BTD <3 Andrea and Heather...

...and all of the rest of the designers too!

Here's Heather! - Episode 3

BTD welcomes back "latered" contestant Heather Ashton for her exclusive commentary on Episode 3:

Topless Women and Motorboats

I’m not sure what happened, but I can only assume the hangover became a bender and the powers that be at Blogging Top Design are too busy doing shots and Karaoke to watch content so I snuck back in. Seriously, thank you for all the positive comments. Big ups to Blogging Top Design asking and Bravo for letting me.

Episode 3….well to be honest, once the teams were discovered, I knew the outcome, so instead I focused my other loves: fashion and boys. Michael said it “It takes a gay village to build a cabana.” Allow me to translate. Interior design is never the product of one person. Like film, it takes a well connected group of people to execute a successful project. Team St. Tropez and Team Tahiti both were lucky enough to have the input of an architect. Team Miami, created a great structure, but Goil and Andrea’s influence took the cabana off the beach and elevated a simple place to escape the sun to a conceptual sculpture. Team Miami was working behind the eight ball from go.

Click here to continue reading Heather's "graphic" take on fashion, half-naked boys and cabanas.

BTD Exclusive - Party at Berry/Keller

Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to write a quick little note and let everyone know that I was able to attend a viewing party for this past week's episode of "Top Design" thrown by the truly fab-u-lous Andrea and Felicia! Too. Much. Fun.

The party was thrown in downtown Los Angeles at Berry/Keller, the architectural firm where Andrea works. It was an awesome loft space, all clean and sleek - just where you would expect a top designer to work! When I arrived, the previous episode of TD, "Child's Play," was being projected onto the wall. It was just like being at the movies! (You can actually see the big a** projection in the picture with me and the grrrls.) I didn't know at that point, obviously, that Andrea and Felicia were going to win that night's episode, but there was definitely a sparkle in the air.

Felicia was the first one I spotted and when I approached her she was warm and lovely and as you can see from the picture, totally Swimsuit Illustrated sexy in her bikini. Meow!!! Andrea arrived a couple of minutes later looking adorable in a navy blue baby-doll type dress. She is quite striking in person - I didn't expect her to be so tall! They then introduced me to the effervescent and animated Heather- she had such a great energy and was supah funny.

All of the gals were extremely friendly and told me what they could about the show without giving anything away. From the previous week's episode, I was curious to know why all the painting had to be done on the first day (John had remarked that he couldn't do painting on the second day.) They explained that the furniture is on loan from the Pacific Design Center and couldn't risk having wet paint on it. Makes sense, but it still seems limiting.

I was also curious to know if they had been given a tour of the PDC so they knew where to go. All three, since they are from LA, had knowledge of the center but they were left to go at it like a scavenger hunt. But having that knowledge didn't always help as stores they knew or loved were sometimes closed during the filming. And unlike the "Project Runway" contestants while shopping at Mood, there was absolutely no haggling or bargaining on the prices of the furniture. Bummer, right?

I also asked about how the editing was treating everyone. All said that it was pretty true to form and that the characters were being presented fairly so far. Andrea did comment, though, that so much of the painstaking work - the hours and hours of labor that go into each design - pretty much ended up on the cutting room floor.

The episode started and of course there was raucous applause and hootin' and hollerin' every time the girls came on screen. It was so cool to be present when Andrea and Felicia rightfully claimed victory at the end of the episode. Seriously, how gorgeous was that cabana with those luscious, flowy curtains? Calgon, take me away! It was dreamy.

At the conclusion of the episode, there was an audible gasp from the crowd when Elizabeth was eliminated. I certainly didn't see it coming and I don't think the rest of the crowd did either. As I was saying my goodbyes, I asked Andrea if the cast had been totally surprised by the judges decision and she said that they were.

It was a fantastic evening and many thanks to Berry/Keller for giving me the grand opportunity to attend!

Xoxo,
Chris

Here's Heather!

BTD is pleased to welcome in "latered" contestant Heather Ashton for her exclusive commentary on Top Design. She kicks it off with a look back at Episode 2:

Ahoy Top Design!

So the folks here at BTD have been kind enough to allow me to just not go away. They must have had a few cocktails to agree to this right? Well, I’m running with the opportunity while they are still a little hung-over and confused about what they agreed to.

I’m new to the blog world so give me a break while I get my sea legs….harhar.

