HGTV Design Star » Where Are They Now?

Torie Halbert: Custom Designer

Chelsey Bowen — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:23:59 +0000

Once solely a custom home designer, Torie Halbert has expanded her horizons since competing on Design Star.

Torie is now a regular on Great Day Houston doing room makeovers with Ashley Furniture, was invited as a VIP guest during the filming of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and was named one of Houston’s Most Dynamic Women for 2009 by Houston Modern Luxury magazine.

Torie with her daughter, Taiven, in Ambergris Caye, Belize

Find out what else Torie has been doing since leaving Design Star »

NataLee’s a Mom

Chelsey Bowen — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:55:21 +0000

NataLee Callahan was the first one to go last season, but luckily she left with very happy news: she was pregnant with her son, Connor!

NataLee with Connor

Now, in addition to keeping up with the newest member of her family, she’s been tackling design projects big and small.

NataLee has a regular design segment on Studio 5 on her NBC’s affiliate and continues to be involved in Heart 2 Home, an organization which does extreme home rebuilds.

The living room from NataLee’s Heart 2 Home project

The dining room from NataLee’s Heart 2 Home project

See what else she’s been up to since leaving Design Star »

Torie Halbert: Custom Designer

Lonni Paul: Designer to the Stars

Chelsey Bowen — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:05:27 +0000

She was the last gal standing before Antonio and Dan went head-to-head in the finale. Although she was eliminated because the judges wondered if she could multitask, Lonni Paul has been proving them wrong ever since.

After creating the beautiful guest bedroom for celebrity couple Tiffani Thiessen and Brady Smith in her final challenge, the couple hired Lonni to continue working her design magic. She just finished their kitchen and playroom and is now working on other rooms of their home, including the nursery, office and living room.

In addition to raising her adorable four-year-old twins and tons of other design projects, Lonni has also been volunteering for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Step Up, a group of professional women that help teen girls.

Lonni’s twins, Jett and Sophie

Find out the other celebrity homes Lonni has been working on since leaving Design Star »

Jen Guerin is All About Color

Chelsey Bowen — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:00:53 +0000

Whether on the local news, through her new lecture series or speaking at design shows, color guru Jen Guerin continues to share her expertise.

Jen visits the Fox News set in San Diego for a color segment.

After competing on Design Star, Jen “learned the direction I have taken my career is the right choice for me. I love designing color palettes for clients and have a strong sense of design, as well as educating clients on green and reusable objects for their homes.”

Jen has helped design color palettes for expansive exterior commercial buildings as well as nightclubs in San Diego (pictured above).

Find out what else Jen has been up to and where she stores her shoes in her tiny bungalow »

Jason Champion Gives Back

Chelsey Bowen — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:00:40 +0000

The energetic and memorable Jason has not only been visiting fans of Design Star, but he’s also lending a hand and his design aesthetic to a charity close to his heart, Habitat for Humanity.

Jason visits with a fan of Design Star Maddy, who has Cystic Fibrosis.

Jason secured funds from IKEA and Target to make over one family’s home, including this relaxing bedroom retreat.

See more of Jason’s designs for Habitat for Humanity »

Jany Lee Hearts Pups

Chelsey Bowen — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:28:24 +0000

From fostering dogs and a trip to Brazil to starting her own business, Jany has stayed busy since leaving Design Star.

Jany fosters dogs with a no-kill shelter called Paws in the City; possibly the best pet picture ever!

With her new interior design business in Dallas, Jany has work on projects ranging from an entire home renovation to a boutique nail salon to a Japanese restaurant. In addition, she has been asked to teach a workshop at the Institute of Academy and Design in Sacramento.

Jany visits the Christ the Reedemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

See more pics of Jany’s adorable foster pets and learn which celebrity’s house she’s dying to design »

Get to Know Jany, Jason and Antonio

Amy Sklar Takes California

Chelsey Bowen — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:10:02 +0000

Amy Sklar may have been eliminated after the second challenge last season, but it didn’t change the way she felt about her skills or designs. Amy says, “I walked away from my Design Star experience not doubting for a minute my strength as an interior designer. However, I have learned I am not cut out to be a reality show contestant.”

Since leaving the show, Amy continues to design incredible homes. Some of her notable projects have been a full remodel of comedian Patton Oswalt’s new Los Feliz, Calif., residence and a historic mid-century modern residence in Silverlake, Calif., built by the esteemed architect Raphael Soriano.

A view of the master bedroom in the Santa Monica townhome

In addition, she recently completed a top-to-bottom design project for a three-story townhome in Santa Monica. See more pictures of the Santa Monica home, plus find out what her home’s “secret shame” is.

The Santa Monica townhome also features a contemporary, open office.

Get to Know Amy and Jen

The Latest on Antonio and Dan

Chelsey Bowen — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:00:47 +0000

Last season, they stood next to each other on the final elimination stage: one was crowned the winner of season four; the other viewers named the fan favorite.

See what Antonio Ballatore and Dan Vickery have been up to since leaving Design Star.

Antonio, our tough guy winner, hit the ground running and had to make over his new home in five days. Watch the makeover and see the before and after images »

Now, he’s working on his new series, The Antonio Treatment, where he had the opportunity to make over Mario Lopez’s home and office gym. Plus, don’t miss full episodes of The Antonio Treatment.

As the winner of the fan favorite vote (which will return again this year!), runner-up Dan won an online series, Kid-Sized Design.

From nurseries to big boy’s and girl’s rooms, Dan redesigned four kids’ rooms with simple how-tos, bold color schemes and a ton of creativity.

