Top Design Light It Up
Original Air Date: Oct 22, 2008
PMB - TwoCents Reviewer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com
Oh Andrea! Why? Why? Why commit the reality television version of suicide?
I know that I predicted that this would be Andrea’s last week, but her work didn’t warrant getting booted out — and yet she alone made the choice to opt out of the competition. In fact, the judges were very clear that Ondine’s design was the bottom one. But they gave Andrea the choice of staying or going and if she left, Ondine would stay. Can you believe that Andrea actually turned to Ondine and asked her what to do? What was Ondine supposed to say to that? “Oh sure, stay. I don’t mind getting eliminated!” Like that would happen.
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[photo: Isabella Vosmikova/BRAVO]
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Top Design
ReplyDeleteLight It Up
Original Air Date: Oct 22, 2008
PMB - TwoCents Reviewer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com
Oh Andrea! Why? Why? Why commit the reality television version of suicide?
I know that I predicted that this would be Andrea’s last week, but her work didn’t warrant getting booted out — and yet she alone made the choice to opt out of the competition. In fact, the judges were very clear that Ondine’s design was the bottom one. But they gave Andrea the choice of staying or going and if she left, Ondine would stay. Can you believe that Andrea actually turned to Ondine and asked her what to do? What was Ondine supposed to say to that? “Oh sure, stay. I don’t mind getting eliminated!” Like that would happen.
The episode started with a pop design that featured all items by Jonathan Adler (can you say blatant product placement?). The remaining designers – Nathan, Preston, Eddie, Andrea (sigh) and Ondine – had to select from these items and put together a living room. Eddie, who was his bitchest yet – had the edge here as this is exactly what he does for Martha Stewart. And, of course, he won and got immunity. Which was a good thing, because his room turned out to be a total disaster.
Eddie also got the enviable position of assigning the order in which contestant got to pick from a collection of five posh Swarovski chandeliers, that they then had to design a room around. Of course he picked BFF Andrea to go second (himself first, natch), then Ondine, Nathan and Preston. Looks like his choices weren’t as good as he thought because Preston won the challenge — again!
Eddie chose the Glitterbox and designed a dining room about it, but the whole thing didn’t seem to fit together. He did a bit of gold leaf in a leaf pattern as a border between alternating vertical bands of colors. Nice choice, but not for this room. I, for one, wouldn’t want to spend any time in there.
Ondine got the Light Sock and designed a bedroom about it. However, the room didn’t feel practical or inviting and de-emphasized the lighting fixture — the opposite of the task she’d been assigned. Yeah, she deserved to go home.
Nathan wowed the judges again his “young bratty girl on the Upper East Side” bedroom. He had the sparkle branch chandelier and used the shadows it cast on the wall for an eye-popping abstract mural. Then he brought in an ecliptic mix of accessories for a totally sassy look. It seemed so busy to me, but the judges went wild.
Preston’s room with sort of a waiting room, but it contained two striking orange chairs. The walls alternated black paint with a black and silver wallpaper. His only misstep, in my book, was that he chose to but his sparkle shady chandelier over the wallpaper, which took about some of his impact. And yet, it still worked.
Then Andrea created a room of Hollywood glam that really did emphasize her glittery green Swarovski vertical lamp. The judges took a few points away for clumsy accessories, but overall they liked it.
But even early in the episode, Andrea spoke about she was upset and missing her family. Then she found out that her husband, Ricky Schroder, was filming across the street from the challenge and she couldn’t go see him, so that proved to the final straw. So sad… She probably wouldn’t have won, but she would have made the final four. She only needed to hang in there an extra day or two!
What did you this of the guest judge being Simon Doonan of Barney’s, AKA Jonthan Adler’s husband? A little nepotism is good in reality TV (although Doonan is really a big name in design as well). Although I’m pretty sure Ondine is the next to go, wouldn’t you rather bitchy Eddie booted off next? His entertainment factor got stale about three episodes ago. Who do you want to win? And who do you want the door to slam on their arse on the way out? We’lll find out next week!