Design Star Fans:
I am so sorry. I was so excited about finding out who won Design Star that I totally forgot to watch it and write about it. I guess I had convinced myself that it was over and I never had to watch it again! I hate it when shows make you suffer through a reunion show just to find out the winner. If you missed it too, the winner announcement video is here.
–OR–
Seeing some of these flashbacks made me realize how much more interesting it was on a drama level when people I didn’t like were on the show. Is there anyone besides Matt or Jen you think should have made it to the final two? Who was your favorite? Least favorite? Was there one particular challenge-winning design that stood out from the rest? Do you think anyone unfairly got the shaft?
What do you think the winner’s show should be called. So far, past winners have shows called Color Splash and Myles of Style.
What’s the cheesiest and most pun-filled name you can come up with? Why doesn’t Sparkle Josh have a show of his own? Oh wait, he is on a show, how did I miss this? He’s hilarious. Maybe he and Blayne from Project Runway should make cameo appearances on Sunset Tan.
Alright, enough from me, what did you all think? - Becky Harris
(text by Becky Harris, Images from HGTV.com)
August 5th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
because i thought the last few contestants were kinda boring- design wise. i think it could have been interesting to see what stephanie and michael stribling would have done in the last few challenges. they’re younger, have quirkier personalitys, and like mixing styles- they may have made some bolder choices as opposed to all the blah rooms we saw.
i liked both matt and jen and thought they would take it from the start- but i wish they would have pushed it a little more design wise. none of their rooms really made a statement.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Alright, I have been waiting for this post which makes me really silly I’m sure. Mikey, the cop wasn’t there. Did you notice Becky? From what I’ve read online he was asked not to come by HGTV to his alleged appearance in a porn over a decade ago. I think HGTV was incredibly wrong and felt it was odd that it was never mentioned that he was not there.
The suspense really wasn’t present because really, could Matt have won in all reality? I also felt sort of uncomfortable with the way they paraded those New Orleans family around and made them come up on stage to be handed gift cards. Not saying it’s not wonderful that people are helping Katrina victims, it just felt a little grand standing to me.
As far as Jen’s show I’m sure it will have something to do with customization with paint since that’s what she exceled at during the series. I think Color Splash is hit and miss and Myles of Style is really, really bad.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I was pretty darn sure Jen would win and I think she’ll be fun to watch. Above average, but hopefully she’ll be able to shine when not under that timed pressure. Come through for us Jen!
August 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
i totaly missed this whole series of shows. oops.
pssst…. i need your new blog button for my sidebar please :)
mod*moms last blog post: mod*mom interviewed at blogher by cafepress
August 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
oh i see them!
thank you :)
mod*moms last blog post: mod*mom interviewed at blogher by cafepress
August 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
K I hope Matt really uses this for some great pr. That’s the sad thing I notice about reality tv contestants they don’t always know how to use the experience. He seemed let down and I wish I was part of his friend circle and could say dude you’ve got so many ways to use this lets go work on it before the 15 minutes end. I’m very happy for dimples she’ll do great and she really will pull me into wanting to watch her if they don’t try to turn her into some caricature of some fun time children’s story teller type. I’m very happy that they all seem to like each other for the most part. The first guy who got cut was kinda awkward for everyone to listen to given he had sooo much to say. I liked the design pro-showdownish show that followed. The sound was off I was on the phone, but I liked what cynthia rowley did with mirror tiles. Depressing the way they kept showing I guess the original mock up of a dark wood paneled living room, and being in sound stage wasn’t delightful. I didnt realize how much I need some sunlight in a room even if I’m watching the room on tv.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hi everyone! Erin, I can totally understand your comment!!! I promise I have way more in me!!! I should have come with more tricks up my sleeve! :) I hope that I don’t scare people away from commenting b/c I can totally take it! I love to hear people’s responses b/c I want to be able to connect w/ everyone as an audience! Feel free to tell me what you want to see on a show! Thank you Becky for writing your blog on the show and Holly for sharing it with everyone! jen :)
August 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Jennifer you need to invite me to your show and we can go design scouting in Boston and Germany. :) Which gives me an idea… Why don’t you pitch to your HGTV crew that they need a show that takes people into the shops and artists studios around the country for shop interviews, tours, space tours, and show us where stuff is made and how it’s made and by whom. I can TOTALLY see a personality like yours rocking something like this out. Your designs are nice but honest to goodness your personality is so darn cute and fun to watch, they need you to go out and use your amazing charm to meet shop owners and turn HGTV more towards what’s going on locally and on an independent level. People want to see it, trust me. Why do you think thousands flock to blogs?