See where all the other designers from last season are now »

Kim Myles is a Pro on the Today Show

Jeannine Shipp — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:13:14 +0000

It is hard to believe that it was less than two years ago when Kim Myles was named the winner of Design Star. She is a testament to how quickly and how completely the title can change a life — not to mention influence millions of TV viewers. Kim has become one of HGTV’s most loved designers.

This was Kim then.

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This was Kim recently when she served as a guest judge on HGTV’s $250,000 Challenge. The host of Myles of Style was on hand to challenge and encourage the contestants vying for the quarter-million-dollar prize. She knows a little something about designing a room on a deadline when there are big stakes at hand.

Kim Myles is flanked by HGTV stars Kristan Cunningham and John Gidding.

And this was Kim just last week on the Today Show when she was asked to tackle a timely topic: how to decorate a bedroom on a budget.

Kim's bedroom design got a thumbs up from the Today show's late morning hosts.

Kim’s ideas included: repurposing an old lace tablecloth as a headboard, framing tin ceiling tiles for simple art that shines and making lighting fixtures with twine, glue and a balloon. She described the look as country with clean lines and contemporary with rustic touches. Good stuff.

Alongside Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, Kim was a delight to watch, as confident and charming as ever, rolling with the punches of live TV — a true professional on camera and I’m told, off camera as well. Check out the entire segment here or to see more of Kim’s ideas on video, visit the Myles of Style show page.

Congrats, Kim! How fun to watch your Design Star rise higher and higher. Will the next design star hopefuls be as bright? We’ll soon see! T-minus 26 days and counting!

Sustainable Living With Josh Foss

Chelsey Bowen — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:49:07 +0000

Known as Organic Josh on season two, Josh Foss continues to live up to his name with green design and eco-friendly choices in his personal life. His business Thrive Design Studio, which is based in Minneapolis, just opened up a second office in Boulder, Colo., and he’s involved with the U.S. Green Building Council.

Josh was featured on the cover of Saint Paul Illustrated.

Not only does his business promote sustainable living, but he also lives a very eco-friendly life, which he documents on his blog, Metro Hippie.

Find out more about Josh and other season 2 designers »

The Sparkle Is Back!

Stephanie Cook Gives Back

Chelsey Bowen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:10:06 +0000

Stephanie Cook, who was voted onto the show by HGTV.com fans, has expanded her company, Plural Inc., and also found a way to give back through the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Stephanie with the Make-A-Wish team on her first project.

Stephanie tells us about her experience working with Make-A-Wish:

“The first wish was to a young girl named Kimberly Trello, who was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosis last year at age 12, and her one wish was to have an interior designer make over her room.

We met the next day and next thing I knew I had three days to shop and one day to make it happen! It was like Design Star all over again.

The day was beautiful! My design team and I arrived at 7am. We started painting and putting together furniture. NFL quarterback Matt Leinart sponsored the wish with $5,000, and he showed up with his family and even helped paint for a while.

So, 14 hours later Kimberly got her wish! The reaction was priceless. First shock, then tears, then a lot of “thank yous.” I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe how a room makeover changed so many peoples lives.’ Everyone there that day had a unique experience that will be with him or her forever. Kimberly is a very special girl and will always be in my heart.

Watch the story here from So Cal News:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQaeCJf3rBI[/youtube]

I am very excited to be working on the second makeover; it is for a young girl named Caitlin Caro with Cystic Fibrosis. Caitlin is a sweet, energetic eleven year old, whose wish is to get a more grown-up room. I will be bringing Kimberly from the first wish per her request to help out. She said all she wanted was to make someone feel as special as she did!

After the room is finished I will be posting it on my blog. You can view it at www.pluralid.blogspot.com.”

Find out more about Stephanie and the rest of the season 3 cast here »

First Look: Behind the Scenes

Last Year’s Winner: Jennifer Bertrand

Chelsey Bowen — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:56:33 +0000

Jennifer Bertrand won America’s hearts and votes last year to become our next Design Star. Her special, Paint Over! With Jennifer Bertrand, aired in January with 20 unique step-by-step paint projects, and stay tuned for her new show premiering this fall. During one of the most exciting moments of her professional life, she discovered that she had a little on the way as well.

A snapshot of pregnant Jennifer on the cruise she won on Design Star.

Winston Spencer Bertrand was born on February 20, 2009.

Jennifer designed a happy yet modern nursery for her new little one.

Find out more about Jen’s life since Design Star »

The Sparkle Is Back!

Chelsey Bowen — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:31:18 +0000

Who will ever forget the platinum locks and glitzy style of Josh Johnson? He became “Sparkle Josh” to all us Design Star fans, and we’ve never looked at glitter the same way since. We recently caught up with him to find out what he’s been doing since wrapping Design Star. See what he had to say here »

Sparkle Josh with Kim Kardashian on the red carpet.

Sparkle now lives in West Hollywood, where he’s working on a TV series slated to air later this year.

Find out more about Josh and other season two designers »

Sustainable Living With Josh Foss

Where is He Now? Matt Locke

Chelsey Bowen — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:31:08 +0000

Last year, we left Matt Locke standing on the finale stage next to winner Jennifer Bertrand. He may not have won the title of Design Star, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped designing.

After Design Star, Matt headed over to HGTV Showdown, where he and season two winner Kim Myles teamed up and beat fellow Design Star contestants, Jennifer Bertrand and Todd Davis.

The designers take a second to pose with the homeowners, Matthew and Katie Bodell.

Matt and his partner, Heith, also headed out on the cruise he won from making it to the top two of Design Star. They traveled to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cozumel and the Bahamas.

In Cozumel, the pair took a scooter trip around the island.

See more pics of Matt after Design Star and catch up with more of your favorite designers here