Christine wrote:

Felicia was at the top of two of the first three challenges. I thought she had far more experience and taste and style than Ryan.
When I was in college and taking music composition courses my jazz professor told us that we had to learn the rules before we could break them in a way that was intellectual and groundbreaking. I feel like Ryan needs to hear that! He needs to respect the rules and know them well before he can branch out, and begin applying layers differently or attempt to act outside of the rules. you need to know the rules in order to break them.

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:00 PM

Katie wrote:

I love you and think you were completely right to want to get rid of Ryan. He is the worst and Felicia was consistently fabulous. Don't let Kelly overpower you, you are a much better judge (and much prettier!).

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:03 PM

Alice wrote:

PLEASE SEND RYAN HOME HE DOES NOT BELONG ON TOP DESIGN I CANT WAIT TILL I HEAR "RYAN GO HOME"

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:18 PM

Nan wrote:

I thought Carisa's room was the tackiest of all of the rooms. The red and orange was god awful, Ryan's wasn't my cup of tea, but he put more effort in his room than some of the others.You judged him on his behavor and shirt not his talent Why is Coil you guys favorite?

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:29 PM

Ray wrote:

"Plus, because it's reality tv, there's alway a lawyer in the room."

Funniest blog ever.

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:38 PM

Karen wrote:

Margaret...may I call you Margaret? You jumped several steps up in my estimation of the judging when you said you thought Ryan should go home. I couldn't agree more, even more than Michael going home and I didn't think anyone could take over that spot. He makes me a crazy person. Ryan has a terrible attitude, worse taste and should go back to the art world and leave designing alone. I didn't think Felicia should have to have gone home quite yet...throw the darn afghan away. I think most of the designers/decorators do a really good job for the amount of time and money they have available. Mostly time; they don't get much. This show is growing on me please keep up the good work. (Now I understand why you women sit so ramrod straight..never thought of audio packs) sorry.

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:43 PM

Tbone wrote:

Margaret - you are fabulous beyond words and probably the best thing about this show. How you could sit next to Kelly's electric do for that long, I have no idea...

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:44 PM

Mariah wrote:

There were only twop designers I would have hired tonight. Your winner is not one of them. Matt has a good eye, excellent taste and he reslly l,istens to his clients. Matt should have won.

posted on February 21, 2007 at 11:56 PM

Donna Ettkin wrote:

I'm really glad I chose to read your blog tonight because you addressed some of the questions I've had about the judging process. Even so, I'm not convinced that Felicia deserved elimination. Setting aside Ryan's condescending attitude about interior designers who are not him, I think there were as many flaws in his room as there were in Felicia's. It seems to me that the real reason Felicia was eliminated is that, in my view, she's too professional and too mature -- she has too much integrity -- so she's not "good television," she doesn't provide enough conflict in the way that Ryan, Michael and Carisa do.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 12:05 AM

trixie wrote:

Ryan is just a sad clown version of a rebel without a clue. He has confused being radical (which would involve actually knowing something) with just being rude. His political ideas are a confused self-contradictory mish-mash of bumper sticker slogans that he uses as an excuse for being an ignorant jerk. At best his image of himself is so deluded that he is a comical. He may have some talent but it is not an especially remarkable artist: there are many other young artists out there who are worth paying more attention to. He is just very aggressive about selling his act. How much longer is Top Design going to keep buying it?

posted on February 22, 2007 at 12:09 AM

Donna A. wrote:

Margaret, I like you much better after seeing you on Andy's Live Blog this evening. You calmed me down after watching tonight's elimination. I actually threw the remote when they announced that Felicia was going home instead of Ryan, yikes! I'll have to blame Kelly for that one. Iconoclasm? Is she thinking so hard that all the smoke coming out of her ears actually fried her hair?? I was expecting her to be wearing something awful from the waist down this evening, only to have her offend my senses once again with that hair! Beautiful face-bad hair. Sorry Bravo, she needs to be on TLC's What-not-to-Wear. Besides that, you judges have a tough job and I commend you for that. The question is...can you get the Top Design set designers to give you some functional, comfortable chairs?