Go get ‘em dimples! :)
August 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
OMG Jennifer is here too cool and too funny. Just as a deisgn veiwer who is starved for more real design on television I would love to see you get to really be true to yourself and I picture you in a kind of glam professor of design way. No more this is how you can make $500 look like $500 stuff, hopefully they will allow you to really inspire with grand ideas. Also I notice that HGTV and Food Network really like to dumb it down and then have the host talk in commercial like sound bites. You were very interesting to listen to just in the moment by moment interviews, so maybe one of your niche areas could be to explain your thought and execution processes. It seems people love hearing things come from a designers perspective ( you know the stuff we think might sound like artsy garbly goo), you are good at saying it without it sounding intimidating.
My hopes are that you get great budgets, uncommon design projects, and clients who want to be true to themselves but want it executed in the highest and most unique form.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Jen, I’m so glad you are reading – I received an email from you through the design public PR department and it had no return address and I could not get back to you. Congratulations on your win. I would really like to see you and your hubby do a show together. I also think it would be cool to concentrate on the midwest since it gets a bad design rap. I grew up in Cincinnati, and I hear great things about Kansas City (home of Kate Spade) and it would be nice to hear about great sources in places in the middle of the country besides Chicago.
I think Matt’s skills would be great for a problem-solving carpentry centered show. He’s a savant as far as those kinds of things go, and I really like his personality a lot – he seems like such a sweet guy.
If I never see Michael again it will be too soon.
Wow, HGTV dissed Mikey V. Unbelievable. I’m not digging that at all, if that’s what happened. In this day and age, who hasn’t done a little gay porn in the past?
Luka, I couldn’t agree with you more about parading the families around. I know Leah commented in the same vein last week about exploiting them a little too much. I still think ANYTHING that brings attention to the plight of the Katrina survivors is a good thing, because we should all be aware of what they are still going through.
I still think Mikey V. should have a show that’s a combination of Cops and While You Were Out. Maybe he and Martha Stewart could do a show involving jail cell decor together. My favorite line from the whole show was still “I can come to your house, arrest you, and redecorate.” My second favorite was from Clive to Michael Stribling in this last episode: “Aw, that’s so nice. My mother thinks I’m over-rated.”
Again DS watchers, I am so sorry for the delay. I think I was distracted by Mad Men on Sundays, and sadly after that, Army Wives on Lifetime. Don’t make too much fun of me; there is a rule that you can watch as much Lifetime as you want after a breakup!
becky from hatchs last blog post: Grant Park Atlanta Mystery
August 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Jen–it’s JJ from high school and college. I just wanted to tell you I’ve watched the show religiously and have cheered you on the whole way through. You did a great job and more importantly, you were simply entertaining to watch because you were always yourself! Congratulations…I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!
August 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Becky your post cracks me up. And for the record, I haven’t. :) (re: 4th paragraph)
August 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Whoa. You watch Lifetime? Becky…. I once thought SO much of you. har har
August 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Ok I don’t know if it was HGTV that asked Mikey V not to show up… If it was HGTV that asked him not to show not cool, but it seems there is more to this story that we don’t know so I would hate to paint HGTV as the bad guy.
I am happy that Jen won (and great to see her comments) but I feel she and the other designers are really handicapped by the time limits and them having to act as their own carpenters. Seriously the past winners and even current designers (hello Verne) all have carpenter help, I think that will limit their design choices. They cannot neccessarily go as bold as they want because they do have that time constraint so I think (and maybe I am too optimistic) that if they didn’t have to worry about the carpentry aspect as much they as a whole would have more time to execute a bolder design plan.
