dewlove wrote:

Margaret, you rock! Love your assessments each week. You have gained a fan and a new reader for Elle Decor.

posted on March 21, 2007 at 11:36 PM

crimson wrote:

i agreee with margret, she is an honest voice in what is sometimes an otherwise world filled with "false praise" the only thing i did not agree with this week is that michael went home over carisa.. i cannot stand her, she has a horrible attitude and while michael is young and has a lot to learn, carisa is always complaining and blaming others for her own blatant shortcomings..michael may have problems with his ego, but he is confident and real..carisa sometimes thinks more of herself than she should....i hope she goes home next...in my mind, the final choice will be between andrea and matt, who both have OBVIOUS personal issues of their own, but they are on fire when it comes to design..time will tell....

posted on March 21, 2007 at 11:40 PM

LK wrote:

Goil so badly needs a mentor, an editor. He's got a hundred ideas when one good foundational theme and a few spin offs to jazz it up would work.

Good episode. Great room. Great red dress.

posted on March 21, 2007 at 11:58 PM

Joy wrote:

I was delighted to see Tom introduced as the guest judge. He seems to have great taste and insight. Andrea's design was gorgeous and complete, although the chairs seemed too dramatic. Goil is so much more emotional than I would have guessed from the first episodes. Carisa is a whiner, but I do think she's talented and decent. I was very glad to see Michael go -- what a snotty little dork.

Of the contestants who have already departed, whose work as a designer will you be anxious to follow in the future?

posted on March 22, 2007 at 1:24 AM

CR wrote:

Love the honesty in your blog. Keep it coming.

posted on March 22, 2007 at 3:22 AM

Emma Phelps wrote:

This was a very good show! The winning project was clearly superior to the other projects, and the looser clearly needed to go, although, it appeared that Goil was close, also. I completely agree with you about Goil's strange light fixture- it was unattractive and had nothing to do with the Arts and Crafts movement.
On another note: your wardrobe selections are so beautiful!
I wish that I knew where you shopped because I would buy everything that you wear!

posted on March 22, 2007 at 3:56 AM

SVAZZO wrote:

He certainly has a great presence about him. I watched every episode on Top Chef and know he is serious... but I got the feeling he is a total sweet and caring guy too. You can catch him smiling from time to time, lol. That said I would not want to be judged by him, lol, specialy in the cooking department.
The designers had a really hard job on this episode.

posted on March 22, 2007 at 5:28 AM

FanFare wrote:

Dear Margaret,

Thank you for your in depth analysis of this past challenge. Your comments were very insightful. I, too liked Matt's room. The wall color was very "appetizing". His room was calm and beautiful (especially that floor). However, Andrea's room was exquisite (especially those sumptuous chairs)! She really put in a great deal of thought and effort into her space.

I am perplexed as to why Carisa got to stay; when her room was incomplete (flatware was missing). In episode 2, John was released because he had no floor. Certainly, eating utensils for a dining room are just as important. The absence of them should have sent her home.

That said, I am glad that "Michael the Gnat" is no longer a participant. You may have found him someone who "spiced things up"; I found him to be very acidic and intellectually lacking in his choices. He was truly a downer!

Goil, once more, escaped being "latered" due to the ineptitude of others... However, it is clear to see that he, too, lacks worldliness. Examples are: he did not know what a cabana was, where St. Tropez was, and how to create an expensive looking environment! His immaturity is evident challenge after challenge. If Carisa is the Queen of Excuses, Goil is the King of Excuses...

posted on March 22, 2007 at 10:17 AM

juni wrote:

Thanks for explaining why Matt's room didn't win. It looked stunning and colorful, and surprising with the leather floor. The camera may not have conveyed well enough why Andrea's room won. It was beautiful but didn't seem delightful enough with its lack of color.

Your explanations help me understand the dimensions I am missing as a viewer, who cannot be in the actual room.

Very insightful analysis of Goil's weak points. Comfort is important in a room and I am not seeing that -- instead, I am seeing innovative ideas that are great conversation pieces. Also, I agree, broadening his experiences will help him a great deal. He did not know what a cabana was and he felt stumped by the chef's table concept as well.

