Design Star 7: Bedroom Design

HGTV’s Design Star, episode seven, aired September 3, 2006, pitting the final two designers against each other in a winner takes all challenge. This time, the viewers will decide who the last man (or woman) standing should be by voting on HGTV.com for their favorite Design Star.

The Challenge

David and Alice, the final two contestants, returned to New York City after a few weeks of rest, to discover that HGTV had hijacked a corner of Bryant Park just for them. Two glass houses had been constructed in the park, and the designers were given free reign to do what they would with the space. They had 26 hours and unlimited resources to design any room, in any style they wanted. Additionally, they would be doing all their work on display in the park, in front of Design Star fans, to test their ability to work under pressure, in front of an audience.

When the 26 hours were up, David and Alice would have to present their work on camera.

The Work

The mutual respect between David and Alice was obvious as they began their task. They shopped for flooring together and swapped ideas and inspiration. Both designers decided to go with bedrooms, but in much different styles. Alice went for a children’s “fantasy” bedroom, while David settled on a calming oasis style room, bringing elements of the park into the room.

David and Alice received their first surprise when former Design Star contestants Tym and Temple showed up to help. Each designer would spend one day with Tym and one day with Temple. David got to make first choice, and he decided to spend day one with Tym. Tym and Temple worked hard for both David and Alice, leaving any past disagreements behind.

The second surprise came when the three former judges came by midway through the project to critique the work so far. They seemed more enthusiastic about David’s room, though they gave advice to both designers.

The Results

Working down to the very wire, David and Alice finished their rooms with stunning results all around. Alice’s room, which she referred to as her Alice in Wonderland room was colorful and bright, with plenty of space for kids to play. David made use of neutral colors and outdoor motifs to create an urban oasis in the middle of the park.

In the past, Alice had trumped David with her presentation style, but this time, they both presented their work in an engaging and relaxed manner. The judges came by to offer their opinions, and while they didn’t name a winner, it was clear they preferred David’s space.

But their opinions don’t count this time. It’s time for America to pick its own Design Star winner. To view Alice and David’s rooms and vote for your favorite, visit HGTV’s website.