By JULIA @ HOOKEDONHOUSES.NET
Believe it or not, last night I finally had a chance to watch “Top Design” for the first time in several weeks. Their challenge was to design a room around a Swarovski chandelier. These aren’t your typical chandeliers, however, so it forced the designers to get a little creative.
Take a look at the how the rooms turned out and then tell me which was your favorite–and which designer should’ve gone home:
Andrea went for old Hollywood glam in her room:
Eddie’s room was an homage to his boss, Martha Stewart (did you know he’s a stylist for Martha? It’s one of the best-kept secrets of the season–second only to who Andrea’s husband is):
Nathan’s room was designed for “a really bratty rich girl” who has everything–including a life-sized horse:
Ondine’s room featured an odd light-in-a-sack chandelier:
Preston’s room was designed around a dark purple, pear-shaped disco ball:
If you didn’t see the show yourself, can you guess which rooms the judges panned, and which ones they flipped over?
First of all, they loved Nathan’s psychedelic room for that bratty rich girl. For a minute it looked like he might win this one. They raved about how crazy it was. One thing I’ve learned from watching these reality competitions is that it’s better to go big in a challenge and do something nuts than it is to be boring and risk putting the judges to sleep. You rarely go home for taking chances. (Write that down if you plan on auditioning for this show in the future.)
Ondine’s room? They didn’t like hers at all. They thought it was kind of “sad.” Too much going on. And the grasscloth on the wall? “So done already.”
They loved Preston’s room the best and named him the winner of the Swarovski Chandelier challenge.
They really despised Eddie’s “Martha Room.” It was called words like “disgusting” and “grotesque.” Wow. Kinda harsh.
The Martha Room even featured Martha Stewart furniture, which didn’t really work with that gold Vegas chandelier. They said, “You’re lucky you have immunity this week or you would’ve been out.”
Eddie dismissed all of the judges’ criticisms, as usual. He blew off Todd Oldham’s advice, too. This is who Eddie reminds me of:
Kenley was always sneering and rolling her eyes at Tim Gunn’s advice on “Project Runway,” even when she should’ve listened. And she never had much respect for the judges’ opinions, either.
Anyway. Back to “Top Design.” The judges actually kind of liked Andrea’s room this week. They didn’t rip it apart, aside from that “hideous shell-vase from the ’80s” that she put on her coffee table. They liked everything about her Hollywood-glam room except the accessories.
But Andrea broke down crying and said she couldn’t take it any more. She just wanted to go hoooome.
I guess I can’t blame her. I’d probably be homesick and exhausted, too, at that point, but I was disappointed in her. I wanted her to buck up. Be strong. Hang in there, Andrea! The finish line is in sight!
The judges basically said, “Ondine is the one we were going to send home. But if you want to leave, Andrea, you’re free to go instead.”
Andrea couldn’t make up her mind. It was agonizing to see Ondine standing there, waiting to find out what her fate on the show would be.
Then Andrea turned to Ondine and said, “What should I do, Ondine?” Um, maybe she isn’t the most unbiased person to be getting your advice from at this moment, Andrea.
She finally decided to throw in the towel, giving Ondine a second chance and another week to fight.
So that’s how this week’s episode played out. I thought Eddie was the front-runner of this thing for a long time, but my faith in him was badly shaken by that dining room. What do you think?
Check out this fun Swarovski Chandelier Challenge hosted by Blogging Top Design. TD judge Margaret Russell will actually be judging the room you create!
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Get your house tours ready. I’ll put up Mister Linky tonight so you can add your posts when you’re ready. Feel free to use this blog button or take the smaller one from the right sidebar. See you then!
{ 32 comments }
I usually LOVE Eddies rooms and I kind of like his snark too! You have to defend your designs, something I didn’t do in design school which is why I ended up as an Economics major. Anyway, he disappointed me this week. The room didn’t come together at all. I can only hope that he does better next episode.
I’m so tired of Eddie. Definitely reminds me of Kenley from PR also. How do people get that nasty so young? Yikes! I honestly don’t like a lot of Eddie’s work either. Last night it was horrible. The light definitely did not go with the room, but the room even without the light I hated. I really want to like Ondine’s stuff, but it’s hard. Preston’s stuff I like, but I think Nathan has the most original and creative talent of the group.
I can’t believe Andrea did that.
I didn’t see the show, I usuall catch in reruns.
I agree, Eddie needs to go home.
Andrea’s room was the best in my opion.
Nathan definitely should win, altho. I am not a fan of that room.
Ondine sux! Sorry, that’s just how I feel.
Preston is good but Nathan has it goin on!
