Design Star - Page 58

faithful2me · 07-28-2008, 10:49 AM

I think that Matt and Jen are both very talented, but all of my votes are going to Jen, because I just love the "quirkiness" about her. I love her personality (and even her laugh), I love the way she dresses, and most importantly, I love her design style. I would definitely watch her show. I think Matt is very smart, and I have been so impressed with how he works around problem areas, but he just comes across to me as a little too over the top, sometimes; almost too sensitive. Regardless of who wins, I think they both deserve to be in the final two, and I wish them much success!

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Laurelee · 07-28-2008, 12:05 PM

I'd really be excited if Jen won, because I could see a successful show with her husband assisting. Kind of like Designing for the Sexes, they could pull resources from each spouse, meld ideas together and work together to make great rooms!

But.... if Matt won I wouldn't be upset, he is afterall from my hometown! When he was with his parents, I was trying to scope out what part of town they lived on heehee.

Allie · 07-28-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albean99

If you go to the Design Star site, you can see the judges walk through and commentary. They also mentioned that Jennifer's white sectional was leather which solves the kid problem.

I haven't been able to watch the show yet but did see the designs and like both of them. I will vote for Jennifer but think Matt may win if the votes for the top 4 are any indication. I just can't get the vote button to work.

Leather only mitigates the problem. I've seen white leather with kids and/or pets. Not only does it depend on the type of leather (some scratch very easily, while other is more processed and does not), but white or really light colors still show dirt very easily.

prhoshay · 07-28-2008, 12:28 PM

You can usually tells who has children and who doesn't on these shows. People without children usually think differently than people with children. I guess it's one of those "live and learn" things.

Arielflies · 07-28-2008, 12:49 PM

36 hours is not enough time to address some of the design issues. period.

My one problem with both designs was the choice of muddy brown in the kitchen; Matt on the cabinets and Jennifer on the walls. These families spent weeks, if not months, shoveling that very color out of their houses. I would not want to see mud or brown again for as long as I lived.

Another problem related to time, I'm sure, was the lighting. Other than Matt placing a gorgeous chandelier above the dining table, the construction installed overhead lights remained. Why did Matt choose to hang his chandelier across the width instead of down the length of the table? I found that odd. Jennifer's kitchen, unlike Matt's, had no outside light source (window) other than from the living area. That space screamed out for under the cabinet lighting as well as a spotlight track on the ceiling. In a related matter - I noticed that switch plates were missing from most of the outlets throughout.

Jennifer's kitchen - another problem that could have been solved with better shopping. Her choice of the french door refrigerator caused the two inch gap to the lower cabinet so the door could fully swing open. I now see that gap space being used to store brooms. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt with the gap problem, but it could also be that the measurements were wrong.

The red walls in Matt's dining room did not show as the same color on camera. the window wall (more light) looked lighter than the long wall and both looked like a muddy red - probably due to the overpainting.

Jennifer's use of white - The huge white sectional should have used up her quota of the color other than as trim. Adding a white large table right behind it was overkill. I think she should have left the table black and dressed it with white mats and dinnerware as well as a white vase of red flowers, perhaps...but, that is just me.

Jennifer had a fireplace, Matt did not. I like that she faced it in a gray tile but I wonder why she didn't add a mantle (of course she would have painted it white - LOL). Her glass table fit with her "light and airy" design, but I also question the practical use for it. It will be a nice dining area when the grandkids aren't there, though.

A side thought...has anyone noticed that with the modern door handles everyone is using it is easy to snag clothing? They are sleeker but the same type of handle my mom inherited in her eighties kitchen - walk away from a door and you pull it open with your sweater. *sigh*

For overall look, though, because I'm not a fan of minimalist, I'm going to vote for Jennifer. Another reason is I found Matt's over the top enthusiasm at every little thing to be over the top. I rated them about the same on hosting description of the rooms, but think I'll go with Jennifer.

shoepie · 07-28-2008, 01:24 PM

Arielflies, I am a fan of minimal decor and Matt did not pull that off well at all. Minimal does not mean bare. His living room looked as if they just moved in and hadn't unpacked their boxes yet. It is difficult to do minimal on a low budget because often one large well placed piece of art is costly as are large modern couches. You just cannot do minimal without some stand alone pieces that dazzle. He had no time to make a piece of art or even just stretch some fabric to make do either.

