Dooce’s Recap: Paint catastrophe! Explosions! Grenades!
We begin with the men returning to the apartment without Trent, and there seems to be a sigh of relief from everyone. Alex admits he’s disappointed with his performance so far, and he plans to step it up this week. I think that’s one refrain you always hear in these kinds of competitions: “This week I’ll show them!” Along with, “I’m not here to make friends.” I’m just waiting for that one.
This week’s challenge starts outside a flower shop when Candice announces each designer gets to choose the flower that inspires them the most. None of the contestants know which flower any of the others are choosing, and finally Vern walks out with a bouquet made up of each team’s combined choices. They must design a studio apartment based on the overall team bouquet and also incorporate their own individual floral inspiration.
The men’s bouquet is, as Courtland describes, “easy on the eye.” Clean, minimal, soft and fresh, made up of ranunculus, tulip, calla lily and snapdragon. Whereas the women’s bouquet is much more overtly romantic and whimsical: orchid, daffodil, carnation, hyacinth and wax flower. Immediately Dan starts to try to fight for himself and warns the women that in the last challenge they tackled too many construction-heavy projects, meaning ALL HIM. Can they please shop a bit more this time? Does he really have to say that to a car full of women? IN NEW YORK CITY?!
The spaces are 650 square feet, bright, full of light. Immediately the men decide to break the space up into a series of seating areas. Michael suggests a wall of open shelving to separate the living and sleeping areas. While shopping, Tom suggests this challenge is more about the form of the flower, not necessarily the color, and they choose several accent pieces that give off a luminosity. The judges told him last week to bring his knowledge and experience into play, and I think someone was paying attention.
They plan to focus on the finishes, meaning they want an array of paint: matte, semi-gloss and eggshell. Michael says these are crucial to the story of texture in the room. We see Alex furiously writing down how much paint and what kind they need. I get the sense this is some sort of foreshadowing of conflict. Look at me! I paid attention in English! FORESHADOWING! CONFLICT! You guys, Design Star is like Shakespeare!
The women start shopping, finding furniture with fancy, romantic lines, and then back at the apartment you see them taping up the room to paint molding. And there’s Dan doing construction work, hanging the rod for the sheers around the bed. Even Emily expresses concern that he isn’t taking his interests seriously enough. And you can see him attaching batteries to tools with a bit of exasperation. Oh, Dan. You and my husband should go out for beers! You’d feel a lot less alone.
And back at the men’s apartment, that foreshadowed conflict? IT HAS ARRIVED. Alex bought the wrong paint. Paint catastrophe! Explosions! Grenades! Michael is the most distraught, going on and on about how he didn’t think they could translate their concept without the semi-gloss paint. Courtland says, “The number one rule is semi-gloss, semi-gloss, semi-gloss!” It is? I thought it was, “No one talks about semi-gloss.”
Michael explains the semi-gloss is so important because of the layered paint effect he wants to create to showcase the inspiration of the ranunculus. Courtland isn’t sure how his flower really plays into the room, only that the wall of built-in shelving could possibly reflect the fact that the calla lily looks like it’s hiding something. Alex attempts an art installation to reflect the snapdragon, but he can’t even get it to stick to the wall. He is so stepping it up this week!
Back with the women we see Dan working on another construction project for Nina. You guys! Is this the first time I have brought up her name this week? BEHOLD, MY RESTRAINT! And I can’t say anything nice. Because she’s picking on Dan, saying that he’s more of her assistant than anything else. It’s not her responsibility to be civil! And then this thing that she’s creating for the wall, just…just…stop it already! Stop painting murals on the wall! Someone had better stop her so that I can move on to something else. But no one is. So I’ll force myself to move on.
Did you guys hear that Nina paints murals? On walls? It’s true.
It’s down to the final fifteen minutes, and Tom sounds like he’s giving birth. I just had to bring up this part because, really. That’s exactly what it sounded like when I was giving birth.