posted on February 22, 2007 at 12:10 AM

Norma DeNure wrote:

Margaret, Thank you for the insights. After watching episode 3, I got the feeling you weren't happy with the outcome. Thanks for confirming that. I enjoyed seeing Felicia's website. I think that she has talent, but the dark colors of the "afghan" room didn't sit well with me. I hope to someday see a video of the judges decision making behind-the-scenes! Keep us posted!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 12:30 AM

Michael wrote:

Margaret, I've got to tell you that I think your such a hottie, with or without functioning air conditioning. You and that cute little red dress stole the show!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 12:34 AM

Q wrote:

I am very glad you are one of the judges - because I do think you are representing the clients - and I appreciate that a lot

Q

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:15 AM

Narciso wrote:

I'll have to say that your look when Jonathan said "so we're all agreed" was laugh-out-loud priceless. It was clear that you were NOT in agreement -- a fact reinforced by your blog. Ryan's room did seem to have more interesting ideas than Elizabeth's but I completely see your point. Also loved your comment about the color's for Michael's room. "Plum and banana" will never connote "bright and happy."

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:40 AM

Jay Anders wrote:

I am so glad that you have this blog!
I was certain that Ryan, with his arrogant attitude and mediocre talent , would be sent home.
Now I understand why Felicia was sent home- and now I know why Kelly and Jonathan aren't Editors of internationally recognized magazines!
Kelly thinks that Ryan is an iconoclast?! Please! His room was hideous.
I'm with you! ryan should have gotten the ax!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:41 AM

sf wrote:

Since when do you have to defend a degree from Brown? Or your qualifications? Don't take it personally- you are doing a great job. Its obvious that you are very knowledgeable-

"the masses are asses"-it's the philosophy our country is based on- which is why we don't have a direct democracy.- just think of all the cat rooms you have pics of now.

By the way Bravo whoever does the photoshop work on your website is terrible- they need an image editing lesson. Better yet hire me I'll do the work and teach them how....there is no excuse on such low res images...

posted on February 22, 2007 at 2:19 AM

Les wrote:

Margaret,
It is good to see a reality show where the judges do not always agree. You have a very defined opinion and I agree that Ryan has a attitude and needs to be more careful on his comments. I could see you were a bit annoyed at the other judges and it showed. Thats ok I didn;t agree either, I thought Ryan should have gone home, but the client stated if she had to live in the room Falicia created she would shoot herself and that clinched it. Too bad well I will keep watching and by the way you look hot in the dress last night :)

posted on February 22, 2007 at 7:46 AM

nicole Steinthal wrote:

I am a little disappointed with the designers. I feel like every week the rooms/designs look the same. I have yet to see a really beautiful warm room. Acutally I have not seen any room that comes close to beautiful. I know the designers have limited means due to the challanges but I feel sorry for the judges because it must be so hard to choose a top design from what is presented. All of the colors are really harsh. I know they are going for clean lines etc. but all the furniture/beds look so uncomfortable :-( I think all the designers are very talented but I want to be inspired by their designs...that is what would make me want to hire them.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 8:01 AM

Rafqa wrote:

I'm glad I took the time to read this blog since the editing on the show leaves me with the impression that you are cold, unimaginative and snobbish-am impression which is completely obviated by your blog. I'm glad to read your impressions, positive impressions as well as criticisms and noted with pleasure your links to other sites. Thank you for the time you spent preparing your blog and offering further insight into the judging.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 9:33 AM

jimmy wrote:

It's official, I am a fan of yours, but not this show. The show does a lot of things right, but ultimately, one hour is just not enough time to do justice to the thought processes, design transformations, judging and client reactions that accompany each design. As you said, too many of your positive comments end up on the drawing room floor, and that's a shame. I thought you were very classy in the live web show--Elle Decor has a great ambassador in you.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 10:22 AM

Linda wrote:

