more pressure on Britany being her and her theme and she nailed it even still! Although Danielle’s room was nice it lacked something possibly difference. It was so similar to her other design it had no wow factor. I’m extremely impressed with Britany. Ultimately no one has had anything bad to say about any of her designs. To me a great designer is consistent and that is definitely Britany. I can’t get over the idea that the others are hit and miss with they either know it or they don’t. If Britany doesn’t… It doesn’t show. Sign me up! She wins and I will stalk your site until she comes to decorate my house with her new show.
Brittany definitely designed a super gorgeous room, but her camera work was not the best–so maybe that's why Danielle won? Hew room was also gorgeous, as was hilari's–all three were so superb, and Stanley was so wonderfully creative–I really LOVED his chairs. I think Mikel is my favorite designer in his portfolio, but to me his room this time was just not quite up to the other three–and I think he would agree. Seems to me there was something wrong with the scale of the items within the space–the proportions of spaces between the objects to the objects was off–if he used larger pieces maybe it would have been dynamite. These really are some talented people!
Brittany did not deserve to win. Her camera challenge was awful. I was surprised to see her act so childishly when she didn't win.
Brittany deserved to win. Every design she has put together is incredibly high-end. Act, childishly? I'm sure not only was she surprised because her design was so fabulous but she was exhausted. I guess you think a big shiny black panther is something most people want in a room?