Jen for a show, I like the idea Holly had about going into independent shops etc. Also it would be wonderful if you could help people figure out where to jump off when decorating a room. When I help my sisters they always want to pick a paint first, my opinion is to pick a fabric/furniture etc first because it is much easier to match a paint to those than to find a fabric/furniture that you love to match your shade of paint. I know I find it intimidating to go into a thrift store and shop so maybe you can incorporate more of the shopping and planning into your show, I know how to paint a wall and really don’t need to see it being painted….show more of the process and less of the execution and nice slow shots of the finished product.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Holly, my favorite classic Lifetime movie title of all time is “Mother May I Sleep with Danger?” starring Tori Spelling. It’s been a bad couple of weeks; therefore I am allowed to watch Lifetime. And Oxygen. I’ve picked up my new favorite saying from Oxygen, which is “POP OFF! POP OFF! POP OFF SON!” from The Bad Girls Club. “OFF” is pronounced “AWWUFF”
OK, I don’t really watch The Bad Girls Club, I just saw clips of it on The Soup.
Wendy, a lot of times when I watch shows with a reveal, I watch the first five minutes, ff through the next 20 minutes, and then watch the big reveal. Execution is boring,and it’s so painful when the carpenters and the designers are doing their best to make puns and act wacky.
becky from hatchs last blog post: Grant Park Atlanta Mystery
August 5th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I watched the reunion show with my eight year old daughter last night (I always have to ask HER what channel number is HGTV – she’s always watching it), and we had to go to bed, so I missed seeing who won. Thanks for posting it!
Jessies last blog post: rainy day
August 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Jen was the most down to earth of everyone. Did you notice they never really painted her in a negative light? She seemed to get along with everyone and just had a pleasant nature about her on camera. Could you imagine if Matt or that chick that always says “Let me ask you this” had won?
Yuck! How would they paint those folks in a good light? They were just flat out self ambitious snobs!
I’m please Jen won–her laugh is infectious and I loved the clips they strung together that showed her laughing all the time–so funny!
~Sadie Lou
August 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Jessie, I’d love to see your daughter partner up with someone on Design Star. I think kids are so creative in ways we have lost once we age and become cynical!
Sadie Lou, first of all I love your name. I agree, I love Jen’s very genuine laugh and demeanor. And you know, sometimes people claim “oh, they edited it to make me look bad,” but honestly, if one is acting ugly enough to paint their character ugly on a show, it tends to be who they really are. I think the same could be said for nice people. I did like Matt’s personality too – I didn’t find him snobby. I just thought he lacked taste and a real understanding of space.
becky from hatchs last blog post: Grant Park Atlanta Mystery
August 5th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
i just want to post about how much i agree with holly’s first comment about shops and artists studio’s and homes around the country…and it’s totally time for decor and style television shows to take a hint from blogs! i think holly is right- jennifer could totally take this on. i think they should take advantage of the publicity the design stars get and try something new instead of just fixing up a regular old show for them.
congrats and good luck!
-caitlin
Nice-Etcs last blog post:
August 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
So there is an interesting point. I have always just assumed that with these shows they have in mind ahead of time who is going to play good cop and who is the drama oriented, poor victim, snotty, or whoever types. Take what might pop up in one part of an interview or audition and over amplify it to the extent of losing who the person really is and therefore what they are really capable of. I am happy to see somebody comment on here saying that Jen was herself. I mean, who hasn’t had a snarky day… what if that became your tag-line throughout the series? To be labeled and not be able to move past it would suck.
So Jen I like the idea of Holly’s but spiced up a bit. I opened a bridal store years ago with my sister and the two of us were on completely the same page of not wanting a frou frou or lovelier than thou look… we wanted to really step apart from what was already out there without going too far. It became an issue though in what we thought was too far and what was the best way to showcase the product. We knew the business, and we knew design, and we even knew exactly what we wanted in our living spaces, but to find what worked in a boutique was a totally different situation. We eventually put our heads together and it was a pretty equal mix of both of us, and both LOVED the end result, but what about somebody who has a product but no design experience? There is a shoe store down the street owned by an old man that is terribly sweet and I am sure that is why he is still in business, because there is NOTHING about his store that makes you want to step inside. What if you did a show that took artisans, independent “makers of stuff” (which could include everything from shoe boutiques to bakeries) and help them design their retail space around their product? Not only do I think this would be an interesting twist to figuring out colours and furnishings for a space, but it would help out people who are trying so hard to compete in a big box world that don’t really have the funding to hire complete firms to design a building from scratch. It would also be kind of nifty to do a sort of sidebar on creating “the vignette” or tying the colour palette into the PR, or embellishing the space with a look that stems from a showpiece the way we would create a room from a painting. So it could still tie in to the home decor world and give viewers ideas to use in their spaces.