Thanks for your comments. I have to ask--are the judges as sleep-deprived and tired as the contestants? Because this episode's decisions were, well, just WRONG! Matt should have won (his client was very pleased, and his design was great); Carisa's client was not pleased because of the lack of storage. Felicia's client is just on the edge if something like this room would make her blow her brains out--think what she would do over something really important and unfixable (just take the ugly afghan off the bed, for goodness' sake). Ryan, clearly, is not an interior designer and has voiced himself that he is not. Eliminate him and let him be a funky artist--leave interior design up to the ones who are cut out to be interior designers. Very sorry to see Felicia go...

posted on February 22, 2007 at 11:00 AM

LK wrote:

Its very hard to see Ryan in your magazine. He disdains what the industry is all about, belittles the talanted people that work within.

By the way, your normal classy look was up a notch last night! Wonderful.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 11:01 AM

Jude Swift wrote:

Although the blogs are informative, they're unfortunately after the fact. The result is that - no offense intended - the judges come off as a bit snipe-y and disappointingly arbitrary. All the comments of the judges would lead me to believe that Matt won last night's challenge, and yet.....I know, it's "good tv", but in "reality", it was very dismaying. If it is reality, then perhaps the editing should not be so skewed and manipulative. You all are design heroes and I'm glad this show is here because everyone clearly has talent, but altogether, it just seems the wrong person keeps going home, or the favored person doesn't win.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 11:19 AM

Michele wrote:

You are fabulous and I'm so sorry about those bar stools. They may look pretty, but you guys deserve something more comfortable, like the project runway director chairs or the top chef real chairs. And I agree that Ryan should have gone home. I would be frightened to be in his room. It was truly scary. Opinionated shouldn't be enough when the room is just downright terrifying.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 11:29 AM

LindaM wrote:

Hi Margaret - you are definitely the best part of this program. Your blog posts really help round out the thinking that's involved that the viewer never gets to see. I wish they'd include a time lapse clock so we could see how long you all spend deliberating!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 11:55 AM

marc wrote:

I agree with your feelings about Ryan. As an X window designer in New York, I met many young talented yet stubborn artsts. I think his need to express himself outweighs the challanges and reality of being a good designer.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:11 PM

Linda wrote:

Margaret - I must admit I somewhat misjudged you from the beginning, and for that I apologize. You were right on the money last night. Good for you for speaking the truth about Ryan. You seem alot more at ease and your personality is starting to shine. It looks like you are emerging as the top judge. Felicia has a great deal of talent and it was a shame to see her go. I don't care how creative someone is - that does not make their design necessarily good. There is something called negative creativity! All in all, keep up the good work as my friends and I trust your opinion. ps - please get rid of those awful chairs!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:19 PM

Linda wrote:

Nice blog Margaret. Now I can better appreciate the decisions made on the show. Still can't agree with Ryan not going, despite the fact that he shows his own "point of view". That was a monstrous room, though I did like the artwork and creative use of art and function. If I had to live in that room I would likely go mad. That's the room that could cause someone to shoot themselves or somebody else. That wooden divider was the absolute worst thing I've seen on the show yet.

I didn't like his attitude either. He does seem pissed off. And that 666 shirt. I'm agnostic and don't believe in the devil but I think that shirt was antagonistic and very fitting to his demeanor.

I wasn't biased against him before this show, either. I am however, biased against Marisa. I liked her room, not enough for it to win, but it was nice. I like most of her work. She is just annoying. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe her bossiness.

I thought Matt and Eric's rooms were best. Eric's' would have been my favorite if not for the hilariously scary art! How could he not know it looks like blood splattered on canvas? OMG!

