Each week, I chat with HGTV Star producer Loren Ruch about your most-asked questions and the moments you didn’t see on TV. This week: Where did the designers live, anyway? Plus, behind-the-scenes in the way-too-green room.

HGTV Star Producer Loren Ruch With David Bromstad and Judges

Since we didn’t have the classic “make over your living space” episode with the designers this year, can you tell us a little bit about the designers’ apartment or house?

This year our designers lived in a Hollywood apartment just steps from the Chinese Theater and Walk of Fame. Since it wasn’t featured on the show, it wasn’t as sprawling or flashy as some of our previous years’ abodes, but it was quiet, peaceful and certainly comfortable for them to live in. The women shared two rooms, and the guys shared a room. Believe it or not, it was a surprisingly drama-free home life. All of the designers really seemed to like each other this year.

How did you choose the space for the loft challenge?

Our production team found this loft in downtown LA and we knew it was perfect! We wanted to find a place that was a blank slate that also happened to have some of the signature characteristics of a loft like exposed brick and a wide open floor plan. We also needed to make sure it was large enough for nine designers to work on.

How do you decide when to do a team challenge versus an individual challenge?

We like to mix and match our group and individual challenges throughout the season. It’s important that we find a Star who is creative and motivated on his/her own, but who can also work well with others. Additionally, sometimes real home environments are simply too small to break down into individual areas, so we need to create teams for purely logistical reasons.

Can you tell us about a funny moment from the set we didn’t see on TV?

Downstairs from the loft was an area for our panel to hang out, and for hair and makeup to set up. Basically it was our green room. Literally. The rooms was lime green, which made it almost impossible for the makeup artists to do work because Gen, Vern and Sabrina looked “motion sick” while they were getting their makeup applied! We joked that the designers were in the lap of luxury in the gorgeous loft, but the rest of us were in a sea of “sea sick green”!

HGTV Star Producer Loren Ruch With Genevieve and Vern

Were there any of the spaces that looked better (or worse) in person than on TV?

In my opinion, Tylor’s Bug hood looked even worse in person (if that’s possible), but Cris’ camera light looked even cooler than it did on TV, so their team basically ended up right in the middle because their space featured both the best and worst elements in the whole loft.

Have a question for Loren? Ask away in the comments below — he may just answer you next week!

Another week, another challenge! This week, the remaining nine designers met host and mentor David Bromstad in a refurbished, industrial loft in downtown L.A. All that was missing? Furniture, accessories and lighting. That’s where our trusty contestants come in.

They had just 48 hours to create four distinct areas: living, sleeping, eating and working. Here’s what the loft looked like when the group arrived on the scene:

Read on to see how the group did in their first team challenge, and this week’s winners and losers.

Continue Reading

This Sunday at 8/7c, the nine remaining designers take on their first team challenge: transform a totally empty industrial loft in just two days.

Which designers will rise to the occasion and which ones will fold under pressure? Well…take a look.

WATCH THE EPISODE 2 PREVIEW

Each week, I chat with HGTV Star producer Loren Ruch about your most-asked questions on the blog, Facebook and Twitter and also his favorite behind-the-scenes moments from the set. This week: Why the name change, anyway? Plus, his favorite challenge from this season of HGTV Star.

HGTV Star Judges With Producer Loren Ruch

Fans are wondering: Why the name change from Design Star to HGTV Star? 
Great question!  Over the past few seasons we realized that we wanted to open up our casting to creative people from all walks of life — not exclusively designers (although designers are always welcome too!), so this season we have designers, decorators, hands-on renovators, artists, professors and more. It’s a really fun group!

Many of the fans are upset that Tobin was the first to go. What do you think was the deciding factor in their choice?
It was a really tough evaluation, and ultimately I think that the panel let Tobin go because he didn’t have a clear vision for his vignette. Cris’s room was a flop, but she ‘knew’ what was wrong with it. Tobin didn’t have as clear of a perspective on what didn’t work about his space. That said, I wish Tobin could have lasted longer, because he has some amazing hands-on skills, and impressive designs in his portfolio.

