Q: Do you have any tips for homeowners who want to buy fixer-uppers?
Antonio: 1. Do your homework 2. Get a reliable inspector 3. Be sure it’s a place you can love during the hard times of bringing it together. 4. Don’t buy a can…of worms. 5. Add 20-30% to your budget, anticipate going over!

Q: You’ve worked with photographer Annie Leibovitz…are you into photography too? Do you own any of her work?
Antonio: I love photography. I have collaborated with some of the best photographers as a set designer. Working with artists like Annie is what keeps me inspired. I don’t own any of her work, but I do own a LaChapelle

Q: Which other cast member from Design Star did you like working with the most?
Antonio: Jason and I bonded over the kitchen challenge. We are an unlikely pair but he kept me laughing. I’d be happy to work with him again.

Q: Has your life changed since winning?
Antonio: I’ve got a lot more friends on facebook and I got mobbed at Trader Joes. ha!

Q: Are you married? Any kids?
Antonio: Single, no kids. Just Chewie and I.

Q: Tell us about your dog, Chewie
Antonio: He’s an Olde English bull dog, also sometimes called a Victorian bull dog. He is a rescue

Q: Is Chewie named from Star Wars?
Antonio: Yes…not that I’m really into Star Wars. But he looks like Chewbaca!

Q: How do you want to respond to the people who want to congratulate you?
Antonio: To the people who are saying congrats: I am humbled by everyone’s support and I won’t let you down. I am going to bring it!

Q: What do you think was the most difficult part of this project to tackle?
Antonio: The most difficult part was opening up my life to everyone. Design is subjective. This is MY house and how I want it to be.

Q: How many tattoos do you have?
Antonio: Too many to count!

Q: What is your favorite tattoo?
Antonio: My last dog’s paw print, and the date of her passing. It’s on my rib

Q: Did Kathy Griffin slip you her phone number?
Antonio: LOL! No I haven’t talked to her since the challenge

Q: Any other celebs you have designed for or would like to?
Antonio: Doing set design, I have worked with almost every celeb in Hollywood. But I’d love to design something for Mickey Rourke.

Q: What was hardest Design Star challenge?
Antonio: Physically, the back yard. Mentally, the kitchen.

Q: And what was your favorite?
Antonio: The finale

Q: Any advice for aspiring set/prop designers?
Antonio: 1. Assist a great set designer 2. Get in anyway you can 3. Bust you’re a$&.

Q: Did you ever think you would be this adored?
Antonio: Um, am I really adored? I try to answer every email, sorry if it takes awhile. I appreciate every fan, and I’m going to work hard to do the best show i can.

Q: What is your fave color to use in design
Antonio: Hot pink!

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up
Antonio: When I was a kid, I wanted to be a musician and go on tour. Then I achieved that dream and had to come up with a new goal.

Q: What is your suggestion for helping the average homeowner pick the right color for a room
Antonio: Get plenty of samples, paint swatches, and check it out at different times of the day. Plus if you want custom, you can mix your own paints.

Q: Are your friends going to be a regular part of your show? Or just this special?
Antonio: I want to involve everyone I know because these are the people that inspire me to do what I do.

Q: Talk about Connor from the kid’s room challenge, he’s so cute!
Antonio: Connor and I are buddies for life. Conner is amazing. His older sister sent me a video of him with tattoos and a bandana on his head. It is hilarious.

Q: Any advice for an aspiring 14- yr old interior designer?
Antonio: When I was a kid, I redid my room once a month. Try it, it’s good practice. Think outside the box and don’t be intimidated. Do your own thing.

Q: Love all your shirts! WHERE do you find these?!?!
Antonio: My t-shirts are from my friend’s bands, friend’s motorcycle shop. Also I have a bunch from my buddies at supreme, www.supremenewyork.com

Q: What’s your ethnic background. Where are you originally from?
Antonio: I’m 100% Italian. Born in NYC

Q: What are some of your fave TV shows?
Antonio: No Reservations and Six Million Dollar Man

Q: What do you mean when you say “recon”
Antonio: Recon is short for reconnaissance, a preliminary survey to gain information

Q: Did you get in trouble for the turkey incident in the grocery store?
Antonio: Um…kinda. LOL

Q: Do you really not have a living room? Where do you watch TV?!
Antonio: The house was 800sf when I bought it. I put a 1000sf addition on it which includes a TV room/den. We just didn’t focus on that part of the house in the show. I love my TV room/Den. It’s where I keep my record and book collection along with my big flat screen.

Q: Where did you get the throne?
Antonio: I got it at a store in Hollywood on Melrose and Larchmont

Plus, check out these other videos from Dan, including his thank you to fans and his favorite behind-the-scenes moments.

Follow us at Twitter and on Facebook.

Details on his online show will be coming soon!

Also, if you missed her show last week, we have all the full episodes for Paint Over here.

Check back tomorrow for the exciting winner announcement!

Jason Champion is selling his Sarasota, Fla., home and HGTV’s FrontDoor has the sneak peek inside!

The mid-century modern home was designed by architect James Padgett in 1965 and is known as the Padgett House. Jason has infused the home with his eclectic yet glamorous style by blending vintage furnishings with traditional elements. (Check out his collection of shoes!)

Take a tour of the entire house »

We’re experiencing some problems right now with last night’s post, but we’re working hard to fix them. In the meantime, we want everyone to have their say so feel free to continue the conversation here.

Spoiler Alert! If you don’t want to know what happened, please don’t click through.

With 44 work hours and $50,000, the designers had to make over a kitchen, living room and two bedrooms.

Antonio worked with the Starr family to create a light, airy kitchen and an eclectic living room. Dark granite countertops provided the perfect contrast to the kitchen’s new white cabinets and blue-gray walls. In the living room, Antonio deconstructed a vintage armoire to create a one-of-a-kind fireplace surround.

The master bedroom’s most striking new feature was the bright green walls. In addition, he made the space more functional for the whole family with a seating area and workspace. For the kid’s room, Antonio used a bold wall treatment of red stars to set the stage and added a daybed and striped poufs for seating.

The Goldberg family wanted a fresh start and Dan achieved that by opening up the floor plan. In the kitchen, dark cabinets were combined with cashmere countertops and a bamboo stone backsplash for a contemporary new look. His color palette for the living room was inspired by the original color of the master bedroom: a lovely lilac. A neutral sectional and mirrored TV cabinet above the fireplace opened up the room, while chocolate drapes softened the crisp, white shutters.

In the master bedroom, Dan reoriented the layout of the bedroom by eliminating one window and designing built-ins around the bed’s headboard. The teen’s bedroom featured a fresh, young shade of purple that was highlighted by black and silver accents. The new bed provided plenty of storage underneath and even included a pull-out desk for Jackie to do her homework.

While both designers proved they could tackle a huge project and create beautiful rooms, there can only be one Design Star. Drum roll please . . . the next Design Star is:

Congratulations, Antonio!