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I thought the judges were very annoying tonight. I thought that Gen was wrong on just about everything she said tonight. She was more smirky then usual with a very superior attitude. I have never been a Meg fan, her "hey guys" is like chalk on a blackboard to me.

I thought that Hilari had the best room. Gen didn't like her sticks! She had to have been really searching to find something bad about that room. I don't think they wanted to give Hilari the win, so they picked on the sticks which I thought were a very small part of her design. They all liked her use of red, there was a lot in that room they didn't even talk about.

Danielle came off as very helpless, a poor me what am I going to do now. She didn't get the table she wanted, settled on a dark wood that she knew would blend with the floor. The judges commented on that. So why didn't she get an area rug? She spent a lot of time on the photo mats for her camera challenge, which she then called an "easy, breezy" project. Vern commented that she might have a time management problem. Vern thought she finally had a good camera challenge.

I think Britany is really starting to annoy me. She does good design but she comes across as the high school cheerleader that everything always went her way. The judges liked her use of yellow in her room. She did a wood design on the wall that they liked but Gen said it was the third time they'd seen it. But I guess it wasn't as annoying as the sticks because they gave her the win.

Poor middle Mikel, he just never found a way to hit it out of the park. I liked the green color on the wall but Gen thought it looked like a school or a prison. He didn't have a good space plan. They did seem to like his camera challenge but he didn't mention color. So he got sent home.

I thought it was strange that they didn't pick a winner for the camera challenge. I know they haven't been doing that but this was on a live show. I thought The Talk was better than last seasons Nate Berkus Show, other than Britany, all the designers seemed very relaxed to me. I liked Hilari's tip the best, followed by Mikel, Danielle and Britany.

If Hilari or Danielle win I will not be watching their show. They both drive me crazy. Danielle has a time management problem. I haven't seen any design out of either one of them I would have in my home. At this point, I am for Britany.

Looking at the final rooms, I think that Mikel was the right one to go home. I didn't really care for that green, either. But I didn't think the space planning was that bad. (but what do I know?)

I also agree that Britany's room was the best. And I loved her graphic and how it broke up the wall. Sorry judges- but picking on her for doing the same thing more than once is stupid. Breaking up the space of that long wall really needed something special- and I think the graphic was the right thing for the space- even if Britany did do graphic wall designs before. (at least she didn't put green apples everywhere. ::evil smirk:

Danielle was probably saved by her poise in the camera challenge. She does need to get her act together with time management, though.

Hilari's room was well done- but I did thing the manzanita detracted from the larger sculpture. (and I almost never agree with Gen when she's sitting on her high horse)

I kind of wish we had been shown the complete camera challenges because it was hard to tell how well they did with what we were shown.

Danielle should have gone home. Her space wasn't finished, her choice in furniture and accessories were very poor choices for someone in the top four, her art project was juvenile. The judges clearly have their mind set on her being the next design star. Gen said Brittainy had used the same design on her last three challenges, where was it used in the kitchen challenge last week? Brittany should have won the time that Danielle had that hideous cougar in front of her coffee table. A roaring cat is not an inviting thing to see when you walk into a sitting room that is dark and uninviting. Honey pie as David called her tonight is clearly the judges favorite

Mikel's green didn't bother me, and I thought his room looked really good! I was surprised he would go home before Danielle, her pale couch with pale walls and dark table with dark walls, time planning problems and (to me) often very morose attitude . . .

I do think Danielle and Hilari will be the final two. The preview for the next episode showed a Brittani-type-wall-treatment and Genevieve made a remark tonight about giving her "one more chance" to show something other than that every week.

Thought they gave Danielle a pass because of her previous victories. Saw them selecting those paint colors from the chips - probably with the limited time before shopping. Have a feeling if Mikel had checked it on the long wall, he would have slightly toned it down or softened it. Green's another tough color, IMHO.