I have to disagree with the general consensus among the judges about color. I like the colors in Michaels room. I also liked the green and purple trimmed cabanna. It was my favorite. Funny, your colors on your show's promo seem to be in that same area. Odd.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 1:26 PM

chie wrote:

Yeah Brown!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 2:20 PM

Sherri wrote:

I think Felicia should not have gone home. She obviously has talent that the judges recognize since she has been in the top groups each week. Everyone makes mistake occasionally. But designing is her true calling. Ryan on the other hand has desire to be a interior designer. He would probably take his winnings as top designer and use it to jump start his art. There is truly art in design but one must be able to work with all areas. He has not ever been fabric shopping. How, as a judge, can you possible deem him a top designer when he can not work with fabric? Top Design, I thought, is about the top designer not top artist. In a team atmosphere, he and Carissa argued the entire episode. It was very irritating to watch. And yet both are still on and a true designer who made one mistake in judgement is gone. I love this show and would not miss it, but I have a hard time understanding why the winner is not picked according to what the show is about instead of what makes good TV.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 2:32 PM

-cj- wrote:

I hope you are right in that Carisa's room looked better in person. On TV, it really didn't compare to some of the other rooms. I fully expected her to be in the bottom two. Maybe the, looks-different-in-person theory has some weight, because i would have never called Micheal's colors banana and purple. They were fairly unsaturated on screen. This is honest because I'm the last person who'd want to defend Michael as a contender. So I can maybe understand keeping Carisa, but to give her the win? I'm skeptical.

I am so glad that the judges are willing to disagree. Design is subjective and should elicit opposing reactions.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 4:02 PM

HK wrote:

I'm glad you stood for Felicia even though you could not stop her from getting eliminated. I think you are the best judge. Ryan really irks me with his pride. Artists should feel free to express themselves but there is no need to belittle others who use artistic talent to accomodate ordinary people's needs. I think he should have gone home because he is an artist(one with low taste level too), not a designer. I love art with all my heart, but designing is different. He does not know fabric and has consistently made horrible choices when he went shopping. In addition, this is not the first time he designed a bed to high for the client. Felicia knows interior design. That should be the whole point. She has consistently shown vision. In previous challenges, especially the cabana, she has demonstrated great taste as well. I wish the judges would also look at the whole body of work when there are two remaining designers.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 6:13 PM

CR wrote:

Thanks for the honesty in your blog. I thought that Matt's room was the best. I didn't even put Carissa in the top 3, more like bottom three... baffels me why she won. Ryan has a bad attitude, but does some interesting work. The elimination gets harder as the tasks progress, and I would have liked Felicia to stay a bit longer. I would have eliminated Carissa.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 7:07 PM

Alona wrote:

I definitely agreed that Ryan should have been sent home. I was positive that Felicia would be safe because you have seen such great things from her in the past. When they called her name, I was shocked. I couldn't believe that they wanted to put Ryan through after he was so rude! I was relieved to see that at least one judge had some sense by wanting to keep Felicia. Keep it up, Margaret!

posted on February 22, 2007 at 7:15 PM

jed wrote:

Like many others posting here, I appreciated your efforts to have Ryan booted over Felicia. From the moment he appeared, misquoting the lyrics from Search and Destroy and putting his dirty skateboard wheels on the dining surface, I have been dubious about his presence, and one begins to wonder if he wants to be the Top Designer only because there's no reality show for Top Insufferable Installation Artist.

What was Felicia thinking with that afghan? When a family heirloom (technically speaking) is being sold cheap at a garage sale, it should serve as a big HINT to the potential buyer that they are looking at an undesirable item. Still, it was disappointing to see her go over Ryan (or Michael, or Carisa).

And also like many others, I feel that Matt was cheated. He took incredibly nondescript pieces and made them look high-end, fulfilled all the client's needs and requests, and seemed to impress all the judges in doing these things so inexpensively and well. He seems to be kind, thoughtful, creative, sensitive to the needs of clients, and genuinely inspired.

Although Carisa did indeed find some great pieces, that was a matter of fabulous luck and not due to any particular skill on her part. Anyone between the ages of 18-30 with $500 and hipster leanings would have purchased that chair--it's ludicrous to claim that it serves as evidence of some sort of extra-discerning eye, especially as one might note that this same eye picked out the nasty colors for the St. Tropez cabana. I realize the judges had no way to know about her original plan for the room, but had her ginormous rolling desk actually been buildable, it would have cleaved the room in two in a most cramped and unwieldy manner, and it's likely that everyone would have hated it.