Jennifer's use of stripes on the wall was successful in making the room feel full and decorated and her red cabinets were fabulous for TV and just what the client wanted. Matt's brown painted cabinets were terrible. When faced with having to paint them (he should have known) choose ANY color but brown!

Kitchens bore me. Please, next year, skip the kitchens.

I didn't understand their criticism, earlier, about Jen painting on walls. They feared it would be a one trick pony deal. David Bromberg started out painting those landscapes with very recognizable trees but has since broadened his art.

I just watched the judges walk through. Matt's table is square so the light fixture would work either way. I suspect he hung it with the broad side to direction where it could be viewed best from different points in the house.

Arielflies · 07-28-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoepie

Well I found the voting but it doesn't work.

I read a blog that said you have to push the almost invisible black button (in a circle under each picture) of the one you want to vote for... it turns gold, then push the VOTE button.

All the comments on this blog were about the difficulty in figuring out how to vote.

Broadway · 07-28-2008, 01:41 PM

I was truly nonplussed with both rooms. I liked elements of both.. like Matt's square dining room table and cabinet pulls... and actually loved the rug he placed in the living room, too (brown and blue, was it not?)

I like Jen, and have enjoyed her rooms, but I could not stomach listening to that screeching voice for a half an hour. It's all I can do to tune her out when she speaks.

albean99 · 07-28-2008, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the voting tip. I didn't even notice that little black dot.

I don't really have a problem with them using white. I know it's about satisfying your client however this is a contest more than a design show and these judges don't seem to worry as much about practicality as they do the design itself. I've liked Jennifer's personality from the start and would probably enjoy her show. I liked a couple of Matt's early designs but it's not my style.

norealityhere · 07-28-2008, 02:57 PM

Neither house really had the Wow factor for me, but I felt that Matt achieved more of what his HO's wanted. Jennifer's white couch and small painted white table were just wrong for a large family with kids. The HO distinctly said that they needed to seat 8 - 10 people. That would leave some of the family eating on the floor, I guess. Also, Jen's HO's wanted bold, primary colors. The LR looked white and beige to me.

07-28-2008, 10:49 AM	#571
faithful2me FORT Regular Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 60	Re: Design Star I think that Matt and Jen are both very talented, but all of my votes are going to Jen, because I just love the "quirkiness" about her. I love her personality (and even her laugh), I love the way she dresses, and most importantly, I love her design style. I would definitely watch her show. I think Matt is very smart, and I have been so impressed with how he works around problem areas, but he just comes across to me as a little too over the top, sometimes; almost too sensitive. Regardless of who wins, I think they both deserve to be in the final two, and I wish them much success!

07-28-2008, 12:05 PM	#572
Laurelee FORT Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 10	Re: Design Star I'd really be excited if Jen won, because I could see a successful show with her husband assisting. Kind of like Designing for the Sexes, they could pull resources from each spouse, meld ideas together and work together to make great rooms! But.... if Matt won I wouldn't be upset, he is afterall from my hometown! When he was with his parents, I was trying to scope out what part of town they lived on heehee.

07-28-2008, 12:28 PM	#574
prhoshay Signed, Sealed, Delivered Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Right Here, Right Now Posts: 10,159	Re: Design Star You can usually tells who has children and who doesn't on these shows. People without children usually think differently than people with children. I guess it's one of those "live and learn" things. __________________ "...each affects the other, and the other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one." - Mitch Albom, one helluva writer You are the only person responsible for your happiness.