Great description of Chef Tom Colicchio -- You are a good writer. It would be nice to pass some of your skills on to Todd, whose blog is bland and unrevealing. He comes across as such a nice guy, I would not want to hurt his feelings, but he doesn't understand how to express complex thoughts through writing--so he just gives up.

posted on March 22, 2007 at 10:52 AM

Rol wrote:

Your comments about Michael are very generous. I found his work bland & very boring, and his personality was edited to be extremely grating. I find it shocking he made it to the show at all.

posted on March 22, 2007 at 2:53 PM

Linda wrote:

Margaret - You seem to really know how to zero in on each creation week after week. I am learning alot. Bottom line for me, Michael is a riot with his rebellious thoughts! Goil gets me a little confused at times. The other two are both good most of the time. But Andrea's room really hit a home run. I would absolutely love eating in such a comfortable, inviting room! Really a great job! I will continue to learn from your very professional and interesting comments.

posted on March 22, 2007 at 3:18 PM

John wrote:

I can count on one hand how many designs I have liked this season. John's room in the first show and Matt's little girl's room were both memorable. Last week I criticized Andrea for being dull and depressing. This week, however, she really blew me away. Her design was both totally chic and functional. From the chairs to the lamps her choices were spot on. Way to prove me wrong, Andrea, good job!

posted on March 22, 2007 at 6:11 PM

bronco21 wrote:

Margaret:
Thanks for your level-headed comments. You have a lot of class and set just the right tone. Andrea is my favorite designer and I think she is going to win it all!

posted on March 22, 2007 at 10:19 PM

Kai wrote:

I can't believe Tom scared you. YOU scare me, but not Tom.
Carisa doesn't bother me. It has to be simply that people react differently to the same people. I know you are right there and maybe some people give off something different in person, but I doubt it.

posted on March 23, 2007 at 1:34 AM

Hoho wrote:

I must say... one of the parts I enjoy most about this show is your commentary. You're always spot-on while showing bemusement. (much like reading a Miss Manners column) Love the way you dress too. You have excellent style.

posted on March 23, 2007 at 11:28 AM

Michael wrote:

Hello! I loved this challenge. It was evident that the designers had not been to a variety of restaurants and as you so rightly pointed out, that became problematic for folks like Goil. Carissa's definition of what a chef's table is, was not fully on target so it caused problems for her too. Michael's attitude was a problem. He always had a sour expression. It's a shame. i think if he stopped with the attitude, he might learn something.
Your comments are right on and I think you would be a hoot to have dinner with!!

posted on March 23, 2007 at 1:35 PM

Strom wrote:

Margaret,

I am a huge fan of Elle Decor. Seeing you and hearing your comments is the best part of the show. I have to know -- who designed the red dress you wore? It and you were so gorgeous!
Thanks

posted on March 23, 2007 at 5:00 PM

Frank wrote:

Margaret, you are too, too cute!, and obviously intelligent as well. You're such an attractive woman.

posted on March 23, 2007 at 7:09 PM

R. Christian Anderson wrote:

Margaret.. once again Top Design has not disappointed me. The team selected the right person to win and the right one to go home. Quite frankly, although I knew Andrea had talent, I didn't think she would turn out a room as stunning as she did. Matt did a superb job, as well. I do think that Carissa and Goil are talented, but their emotional sides are taking a toll on their work, just as it will affect their professional careers. Michael deserved to go home. The boy just doesn't understand how fortunate he is to be getting the very sound advice from such an amazing group of Top Designers as the judges. There is a huge difference between establishing your own style and defending poor random choices for a paying client. I am not convinced Michael is really designing or just experimenting with pretty things and getting the best match he can.

As a major figure in publishing, I am sure you have seen some extremely poor commercial and graphic design set before you. I have been a graphic designer for many years and continue to see high end publications with really horrid graphics, words that butt up against frames and poor font choices. I would love to see the Bravo editors create a show for Top Graphics. I think it would be a huge help to those professionals who have a hard time separating the desktop programmers from those of us who understand psychology, composition and balance in design. I know watching Top Design has now brought the interior decorator to a new level of respect to the general public. Top Design can take some responsibility for that new awareness. Thanks, Margaret. You are a real woman of style!

posted on March 24, 2007 at 2:56 AM

Miss Otis Regrets wrote:

Dear Margaret:

Please, please do something about Kelly's clothing choices. There's a big difference between being original and innovative and just plain making yourself look awful. I think the majority would agree that Kelly tends toward the latter. It's fascinating to me that everyone in the same room with her, designers and judges alike, manage to keep a straight face when speaking with her.
Can't you help?

Sincerely,
Miss Otis Regrets

posted on March 28, 2007 at 10:49 PM

vance wrote:

i'm just curious about where to find those chairs! Loved them.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 1:55 AM

moonshine wrote:

I think your great and the show is so inspiring to up and coming designers. I think Tom C. is amazing, but I could see he is very intense.

posted on March 29, 2007 at 10:36 AM

kj wrote:

I would like to thank Margaret for being so honest and not fluffing the critique. You are so right on mark with everything you say!!

posted on March 29, 2007 at 10:37 PM

Ms-Mich wrote:

I agree that Michael was arrogant (but let us not forget, he was chosen to be a contestant at 23), but I also thought he was very gracious in losing.

posted on April 2, 2007 at 2:37 PM