Recap: The Final Challenge + The Winner Is…
All the drama and design of season seven came down to the final moment of truth: Britany and Danielle made their TV pilots and then stood in front of the panel for one final elimination. Wanna know what else happened? Read on.
Major spoiler alert: If you don’t want to know the winner, don’t keep reading. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!
I have to admit, I was feeling a little angst before this week’s episode. Why? I like both of the finalists. Britany’s geometric patterns and trendy rooms look amazing week after week, while Danielle brings a little more personality and some seriously great design taste. But alas, one has to be the winner…here’s what went down.
First up: Britany. Her pilot concept was Picture Perfect Spaces — using photography to create a personalized space. Because she’s a photographer! Okay, I can see being kind of interested in that. We got to see some familiar faces this week: the last four designers sent home came back to work as design assistants for Britany and Danielle. What up, Mikel? I’ve missed you!
Britany’s clients: the DaBell family and their adorable son, Luke. He’s so adorable, the parents let him have the entire dining room for his toys. Seriously, here’s what it looked like before:
So, understandably, they wanted a more adult space…fewer dump drunks, more dining chairs. Here’s what Britany’s finished dining room looked like:
The wallpaper and wainscoting create a high-end look that nods to Britany’s trademark graphic style. (However, I did wonder: What happened to all of Luke’s toys?) And she decorated the walls with her own photos of the family:
She brought the same muted gray, black, white and orange into the family’s living room. Here’s what it looked like before…
…and here it is after.
I am in love with this orange-and-black wing chair she nestled next to the fireplace:
Overall, Britany’s space was beautiful, but not very personal. Other than the framed photos, I didn’t get a sense of the family’s style from the space. And her pilot seemed the same: She was good on camera, but didn’t seem to really connect with the family.
Next, we have Danielle. Her pilot concept? Shop This Room, which will show viewers how to shop of one-of-a-kind pieces and build a curated home for the artsy Keller family. Hilari and Stanley worked as her design assistants. She seemed to do a better job directing her “assistants” and playing to their strengths — Hilari sourced furniture and accessories, while Stanley helped build homeowner Lois (an artist) a new-and-improved studio. Here’s the uber-traditional dining room before…
…and the funky and functional space after.
In the living room, the family’s bulky sofa hid the room’s original fireplace, and the all-white walls didn’t let the architectural details stand out.
I absolutely love the contrast Danielle created with the turquoise walls and white fireplace trim:
Overall, the space just has that curated feel. Danielle took the family’s existing pieces, like Lois’s artwork…
…and designed the room around them. Seriously, look how excited homeowners Allen and Lois Keller are at the reveal!
The panel was equally pleased with Danielle’s pilot — which was just plain fun to watch — and they loved her fun and funky design. It was enough to earn her the title of Design Star!
Congratulations, Danielle! Her new show, Shop This Room, premieres Sunday, August 4 at 8/7c.
Check back tomorrow for video reactions from Meg and David.
Do you think the right designer won? Weigh in in the comments below.
I definitely think that Danielle deserved to win. She had so much personality and I appreciate anyone that second guesses themselves and is willing to change their mind. Brittany just felt a bit too rigid to me, both in her personality and in her design. Love the show.
Your comment is rigid.
Wait, I didn't mean that. Actually, yes I did.
You can appreciate that, right?
Don't get personal. Aren't people making negative comments about Danielle as well. If she thought Britany was rigid, it is her opinion.
Says the commenter who just "got personal" in a rebuttal. Regardless, I was just being humorous. Which you clearly aren't. Shoot – there I go again, getting personal. My bad. <3
LOL
bahahahahahaha.
Britany deserved to win. This will not be the last we see from her.
I agree with you! She was & is OUTSTANDING with good taste & charm. Why does everyone have to be "cute" to win? She is a classy lady & SHOULD HAVE WON!
Brittany BY FAR should have been the obvious winner/choice! Danielle always made mistakes, often appeared pathetic,copied other designers, whined, etc. I am so disappointed she won. I will not be watching her show. Brittany can take anything and design it with class. She's the true talent!
I totally agree! I think Britany deserved it, throughout the whole show she always pulled off beautiful, finished spaces. I hope she still gets a show, maybe DIY Network?
Damn! I was hoping to add another hgtv show to my DVr… I just can't listen to danielle's nasally voice and ceiling eyes. This was the only time her room was better…. But talk about setting that up… Danielle's family had great art to work with… Britany's family seemed boring and had nothing there to even help her, and when you only have 2 days, it must be hard to give a home so much character. Boo to hgtv for picking the wrong winner. I know some people think Genevieve wants to continue being the pretty girl with pretty hair on hgtv so she got blackballed.
