Blog de Puree

Despite subscriptions to just about every shelter magazine available, an unhealthy addiction to HGTV, and completion of an interior decor program at the Boston Architectural College, I really can’t get enough of interior design. So, it was with no surprise that I squealed like a pig when I heard about Bravo’s latest reality show, Top Design.

Now, I was a little disappointed that the lead judge would be Jonathan Adler (Hi! I make über-trendy, stupidly-expensive vases. Stripes! Lips! Boobies! Spank my lucky butt and call me a designer.) And the host Todd Oldham . . . yawn. But I adore Kelly Wearstler. She and Elle Decor editor-in-chief, Margaret Russell, are good choices for judges.

So, my initial thoughts on the premiere episode?

$50K at the Design Center is fair.

Design Centers are a-frickin’-mazing in their selection, uniqueness and astronomical cost. Frighteningly enough, it really doesn’t go that far in there. But it might have been more interesting to have gotten a sponsor à la Project Runway and Macy’s. More of a “you’ve got $10K to shop at Thomasville” concept. I think it would bring it down to a sense of reality for the average viewer to take away with. Oh, and just 2 days to design, shop for and complete a room? — eek — that really IS a challenge! So, hopefully as the season progresses, we’ll see some more strategic challenges that will push the designers creativity, not just their speed!

Overall, I also agreed with all the judges decisions, EXCEPT the 2nd best design. The designers saved themselves by BS’ing their way through the interview process. Yes, it WAS a beautiful and tasteful room, BUT, you can’t step 3 feet into the world of interior design without seeing that look done . . . and done . . . and done. Additionally, and most importantly, it had nothing to say whatsoever about the client’s design brief and the strange objects that belonged to him/her/it. ::shudder::

Ultimately, once the client moved their “things” in, it would be clear that a rich, kitschy person with no personal taste hired a ritzy designer to give them a chic and sophisticated room. And their objects? Well, they wouldn’t have looked like they were curated. Not at all. They would have looked like sore thumbs.

So sayeth ME all. – Randye