Over the weekend, the OC Register had an article about a local So Cal (Irvine) designer who is currently one of two semi finalists for HGTV's third season of Design Star. HGTV has left it up to the public to vote online and pick who should fill the last spot... (more after the jump...)
Take a look at both contestant's portfolios. Kim Lewis is from Texas, and Stephanie Cook is from California. They both have very different styles. (Stephanie's is the top image, Kim's is the bottom) Kim's portfolio is here, and Stephanie's is here. Who do you think should get the last spot?
Today is the last day of voting (voting ends at 5:00pm ET / 2:00 pm PT) Click here to cast your vote on HGTV.
(via OC Register and images via HGTV)
Comments (25)
# 2 is more my taste, but # 1 looks comfier. IMO. neither's portfolio is mindblowing. Is it just me or does Kim's living room make no sense?
I voted for Stephanie - Her spaces didn't look merely decorated, but were complete designs
mjr: what about it doesn't make sense? Looks fine, although uninspired, except for the ottoman that's crammed in there.
Kim's style is much more in line with mine, although I don't necessarily think that makes her the better designer overall.
There is a third season of Design Star? I didn't even know there was a second one. HGTV has become boring and pedestrian... I usually just skip over it now.
As for the above rooms... Not very exciting to be honest... If I had to choose... I like the top one better, looks more comfy, but I like the bedding on the bottom one just a bit more.
The 'design crime' here is the seam showing on the lamp shade (left). How could this have been missed?
As a follow up... The seams on the lamp shades in both images are visable... Tacky...
Devyn--
So I guess you missed AT's interview coverage of Design Star last season... we interviewed the show's producer about the upcoming season, then interviewed all but three of the contestants as they got voted off the show...
I don't even remember seeing ads for the 3rd season! They promoted the second one ad nauseum, so I'm surprised I didn't see an ad. Not that I would have watched this season anyway, I was inordinately disappointed with the 2nd season. The production of the show was really subpar, especially compared to Bravo's competition shows like Top Chef and Project Runway. Voting off 2 people a week in a spirnt for the final reveal was ridiculous, people don't have time to develop a feel for who they feel is really better and more creative or who they want to root for (other than Rob, whose attitude was hate=wrothy from about day 1) What's the rush?
No contest....Stephanie should be on Design Star! Kim's designs are at best, mediocre.
Even though I don't like Stephanie's style, her rooms look well designed. I just don't get Kim's rooms. They are very blah. Then again I haven't read about her and perhaps she's new to design?
I think season 3 won't start airing until June, but HGTV is letting fans select one of the contestants by voting on these portfolios. Myles of Style featuring Kim Myles (season 2 winner) is due to start airing this month I believe...
With the exception of the big installations, Kim's designs look like the sort of thing my dad could have picked out. And my dad is 50, with moderate middle-aged "I like cooking and riding my bicycle and trying to impress my girlfriend" taste. Stephanie's designs are better, but they remind me of what I would see in the houses of my prep-school classmates when I was a teenager: the perfect shade of taupe walls, weird mix of dark and light cabinets in the kitchen with requisite granite counters, "art" scattered about. Everything looks impressive and moneyed, but has no real personality. Ehh. I guess she wins??
I don't watch this show, so I may be missing something here. But judging from the slidshows at the links provided, there is no question! Kim's room designs look like, dare I say it, bad model-apartment decor. Stephanie's are much more inspired, even if not my taste.
But as I said, I don't know anything about them, so what do I know.
I was just happy to see Stephanie's bed. I like a high bed for myself so I was starting to feel like as a design feature it was a decor dinosaur.
kim's is too depedent on patterned fabrics- but looks do-able for non design types. Take away the pillows and the framed canvases, and you have a bed frame and two night tables Stephanie's design is more complete- combining furniture, fabric, and elements that all can stand alone, but combined make her design superior
Stephanie's definitely had the luxury of bigger budgets (and perhaps more actual clients), which is not always an advantage on this show.
Wow. Pretty uninspired. Don't like Kim's designs at all. Sorry to say.
Based on the online portfolios, I'm shocked that Kim even considers herself a designer.
They both kinda suck...
I agree they are both somewhat bland and uninspired. If I looked only on the above photos the second looks to be the winner. The first photo has minimal color and punch (mediocre at best). The second photo has a bit more life and contrast.
I did look at their online portfolios and Stephanie's designs are by far superior, they are richer, lusher and MUCH more finished looking.
Kim's designs are bare and unfinished by comparison.
The above photos really do not fully represent either designers style. I vote for Stephanie.
With respect to all the readers, Kim's best work was not shown on HGTV's website. The photo's that you see are of her barely-lived-in apartment (she is on the road most of time). For a better sampling of Kim's work, please visit Kim's Design Website
is there even a competition going on here? stephanie wins hands down.
threesixty,
thanks for posting that link of kim's real work! otherwise i was thinking, "hey maybe i shoulda entered the design star!"
the last three pics in kim's "real" portfolio are beautiful rooms. the blue striped dinning room and the tufted green sofa in the living room look great.
Stephanie is the lesser of the evils.
I do like her round bed though. Where did she get it??
I like both rooms I am on the fence on this one. But i know i will be watching this season. I think the premier is this sunday June 8th. If these rooms are a preview of whats to come I cant wait!!!