HGTV Design Star week 2 weigh in
After 2 weeks of Design Star on HGTV, I am rather baffled by the incredible amount of work thrown at the designers. Not only did they have to design and remodel a kitchen, but they were expected to do all the demolition and install the cabinets, appliances, etc. I thought designers were responsible for DESIGN! Apparently, that doesn't make for good television drama.
image sourceWhat went down on the show:
Color expert Jen took control of the paint choices and decided on three colors: red, blue and yellow in warm tones. The combination did not please the judges. Vern said, "It looks like a rainbow threw up in there." Candice thought the room looked like it was designed by a committee "without having a strong overall vision."
I have my own opinions, but I'd love to hear yours. Soooo, I'm dying to know, what did you think of Jen's design decisions?
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19 comments:
While the 3 colors she chose look fine together, they are overwhelmed by all the wood and the gray countertops. The colored bits are so far apart, they don't make a cohesive palette.
Additionally, I think it's time they bring in contractors to do the kitchens on Design Star. I'd no more expect a designer to hang cabinets, then I would expect a carpenter to pick fabrics.
Oh man, is this fair? Throw Jen under the bus. She is fellow IACC, I was in class with her. I liked her. Aren't we better than this?
Nope, not me. I'll take a turn.
I agree with Vern. Plus, I just about can't stomach faux finishes. Major dislike for me. And RED faux finishes I think are the absolute worst. Are there exceptions? Sure. But my general rule is red + faux = puke.
Just because Jen *could* do all that stuff didn't mean she needed to do it all at once and all in one space. If we were discussing this with Jen, I'd tell her I didn't agree with the RGB-Y color palette to support the Moroccan-Spanish fusion whatever business they were going for. Where the hell was the cinnabar, vermilion, umber, tumeric, earthy greens. The RGB-Ys she choose looked very primary and didn't fit, IMO.
Wow, too many patterns going on there. The only thing I'm focusing on is the fridge, which is a little oasis of calm.
Everything's the same tone, too. Even just changing out the tile to a solid cream would make a huge difference.
Ohhhh, I've been watching this show, too! Haven't been very impressed with any of the finished projects so far...BUT I think the main reason is because the "designers" are expected to do so much construction work. It is ridiculous to require the teams to demo and install cabinetry. I don't see Candice getting that down and dirty on Divine Design. Did you know this is "the first kitchen that's ever been completed on any season of Design Star?" (Not sure who I'm quoting this from, but it's the word on the street...)
With that said, I agree with everyone else. This particular kitchen? TOO much - WAY too much going on. I think Jen's color choices might have worked in a bubble, but somewhere it was forgotten that everything else in the design also has a color (and a texture.) Too much color and texture = ugly kitchen. Wood cabinetry and granite countertops are not "neutral" and do not just "go with everything". It's like each element of the design was selected independently (including the window treatment?!?!)
I think the emphasis on this show is put on high drama, rather than great design. The kitchen project definitely doesn't set anyone up for success with its unreal timelime. But I still expect a little more from the "designers."
Let's see how they do this week when they get to work independently on their own white rooms.
Thanks for going here, Rachel! It's been on my mind and bugging me a little. Love to see everyone's opinions!
I would say it makes for good TV drama, but I can't see anyone being happy with such a mix of colours that don't relate to anything else in the room. It's all personal taste though, and I don't know the format of this show so if the client wanted such a colourful kitchen maybe it's okay,
Thanks for weighing in, everyone. I have to agree with all of you. It's about CONTEXT. colors and textures and patterns and flow...how they all relate to one another. all missing. i'm crossing my fingers Jen does better this week. I worry about how we "color experts" will be perceived, based on her performance as a representative of the IACC-NA and color consultants everywhere.
i think it would have been fascinating for the viewers to learn how a kitchen is actually designed. how do you determine where things go, what options you have for cabinets, choices that will make a difference...that seems to be much more relevant to the premise of the show, to the interests of the viewers, and to utilize the skill sets of the contestants.
All good points.
Jen also may have had to deal with other input, other color opinions, expectations, tolerances too. Maybe it wasn't totally all her call. We don't know.
If you look at the valance in the kitchen window, you can literally match the selection of wall colors to that colorway - RBY. It's too literal. But it's also a staid method for choosing wall colors. Ya know, find that inspiration piece and *pull* your paint colors from that. Breaking away from that "rule" is difficult for DIYers and some designers alike -- maybe Jen was up against something like that and didn't have much latitude.
Might sound crazy, but if they were going down that RGB-Y road they should have added in one more color, like orange. Going bold and *blocked* like that with color whether in a big space or small, it's never a good idea to use an even number of paint colors. Shoulda been an odd number re: divine geometry, Phi, Fib all that stuff.
