Ask the Producer: Episode 8
Each week, I chat with Design Star producer Loren Ruch about behind-the-scenes moments you didn’t see on the show. This week, I ask: why yurts? Plus, he offers some inside intel on the upcoming season of Design Star All Stars.
The Carpenters, Designers and Host With Producer Loren Ruch
It’s always fun to watch the non-traditional home challenge. How did you decide to do yurts this year?
We wanted to take small spaces to the next generation, so we decided yurts were the way to go! They happen to be very trendy right now, and Vern has stayed in something like 20 of them on his travels, so we knew he would be very excited to judge this challenge. I was really impressed with how they turned out, too. And for you diehard fans, I have a secret for you…in our Design Star All Stars series (which premieres Tuesday, July 31 at 9/8c), we’ll have another even more unusual small space episode later in the season!
It looked like the designers had fun with their celebrity carpenters! What was the best moment during the building of the yurts?
Not only did they have fun with their celebrity carpenters, they also found a new level of respect for what these guys go through on their own shows. Each group had a totally unique dynamic. Hilari and Jeff basically hit it off right from the beginning and were fast friends. Britany and Joel were a little bit like a brother and sister. Their dynamic was funny and extremely fun to watch because they were joking and kind of making fun of each other. Danielle and Chip had a nice rapport too. Chip told Danielle, “Hopefully I’ll be your good luck charm. It worked for Meg last season!” You’ll have to wait until next week and see if he’s one for two or two for two.
Left to Right: Vern Yip, David Bromstad, Producer Loren Ruch, Genevieve Gorder and Guest Judge Mark Steines
It seemed like the judges had a tough time making a decision this week! How long was the deliberation this time?
They had an extremely difficult time making a decision this week because there really wasn’t a weak space or a weak designer. And all of the judges LOVED Hilari – which made it even more difficult. The bottom line was that they needed to nit-pick for the smallest flaws that would make one room just a little stronger or weaker than the others, and unfortunately that meant sending Hilari home. But this isn’t the last time you’ll be seeing Ms. Hilari Younger…check out our cast for Design Star All Stars!
Where was the yurt episode filmed? Since it appeared to be in a public place, how did you keep the bystanders from revealing who is left on the show?
It was shot in Lake Balboa, which is located in Encino, Calif. It’s a beautiful public location that seemed perfect for this challenge. We did have a lot of bystanders, but we made them sign releases where they promised not to share any of the results that they may have seen! Thank goodness no one leaked anything.
Have a question or comment for Loren? Voice your opinion in the comments below and he may just answer you next week!
Next season I would like to see some differant judges. What is Gen's and Jen's CLAIM TO FAME anyway?
Candace Olson is by far the best designer on HGTV. If I could afford it, she would be my choice to do my home.
I like Meg, but her repartee between Meg and her carpenter is so JUNIOR HIGH.
Maybe next year HGTV will rethink Design Star.
totally agree with your choice of Candice Olson all the way.
Candice Olson, Sarah Richardson, Vern Yip, and the Novogratz couple (not sure what happened to them) are truly worthy of prime time. The others, not so much – they (the other HGTV designers) appear to be "propped up" behind the scenes.
The Novogratz guy gives me the creeps. Do they still have a show? I don't really like their designs. I am not sure I would agree with any of your choices.
I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned but hasn't Danielle been on HGTV in the past? Remember that show where they take a "regular person" who thinks they can design and let them at a room with a carpenter to help. I don't remember the name of it, but I think Vern was the host. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it was Danielle who did a living room for this couple and they were thrilled. Then at the reveal they mentioned that she was legally blind. I'm pretty sure it's the same person-am I crazy?
That was not Danielle, someone else mentioned this on the message board and I found that show episode, I think it was called First Time Design. Anyway I forget the woman's name but it wasn't Danielle.
Her name is Monica Lee Ross an she was 40 a the time of the show.
I for one thought that the so called professional designers on the show would simply judge the design and not how the person does behind a camera. What makes them an authority on that part? I would think that would be the producers job and not theirs. I gotta say that I question some of their designs they have done too in the past and are they qualified to be a judge of others on TV? David has a tendency to copy alot from other places he goes to get ideas. I think Genivive is quite full of herself for not been on HGTV that long herself. Although I have to say Vern Yip is on the upper scale of the design world. He and Candice Olson are fantastic. Other than a very few I question as to who really should even be judging these shows.
Come on people, now I lose credibility in this show. I got shocked with the jurors decision. The best bedroom, an elegant designer, gone. This is like everything else on showbiz, already decided, an i can tell who's going to win, in America
How doesn't anyone know who the design star is when they go home after they have been aliminated ?
I read an article about Hilari in her local newspaper. She said she couldn't tell anybody where she was, some people thought she was in rehab! She was so glad when they announced the cast and she could tell people. Since no one knew she was taping a show they would not know when she was eliminated.
So were did she go after she was eliminated?
She went straight to Hades, where she will be tortured for eternity, for inflicting such lousy designs upon the DS audience.
I would think she went home. This was taped months ago, so people might have noticed when she got home but they didn't know where she had been or what the filming schedule was for Design Star.
I would watch Hilari. The other two not so much. Bad move, HGTV.
I really liked Hilari, too.
Any contestant who crys, pouts and verbally berates about another persons win… does not deserve to be the design star. On the"period" lounge challenge I was very disappointed with Brittini and her very poor behavior toward Danielle's win. She should be embarrassed and I think this should cost her the WIN!
HGTV has a lot of Hilari fans, and I was one of them. She was very real, seemed talented, and I liked how she was humble when given criticism. What kind of criticism did she get this time?? Dead space?? When I saw her room, I was stunned because it was so beautiful. Okay, so no window treatments, and she covered them up. I get it. But Britany didn't have any rugs, and Danielle just copied and designed a crummy looking bed. It seems unfair somehow. *sigh*
Its all joke, they had already picked Danielle and Brittani long ago (and which this rag tag group, its not really surprising). Hilari's yurt was by far the one most people would want to stay in. Why would you want to move a huge bed in a tiny hut? and Danielle's was just plain ugly (and she stacked the rugs, three rugs high. While that may look "interesting" from a textural standpoint, it is not comfortable to walk on (i.e. trip over). HGTV is such trash these days. Look at all the past Design Star's shows. D. Bromstad is the only show that is decent (and much less so since he moved to Miam). Kim Myles, Jen with the fried, bleached hair, the Atonio treatment ( I can't tell which is the before and which is the after), and now "MEG"..ha. HGTV has found a sure-fire way to find America's Next Worst Designer. A formula for success…er…entertaining failure at least. At this point they should obviously let the viewers vote each week. Duhhrrrr.
I agree that Danielle should have been eliminated…she just made a lot of mistakes and was very tentative on her designs, although she did some good designs. Hilari, on the other hand, had a fantastic yurt, the colors were great! Her selection of furniture and accessories were great also. Bad decision by Vern and Genevieve.