In walk the judges, and this time the teams have to stand there and listen as the judges walk around the room. I could not possibly handle that kind of awkwardness. I’d start itching sores that don’t exist and fall over. The women hear whispers, one of them being, “We’ve seen that before.” Oh please! PLEASE! Let them be talking about that mural on the wall. Because the world can’t handle seeing one again!
I like the overall design of the women’s room, especially the vibrant walls and mixture of furniture. However, I think it lacks cohesion. The room feels like it starts and stops in too many places, where maybe they were trying to go with contrasts (billowy sheers vs. hot pink squares on the wall) when what they got was a bunch of noise.
The men’s room, however, is slick from front to back, as if the design had taken months to create. You can feel the luminosity Tom was talking about earlier, and everything flows. Fresh is the first word that comes to mind, in fact, and they discussed this word in their initial meeting together. The room really does look like their bouquet and not just in color.
Judgment time and SOUND OF NEEDLE DRAGGING ON A RECORD. They just changed the rules! Because of the strengths and weaknesses in both rooms they feel it is unfair to judge them as teams. And so, instead they will be judged as individuals. Okay, I don’t like this. You’re sending one message to work as a team, but when you throw something in there like this, who in their right mind would want to cooperate? I don’t like this one bit. Again, it doesn’t matter, because my job is to write recaps. And talk about awful wall murals.
Nina, Courtland, Dan and Alex are the bottom designers, meaning everyone else makes it through to the next week. The bottom designers head off to make their host presentations. The following day when they face the judges, they are each given a chance to explain how their individual flower fits into the room. Alex undercuts Courtland when he explains it wasn’t Courtland’s idea to make the wall of built-in shelving. Uh-oh! Looks like someone isn’t here to make friends!
Dan talks about clusters, how he’d seen clusters of daffodils growing in fields in his youth. He then tries to defend all the construction in the room, and Vern sternly points out, “You’re not a contractor, Dan!” This is a design competition. Exactly. Not a Let’s Paint Wall Murals Contest.
Nina claims she is all over this space, taking credit for everything from the fabric to the furniture, waving off the mural as just a blip in the room. And I was right! They had seen it before! PHEW! I’m not just walking around with squiggly wall murals haunting my head.
Alex explains the snapdragon “is really simple in shape” like asparagus. Um, what flower is he smoking? He then goes on to say it didn’t make him feel flowery or fluffy, but determined, and the judges give him credit here for speaking from the heart.
Down to the bottom two: Alex and Dan. Dan’s host presentation is cheerful and friendly, but he doesn’t explain anything about what inspired the design. He’s just pointing to things and saying what they are. Alex’s combines both: cheerfulness and the inspiration behind the design. He’s getting better, much better in terms of hosting, and that shows he’s learning. This means Dan is going home, and my heart just broke into pieces. He sacrificed too much to help the women. And I don’t know if they can hold it together without him.
None of this years group will ever end up with a good show of their own. Only David Bromstad of Color Splash has kept his show going….these people do not have what it takes….Nina is obnoxious…they always have one..
The original Color Splash was way better than his new version. I miss the old crew – it's just not the same
I could not agree more. David was much better in SF.
i like both but i sorta miss the old crew
O'h no, I didn't know that they stopped Color Splash and replaced it with the Miami show. Yes, the old crew were cool…that's too bad. But still content that David B. is still designing!
Nina is Obnoxious. she is doing whatever it takes to get her way and her design incorparated into the room. I can see getting your design included but you don't have to be an ass to do that she needs to learn to communicate better slow down and listen to what people are saying before she speaks. she's pushy and rude at times no one in there right mind would ever want to work with her on a design team. she nbeeds to go if all she can do is scribble onthe wall she needs to go bye bye because design is about way more than that.