As I have so many disagreements with the final decisions, and expect that this will continue on into the season, I find that I'm watching for the judges. I am genuinely impressed by the talents and credentials of all three of you, and even when I don't understand the outcome of the judging, it's always interesting to hear what you have to say. I found it interesting that most viewers voted you the hardest judge to please. My husband and I actually think you're probably the most fair and open when it comes to design, as you certainly must see a great deal of good design that's not to your own taste as part of your work for Elle Decor. Also contrary to what most viewers thought, we're convinced that Jonathan Adler would be the harshest critic.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 7:47 PM

rafael wrote:

I dislike in these reality shows when a contestant is sent home for one mistake while otherwise building a strong record. Felicia was a potential star, Ryan is not, and Michael is not, and I have strong doubts about Carisa. Michael's argument that plum and banana are bright and happy followed on the heels of his morbid kids bedroom, showing a disturbing pattern. Ryan has shown a pattern of disregard for the craft. Felicia's patterns were much more positive than negative. I wish the tasks were treated more as a portfolio built by the contestants than as an apprentice-like firing for recent mistakes. That process would be much more likely to result in a top designer.

Margaret, you're the best part of the judging. I find it hard to find consistency in much of what Kelly says, and the guest judge usually seems like an afterthought. And please ask your friend to stop saying "see you later, decorator." It grates on the nerves, and is a bit jarring coming out of someone who is supposed to know style.

posted on February 22, 2007 at 9:26 PM

grady brown wrote:

I learned about Topdesign after reading your intro article about it in Elle Decor ... I think the show is great fun! I enjoy your honest candor about the designs; my favorite was "the hamburger shack at the country club" comment. I like that you are constructive and professional without being cold and judgemental. I love Elle Decor and have been a long time subscriber, look forward to future episodes of TD as well as future issues of your magazine. Thanks again.
gb.

posted on February 23, 2007 at 12:12 AM

Jeff wrote:

The latest in Italian furniture = $50, 000
The latest Elle Decor = a couple of bucks
The latest blog from M. Russell = PRICELESS!

As someone who has worked in the interior business for years; it's always a pleasure to deal with Elle Decor and Ms. Russell is the epitomy as to why. Your style, class and sensibility is amazing. And no I'm not BROWN nosing; I just appreciate good taste.......unlike Ryan

posted on February 23, 2007 at 3:51 AM

Nancy wrote:

I’m done with this show. I was surprised when Ryan wasn’t cut the first time he was on the chopping block but you sent Elizabeth home instead. Ok fine everyone has their own opinion. BUT to let him stay and send Felicia home?! I don’t care if his room did evoke a thought or emotion. When I looked at that room the only emotion I had was ‘I’m in hell and the designer is crazy.’ If you’re keeping Ryan on because he provides some ‘drama’ it’s a big mistake. He has no respect for the work he’s doing and obviously has no respect for designers or their clients. Too bad you didn’t send him packing when you could because there is no way he is the Top Designer. Top cry baby is what he is.

posted on February 23, 2007 at 9:52 AM

Diane wrote:

4 of the first 5 to go have been women. Hm. I'm from Chicago, so all supportive of the Chicago designers, but Elizabeth at least had a point of view in the cabana episode. Standing back and let someone else run roughshod over your vision would get you canned in any other Bravo series. Also, it's pretty clear that Felicia is talented. Ryan may be better TV. But bottom line, do you have to be male to be "Top" something?

posted on February 23, 2007 at 10:40 AM

Tad wrote:

Margaret,

j'adore. you are fabulous! however, i want you to listen, and listen good sister! you seem to be the only logical judge, and you need to start kicking kelly to the curb. seriously. it seems, based on the way the show is edited, that you're outnumbered by her almost every week, and i for one, can't take it anymore. who cares if ryan thought outside the box, little miss kelly? ryan's room was almost as ugly as kelly's hair last week, and someone needs to point that out. just because someone does something different, doesn't mean that person should be rewarded for it. crimping went out of style for a reason, and i hope that what ryan created last week never becomes stylish.