07-28-2008, 12:49 PM	#575
Arielflies Whose Eternity? Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Zac In My Thoughts Posts: 5,691	Re: Design Star 36 hours is not enough time to address some of the design issues. period. My one problem with both designs was the choice of muddy brown in the kitchen; Matt on the cabinets and Jennifer on the walls. These families spent weeks, if not months, shoveling that very color out of their houses. I would not want to see mud or brown again for as long as I lived. Another problem related to time, I'm sure, was the lighting. Other than Matt placing a gorgeous chandelier above the dining table, the construction installed overhead lights remained. Why did Matt choose to hang his chandelier across the width instead of down the length of the table? I found that odd. Jennifer's kitchen, unlike Matt's, had no outside light source (window) other than from the living area. That space screamed out for under the cabinet lighting as well as a spotlight track on the ceiling. In a related matter - I noticed that switch plates were missing from most of the outlets throughout. Jennifer's kitchen - another problem that could have been solved with better shopping. Her choice of the french door refrigerator caused the two inch gap to the lower cabinet so the door could fully swing open. I now see that gap space being used to store brooms. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt with the gap problem, but it could also be that the measurements were wrong. The red walls in Matt's dining room did not show as the same color on camera. the window wall (more light) looked lighter than the long wall and both looked like a muddy red - probably due to the overpainting. Jennifer's use of white - The huge white sectional should have used up her quota of the color other than as trim. Adding a white large table right behind it was overkill. I think she should have left the table black and dressed it with white mats and dinnerware as well as a white vase of red flowers, perhaps...but, that is just me. Jennifer had a fireplace, Matt did not. I like that she faced it in a gray tile but I wonder why she didn't add a mantle (of course she would have painted it white - LOL). Her glass table fit with her "light and airy" design, but I also question the practical use for it. It will be a nice dining area when the grandkids aren't there, though. A side thought...has anyone noticed that with the modern door handles everyone is using it is easy to snag clothing? They are sleeker but the same type of handle my mom inherited in her eighties kitchen - walk away from a door and you pull it open with your sweater. sigh For overall look, though, because I'm not a fan of minimalist, I'm going to vote for Jennifer. Another reason is I found Matt's over the top enthusiasm at every little thing to be over the top. I rated them about the same on hosting description of the rooms, but think I'll go with Jennifer. __________________ CONGRATULATIONS, Dan - Winner BB10! and Leanne - Winner PR5!

07-28-2008, 01:24 PM	#576
shoepie FORT Fogey Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,481	Re: Design Star Arielflies, I am a fan of minimal decor and Matt did not pull that off well at all. Minimal does not mean bare. His living room looked as if they just moved in and hadn't unpacked their boxes yet. It is difficult to do minimal on a low budget because often one large well placed piece of art is costly as are large modern couches. You just cannot do minimal without some stand alone pieces that dazzle. He had no time to make a piece of art or even just stretch some fabric to make do either. Jennifer's use of stripes on the wall was successful in making the room feel full and decorated and her red cabinets were fabulous for TV and just what the client wanted. Matt's brown painted cabinets were terrible. When faced with having to paint them (he should have known) choose ANY color but brown! Kitchens bore me. Please, next year, skip the kitchens. I didn't understand their criticism, earlier, about Jen painting on walls. They feared it would be a one trick pony deal. David Bromberg started out painting those landscapes with very recognizable trees but has since broadened his art. I just watched the judges walk through. Matt's table is square so the light fixture would work either way. I suspect he hung it with the broad side to direction where it could be viewed best from different points in the house. Last edited by shoepie; 07-28-2008 at 01:43 PM.

07-28-2008, 01:41 PM	#578
Broadway . Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 17,418	Re: Design Star I was truly nonplussed with both rooms. I liked elements of both.. like Matt's square dining room table and cabinet pulls... and actually loved the rug he placed in the living room, too (brown and blue, was it not?) I like Jen, and have enjoyed her rooms, but I could not stomach listening to that screeching voice for a half an hour. It's all I can do to tune her out when she speaks.

07-28-2008, 02:09 PM	#579
albean99 FORT Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 671	Re: Design Star Thanks for the voting tip. I didn't even notice that little black dot. I don't really have a problem with them using white. I know it's about satisfying your client however this is a contest more than a design show and these judges don't seem to worry as much about practicality as they do the design itself. I've liked Jennifer's personality from the start and would probably enjoy her show. I liked a couple of Matt's early designs but it's not my style.

07-28-2008, 02:57 PM	#580
norealityhere FORT Fan Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 342	Re: Design Star Neither house really had the Wow factor for me, but I felt that Matt achieved more of what his HO's wanted. Jennifer's white couch and small painted white table were just wrong for a large family with kids. The HO distinctly said that they needed to seat 8 - 10 people. That would leave some of the family eating on the floor, I guess. Also, Jen's HO's wanted bold, primary colors. The LR looked white and beige to me.