Design Star – Recap & Review – Episode 4

photo: hgtv

Design Star
Episode 4

Original Air Date: Aug 1, 2011

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

If being a team player is such an important part of being a HGTV host, as the judges have said over and over, then why isn’t Cathy getting dinged more for being the worst team player in the history of Design Star?

Seriously, she thinks everyone is beneath her and if she doesn’t do well, it’s because of her partner(s). I have a suggestion for a drinking game — take a shot every time we see her back as she says “I’m going shopping” or when she rolls her eyes at her partner or when she asks someone to “trust her” (interpretation: You better do it my way because it’s the only right way). I wonder if getting shnockered will make her any easier to watch?

This week the remaining nine designers had to re-do four outdated rooms at a B ‘n B on the New Jersey shore. The producers divided up the teams. Teams of two got a bedroom, while the remaining three had a suite. Each room had to have a piece of re-purposed furniture. Here’s how they did:

TYLER AND LESLIE were given a bedroom with a sloped wall above the bed. They chose a gray and blue palette. Leslie took three small throw rugs and treated the backs, then framed them and hung them on the sloping wall. I would have NEVER thought of this but they turned out great. Tyler took cane back chairs and created a diagonal black stripe on the back that made them look fresh and expensive. Unfortunately, he didn’t do as well painting the fireplace, although it did look a whole lot better than before.

BRET AND KELLIE painted their room a bland brown. Kudos to Kellie for spying a great chair in a store on the way to the site. They built the room around that chair. However, she also added some last-minute paintings that were horrible. Kellie – you can buy good artwork in stores, you know. Bret wanted to buy a great headboard, but couldn’t find anything and created one with squares of white wood. It looked fun, but the judges pointed out that it wouldn’t be comfortable and they didn’t like his sloppy work on other projects.

MEG, KARL AND MARK had a very difficult time coming up with an overall theme to their suite. Then they hit a store with whimsical items and felt they found it. I still didn’t think it felt unified, but Vern said it was the best room he’s ever seen on the show. Mark made a rope ladder that I found OK, but Vern adored. Meg put some great fabric on the walls in colors that tied a lot of the room together. Karl contributed a killer paint job that suggested the ocean waves only a few feet away. He also cut an end table in two and attached each piece to the wall for two tables — quite clever.

CATHY AND KEVIN didn’t get along from the moment they stepped into their bedroom – as expected. Cathy wanted a blue plate rail, but it ended up being too low. The walls were bare, which has become a thing with her — surprising for someone who is a professional stager. Kevin scores big with headboards that mirror the doors, but is adamant he wants to whitewash the floor — something he’s never done before and of course, does it poorly. It’s already scraped up some before the judges arrive.

The judges (with Kathy Ireland as the guest judge) rule the suite the best room and declare Meg, who has been struggling a lot in the competition, the winner. I would have also chosen the suite as the best room, but made Leslie the winner as she did something so completely different and amazingly successful.

The Bottom Three were Cathy, Kevin and Bret. Cathy is declared safe first, then Bret is given the boot. I think it was the right choice, but who wouldn’t have rather seen Cathy go?

Next week, Paula Dean is the guest judge and it looks as if we finally get the ever-explosive kitchen challenge. Bet everyone is hoping that Cathy isn’t on their team!

Are you sick of Cathy yet or do you think she could win? Would you have picked Meg as the winner? Are you excited about the kitchen challenge? Give us your TwoCents…