:)

keep up the great blogs,

Tad

posted on February 23, 2007 at 12:26 PM

Harrison Decker Cole wrote:

Are you a desinger? Who delivered EXACTLY what the client wanted? It's all about the MONEY when you are a designer working out in the field. The minute you don't deliver, there goes the buck. In your mind, based on what the clients wanted, where was the STORAGE in the winning room? Had I have been her client she would of been re doing the whole thing at her expense ! She missed the mark... while everyone else delivered.

posted on February 23, 2007 at 12:27 PM

susan carson wrote:

dear ms russell,
i'm glad that a judge said that they did not agree with how the evenings events turned out, because i agree that while felicia did not create the most exciting room it certainly wasn't the worst. and ryan's space was chaotic and stifling, goil's bed would have given you both a headache and bruises from banging into the wood frame night after night, micheal's was dreary, need i go on..... there truly wasn't a "dream post-college" room out there except for maybe eric's but the double lamp w/ single lamp shade was a bit weird & impractical, what if you needed to move the lamp?
as a decorator & designer of decoupage lamps & furniture i feel slightly disappointed and dismayed with the outcomes (both the room sets & the eliminations).
ryan who shows a clear distain for the bread & butter of design/decorating ie: fabrics & paint chips is not a designer in the making and yet here he is and 2 people that do know what is like to work in the business and loved the trade were sent home. i am confused... an afghan vs. a confining & confusing space vs sad colors vs bad "art" vs poorly designed beds, how in the world did you make a decision.
as you know, interior design is not an art project--someone has to live in the room & feel pretty, be inspired or whatever gets them going in the morning & it does need to be somewhat functional and not hazardous to your knees.
so to sum up-- you all sent felicia home and kept ryan who clearly can not design a room and dislikes the rudimentary abc's of design work. as i said, i am confused and apparently so are many other people.

.

posted on February 23, 2007 at 3:38 PM

audrey wrote:

I think Michael is seriously depressed due to color choices,
even though Ryans room didnt flow , at least it had energy

posted on February 23, 2007 at 4:32 PM

Amelia wrote:

Margaret,

Thanks for your refreshing point of view. I agree I enjoy seeing the judges clash, at least that shows that most are taking the contestants' futures seriously.

ps I thought it was hysterical that people sent you pictures of cat rooms! I don't even WANT to know what "captions" went with them.

Just so you know I'm a veterinary technician and Ryan's room was completely unsafe for a cat. Any feline climbing up that "tree" would have a brain injury in no time.

posted on February 23, 2007 at 6:04 PM

Editor Too wrote:

If the writing in Elle Decor is as good as the writing your your blog, I'm subscribing!

posted on February 24, 2007 at 3:09 AM

fangor wrote:

Dear Margaret,
payback is a bitch....wish you could see Ryan's takedown of TopDesign at the Scope art show this weekend..you will love what he did for you.. you are all superficial "paint chip" decorators who dote on insipid details like napkins turned into pillows!!! what genius! Ryan is was just trying to expose the shallowness of the interior design world...and you are the mistress of the mundane if you ask me. kiss kiss... FAngor

posted on February 24, 2007 at 12:18 PM

R. Christian Anderson wrote:

Hello Margaret... I totally agree with your reasoning and judging style. Thanks for sticking to it. I am in the design industry myself and come from an "art" background, so when I saw that Ryan considered himself an "artist", I immediately took notice. However... as the show evolves, it seems Ryan is actually using his designs as a vehicle to shove his point of view in others faces. I don't consider that an artist.... "performance artist", perhaps, but it is not necessarily "fine art" to my way of thinking. An authentic interior designer doesn't formulate ways to disturb the aesthetic in the most unconventional way he or she can, keeping the space intact. They are inspired and energized by places, colors and the psychology of the client. I think Ryan is translating controversy and confrontation to his interiors and though that may have it's place in some graphic mediums, it doesn't make an environment I want to be a part of and it says very little about his ability to work with or for others.

