Tonight is the final episode of Design Star and we are down to two, very nice, but un-inspiring designers, Michael Moeller and Emily Henderson.  As I struggled last week between Design Star and Great Food Truck Race, I thought how sad  I was even contemplating the choice. 

Design Star-Final Two

But this season has been boring in its mediocrity.  The glass room challenge was interesting in an elementary way, but not outstanding. It was like watching a brand new designer on their first project, adequate but not stellar.  The most interesting thing this season has been watching Candice Olson’s hair.  The quiet competition has me  (almost) missing Nina-Cruella DeDecorator-Ferrer.

I love design, decorating, color, and all things that impact a space.  Even after 35 years as a professional interior decorator, I have an insatiable desire to learn and be inspired by all things Design.  Thus my original love with HGTV and Design Star.  My love has waned for both.  HGTV and the Discovery Channel,  forgot about us, both professional and DIY,  who truly love design and the process.   Corny as they may have been, Matt Fox and Sherri Hiller of Room by Room, delivered great design ideas, (and will soon have a new TV show on PBS) the early years of Trading Spaces were some of my favorite, and Decorating Cents (of which I was able to be a part of a few episodes) was exciting to watch for the budget driven mindset. Divine Design has always been enjoyable and inspiring with higher ticket ideas that even those on a budget could mimic. Each show focused on creative real design for real people, okay, except for Hildy’s straw on the wall episode.  Practical Design with flair is what my clients want day in and day out.  Aw-w-w, FLAIR is the key…using things in creative, non-predictable ways.  That is what Design Star is missing.  Partially, because the designers haven’t played in the decorating sandbox for as long, perhaps because they let fear get in the way, or simply the crazy inspirations the DS production team dishes out, are too limiting.  Whatever it is, Design Star and HGTV are losing viewers on a daily basis.

But where will I be tonight at 10 PM?  On my sofa, with my snack of the night in hand, ready for the Grand Finale.  I will be watching with hope that this…this is going to be the episode that knocks it out of the park.  I will follow this season all the way to the end while the two, very nice, remaining contestants, battle it out in one of the most anti-climatic versions of DS I have watched.  It actually makes me miss,Nina-Cruella DeDecorator, just a little bit! 

Will I be back next year?  At this stage, I say no, there will be something else filling my time at 10 PM on a Sunday evening.  Maybe the key to a great Design Star is pitting people against one another for the joy of the process of design, not a title that is only as good as the caliber of the competition. 

In the interim, Here is a sneak peek at tonight’s final episode!

JoAnne Lenart-Weary

Creative Director-The Decorating and Staging Academy