The right person won, hands down. When you have boring you create excitement. If we begin to take apart the hosts of HGTV, based on what they sound like and look like, then the pool of talented and creative people would be very limited
I agree!!! Britnays room was far superior!!!! The past few season finales have been disappointing and the winners shows have proved it. I think it was another big mistake by HGTV
Britany was far more creative and talented than Danielle! Who decided to have the phony Genevieve as a judge? I will not watch Danielle's show just as I do not waste my time watching Meg.
This show is HORRIBLE. Do the judges even think of who America would want to watch? My wife and I couldn't stand Danielle's grating voice for more than 2 minutes, especially her squeals. I would never watch her. Yet they got rid of a great designer with a better personality…Hilari and then got rid of the one designer who did work I'd want to see in my home. It's like they picked the worst person possible.
What do you know. How do you talk? How does your wife "squeal"? Stick your opinion where the sun doesn't shine! The last 3 were extremely good and talented. One person had to win, and that was Danielle, accept it and move on!
I'll tell you how my wife and I don't talk…in a nasally, whiny voice that half the people commenting here don't like. That is part of being in TV, watchability and if the judges are too dense to see that a Himari comes across much better or that Britany is a better designer and host than these shows will continue to fail
I am SO THRILLED she won! They were both great designers but Danielle was just a bit better overall. She comes across SO down to earth and real and she truly seemed like she was genuinely listening to her clients and designed a room for THEM, not for just HGTV. Way to go Danielle! I will DEFINITELY be watching for your new show!
Totally agree! Well said.
I so much agree with you Lori!! I definitely believe the right designer was chosen!!!
I agree too! I can't wait to see Danielle's show!
What a shame Britany did not won..she was the better designer, a plus with her photography. I could not believe Danielle's room…Pathetic!
I know another channel will pick up Britney..at least I hope.
Yay Danielle! Was rooting for you from the beginning!
I was also a fan Danielle's from the beginning!!!! I'm 7 for 7
Totally agree!
I love Danielle. She just seemed like an overall great person with amazing design skills.
I was so GLAD that Danielle won, she was much, much, much better than Brittany, she listens to what the person or people she is designing for and she has a nice attitude were as Brittany her personality, attitude, and design could not touch the class that Danielle has they truly picked the right one and i will be watching her show and wish her the best.
Danielle did great, but Brittany was my favorite! I loved her personality, look, voice and talent. What everyone else thought was a lack of confidence I thought was cute and genuine. I hope we see her again on tv. I think she has a lot to share, and the more she does, the more she will shine. Good luck to Danielle. Have fun shopping!
Thanks for recognizing that BOTH designers did a great job (unlike many of the pro-Britney comments). It was a close competition and they're both very talented.
I agree with both Tracie and Alicia here! Both ladies were fantastic to watch, with strikingly different aesthetics and challenges.
I loved Britany's use of boldness of color and geometry, but I actually think Danielle took a similar tack in the finale and did it with more flair. Can we talk about the contrast of color and the standout shapes in the living room? AMAZING! Personally, I slightly prefer Danielle's style, because it's more eclectic, tells a more personal story, and is less preppy (that's totally my sister's style), but we would all be remiss to forget this fact:
Britany is the youngest of all the designers, at only 28! As a 25 year-old, I find her work completely beautiful and her accomplishments truly inspiring!
Loved them both. Superb season finale. Can't wait for "Shop This Room"!
Britanny got robbed!! She has class, personality and talent, and is not so "in your face"
as Danielle. It's so obvious that they needed a black on the station. Hilary is much
more attractive and seems so intelligent next to that willy ninny!. I will definitely NOT
watch her show.
Well, here we go, using race what kind of person does that?
BRITTANY has no personality, i really think that that is one of the reasons the judges did not pick her, she was too hung up on herself instead of focusing on what the client wanted and she missed missed her mark, cause Danielle got it.
Britany NEEDS A SHOW! I would watch her every week, so she can take my sense of design to a different level….Danielle was good, but that was the FIRST TIME she was good…..Britany rocked it all along….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, HGTV, can you given Britany a show too? I watch HGTV all day Saturday and Sunday, every single show, but I can't worry about Danielle "not finding something and I'm aware I'm running out of time" :::sigh:::: make us happy, HGTV!
I totally agree!!!