Jumping right in, I was really surprised to hear John’s HIV confession. I must admit, John made me very nervous. He came off like a very angry person and I was a little scared of him. His announcement made a lot of sense to me and I wished I had known about his testosterone shots when I was there. I would have more open to getting to know John had I understood that his nature was being altered with treatment. I also thought it was inspirational to hear that he had been positive for 13 years. John is a great success story for others living with HIV.

On to the challenge. I kind of loved it. Of course it was shady to withhold bed size and not offer a few options to change up paint or a couple of furnishings, but I have a little “latered” advice to all my fellow contestants. Always prepare for a twist. I must tell you that I watch way too much TV and the twist is the staple of every competition show. It’s not real world accurate, but it makes watching a lot more fun. And as I am now Monday morning quarterbacking, I want it to be fun. Sorry guys!

Click here to continue reading Heather's debut venture into the world of blogging.

BTD Interview With Heather Ashton

Each week, BTD will feature interviews with the "latered" contestants. First up is Heather Ashton who talks about what it was like waiting for the premiere, the support of her family and her love of the Florida Gators.

BTD: Hi Heather, we were disappointed to see you go so soon. How did it feel seeing yourself on TV?

HA: Disappointed? I think the word was Devastated. :) I’ve got to be honest….I was terrified about the actual airing. I’m a bit of a camera hog and I always assumed I would love the attention that accompanies this kind of thing, but I was a bit freaked out. The 2 months of promos eased the process, but it was still overwhelming.

BTD: Florida born and bred, what made you move to LA?

HA: I left FLA after college for NYC. I fell in love with New York, but after 6 years of bartending until 4 am, I realized I was a slave to the lifestyle and I was well on my way to a career of bartending. Not a good look after a certain age. Los Angeles allowed me to transition from restaurant work to design by first allowing me some much needed sleep. Then opportunity met preparation at The Standard.

BTD: We know you were rooting for the Gators in the BCS Championship, right?

HA: GO GATORS!!!!! I grew up on Florida Football. I’m such a fake city girl, all New York, LA, Miami, blah blah….When you put a SEC or regional college game in front of me…the southern super fan comes out. She ‘s kind of a bug, but what can you do? By the way, Gator Basketball champs and Football champs in the same year (calendar I mean) So Cool!

BTD: What reaction have you gotten from your family about appearing on Top Design?

HA: My mom was really nervous about the whole thing. She knew how much the experience meant to me and she just didn’t want to see me get hurt. She’s a great mom. My Dad was great too , but more pragmatic…like a Dad. He saw the show more as a business opportunity and encouraged me to treat it as such. Both were more supportive then I ever expected. No one thought I was nuts….which was unexpected.

Click here to continue reading BTD's interview with Heather Ashton as we find out more about the challenge and who her gay boyfriend was on the show.

Send Some BTD Love to Heather and Lisa

You were expected to design a room without ever meeting your client while collaborating for the first time. You managed to create a restful room with a clear point of view while avoiding conflict. In the end, it was simply a matter of opinion and someone had to go. You left with your dignity intact and we respect that.

Let's send some BTD love to Heather and Lisa. This post is only for positive comments.

Five Questions With Heather

We continue our exclusive Q & A series with Top Design contestant Heather Ashton.

1. How did you hear about the show?

I was cruising Craigslist for a new job in NYC (a little bored of LA) and saw the ad. It was the night before the Burbank casting, which took close to 5 hours and they tried to reschedule me….NO WAY! (a good story in its own right). It went really fast after that. Like a whirl-wind affair……

2. Where did you audition?

Burbank

3. What is unique about you? What do you bring to the show that no one else can? What are you really good at?

What is unique about you? Ummmm…..I’m just a weirdo…unique is just fancy. I’m mouthy; I’m kind of shy (no joke) and actually hide my shyness by always going big and loud with a self-deprecating tag. I say that I’m a Dachshund hiding in the body of a Doberman. .

What do you bring to the show that no one else can? To be totally “After school special” about this question….I bring me. No one else can do that and thankfully, “Top Design” was open to it.

What are you really good at? I am really good at going way outside convention. I love designing Nightclubs because most Nightclub owners want the “WOW” factor and have the budget to support it. On Privilege, I suggested a crazy banquette and they let me do it. I am not good at half-a$$ing it.

4. How did you learn that you made it onto "Top Design"?

I got the best phone call of my life from the LA production office.

5. Where will you be watching the show?

I’ll watch in LA with a few friends that love me not matter what!

Thanks so much, Heather; can't wait to hear more about that casting story!