Just a thought…
Congratulations!!! Your head must be spinning!
Andrea Bells last blog post: Old vs New
August 5th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Jen, I’m so happy to see you post on here. I’d love to see a show on HGTV where items like we are seeing on blogs now – British wallpaper, open and airy spaces with a mix of vintage and new furniture, etc. were highlighted for younger (20s & 30s) viewers. There are a lot of us out there that I think HGTV sometimes forgets.
Looking forward to watching your show.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m so glad that Jen won! She was definitely my choice. I love her personality and laugh and am excited to see what she’ll do without that annoying too-little-time limit that Design Star implements in each episode.
I love Holly’s suggestion of focusing on local shops and artists and then maybe showing viewers how to work these creative and colorful pieces into their everyday lives. I agree with Wendy–I’ll be fine without having to see another wall being painted on HGTV again. I’d like to see more of the thought-process of beginning the decorating process and tips for selecting the “right” materials, colors and accents for a room.
Congrats, Jen!
Mirandas last blog post: Why I’m not applying to be a forest ranger any time soon
August 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
woah jennifer is reading this! glad you didn’t mind what i said. from the beginning i’ve been rooting for you, like i said i wish you pushed it a little more ( but on the other hand i have no idea what its like to pull together a room with the crayz budget and time constraints you guys had) but i can’t wait to see what you can do when there aren’t those crazy factorss!!
btw you are adorable, i love your personality and i cant wait to see that come through more in your show
do you know what kind of a show you are doing? i would love to see more of your artistic skills shown. a show like holly mentioned would be awesome too!
the other day ( i dont know why i was thinking about this, btw ) i was thinking why doesn’t hgtv have some sort of talk show. a show with designer/artist guests… segments on furniture and accessories… stuff on home makeovers… up and coming trends, that kind of thing. like rachel rays talk show meets interior design/decorating.
maybe i’m the only dork who would watch it?
August 5th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I’m a little starstruck seeing that Jen herself posted here! I will watch any show with Jennifer, just to see what she’s wearing. I love the ideas others have suggested of focusing more on the indie design scene. I think that suits Jennifer’s sensibility very well.
Kibas last blog post: My Latest Project: Whedoncraft
August 5th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Jenn,
Congratulations on your win! I was happy to see you came out on top. I liked your designs. I don’t see how anybody could say you didn’t create rooms that made a statement…I liked your more artistic designs, especially the room with the yellow and white painted design on the walls.
I’ll take your request seriously and add my own suggestions and comments about HGTV shows. I am sick, sick, sick of the “let’s redo a room in one day for $500 shows.” I think the designs look cheap and I question the quality of the work. HGTV provides me with inspiration and education. Sure, there’s a dream factor involved — I love to look at rooms that I might not necessarily be able to afford, as I gaze at amazing rooms in decor magazines. Maybe I can borrow an idea from one portion of the room, or look for a similar lamp. I still get great pleasure from seeing the work of talented designers who are able to work with fine materials and fine furniture. They provide inspiration.
Unlike other posters, I don’t like the idea of a show in which you would go into shops in cities far away from mine. Most decor shows I see in reruns. I hate the idea of seeing pieces that were for sale two years ago, in places I’d have to pay thousands of dollars to travel to, even if the pieces still were for sale. I’d rather see a beautiful finished room than a shop full of stuff that was for sale two years ago.
I’d like to see you do a show that wasn’t 100% scripted. You have a natural charm, and seeing you reading a script would seem artificial to me. I do like the idea of hearing you go through a design process — whether the room is based on wall color, wallpaper, a good rug, a fabric, or some other piece of the decor. Working with your client, watching the design evolve based on your ad libbed explanations…that would be a show I would like to see. Maybe you could also visit a well-designed room in the style you are shooting for, so we could see a beautiful room that you were using as inspiration.
I’m sure you and your producers will come up with an amazing concept, and I know your personality will make for enjoyable watching. Good luck!