Design Star is all about drama and kicking people off the show. I just happened to see two episodes in one day. All the designs used horrible colors and textures. Of course the kitchen under discussion looked like it was designed by a committee!! It was! All those people with their own ideas fighting it out: not enough time to plan a design together; tear down; build up; go to the store to pick tile. No wonder it looked awful.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next, but it will probably also be awful. I hope to see some interesting things that a REAL person might actually want, but I won't hold my breath.
Lori-
"Shoulda been an odd number re: divine geometry, Phi, Fib all that stuff."
fascinating! i always opt for odd numbers myself, but never really thought about -why- that is. now that would make an interesting article...
Mona- yup, design by committee is never a good idea. too many cooks in the kitchen, and you end up making compromises to please everyone.
Oooooo, Phi and Fib, Divine Numbers are like one of my FAAAAAAVORITE things! lol! My whole logo get-up is predicated on some of those basic tenants of design. Divine Geometry does tip-toe into the metaphyical as far as how we respond and sycnchronize our being-ness to our surrounds.
Fib does include even numbers, they aren't all odd. There are times in design when Fib even is best and times when Fib odd are a better choice. In this case, number of paint colors used in that kitchen, it shoulda been three or five. Of course, just ONE would have been an option too. Ya know, the sometimes less is more thing. ;-) ;-) ;-)
HUGE disappointment in my opinion. I'm also an IACC'er and it doesn't look like she learned anything. There is no place for the eye to rest comfortably, and the colors are all in the dark/intense end of the spectrum which makes it feel cave-like. It's all about balance, balance, balance, my friends. I guess our teachings about always using "clear colors" sorta backfired here, eh Rach?? :)
Now these are some nice Moroccan palettes that would really compliment the cabinetry. Sometimes you just don't have to reinvent the wheel.
http://www.colorhunter.com/tag/moroccan/1
Lori-now there is a great article idea for when you get your new blog up and running- all this "Phi and Fib, Divine Numbers" is totally foreign to me.
Kirstin- i was disappointed too. but as Jen said as she was sent home last night, she struggled with translating real world colors to tv colors. you really nailed it- everything was dark dark dark. I'd be curious to try my hand at it.
Elizabeth- yummy palettes!
I'm sad for Jen. :( "Color Expert" and all that it entails is being *discussed* on the HGTV Design Star forum. Posts have been deleted. Seems like there's a reaching to determine what "color expert" means. The comparisons of the IACC seminars to the likes of online Haverhill Staging Certification is not good.
I mean we all know certain truths to be true about the IACC experience - I don't think anyone is denying or kidding themselves about it. Unfortunately, the solidness of the information, philosophies, and color knowledge that one can discover and be introduced to thru the color source that is the IACC is perhaps getting a bit muddled.
Jen is an artist, a faux finisher, a painter. "Color expert" in her terms and her world are defined differently than other worlds of design that also employs color as tatic and tool. In her world of painting and faux finishing maybe she's well-equipped with color know-how and she *gots some game* with some to spare. In Design Star world and/or other facets of coloring tri-dimensional structure, maybe it simply was not the right kind of color expertise and she came up short. Have to admit that I more than once clashed and strongly disagreed with color axioms found in the realms of paint world and faux finishing -- and the feeling was mutual. C'est la vie.
I tried posting some level-headed explanation and insight over at HGTV specifically about the premise of knowledge found within the IACC but my post was deleted. That's unusual because "funcolors" almost always gets to say whatever I want to. Apparently, it struck a nerve. Oh well, I tried.
Lori- where is the HGTV discussion taking place? and why on earth would they delete your comments if you're not spam?
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1561005852/m/2631060804
The forum is the HGTV Design Star forum. The link is to one post. It's been "cleaned up". Several posts have been deleted, not just mine. I believe the one that took a shot at Haverhill and likened it to the IACC is now gone - I think Haverhill is an advertiser on HGTV. Maybe?
-wince-
it's scary to read the comments by viewers on the HGTV discussion forum.
For instance:
"Exactly what is a color expert?
Does she mix paint or something? :-) "
"Maybe a color expert is someone who can name all the colors correctly? :-)"
Not kidding when I say those threads were "cleaned up". Forum commentary can be harsh and unforgiving, fer shure.
I do agree with the one post that pointed out that Jen completed her room. I did get the design vibe she was going for, she did FINISH, and she did do it all herself. Compared to the other designer who did not even come close to finishing and would have had far less (if you can imagine) to present had she not had help from castmates.
yup, i agree with you. if it's between someone who didn't even finish, versus someone who finished, it seems like an easy decision right there. i wonder what the judge's real criteria was for letting contestants go?
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