HGTV Star Judges and Host David Bromstad With Producer Loren Ruch

It’s great to see Sabrina Soto on the judging panel of HGTV Star! How did you decide to add her to the show? 
At HGTV, we thought Sabrina would be a natural addition to this show. With her great sense of humor, amazing design credentials and ability to make beautiful rooms from all different price points (high and low) it seemed like she would be a perfect fit!

Can you give us any hints about new challenges we’ll see later this season?
I would be happy to!  My very favorite episode of the entire season is our ‘school bus’ episode — you will be blown away by the ways our designers convert old school buses into hip habitats!

Have a question for Loren? Ask away in the comments below — he may just answer you next week!

Part of the fun of watching HGTV Star is picturing the accent pieces and finishing touches featured on the show in your own home. Sure, this jar looks great in a transformed white room, but it would look even better sitting on my nightstand, right?

If you think like I do, you’re in luck. This season, items featured in each episode’s One Kings Lane Pop-Up Boutique will be for sale on OneKingsLane.com the following day.  In fact, the first sale is going on right now!

This week, recreate the vignette on Tylor’s console table with a stack of vintage books topped with a bright green covered temple jar.

Tylor’s Design Featured a Covered Temple Jar From One Kings Lane

Create a serene mood in your bedroom with the same soft yellow buddha Anne featured atop her bedside workspace.

Anne’s Desk Accessory: A Yellow Sitting Buddha From One Kings Lane

Or use these stylish studded ottomans as a space-savvy way to add extra seating like Tiffany did in her sophisticated office space.

Tiffany Used Two Palmer Ottomans In Sky Blue-Gray

Find these products, plus many more from the show, for sale now on OneKingsLane.com. Then, check back each week for new accessories that will help you decorate like an HGTV Star.

Shop all the products featured in this week’s HGTV Star One Kings Lane sale here >>

It’s finally here! A brand-spanking-new season of HGTV Star. Tonight, we got the first look at the new crop of hopefuls vying to win their own show on HGTV.  It’s a good-looking group, right? (David’s not bad, either.)

Each designer started the challenge with a blank vignette (think white box without the walls) and was asked to create a space that showed off their unique style. Simple, right? No awkward team dynamics, no crazy decorate-this-space-with-cake-decorating-supplies directive, no serious budget constraints — just designers showing off their best work. Well, almost. Let’s talk about the good, the, um, less good, and yes, the drama. (Warning: Spoilers beyond this point!)

Spoiler Alert: See What Happened + Who Went Home

With only one day left (!!) until the season 8 premiere, we’re introducing you to all 10 designers/contestants on this year’s HGTV Star.

Meet Anne Rue, a mother of three and owner of a high-end interior design business. Whether in her home’s ever-changing design scheme or her rotating bright hair color choices, Anne isn’t afraid to take risks.

 You originally studied fashion design. How did you make it into the interior design world?

Whether you’re talking about fashion or interior design, it’s color, it’s scale, it’s visualizations, so I kind of realized that I could marry the two. Some people can open their mouth and sing. I can’t do that. I’m completely tone deaf. But I can look at a room, and I can space plan it like that. I can visualize how it’s going to be finished before anything starts. The inspirational moment is like a drug, it’s like a high, it’s like “Wow, this really came into my head just like that. It’s a gift. It makes you feel so good, it really does.”

Are you an obsessive housekeeper, or do your client’s spaces get top priority?

My home is very organized, I’m extremely type A, so I like things to be exactly where they’re supposed to be. And it’s one of those things like, you have to be extremely organized to get the kids picked up on time, get them to basketball, get dinner ready, get to the grocery store, whatever needs to be done. Plus, I run my own business, so it’s mayhem all the time.

Who are your design idols?

Coco Chanel and Dorothy Draper are my two idols. They’re strong women, they’re classy women, they made a statement to do their art and be themselves, and they were hugely successful at it.