These ladies will not survive without Dan…specially Nina
I agree. I am in shock! I would rather watch Dan explaining a space than Alex. It was not fair for Dan. The judges did not take into consideration how he works in a team, and the fact that Alex had experience doing the spontaneous narration for the video. I would rather watch a show hosted by Dan. He has skills that benefited the females in getting their design done. Nina's eyes showed no remorse when he was chosen for the bottom two. Sometimes, the world seems to reward those that get ahead by taking advange of others. I guess the lesson to learn from watching this show is that the canaving, back stabbing, users and manipulators are the ones that have the show by the tail. It is sad to comprehend and painful to watch Dan go.I wish him the best and hope that God blesses him in ways unimagible. He was my favorite because of this work ethic, amicability and design cohesion. He seem approachable and capable of great designs. In previous seasons the English man use to be the bearer of bad news and I think it defused the anger or frustaration the audience might feel towards te judges decision. Now it does not seem to be constructive criticism anymore. Someone is needed to say bad news to desigers. The English man needs to come back!
You are correct Beli.. HGTV has really missed on this one. I think Dan is the only contestant people would actually watch on his own show.
We can not believe that they cut Dan!! He sacrificed so much for the women (all divas) and then had to be with them again this week. It is so unfair! He deserved to stay-Nina deserved to be cut. We would never watch a show hosted by Nina-she is a witch! Nina has no people skills at all and it is all about her. I am so angry about Dan leaving! As a contractor and a designer, his show would have been wonderful!!
Beli, you are so right.
Dan should not have gone home, but he should have told Nina or the others if they wanted something built, to go ahead and do it themselves. They took advantage of how nice he is. These team challenges are so stupid! Design a room based on a bunch of flowers? A bunch of musical instruments? What client would ever ask for that? Enough with the groups – Let them design on their own! Then we'll see Nina go home. And then also, just maybe, we'll see some of those fabulous "big moments" or design ideas, that have been missing. No one is being unique or creative. They're just shopping, arranging and painting. Woo-wee. Bor-ing! I keep waiting for it to get better. And I agree, there's no reason for Vern to be so mean.
There are alot of design/construction shows on, so hopefully one will have the sense to pick up Dan! Maybe Color Splash, David B?? He's nice, works hard, super cute for TV.
I think VERN Is an Idiot ! If He was to leave the show the show would be a lot better. We should get to vote on Him
I am a long time fan of the show, it seems like they are trying to make it the Apprentice and Vern is supposed to be the Simon Cowell of Design Star.! It is offensive and rude to watch the judges talk about the designers right in front of them…Didn't their parents teach them any manners.
The last 20 minutes of the show was about deliberations. I want to see the designers talk about their designs. AND…they are entitled to their inspirations. This show is a train wreck and offensive.
I don't like how any of the judges come across…Anything likable about them has vanished by appearing on this show.
You're so right, Mark.
I think we should change Vern's name to DICK. Idiot is being way too nice. He's condescending, and he doesn't know what he's talking about. While he was talking about the bookcase and how the flower has petals I almost gagged. The whole concept of being inspired by a flower is pretty far out and unrealistic. What you are inspired by when working as a professional intererior designer is what your client says when he talks about what he wants to FEEL in the romm. This season of Design Star is ludicrous. It's like some amateur came up with these concepts. It's awful
Have to agree with Mark, although Vern is the most obnoxious, the other hosts come of badly as well. Neither Candace nor Genevieve seem like they care to be there. Perhaps they don't
I totally agree!!! Has anyone seen Vern's previous show??? There must be a reason why HGTV cancelled it….Perhaps because it was dull, uniteresrting and completely uninspiring!!! Vern is the one designer that should have his design show cancelled!!! Oh wait it already has been cancelled…Get him off the show he has no credability.
I agree with you, Jim. I DVR'd the show and just finished watching it now, around midnight, and I couldn't even wait until tomorrow to have my say about Vern. What an angry, pissy man. He not only acts overly aggravated when he doesn't understand the "intrepretation" of the impossible design tasks that have been assigned, but he talks to the designers like they are misbehaving children. It's only a few weeks into the show and I almost dread watching because I know I'm going to be infuriated before it's over. I would love to see what he would come up with….or any of the Pros, for that matter…just for comparison sake. I understand constructive criticism, and I feel most of the designers in the competition would welcome it, but his delivery is not constructive at all. It seems week after week he does nothing less than look ticked off and deliver a good tongue lashing. It's a shame, really. The concept of the show is a great one but, for me, Vern ruins it.