Did like the way Brit's graphic broke up the long wall but thought she needed some art or something in the other 2 zones. (Need to see the photos, however.) IIRC, she's used the exact same pattern or something very close to it, 3 times during the entire competition.

Wasn't a fan of Gen's comments, either.

JMHO.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: blueday,

quote:

Wasn't a fan of Gen's comments, either.

I do agree that Gen got everything wrong. Hilliary's room was wonderful the sticks were not a problem. Her challenge was fine and would have been better if Julie had not said "your almost out of time". The yellow chairs in Brittany's room did not work. The color was to bold and over took the room. Danielle could have used an area rug. Mikel's room was fine. While I don't like the color green it was not a school room or prison green. The schools I attended did not use green.

Mikel did not do the challenge as he was told to do it and I like Hilliary's attempt to engage Julie and Aisha. I also think if you don't finish the challenge then you should be the one to go home.

* Loved Brittany's choice of those yellow chairs and the white wall piece

* Danielle's blue wall was awesome, but the rest of the room was just so-so - She looked and acted as though she was having "hormonal" issues

* Hilary's use of red was perfect (Gen just had to find fault with something) Those "twigs" weren't that big of a deal

* Mikel's shade of green was rather blah and his furniture placement did not lend itself to viewing the focal points = the TV and the fireplace...

...Sorry he went home, but his personality and set design skills should take him far.

I think it's going to be a showdown between Hilary and Danielle too.

Brittany's looks will open lots of doors for her in the future.

I think Mikel went home because his room wasn't great and his camera challenge was lacking. Danielle's room wasn't finished but the space planning and color choices were better than Mikel's and her camera challenge was better than his, based on what the judges saw and heard.

My preference at this point is Hilari. She is upbeat and just as talented as some of the past winners. I think Brittany has good taste, but I don't think she's a good designer. Her color combinations, her use of geometric wall decorations, and her personal style are all based on the current offerings of Jonathan Adler,Windsor Smith, Thom Felicia,Annie Selke, etc., ect., ect. She would be great working for a catalogue company like West Elm or Ballard, but there is nothing original about what she does.

I think it's interesting, if you watch the camera challenges and look at the pictures from them, the reactions of the Talk people. They came across to me a bit surly, waiting to be entertained yet overly concerned about time, but Hilary and Brittany were able to win them over.

Regarding the rooms, I knew immediately that Mikel would be the one leaving this week. He should have gone with a more nature-inspired green and used it more "meaningfully" to quote a certain judge. Like maybe taking a couple of peacock feathers and using the colors from it in different ways around the room. Come to think of it, that might've made a great viewer tip, too. Stronger shots of, say, forest green coupled with blue, purple. Plenty of plants.

Danielle could have done more with her blue, too, as others have pointed out. Even some type of wall treatment, if she couldn't find the right accessories. I think a beautiful cobalt blue would have been nice. Shame she didn't think of a rug when the table debacle happened. It seemed like that just stymied her, and she couldn't pull out of it. Or maybe that's the editing again.

I do try to remember, though, that it's SO easy to be an armchair designer. The pressure these contestants are under is immense. Even if you HAVE a plan, it likely depends on finding the right key pieces - within a couple of hours. If you don't - well, on to plan B, C, D.... I too can put together a fantastic room, but I spend a lot of time scouting for the perfect accessories.

Overall, this season of Design Star had some strong contestants; I would be happy to see what any of them can do over time. Especially if it's instead of House Hunters.

I just looked at the still photos and I think Hilari was robbed. She is the only one who has drapes at the windows, she has something on all the walls. Her room looks like you could live in it.

Britany had no art work in her room, her walls are bare except for her signiture geometric wood thingy. Yes she used yellow in a nice way but I don't think it's worth the win. Plus she had the worst camera challenge with the not very original paint a lampshade tip.

I think they kept Danielle because of her past work, just like Rachel got a few extra weeks from past performances. But her room really is bad, I thought it was cruel when they said Mikel's room wasn't a pleasant space, well Danielle's really wasn't pleasant.

