photo: hgtv
Harmonious Design
Original Air Date: Jun 27, 2010
Patricia Morris Buckley — Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com
Who is coming up with these stupid challenges? It has to be the TV executives because no designer would create challenges inspired by fashion or by music.
In what real-world application would a designer be asked to design something based on “the feel” of a cello? Or a tuba? Seriously. A designer would come up with challenges involving severely limited palettes or with demanding clients. Something that they face every workday. Not matching a room with a dress. Geesh!
But then, no studio exec would continue to have the designers on the same team several episodes in a row. Once again, we got the men vs. the women, only with a twist. As there are six men and four women left (after two women were eliminated already), the women got to choose one man and they smartly chose Dan. More on that later.
The problem with keeping the teams is so obvious. We’ve already seen the contestants in this dynamic and we’re probably only going to see more of the same as they work with the same people. Boring. In the past, every week paired new people together and another dramatic situation arose.
It’s just another way that this show is veering off the path of what’s proven popular with audiences and worked four years in a row. I’m really starting to doubt if there’ll be a sixth season of Design Star. Anyone agree?
OK, let’s get to this episode’s challenge. Each designer had to chose a musical instrument. As Courtland won the challenge last week, he got to chose first and he selected the cello. Tom took the sax, Michael the trombone, Alex the congas, Emily the tuba, Casey the xylophone, Nina the French horn, Trent the keyboard and Stacey the trumpet. Each had some snazzy reason for their choice, but it wasn’t really important.
They then worked with their team to create an outdoor New York City patio that fused their inspirations, but still featured their distinct “sounds.”
Right off the bat, the men made a critical error. They all chose a basket weave daybed to design the room around and it wouldn’t fit in the elevator. Seems like every season some team makes this mistake! Only the judges later chose to single out Alex because the piece symbolized his instrument — way unfair. They all made the mistake.
Meanwhile, the women seemed to be doing better as Dan proved a calming influence with them, although the tension flowed just under the surface. Even he admitted that, “I’m a bandaid for a team that need stitches.” And indeed, the claws finally came out when Emily asked that Nina’s mural be painted over and Nina attacked everyone else’s design choices. Ouch!
The men worked well together, but the result was rather disjointed. Courtland wanted to match the feel of the cello with that of Sedona and he painted a wall eye-popping orange. Now, to his credit, it didn’t appear that orange going on. Alex struggled after his daybed was sent back and came up with a wimpy curved wood platform. Tom (with help from Alex) designed and constructed a sleek daybed with the feel of a sophisticated four-poster bed.
Michael had what I considered the best design element — a sly piece of artwork using a worklight, the electric cord twisted and flowing like music, ending with the light itself. Excellent. However, he and the rest of the men continued to treat Trent like a second cousin just in from the country. Granted, Trent looked really, really lost (the big trucker’s hat that looks two sizes too big didn’t help) and told the camera that he didn’t respond well to competition. Uh, then why did he try out for a TV design show?
The women’s room had a few issues, but it felt designed cohesively (thanks Dan!). And that got them the win. Poor Emily — the judges loved Nina’s mural and for a second time the preening designer won a challenge.
The judges rightly named Trent and Alex the weakest links on the men’s team. Their hosting skills were also pretty bad. Trent stepped up to talk to the judges, but instead of defending himself, he made it worse by almost admitting he wasn’t happy doing the show. And that made his elimination almost anti-climatic.
I’m finally at that point where I know the designers and their personalities. With nine of the 12 remaining, I’m even beginning to see frontrunners in Nina and Courtland. But I wouldn’t count out Michael and Tom yet.
Did you think Trent was the right choice? Do you think Alex is next? Do you think Nina has the talent to back up the big mouth? Give us your TwoCents…
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I completely agree that there might not be a season 6 and that really bites, because I love the original show. They made too many jarring changes all at once. They really kicked themselves on this one. I hope they realize that.
A good designer should be able to get inspiration from anywhere, but some of these choices were crazy. I think Alex and Stacey are walking on very thin ice. I can’t stand that Nina is doing so well. But I guess the show needs it’s villains.
Maybe there’s not a market for this kind of show anymore. Bravo has canceled its Top Design. Perhaps HGTV is trying to make its show more youth-oriented and cheaper (no host) to stay afloat.
But it isn’t working!
Top Design was cancelled?!? Bummer! These guys had better step it up then, because I need at least one designer competition show! I really look forward to watching this every week. I hate it when producers change too much at once and ruin the show. Sometimes it works. Like with SYTYCD. Here it’s a massive FAIL!