Design Star Challenge 5, My Thoughts

Is it just me? Am I that picky? Are my expectations really too high? Even with the rooms turning out the best of any group challenge rooms of the season, I was still left scratching my head wondering where were the designer touches, the ideas, implements, and combinations that leave you saying: "WOW, now that's a Design Star!"?

Nathan, Lonni, and Jason tackled the family room of a military family in military base housing. Vanilla to the core, this room was one that needed to provide tons of function as well as tons of style. In the end, the room turned out like this:

Not bad, right? Just, not great. Jason was in charge of the shopping, and he's a pretty good shopper, especially if you're into an eclectic mix (which I am). But being a pretty good shopper doesn't mean you're a pretty good designer. Likewise, Nathan, who had a great concept for the entertainment unit which was built to hide and compartmentalize the gaming systems and their components, didn't have the ability to complete the project in a reasonable period of time. Leaving the team ultimately out of time, with a plan that hadn't been completely executed. Lonni did a great job with her Chevron painting on the dining room wall, but, as beautiful as it was - and really spot on for the homeowners, it looked to be like too much work for the time that they were allotted. The fault in this room didn't lay in the hands of one person who mismanaged their time, but in the hands of the group - which seemed more interested in single contributions than the finished product.

What they left out:

1. A desk, or a space for computer gaming - which was expressed as a need by the client. The reason: there wasn't enough TIME to put the desk together. Now, of course, Nathan got blamed for the desk - and rightfully so to some degree. He had volunteered to put it together, and he didn't make sufficient use of the time he had. BUT, knowing the degree of the challenge, and the time constraints, the shopper (Jason) could have opted for a desk that was not build-it-yourself.
2. Curtain rods. Genevieve said it just when I did - "Buy a dowel from the hardware store" and then pan camera back to Jason who suddenly got it - just a little too late. Even the homeowner noticed that they didn't have any privacy (where the houses are less than 3' from each other) because the drapes were stationary.
3. Personality. Drama. The IT factor.

Now, I like Jason, I like everyone who is in the competition at this point. Did I narrow down my choices of people to go home to include him? Yes. Did it also include Nathan? Yes. Did they send the right person home? I'm not sure.

After some on camera tussling, Torie, Dan, and Antonio finally seemed to be working as a unit to complete this space:

Which of course ended up getting many of the raving reviews of the night, and I agree with the judges. The space is interesting, colorful, textural, and it relates to something, and someone. The idea for the two televisions is genius - not only functional, but really cool! I love the clean lines of the sofa, the color, the size, the shape. It's great, and the collection of colors is really very well executed. There isn't much here: brown, green, and blue. All colors we see and feel in nature everyday - the perfect compliment to the homeowner, who wanted a "neutral" space.

What I didn't like:

1. I wasn't so sure about the artwork hanging to either side of the smaller television. Not only was it not hung level, but it seemed to really sort of compete for attention with the other items in the space. I think without them, the space would have read more clean, and fit better into the other lines in the space. (i.e., that sofa, and the linear wall unit.)

What I loved:

1. Well, obviously the colors, but also the way that even with some pushing from Antonio, they gave the client a neutral and inviting space without giving her tan or brown. So good for them.

What I would have done differently:

1. Not much, actually. I thought it was the better of the two rooms, and with the exception of the two pieces of art on either side of the smaller television - I think that everything here really works well together.

Now, do I think that this room has the "IT" factor? No, not really. Many of my blogging friends have living rooms nicer than these, that they did with less money, and fewer hands helping. So, I hope I don't sound too harsh when I say, when will the design STARS emerge?