I think the judges never really gave Mikel credit for his style. Not everyone is going to like mid-centry funiture but he did it well.

Thanks, CL for starting this - I was hoping my "NO SPOILER" thread would keep things even for the west coasters, but alas, it didn't.

I figured it would be between Danielle and Mikel for going home. Danielle seriously needed an area rug in that dining room - where was her head? Mikel's space planning was awful, and altho I personally might like that green in small amounts, I have to agree with GG (and y'all know how THAT pains me) that it looked more institutional than homey. In the end, because of Danielle's previous work, I think the judges made the right call.

I also thought (again, with great pain) that GG was right on about the branches - it DID diminish the effect of that one great piece to have others in the room especially in such great proximity.

I didn't care for Brittany's challenge, but liked the room.

Did anyone except me think that the hosts of The Talk looked far more ill at ease than any of the DS contestants?

doodles64 I agree about The Talk hosts. They were just inept. They had to have filmed this months ago, so they probably did it after one of their regular shows. I have never been a fan of Julie Chen so I never watch this show.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles D:
My preference at this point is Hilari. She is upbeat and just as talented as some of the past winners. I think Brittany has good taste, but I don't think she's a good designer. Her color combinations, her use of geometric wall decorations, and her personal style are all based on the current offerings of Jonathan Adler,Windsor Smith, Thom Felicia,Annie Selke, etc., ect., ect. She would be great working for a catalogue company like West Elm or Ballard, but there is nothing original about what she does.

IIRC, Charles, you're an interior designer, so I'll trust your opinion on Brittany. I freely admit that I'm not familiar enough with design to recognize what's original or not. I do enjoy the West Elm catalog and find it visually appealing.

Hilari has a good on-camera personality, and I think I'd enjoy watching her show. Maybe this isn't fair to Brittany, but HGTV already has a young, long haired blonde designer in Emily.

Until Color Splash Miami came along, I didn't realize how important the viewer chemistry was. I had nothing against Gina and Patricia, but the chemistry between them and me as a viewer just wasn't there. Patricia's involvement with design seemed minimal, so I'm not sure why she was given camera time, and although Gina seemed to grow as a designer as the show progressed, the show wasn't about her.

Give Hilari a competent carpenter with a good on-camera personality, and I think her show would be a success. JMHO

Danielle's time management skills and poor me are grating. Are there no sales clerks in the furniture stores? When I am shopping for something specific, ie, dining room table, ASK! Do you have any glass tables? Why yes, let me show you. Done. No running around the store for 30 minutes and finding the perfect table has been snapped up.

Once she failed, she still could have redeemed herself by simply setting the table with white dishes and a teal accent - placemats, napkins, fresh flowers, something. As others have noted, a rug. And a blue throw would have broken up the long beige sofa. As for art, Sabrina Soto is always painting abstract canvases. Danielle could have used some the blue paint and painted waves or stripes. I see these in the stores for **$. A set of 3 or 4 paintings would have filled the empty wall.

I do a lot of planning in my head, so even if the designers are not permitted to sketch once they leave the work rooms, they could visualize options and think of what items might be used.

Guess this is hoping for too much!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DesigningFleur:
Danielle's time management skills and poor me are grating. Are there no sales clerks in the furniture stores? When I am shopping for something specific, ie, dining room table, ASK! Do you have any glass tables? Why yes, let me show you. Done. No running around the store for 30 minutes and finding the perfect table has been snapped up.

This is so funny!("Why yes, let me show you. Done.")

I wonder myself why she did not cut to the chase for the table instead of wandering about. I am not sure that she had formed the thought of what she was looking for in advance, and then when she saw the glass table, she decided that might be what she is looking for.