You’re dead on with the Eddie/Kenley comparison. I’d like to see Preston win, and was really happy for him when he won this one. I can’t take how snooty Nathan and Eddie are to him. He took the least desirable fixture and made it work. I thought Nathan’s room was ugly, and sometimes squint my eyes trying to see his work the way the judges seem to because I have to admit…I don’t always get their rave reviews, LOL! Eddie’s work is always fabulous…until this dining room. I wonder what Martha has to say about it…I mean he took her gorgeous furniture and tortured it with those walls…not the best promo for her line. She’ll have his head.
I’m sorry i missed it!
I loved Odine’s puple wall with all the mirrors. loved it.
I was disappointed in Eddie’s room. It was a mishmash of stuff, and he wasn’t very complimentary of the chandelier, which could’ve been spectacular in the right setting. He has a blog, however, which is very enjoyable. I’ve left a comment here and there, and he’s always e-mailed me back with his appreciation. He really is a lot more talented than what we’re seeing on TD.
Nathan needs to be careful with his designs. He’s starting to go so over the top that Preston may just pull out ahead and win the whole banana. While there were a few things in his room that could’ve been tweaked a bit, I thought the overall look was absolutely stunning. Plus, I’ve gotta root for my homeboy.
I really liked Ondine’s room, but it didn’t work with the chandelier. And I know that thing was called the “light sock,” but it resembled a scrotum to me. I think I would’ve struggled with that design, too. :-/
Looking forward to tomorrow’s house tours, Julia.
Hi Julia – thanks for posting about the contest. I hope all your readers (and you too!) consider entering. It will be a lot of fun seeing what folks come up with and the prizes will be great! Something sparkly from Swarovski and Margarets autographed book!
I really did not like Eddie’s room, and I have a feeling Martha wouldn’t have liked it either…in fact, she might have hit him over the head for throwing her name around so much. He seems to always be on one week and off the other. Nathan has been my favorite because he takes those risks and they tend to work out really well for him.
I thought the horse in the Nathan’s room was the ugliest thing I have seen in a long time! I’m with the judges and think Ondine should of went home. Preston is my favorite.
Eddie needs to stick to arranging flowers for Martha. Please get rid of him next!
Andrea leaving is a shame.
She didn’t give herself a chance to succeed. Why do some women sabotage themselves?
And poor Ondine’s light looked like those spider egg sack halloween decorations!
Just got a chance to watch last night’s taped episode. Here are my thoughts:
-Sorry to see Andrea leave. I think she has a strong core design sense and will probably regret her decision to leave the show.
-Really loved Preston’s room. He “flew under the radar” for me at first, but I’ve really liked his style lately … and his professionalism and self-control.
-So over Eddie! Seriously, can he be more full of himself? Martha may fire him after seeing that monstrosity of a room. (But, how can India have never seen a sofa used at a dining room table before?!)
-Ondine is lucky. I don’t really think her designs are ever all that great, and she seems so joyless when she’s working. It makes me wonder if she really likes what she’s doing.
-I like Nathan okay, but he’s just a little quirky for my taste.
Andrea probably represented my style most closely, and I used to like Eddie (until he became so incredibly obnoxious), but I’d have to say that Preston is my favorite now.
So fun to read your recap and everyone’s comments!
Missed the show, but why did Andrea lose it? Come on girl, you got this far, keep on and see how far you can go!
I feel like the judges embraced Nathan’s room precisely because it was ugly. It’s like they felt a need to feign some sort of mysterious, artistic appreciation for an odd room just to be different and artsy. I mean, let’s be honest, that room was hideous, and it did not look like a rich girl’s room. That little bed was pathetic, and the room, overall, did not look like $22,000 (the designers’ budgets). I like Eddie. Yes, he is pompous, but his arrogance, to me, is so over the top, I get the impression he’s overcompensating, and is really quite harmless. Although I agree with the other commenters that he’s doing a disservice to Martha’s Stewart’s brand! Thanks for the recap, Julia!
I watch it and I have to say. ….We all know Eddie works for Martha.. That he’s flown in Martha’s Jet, that he’s probably peed in Martha’s potty. Great,who-hoooo, but you know what. He’s not a nice person. Nathan is really nice,Preston is really nice, Ondine is really nice. Eddie needs to get over himself. His room sucked this week…He needs to step back and realize what he is saying on TV. Preston deserved to win. I’ll check out that other link.
I like that giant horse! But mostly, the people on this show just wear me out. I get stressed and want to slap them for being so snotty and wound up.
Your comments are cracking. Me. Up. Too funny, you guys! Liz, the image of you going in and slapping all the contestants for being snotty made me laugh.
Nice recap Julia
Was not over enthused by some of the lights or some of the designs! The “scrotum” light(hee Sandra) was gross. Liked the giant driftwood horse…but not much else of that room…kinda gave me a migraine. As did Eddie himself. Prestons light actually worked in his room. Andrea was a baby…cause she knew she would lose. Could not believe she turned to Ondine to ask her, with a laugh and a smile, what she shoud do! I was gonna sock her if she then decided to stay!