A luxurious bedroom from Anne Rue’s design portfolio

More about Anne: Read her HGTV Star bio, browse her design portfolio and vote her your fan favorite.

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow, Sunday, June 9 at 8/7c for the premiere of HGTV Star!

With just two days left until the season 8 premiere, we’re introducing you to all 10 designers/contestants on this year’s HGTV Star.

Next up, it’s time to meet Brooks Atwood, a product designer, architect and industrial design professor. Brooks likes to push the envelope with his cutting-edge, modern style that he classifies as futuristic and avant-garde.

How did you get started in the design business?

Growing up my dad always had me help him with things as summer projects, like build a shed or replacing the roof.  I loved the idea of construction. My dad’s an engineer, but he’s also built some houses. So, it was kind of a mixture of design and engineering.  But, I wanted my dad to let me do things that were just a little bit more interesting…like a tool shed that’s crooked. I just knew right away that I liked to take apart stuff and build it back, but in a new way.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can juggle. That wasn’t very impressive to the girls in high school, so I didn’t have too many girlfriends. But I can also do some magic tricks. That’s actually how I met my wife…I met her at a friends birthday party and was doing magic tricks throughout the night, and she said, alright, he’s okay.  So, my dorky magic tricks actually worked!

With your background, you’re kind of coming at this competition from a different angle than most of the other contestants.

Yeah I’m surprised I got chosen, just cause my style is way different, and I’m like, the opposite of everyone else they’ve ever had on the show. I’m an architect, technically by training, and then I’m doing product design and industrial design and I’m an industrial design professor.

I’ve never done any of this before. I don’t do interiors, I don’t decorate, or style or anything, I do more space and product design. So this is just freaky awesome and….I’m just going to take it to the next level.

A unique penthouse design from Brooks Atwood’s design portfolio

More about Brooks: Read his HGTV Star bio, browse his design portfolio and vote him your fan favorite.

Don’t forget to tune in on Sunday, June 9 at 8/7c for the premiere of HGTV Star!

And we’re off — well, almost! Only 4 more days until the HGTV Star premiere. Are you as excited as these design contestants to get this thing started?

Yes, you say? Read on to see a sneak peek of the first challenge, and, of course, the design drama.

SEE THE PREMIERE SNEAK PEEK

With only days left until the season 8 premiere, we’re introducing you to all 10 designers/contestants on this year’s HGTV Star.

Next up, Tiffany Brooks! This mom of one and owner of a residential interior design business favors traditional spaces with an out-of-the-box twist. We asked Tiffany to vote “Yes” or “No for controversial and trendy design topics.

It’s a design lightning round! Yes or No…

Pets on the bed: Ew, no.

Neon: It depends on if a beer is next to it or not.

All-white interiors: At Diddy’s house.

Wall decals: For people 6 and under.

Owls and birds in decor: Yes! From Jonathan Adler. That’s it though. He’s the only one who can do it right.

Denim: On top of denim, on top of denim, on top of denim.

Decorative skulls: NO. Maybe in October but that’s it.

Chevron:  Oh I LOVE it. It’s funky.

Taxidermy: It’s making a comeback! I kinda love it.

Lucite furniture:  Definitely yes.

Fake flowers: No! I’ll throw up in my mouth twice. Don’t do that.

Ceiling fans: No, never.

Pot racks: No! Nobody wants to see that stuff hanging in your kitchen. Put ‘em away.

Karate-chopped pillows: I’m so guilty of that but I know I shouldn’t do  it. So no: Don’t karate chop your pillows.

Seasonal flags: No. And I live in a town and my neighbors are so guilty of that. One night, I’m just going to run around and snatch them all down, one by one.

Faux finishes: No, nothing fake. Keep it real.

Midcentury furniture: Oh, gosh yes.

One of Tiffany’s favorite spaces; it uses a mix of high, low, modern and traditional pieces

More about Tiffany: Read her HGTV Star bio, browse her design portfolio and vote her your fan favorite.