I totally agree that she could have done something to brighten or lighten up the space on the table or around the table. An area wrong was sorely needed. Or, as you said, she could have dressed the table with white and blue dishware or something. There were things that she could have done to break up the darkness in that area.

I don't know if she thinks fast on her feet. In contrast, Hilari is very good at thinking fast and switching gears from Plan A to Plan B. I am thinking that this will be the issue in terms Danielle versus Hilari in the final two. I still think that Brittany is the best designer. However, lately, Hilari is giving her a run for her money. I think that Danielle will go home next week unless they place emphasis on the camera challenge. If so, Brittany will probably go.

On the bright side, a brief glimpse of the old Helms Bakery buildings complete with an old Bakery Truck (back in the 50's they drove around door to door delivering things like donuts - 6 for 50 cents) made me nostalgic and needing to plan a trip back home!

My Two Cent Summary:

Brittany: While she is a solid designer, she would not make a solid HGTV host. And in this competition you gotta have BOTH! The judges have told her time and time again about her stone-face when the camera is rolling. And they can't produce her show with just design shots and not her face. And she has been branded as . . . wait for it . . . a one-trick pony.

Danielle: Her designs are okay, not super. What hinders her is the near "nervous breakdown-esque" state she falls into EVERY challenge. Can you imagine them filming her show and she runs off to her dressing room in a crying fit because she couldn't get a lamp installed in time?

Hilari: She has design skill and she has a bucket full of personality. And when she is "on", she is "on". Hilari interacts well with everyone. She kept a positive attitude throughout this entire competition and she always had an encouraging word to say to her competitors.

Mikel: Man in the middle - all the time. I believe he should have been kept this week and Danielle should have been dismissed. His designs where solid enough to be safe each week, but I think he didn't have a WOWWEE! design that put him over the top. Be that as it may, Mikel was a positive force this season. He wasn't catty, disruptive or a drama llama. He will do well in his career.

My Design Star Winner Prediction:
Hilari

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ZenMama,

ZenMama,

Are you are carpenter? You totally "nailed" it in your assessment ^ above.

quote:

Originally posted by lavern2:
ZenMama,

Are you are carpenter? You totally "nailed" it in your assessment ^ above.

LOL!! Love the reference!!

Remember last year after Kelli was cut, she had a lot to say on her blog about all the restrictions they had when they were shopping & stuff that we, as viewers, are never told about? Maybe the reason Danielle ran around without asking for assistance is that they were told they couldn't ask for assistance and perhaps her budget for the space wouldn't stretch to an area rug by the time she realized that she was going to need to choose a different table?

Although Mikel hasn't really made an impression on me all season and his solution to the color challenge was flawed, I thought Danielle's solution was truly a failure and she should have been eliminated.

Although Mikel's choice of that shade of green showed questionable judgment and taste, he did use the color in a "meaningful way." His room read "green." Danielle's room didn't read "blue" at all.

Mikel's furniture arrangement was somewhat problematic (in my opinion, though, not for the same reasons the judges gave, but that's a long-winded opinion I won't post today), Danielle's overall design looked downright amateur and unfinished. I'm surprised there was no comment about the attempted wainscot that stopped part-way down the wall, with only an underscaled cabinet as an anchor. Her design was missing color, lighting, scale, accessories, joy, taste, the whole nine yards.

Danielle is certainly lovely and very photogenic, but she chokes on challenges and just isn't star level.

Of the remaining contestants, I think Hilari shows the most promise.

quote:

Originally posted by rebotco:
Although Mikel's choice of that shade of green showed questionable judgment and taste, he did use the color in a "meaningful way." His room read "green." Danielle's room didn't read "blue" at all.

I don't agree with you about that choice of green showing any kind of questionable judgment or taste. I've seen Bromstad do rooms in that color, and coincidentally, Meg used almost exactly that green on her show yesterday, and the place looked terrific. In fact, she's used similar colors this season before and all the rooms looked great, IMO. I just think the way Mikel used the color wasn't to its best effect.