I couldn't agree more. The whole setup dooms the designers from the get. With ridiculous time constraints and limited budgets, the creatives end up being tortured, not inspired. And on top of it they are scolded by judges who are better suited to be mentors considering their own talents . There is no excuse for hostility on Vern's part, nor superficial remarks by Genevieve, who by the way hosted Battle on the Block which was more Jerry Springer than a truly instructive design show. Did you notice that one second was devoted to the "after photos"? I don't know what Candice would do without a huge
budget and a sectional sofa. This show should be renamed: "aspiring designers and the judges who hate them."
This show is so fixed and bogus. They totally set up which designer they want to leave. Why did we get another week of the same groups?!?! And poor Dan. Putting him with the girls again so he does all the construction. This is wrong. I I don't believe for a minute the judges are actually deliberating. Stupid Mark Burnett is telling them which one to eliminate based on nothing. This show is swaying my feelings towards Candice's and Genevieve's own shows too. This is such a hateful, negative show not showing anyone's real ability.
I agree, very negative! Especially Vern, I thought more of him before he joined the show! Dan was a ray of sunshine & now he's gone!
I totally agree! I don't think I'll watch this anymore! I used to like Vern so much, and Candice was my hero…. I just can't stand the way they are on this show! I can't wait to see the women's team totally have a meltdown without Dan! Boooo!
You're right…I, too, didn't think it was fair to leave Dan with the girls AGAIN. They were always depending on him to do the construction, so when did he really have time to do much designing?
And when Vern was talking about Nina being repetitive…he's a good one to talk when the challenges for this season's show thus far have been nothing BUT repetitive!!
I sincerely agree with you. How can they possibly keep overlooking ALEX—he contributes nothing–except MISTAKES. He's beyond awful. Dan has produced some great items–the girls are nothing without him. And I have not cared for NINA since the 1st episode. I don't need the aggravation. I will no longer be watching Design Star.
I totally agree with you. It's making me think twice about HGTV as a vehicle for viable design ideas and resources. Vern made a comment tonight about " we all agree, finally" which leads me to believe he has been browbeating the women to agree with him. I just want to smack Vern almost every time he opens his mouth. This must be the dumbed down, low budget version of Design Star. They would have been better off just cancelling the show that putting this crap on the air.
It definitely seems fixed! You can tell the judges have made up their minds before they actually talk to the contestants. And it seems like they have watched the tapes of the actual design process, because they keep using the same words and expressions that the contestants used earlier. Could anyone really tell from either of the rooms which flower inspired what piece of furniture, art, or knick-knack? And it was so unfair to change the rules in the middle of the season. No wonder the contestants looked shocked when they announced that. That was wrong and manipulative.
This show makes no effort to be as interesting as it once was. It seems as if Mark Burnett is purposely sabataging this show to make room for more brain dead mundane T.V. Dan's hosting skills were no worse than David Bromstad's at this stage. Remember how David would giggle uncontrollably? Nina can talk the talk, that's it, but I guess it is no longer about being a good designer.
I could not agree more, and I will NOT be watching this show again this year. The competition this week was to be (gasp) another TEAM effort. Dan's contribution was to the team, unfortunately at his own expense. A Designer is all about ego anyway — I'd like to see Vern, Candice, or Genevieve (with her silly little giggle) work on a team project. On their shows they are the boss, the foreman, with a team of helpers. Sure the designer has ideas, but sometimes (often times) those ideas don't work. I've heard Candice say on past shows, "you have to have a backup plan!" The whole way the show is being done this year is $%#$@ silly — reminds of the Martha Stewart apprentice show of a few years ago.
I agree!! I think the whole show is entirely scripted; and I don't think any of the judges NEED to do a scripted reality show when they are fabulous and well paid desighners in their own right. I do not wat ch reality shows. I watch HGTV for design and real estate theory…not drmama and something so obviously scripted!
And; we why won't HGTV tell us where Clive went? He is no longer associated with the network at all!!