When I saw Ryans 666 shirt, I felt it was a statement he made to challenge the judges. Almost saying "go ahead and confront me... I am ready for you". The shirt was not shocking, abstract, artistic or even confrontational... it was just poor taste.

I think your comments are right on the money and I hope you continue to voice your opinion in judging. I have a feeling Ryan may be on the show for a while and you may have other thoughts that may be ignored.. the problem is some of these people may are good "theater"... in the end, however, I pray we have a designer who was consistantly imaginative, talented and expressive, but also one with integrity and who wasn't a bully or ridiculed other contestants. Continue to be a champion for integrity as well as good design taste, Margaret. You rock!

posted on February 24, 2007 at 10:13 PM

Jay Anders wrote:

Dear fangor,
Have you thought about therapy?

posted on February 25, 2007 at 1:55 PM

Rich wrote:

I see that a number of the posts on this blog offer fawning comments on Margaret's abilities as a judge. I find all of the Top Design judges to be inarticulate, unsophisticated in their assessments, and not even close to witty in their comments. I realize that style and decoration are subjective, but the judges of Project Runway were opinionated, but still made their comments interesting and amusingly sarcastic ... as opposed to the sophmoric, curlled upper lips and petulant "I don't like it" phrases of the Top Design judges. The whole panel of judges are making Top Design a snoozer of a show.

posted on February 25, 2007 at 4:26 PM

Carmela wrote:

I was very disappointed at the outcome of the fourth episode. Call me old-fashioned, but I like logic in my TV programs. I have enjoyed watching the past episodes of Top Design because it's fun to watch, but also because I respected and admired the judges as the top in their field. This fourth episode left me cold and I now really question their judgment. I followed the last season of Bravo's Project Runway and I have to say those judges really explained their decisions and it all made sense to the viewers. I looked forward to Project Runway because it left me with a feeling of satisfaction like I actually learned a little something about the fashion world.

Whether it was done to create drama or suspense, I don't know, but this fourth episode was ridiculous. It did not seem fair to send Felicia home for just throwing an afghan on a bed when she consistently excelled in previous episodes. On the other hand, Ryan may be an artist, but he has incredibly bad taste and that's not something he's just going to pick up from one day to the other. It's one thing to be funky and modern and different and another thing to be just plain tacky and absurd. The bedspread was horrible. The room divider was an eyesore. The whole room gave me a headache. His cat room was also ugly. He has consistently proven to have really bad taste in all the previous episodes. He's trying too hard to be some kind of rebel and it's coming off pretty fake and annoying. I can't understand how he is still on the show unless he has connections with people behind the scenes with some hidden agenda to promote his art or perhaps he just provides the drama and confict they think the show needs.

Michael's rooms have been quite ugly. Those colors he picked (light yellow and plum) could not have been worse. My eyes were actually hurting from looking at those two colors together. Yuck! I don't see how they could send Elizabeth home for poor color choice in the cabana episode and then choose Michael over Felicia. Still, even Michael's room was better than Ryan's nightmare room.

Another thing that bothered me was how Matt was shortchanged in this episode. His room was much better than Carisa's. I thought Erik's room was second after Matt's. Carisa's was okay, but I don't think it was the best one. The client even said Carisa's room didn't have the main thing she asked for which was storage.

It seems that Kelly took the lead in this episode and decided the unconventional rooms were better even if they looked absolutely hideous or lacked functionality. I think Goil's designs have been innovative, different, cool and modern without being ugly. Still he is starting to repeat himself. I guess the message for the designers is clear - they should try to be different just for the sake of being different even if it's ugly and meaningless.

posted on February 26, 2007 at 1:56 PM

kathie wrote:

I am a big fan of Project Runway and Top Chef. If I missed the Wednesday show, I recorded it and looked forward to seeing it the next day. I find that I am not that interested in Top Design, although I watch many deign shows on other stations.

