Reactions to Episode 7

We are down to the Final 4! Post your reactions to Episode 7 here.

Episode 7 Party!

It's appropriate that tonight's episode is called "Chef's Choice" since everyone always ends up in the BTD kitchen whenever we throw a party. Not that we have any food or anything in here. We certainly like to talk about food!

Oh, and there is a new episode of Top Design as well. Maybe we'll talk about that, too. Feeling a little snarky tonight? Cme on in, the kitchen is open!

BTD Live Play-By-Play: Episode 7

Tbone is back once again to provide live play-by-play coverage of Top Design Episode 7: "Chef's Choice". Comments on this thread are for Tbone's use only, party guests and crashers are invited to the BTD kitchen for weekly party post above!

Poll Results for Episode 6

Our poll results are in for Episode 6 and you told us your opinions. In our 'Who Should Have Won' poll, you agreed with the judges and said that Matt should have won. In the 'Who Should Have Been Latered' poll, you felt that Carisa needed to go.

Wednesday Is BTD Party Day!

A reminder that tonight BTD will be hosting it's usual line-up as we watch a new Episode of Top Design: Tbone's play-by-play, the party room and our reactions thread. Come join the fun!

BTD Interview With Carpenter Cary Kirk

BTD: Hi Cary, Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Are you a full-time carpenter? How long have you been doing this? What interesting projects have you worked on?

Cary: I was born in Hollywood, California and I'm 55. I've been a finish carpenter for over 30 years. In that time I've worked for many in the Hollywood set: actors, directors and producers. Its always interesting to see the diverse styles of these clients.

BTD: How were you contacted about Top Design? Did you have to demonstrate any skills? Do carpenters keep portfolios?

Click here to continue.

Kelly Got Fugged

Those wacky and completely fabulous gals over at Go Fug Yourself have outed Kelly as being deserving of their attentions. Fuggers Heather and Jessica have declared Kelly the reason to watch the show. I can't help but wonder what Intern George thinks of Ms. Wearstler. (I'm sure that regardless of his opinion, some healing hug therapy will be offered.) Could there be a style smackdown in the future between the Fug Gals and Tim Gunn?

I'm just going to take this opportunity to confess that I, too, LOVE a swatch.

Preview Videos - Episode 7, Chef's Choice

Click here for the Bravo's preview video for Top Design's seventh installment. You can click here for Yahoo's Top Design preview. And click here to see some drama, shopping, obstacles and more drama.

Is anyone still with us? Anyone at all? Go ahead and talk amongst yourselves.

Recapalooza!

Sorry so late this week. The recap posse is in fine form:

Andrea Keller on the blogging community: "I love you, come hang out, let's go on adventures and save the world." From FBLA...

Some Carisa love from the Grits to Glitz girls. One of them, at least! And Moi, too? Even Tom and Lorenzo defended her last week. There seems to be a theme developing here...

Benny Hill and Oprah and Peewee Herman and Elton John all rolled into one recap from Eric3000....

kora in hell is back this week with The Brady's vs. The Mean Girls...

Elisa on Michael: pot, kettle, black...

Linda Merill takes the gloves off: "I think that this is an interior design show and Andrea and Goil - while clearly super talented conceptualists - aren't interior designers."

New to the 'looza this week is Laz, with a very funny take...

The 'looza returns to its regularly scheduled time next week ( I hope!)

Here's Heather!

BTD welcomes back Heather Ashton (early this week!) for her exclusive recap on Episode 6: "Life of the Party."

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

I am not completely oblivious to the fact that I have a tendency to make my recaps just a tad, teeny bit about me. It’s about to get worse.

I am sooooooo jealous of the final six right now. While most people in Los Angeles support their dreams of the entertainment biz in the service industry, I was the lone decorator slinging drinks in LA. Not only have I worked more parties, premiers, launches and award shows than I would ever admit, I also art directed for a huge event production company for over a year as well. I was fortunate enough to design everything from the annual Frederick’s of Hollywood Fashion Show and Charity Event, to the Nintendo DS Launch. I even got the opportunity to turn a loft into my idea of an Eighties NYC underground club(a la Area) for the Soros family. Are you tired of hearing about me yet?

Event design is totally different than interiors or architecture. It’s about shoving the product down the throat of “influence” both visually and literally while creating a space that can amuse a bunch of people that are paid to go to parties. All without losing the true point of the event: Brand (Bacardi) exposure. Oh and all this has to be accomplished in minimal time, with limited budget and must be dismantled, removed and trucked away at 2am. I love events. A designer will never get the freedom to run with the inner crazy more than on events. I hate events. The longest hours, the most stressful challenges and the lowest budgets I have ever had…until Bravo cast me. I had the confidence to think I could handle the physical challenge of the show because I designed events.