This year's show is such a DOWNER! I was so looking forward to it starting and had gotten some friends from work to watch for the first time, and now I feel embarrassed for telling them about it. I know they think "This show is SOOO boring". At least they could have left Clive on, at least he would have brought some sunshive and life to the show. I miss him a lot. He is like the Tim Gunn of the show – Switzerland! The show is not showcasing any single talent. I really don't know anyone's style except for the Big B____ Nina and her "murals or drawings – EVERY WEEK". I agee also that it is turning me off of the judges, especially Vern and Genevieve, who are so SMUG.
AND PLEASE, could someone tell me what the heck happened to last year's winner – where is her show???
Last year's winner was that guy with all the tatoos- Antonio- and his show used to come on, but I don't think it does any more. He was awful and I never watched it so maybe they took it off?? I don't know.
I have to agree with your statement about Candice and Genevieve. Their shows are the ones I love the most on the network….apart from color splash of course (who doesn't like color splash?!) Anyway, they are both so silly and quirky on their own shows but….HAVE THEIR BODIES BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ALIENS?….mean aliens. Its like that behavior is completely absent….and I might argue…frowned upon. Who wants to watch a show when the host has no personality?
I'll be getting to sleep a little sooner on Sunday nights now. There's no point in watching the show anymore.
i dont know what has happened this year, but i can do better and i dont design………the show is boring, there is no real punch to the designs, they all are repetitous, ex nina with her squiggles….shoot i would sooner watch reruns of prior years then this one..cant wait for project runway, but that will be more interesting..come on hgtv, spice it up cause this one aint doing it
Ugh! So crazy frustrated! Dan?! Nina keeps throwing people under the bus, and the judges keep rewarding her. How is that right?
I agree with you, too. I will no longer be watching Design Star.
You are so right. What is Nina still doing there. Will stop watching just because of her bad energy!
Dan didn't deserve to go home.
I agree. I think Alex should have gone home because he literally screwed up every single week so far. Unfortunately for Dan, his video presentation wasn't very good. I counted at least to "uh's." Alex's video presentation was surprisingly good. But Alex is in so far over his head. The first week, he forgot a stack of merchandise he intended to buy; one week, his sofa wouldn't fit through the door and had to be sent back; this week, he bought flat paint instead of semi-gloss. Dan got screwed this week; Alex should have gone home.
Totally agree!
It was only a matter of time before Dan went anyways…Alex will be following soon, unless he miraculously does something outstanding.
Alex is still there because every week, either he's on the winning team, and they're choosing the loser from the loosing team, or somebody does something worse than him?
I hate them talking in front of the designers, which is so uncomfortable for all (thedesigners, the judges and the viewers). The show has lost all its charm this year. Poor Dan shouldn't have gone. He was being a nice guy and doing all the construction and in the position they put him as the only guy on the team, I feel he had no choice. They should be given a contractor to work with when they need one.
NINA IS A BULLY A THEY NEED TO GET HER OUT OF THERE FOR GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree Nina should have been the one to go…this year is going to end up just like last year…the least favorite wins.
i agree, she is a bully and she should of been eliminated by now
I agree about getting rid of Nina. Not only a bully but she does not listen and does what SHE wants . To be a good designer you have to listen to what your client says and work with that.
I am well aware that these shows are already taped but, Candice looked at Vern when Alex begin to explain himself, as if to say, " Oh here we go again". Sweet Ms. Candice you are not all that great. "Devine Design can be cancelled at any day, at any time, if the the people go against it, and believe me you are really giving them a reason. This mess that you are calling a show is a big failure, and the "Judges" are a bunch of nasty snobs.
im sorry but i have to disagree. the judges are just doing their jobs. i think candice olsen is great and her show will not end any time soon !
I love Candice's show, but I do admit that her attitude as a judge surprised me. She can be really tough on people.
This is all really funny to a person that is a designer. All three judges are only famous because of T.V. None of these designers show up in A.D., Veranda, Elle Decor, Town and Country, or any quality interior design publications. I think Candace is fun to watch, but she's really not "great". Good, maybe. These people are more personalities.Like Pam Anderson will tell you,she's NOT an actress, she's just a famous person.The fact that all of them have seemed to let thier fame go to their head means that they are not gods, just moderately talented people who got lucky. Sorry but, easy come, easy go.