August 5th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Luka nice of you to think the worst of HGTV and not provide any back up I have read a lot of stuff online as well some true some not. No source….it makes me question the veracity of that comment. Maybe HGTV did do it maybe they didn’t but I am not ready to think of them as the bad guy yet. I have also read on another site; that does a round of of news round up as well as analysis of reality tv, that Mikey V has issues with the Hollywood police department (they cited local tv news websites) so maybe at the request of his lawyer he didn’t show up, we probably will never know. (Side note why are we so quick to believe bad things about people, networks etc the world isn’t one big conspiracy theory.) I think we should stick with the facts that we know, Mikey V was not in the final show case closed and not speculate why he was or wasn’t there.
I would like to see Jen and Matt work together because he can come up with some amazing solutions to challenges. And Jen is awesome and some of her painting techniques at least the ones on the show were really fun and cool. The two of them together would be really approachable for people and entertaining. As another commenter stated it would be nice to see something in the midwest as I feel it is often slighted by both coasts as dowdy backwards and lame. For a show to be based their I think the inspiration and needs would be something different and not something that is currently addressed by the current crop of shows. Have you ever noticed that for the majority of them they are based on homes in Southern Cali, that climate is not found all over the country, and climate will have an impact on design in my opinion. So much influences design and climate is one of them, the house I imagine I would have in Arizona is far different than the one I would have in Pennsylvania because of the climate. Perhaps I am the only one that would think that way.
Jen I loved the first individual challenge you did I so would love to have a room that was painted like that. My current house would not support a room like that but it is in my inspiration book, and the next house just might. And I used to not like yellowy-golds but you very much made it work and I could easily envision it in a full room in the proper house.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Wow Liz, I’m blown away by your accusations. You are a very rude woman.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Luka/Liz: Let’s try to get along and respect one another’s opinions because you both have the same right to think and feel the way you do — No one should come here to be judged harshly for having their opinion. Let’s stay on topic – Design Star!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hey all, didn’t want to turn this into a Mikey post since Jenn should have her chance to shine but since he’s my bro I can only bite my tongue for so long. All the details are not necessary for everyone to know since this is a very personal matter (yes I am aware that Mikey made the choice to become a public figure but 9 episodes of a reality show hardly prepares you for how to deal with the public being so involved with your personal life) but since I’ve read so much of the back and forth on several blogs I’d like to set the record straight. It was requested by HGTV that Mikey not attend the final taping of the show. The reason why friends and family were really hurt and angry is that they waited until two days before we were all set to fly to Nashville. They dropped this bombshell after assuring Mikey that he had their full support. I’m a practical person and can understand a networks desire to cover their behinds but it would have been easier to swallow if they had taken this stance from the beginning and not feigned support for Mikey. Also it was disturbing to watch the final episode and see how many clips of Mikey they decided to included. If they were so offended by the allegations of his past then why didn’t exclude him completely from the finale. Not much of HGTV’s decision really made much sense (let’s not forget the fact that they continue to air Lee Snijder’s Design on a dime show and he is now directing adult films and does not attempt to hide his prior association with HGTV). But what’s done is done, the show is over and no one will even remember this by tomorrow. Mikey’s design business is thriving and I have confidence that he will succeed regardless of HGTV’s opinion of him. To be totally honest I would have much rather he tried out for Top Design. The hosts on that show are of a much higher caliber and the challenges give the contestants much more opportunities to display their individual design philosophies.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
margie- maybe saying the rooms in the last few episodes didn’t make a statement was a little harsh. i’ve loved jen from the beginning, and have been commenting that she was going to win, and voted for her. (yes im a dork and actually voted) i just meant that i wish they were a little punchier- for example i liked the red kitchen in the finale- i just wish more color was brought throughout the dining room and living room. but given the circumstances i think she did great.
its good to hear mikeys doing well. i agree it sucks he wasn’t on the show. i never knew lee snijers was in the porn biz, and they air his shows over and over- so it really doesn’t make sense that they didn’t let mikey appear.
speaking of top design (as michelle mentioned) is there going to be a top design dish???
August 6th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Erin — I asked Becky to come back for a Top Design Dish. I SO hope she will…. If not I need to find someone else to take over as I cannot do it given I’ll miss the entire season being in Germany!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Jen is the best.That’s all,I got no more words.Thank you people.