I liked Andrea’s room the best, but also loved Preston’s if he wouldn’t have used the sunburst. I loved Eddie’s chandelier, and the paint job was fun, I also liked the settee, but he is ARROGANT and can go. Ondine’s …….. well, I thought we could all do that, the light was bad though, and uninspiring, and I don’t find her truthful. I feel like a heel. Who is Andrea’s husband?
Karlene–
Andrea is married to former child star Rick Schroder, whose photo she kept next to her bed. -Julia
Did you see Kenley’s face when she found out TG was standing in as judge.
I was underwhelmed with Eddie. His room, his attitude and his room – I know I said it twice. We’ve already seen what he can do with Martha Stewart furniture – it’s in all her magazines! I think it was just such a cop-out to use that furniture.
I was so upset that Andrea asked Ondine what she thought. I was laughing to my husband and I said “See Ya!” I don’t know how she was able to hold back from it. I’m glad Andrea finally stopped laughing long enough to make a decision.
Once again, I love your recaps. Thanks so much.
Kristin
I don’t remember who the people are since I only know the show through these recaps. But I think it’s gonna be either Preston or Nathan who wins. Thanks for the update!
I’m so behind with blogs AND Top Design. I’ll try to catch up this weekend, I hope.
I always think it’s a darn good thing I switched magors (when I discovered I’m not so good at Interior Design) when I see stuff like this and feel so design ignorant. The rooms I think look awesome they hate and the ones I think are hideous they love. I do not understand. I think I’ll go Shaker. I like ladder-back chairs. Get rid of everything and just have hard wooden benches, tables, and hang my chairs on the wall on the 5,000pegs I’ll have for that purpose. One outfit. Work in the garden all day and do whatever they did inside during the winter. Muck stalls.
Anyway. I wish I had cable so I could actually watch the people at work–but I’m thinking the Martha employee doesn’t need to win if he’s already got a secure job giving her free, shameless, and unneeded plugs.
What a great challenge. I haven’t caught this show, I’m going to have to search for it and tape it.
I’m excited to see the tour tomorrow!!!
I liked Preston’s room the most this week but I didn’t like Nathan’s at all. Couldn’t quite understand how the judges raved it was so good. I thought Eddie’s was terrible too. I used to really like him but his attitude is just too much. I do usually like his work the best but I can’t stand how smug he is. I felt so bad for Ondine when Andrea could not make up her mind whether to leave or stay.
I would have smacked Andrea if I were Ondine. Although, the editing may have completely changed the tone of the actual conversation.
Eddie may be obnoxious, but he does have a point about not having to ask the judges about what he thinks is good. I think that’s what has propelled Adler & Wearstler through their careers.
Btw, where has Kelly been? Not that I was unhappy to see Simon Doonan this week. I like him quite a bit more than Adler. Adler seems soooo phony. I thought at first that I was misreading him, but now I’ve turned back to my first assessment.
This is becoming the Eddie Ross Show instead of Top Design. He gets so much air time with all his commentary. Even though he is completely stuck on himself, he still cracks me up and his comments do make for good tv! His room was the most disappointing this week, but overall, I think he is very good at what he does. Even without the immunity, I wouldn’t have wanted to see him go.
For the first time, I was really impressed with Andrea’s room. However, it was definitely time for her to go home. When she turned to Ondine and asked what she thought, it showed big time weakness on Andrea’s part. Bye-bye.
Nathan designs rooms TO get published , Preston does rooms that get published. IOW Nathan is trying to hard. Eddie is great accessorizing and can collaborates well if someone has a stronger personality to keep him in check, but on his own his designs are derivative at best. I think Andrea has a great eye for scale and color but she lacks confidence in her choices; she should leverage her appearance and get on as an associate at a first line design firm in LA or Santa Barbra, work for a designer that will mentor her, and we could see her work in House Beautiful in less than five years.(I’m boosy tonight aren’t I)
Adler irked me with his “well if you want to go…go” comment, he sounded like a little girl who’s feelings got hurt because someone at her slumber party said they want to go hang with their boyfriend since lunch on Friday.
That should of been “bossy” no booze today, well at least yet, it’s early
I used to think it would come down to Nathan and Eddie. Now I’m SURE it will be Nathan and Preston. I can’t stand Eddie. I really liked Andrea’s room this week. I’m sorry to see she decided to go. But asking Ondine what she should do? LOL
I think Nathan’s room lost because he didn’t make the chandelier the center piece. And I think Ondine’s room would have been much better if she would have lowered the sock and made it part of the sitting area. As it is it’s hanging way too high.
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