Are we tired of hearing about Heather? Short answer: no. Click here to learn even more about her and her take on Episode 6.

Click Here for Yawnur's Take on Garage Band

Congratulations, Matt

You are the antidote to the drama, quietly bringing sophistication and order to everything you touch. This week you were the calm in Team Perfect Storm and you nailed all five senses relating to Bacardi Limon. The interesting thing is that your work never is about you or your ego; you always have the client's desires at the heart of everything you purchase, fabricate or arrange. And we would have just loved to have been invited to your party. Congratulations, Matt!

Let's use this post to congratulate Matt; only positive words belong in the comments please.

Send Some BTD Love to Erik

You showed us that you always listened to the needs of your client and that lead to your win in the 'Child's Play' episode when you created a bedroom that would satisfy any kid's inner pirate. This week you owned your leadership role and that seems to be the only real reason you were eliminated. Your skills and aesthetic might be traditional but your wit and work ethic are equally timeless.

This post is only for positive comments about Erik.

Tim Gunn declares Kelly Wearstler is "IN"

If you listened to Tim Gunn on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens" show last night, you heard our own Scarlett ask about Kelly's wardrobe. Although Tim sounded a little verklempt that it was our blogmistress on the phone he recovered enough to answer that yes, indeed, Kelly Wearstler is "IN."

Personally, as a big fan of fleurchons (and the bigger the better) I salute Ms. Wearstler for her daring fashion. Her outfits each week provide more entertainment than any of the designer challenges. Who else could combine a t-shirt, a strapless floral number with a ruffled flamenco-costume train, a giant fleurchon on the knee, gray leggings and lilac stilettos with such confidence?

Thanks Tim, for confirming what we have known all along. Kelly's wardrobe rocks!

Your Turn to be the Judge - Episode 6

We saw the party spaces that the designers created and now it is your turn to weigh in on the results. This week you get to be Jonathan Adler, Kelly Wearstler, Margaret Russell and Ben Bourgeois. Click here to tell us which designer should have won the challenge. Click here to tell us the designer you think should have heard, "See you later, decorator."

Photos, from the top, the party space designed by Goil, Erik and Andrea; Team Goil Amornvivat, Erik Kolacz and Andrea Keller; Team Michael Adams, Matt Lorenz and Carisa Perez-Fuentes; the party space designed by Michael, Matt and Carisa.

Reactions To Episode 6

Only 5 designers remain after tonight's team challenge! What did yu think ofthis week's episode? Post your reactions to Episode 6 here.

Episode 6 Party!

Who will be the "Life of the Party" in the BTD party room tonight? Everyone is welcome to our weekly celebration. This week's special: Bacardi Limon.

The more snark, the better in this joint. Come on in!

BTD Live Play-By-Play: Episode 6

Tbone is back for live coverage of Top Design Episode 6, "Life of the Party". Follow along as he provides play-by-play on the challenge, the drama, who stays and who is "latered". Comments on this thread are for Tbone's use only. If you are checking in tonight, make sure to belly up to the party room bar in the post above.

Poll Results for Episode 5

Our poll results are in for Episode 5 and you told us your opinion. Interestingly enough the 'Who Should Have Been Latered' poll resulted in a tie; you felt that both Ryan and Carisa should have gone. You can click on the picture to see how you voted.

Here's Heather!

BTD welcomes back "latered" contestant Heather Ashton for her exclusive commentary on Episode 5:

Better late????

So that lost hour on Sunday morning turned into a lost weekend and then a lost Monday; I got a little flustered by DST. Don’t hold it against me.

Let’s just say it ... this challenge kind of sucked. The intention of the challenge was cool and I liked that for the first time, the project yielded a lasting benefit. I usually shy away from any socio-political comments, but after 5 episodes of tear downs, I have started to become mindful of the amount of good design and solid materials that could have potentially made some folks happy outside of the controlled setting of the cubes. And after spending way too much time reading comments all over the blogs, team challenges bum everyone out. While I have my little soap box out, I have one more idea. I think season 2 should be teams, like Amazing Race with paint and hammers. It would eliminate the need for team challenges since the teams would have enough people in them to complete the challenges in the time allotted. Plus the teams would have the same design approach and aesthetic so you wouldn’t have to see the confused collaborative effort of a bunch of designers with widely different tastes. f course I think I’m a genius, but what do you think? Anyway - what am I supposed to be talking about?

I have had some pretty shady design gigs while building my resume, but cleaning someone’s garage ... I’m with Ryan. Even Matt offered the solution to torch the whole thing. I think the team did an amazing job with what they had to work with and the family seemed pretty happy on the reveal.

Click here to continue reading Heather's take on Episode 5 as we learn about her secret weakness for purple and her love of organization!