You are so right CharlesD.
And Rhonda, they are not just tough, they are plain "RUDE" Everyone should be respected. It does not matter if the design is good or bad,"RESPECT" is due everyone.
Believe me truetonkawas, you need to read some of the comments. The critics do, because the running of a particular show is based on the feelings of the viewing audience. You might not know that, but, the Judges do, and……SO DO I…LOL
I agree. I stopped watching Candace's show once my mother– who'd been a long-time watcher– pointed out to me that Candace's designs are predictable. You can bet that her designs will feature brown in some way, and most likely a blue.
Your mother is ..so right, and I totally agree.
and scones… if not some gaudy chandelier… poor Chico and those strenuous electrical projects.
You are right Marie. These people are just showing us what type of personalities they really have. Everyone deserves respect, contestants or not. Nobody is above nobody. You do not have to be rude in order to get your point across…I was taught as a child, "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW" ..Reaping time will come real soon for them…we will see…Poor little Chico..What she care, cause she thinks she is Ms. know it all.
I can't believe they voted off Dan! What idiots! Alex seems like a good guy, but come on… And of course his video was better this time, he has experience now – it was Dan's first time. Everyone does poorly during their first video. I have no respect for any of the judges now. Just please oh please don't let Nina win! Who on Earth would watch her show?? HGTV has a history of airing shows with bossy female hosts and they all fail in no time. No one wants to watch that garbage. People like the pleasantness of David Bromstad and <sob> Dan. Oh well.
I agree with you about Dan and Alex.
I agree about Dan and Nina. And you're right about the bossy female hosts. Take Debbie Travis for instance!!
Shame on the judges, they changed the judging citeria after the fact, and completely blew it with sending Dan home. I won't watch Design Star again. If the TV audience had voted Dan would have stayed. They saw all his contributions in helping his team. Disgusting! HGTV is getting worst all the time.
There is NO way Dan should have been eliminated. That room would NOT have been created, finished done without his help. Design IS construction, paint, materials… hard, tangible objects not just some artsy/fartsy esoteric concept, Vern! Read these comments people in charge… you are waaaay off base with the direction of this show and as you know from other undetakings…. it won't last long! I'm about at the end of it myself. And I've liked Candice Olson BIT TIME but even that is evaporating each week while I see how manipulated she is by the talentless, cynical Vern and companion. Dan: you were the best and get MY vote for your own show… maybe try another, more deserving network, dude.
I agree — Alex should have gone home, not Dan. But Dan knew that he should put himself first and the team second. He said so in the van. But, when it came right down to it, he put the team first and it cost him big time. Too bad; he's a good guy. As they say "No good deed goes unpunished" and "Good guys finish last." Which explains why Nina is still there.
Speaking of Nina. She has told us 100 times that she is an artist. Is she a blind artist? The outfit (misfit) she wore into the studio showed off her horrible chunky legs. We can't help the way we're built, but we can certainly dress to camoflage our flaws. That's true for everyone, of course. But you'd think an artist would look in the mirror and quickly change into something else. Perhaps she's a blind artist, ''cause that outfit did not flatter!
Did you watch the same show I did?…How do you know what Dan did or didn't do?…I personally don't know who contributed what to those spaces and how much work one person did compared to another…The only thing I do know is we were all honored by another squiggle piece of junk.
I so agree with you kiltyone.. Nina even said that she felt Dan was her assistant..Dan is the kind of guy that will help anyone and not stab or abuse someone, unlike Nina. She abuses and uses everyone.. I was so disgusted with her trying to say she told everyone in the room what to do. They finally stood up to her a bit more this week. She should have gone home she hasn't designed one thing nicely without stupid ugly squiggles or parasols. Alex makes one mistake after another but gets to stay…,I think Vern was afraid Dan would beat him out for TV time so wanted him gone. Almost like the guy in trading spaces that now does the ABC extreme makeover..Vern is jealous and scared other will be better… If that nasty nina lasts another week.. I am done