Blogging Top Design: Episode 8

Better yet. It pleases us that Top Design has turned itself around — the past two episodes have been the strongest. With fewer contestants left and thoughtful challenges, there is more time devoted to the design process...

This week the remaining four were asked to design a luxury hotel suite based on one of the four elements...

Water: Matt's design was luxurious. The light palette combined with the reflective and translucent surfaces made it an easy winner. We loved the low paneling and the columns that divided the space. (It was just a little boring, though). What a great prize! — We look forward to seeing Matt's spread in Metropolitan Home this November.

Air: Carisa's design was better than usual. We liked the idea of the vents, but maybe black was the wrong color choice? It made the room so heavy. Did she add that poodle sculpture just to appeal to Jonathan Adler?

Earth: Andrea had a hard time this week. She obviously struggled with all of her decisions.

Fire: Goil progressed a lot in this challenge and it was obvious that everyone was sad to see him go. It is odd how Goil uses color...has anyone else noticed that his rooms were always white first and then color layered on top of that?

Comments (8)

Matt and Carisa had the easy elements to work with, water and air. However, it looked to me like they had switched their themes around. If I hadn't known their choices beforehand, I would have guessed Matt's room related to air and Carisa's related to water. A hard choice. Matt's room looked good BUT nothing he does is ever very innovative. I think Adrea got it right in the previews for next week, Matt doesn't take any chances and is never daring. His rooms usually look good, but I'd certainly not consider him a "Top Designer".

Totally agree. Carissa's rich blues seemed like the Water room. I liked her's best and would love to stay there. But I felt Matt got robbed on at least two wins (once to Carissa), so hey. Also, Matt's room was chic but hardly original in any sense.

Andrea's hard time came from her poo-pooing of the Earth element. She could have done so much more without too much imagination.

Does anyone know what paint color/brand was used in Matt's Water room?

Did you notice Goil was the only one that didn't have a screen (Andreas poster bed originally was supposed to have more post to look like trees and act as a screen.), or bed and living spaces were pointing toward each other?

i guess you could call it boring, but Matt's room is the only I'd want to stay in, and the only one I could envision in a boutique, luxury hotel. I'd feel gypped in those other rooms!

Plus I really can't stand Carisa. She's the Wendy Pepper of Top Design.

I agree the rooms are getting better as the talent field gets narrower. I pegged Matt to win from early on, and I stand by my choice, although Andrea is talented as well. I'm also *very* glad certain annoying, whiny babies are gone. (a-hem) :)
~Monica

matt's room was nice, but totally uninspired. it looked like a generic "luxury" room, or even just a furniture showcase. nothing unexpected or terribly interesting at all.

i liked the vents in carisa's room, but the blue didn't work at all. or the black didn't work. but together it was tacky and not airy in the least.

i thought goil's was the best. it was totally original and i thought went beyond his normal limits. he really pushed himself, and i thought his walls, the bed, and his floor, particularly, was gorgeous. i was definitely sad to see him go -- he seemed like such a great person. (unlike, oh, carisa?)

plus, if you look from left to right on the top 3 photos, it's: seating area (couch or bench) against the wall, rug, bed post or fencing, bed facing in the same positioning. goil was the only one who did something different with his layout (as he said he would). sigh.