I have a new house and I am LOOKING for decorating ideas, but I get no inspiration from this show. I have seen better rooms done on a budget on HGTV. Except for Gokil (I am not sure this is the correct spelling), the designers are boring. Their rooms are not comfortable, pretty, or elegant. Everyone seems to be trying to be sleek and modern, which has its place, but is getting DULL.

posted on February 26, 2007 at 2:41 PM

LK wrote:

Kathie: The show is a contest. Its not really meant to provide you inspiration for decorating your new house. The show puts the contestants in difficult situations with many uncontrollable elements and asks them to create something from the mess.

There has been better product on the $2k budget shows, I've said the same. But I would look to neither for help in doing the interior of my house.

They're just entertainment.

posted on February 27, 2007 at 11:13 AM

Gary Edwards wrote:

You are CLEARLY the best part of the show- and that includes the producers. I'm glad that you can set the record straight with this blog: Ryan should have gone home- what's wrong with your fellow judges?
As a long time subscriber to Elle Decor, It's nice to see that you are as refined and beautiful as your magazine!

posted on February 27, 2007 at 11:58 AM

funex wrote:

I too was stunned that Ryan was not eliminated. What an attitude! Hs attempt to get under your skins was reflected in his shirt-666 indeed. If he wants to be an installation artist, let him, but let him do it elsewhere. The interesting thing is that he has talent and seems fairly smart--too bad that he holds everyone else in such disdain.

What is up with Carissa? Insufficient storage? In an multi-purpose room? This is a Top Design? And Goyle's stunted chairs? I would hate to be the one that pulled the chair forward under a table, only to have the back "legs" fall off the ledge. Although maybe one would fall into his bizarre bed-nothing like rolling over in the middle of the night and cracking your elbow on the edge. As for Michael, he is the antithesis of Ryan and epitomizes what Ryan is disdainful of--overly attentive to paint selection, without even understanding how consistently atrocious his choices are. His designs are depressing. And what an attitude on him! He certainly does seem to think that he knows better than the judges. (Now that i think about it, if all decorators were like Michael, Ryan would have a right to be disdainful.) The afghan in Felicia's room was a mistake, and a somewhat creepy one, but it could be easily corrected, unlike Ryan's cage, Goyle's bed, Carissa's storage and Michael's depressing environments .

As for the judges, Todd is a hoot-you gotta love those facial expressions. What is up with supposed hottie Kelly's hair? You, on the other hand, look continually stunning and your dress was beautiful. And while it was a bit low-cut it was nowhere near as low-cut as Felicia's. (Sorry for being catty, but Kelly's doo last week, and her "Save Ryan" attitude, put me over the edge!)

posted on March 1, 2007 at 2:41 PM

Jaymes Derr wrote:

Something Ryan definately doesn't seem to understand is that he works for the client, not himself. You would think that the contestant's past performance would figure in somewhere with the judging of each week's project. With Felicia being so strong on past projects and Ryan's so vehement distaste for the design process as a whole, would have been enough to send him packing this week. I was a little amazed that Margaret seemed so "on her own" with her comments and opinion of Ryan. Even though they were all in the room and heard the comments at the same time, she was the only one it seemed who was able to pick up on his tone of condensation and "better than thou" attitute regarding the very tools of the trade these judges and most importantly, designers, use in their professions.

So unfortunately, Felicia is gone but definately not out in the big picture. But happily, it means more good television to come as we watch Ryan stumble, fall and make a complete ass of himself for the world to see.

Thank you Margaret, you are brilliant and a great part of your entire judging team on "Top Design".

posted on March 1, 2007 at 7:23 PM

Jls wrote:

What happened to the episode with "Ritchie Rich" getting cast off.
Was he too annoying at a loss and you couldn't show it?

posted on March 29, 2007 at 4:42 PM