The Great Interior Design Challenge - NOT great with Kelly Hoppen on it, it's not.

That's a good point, lona. There doesn't seem to be much actual making, or painting, or covering at all. How the heck did Danielle get all those curtains done? That's a professional job. It would take aaaaages.

Has anyone else noticed that at the end, there are suddenly cushions and bits that we haven't seen anyone making? It used to be all about the 'designers' sewing stuff and covering furniture, but they don't seem to be hands on anymore.

The material walls were so bargain Travelodge, weren't they?

I love faffing around with my house and fancy myself as an interior designer. I'm very impressed with the poster upthread who has done a 3-year course.

Today I've painted an armchair (purple). Like the one off Interior Design Challenge a while back. .

I love room design and enjoy decluttering and pottering around moving furniture as well as wallpapering, painting and moving bits n' bobs around for better effect. In addition to my own home I have "done" rooms for various other family members and I am sure I could do a better job than most of the so called "designers" on this program. When they are finished half the rooms are un-usable anyway and look half finished and shoddy at best. A ruddy great lump of painted ply wood is not a radiator cover and don't get me started on entire walls of pleated material. Gross.

I find this programme fascinating but I wouldn't let any contestant near any of my rooms even though they desperately need a makeover! I think the home owners are very brave - but wonder if they put their rooms back to 'normal' after the tribe has left?

And Daniele's finishing was shoddy. I think Kelly Hoppen wants to market her throws and hates to see a sofa without one or two which is why James was eliminated. Why don't they take the clients views into account? His client loved her rooms, whereas Daniele's didn't, you know they were just going to change it the minute she' d gone. James' take on the tin can challenge was much better too.

gettingon She should have put a Georgia O' Keeffe painting on the wall opposite!

I don't think Danielle should have gone through either. James fulfilled the brief, and the client liked it.

And Danielle's marble wallpaper looked like a giant spread-eagled vulva. Sorry to lower the tone, but I just can't unsee it....

I was recently talking to someone who works in the background of the set and said you wouldn't believe how bad the rooms really are sounded like put together with sellotape and safety pins

I'm sure it's fixed. James' designs were easily the best.

Even the designer herself didn't like the paint colour
So how did she expect her clients to
put up with it like it.

Agreed 100% but I wasn't surprised because I saw Danielle as modelling herself on Kelly Hoppen. I can't understand those radiator covers. Surely the radiator under those would heat only the cover!

I agree cherrytree59, wrong designer went through.

J52 imo you are not being too critical.
Poor homeowner - they kept the camera focussed on the stains on the sofa and pointed it out for so long. James probably hadn't noticed it while dealing with the room and it being kept out while all the work was going on, but now everyone watching sure has!

I totally agree with you Cherrytree the wrong designer went through on so many levels.

I got the impression that they were going to make sure Danielle went through no matter what. The home owners (clients) didn't even like her finished room !

I agree with you J52 that The home owner loved James' design and she even said she wouldn't change a thing !

This has put me off watching as I. Am now starting to think it is totally fixed.

Definitely wanted James to go through, couldn't believe he was the one who had to leave. His home-owner was over the moon with her rooms, but this didn't seem to matter to the judges.

I agree Cherry , Danelle 's designs looked boring. In the bedroom she had no understanding of the vanity unit construction. A basic piece of information the cover she made covered the double socket next to the unit. The radiator cover was ??
I did like the marble wall paper.
I certainly could not have lived with the sitting room. Apart from the dreary colour, the table between the two separate chairs look like cheap Argos!

James' designs actually fulfilled the brief. Personally I would have moved the sofas, but that would be easily solved.

I have just completed a 3 year Interior design course, so maybe I'm too critical!

Well what does the GN design team think about tonight's quarter final episode?
I personally thought the wrong designer went through to next round,

but then what do I know?

Of course design should be fun and colourful too-if that's what's required. But i think most programmes go in for the cosmetic makeover idea a bit too much. The great thing about Kelly Hoppen's design is that it's easy to replicate, practical and simple. She has an eye for what works.
And she doesn't always use taupe either.

I DO get what you mean though. I loved the birdcage, but the designer was designing for a bachelor pad, so she was way off brief. She's never going to make a living out of indulging herself in stuff she likes to the detriment of the customer's needs, and the judges need to point this out.

I don't think Kelly's designs are fun as such, but I don't think that's what she's about.

That doesn't mean gettingonabit that design shouldn't be fun or colourful. Otherwise we would all be designing our homes in taupe!

Well, I guess it depends what you want from a programme. I admit I take these things quite seriously..and, after all, these contestants are hoping to pursue a career in interior design, so Changing Rooms it ain't.

One thing I really like about this programme is that it IS about design. There's enough "transformation" programmes about, surely, for those who like something a bit more lightweight?

Well, it s supposed to be entertainment and presumably they actually want people to watch. I'm afraid she's just boring. The others are having to work so hard to bring some life into it that's coming over as strained too.

I'm still batting in Kelly's corner too! Who cares what she looks like, whether she smiles, how "charming" she is? It's a bloody competition for budding designers, and Kelly is a seriously professional hard-hitting successful designer. She knows what people want and comes across as a person who takes herself and her craft very seriously indeed.

I liked Sophie too but felt she was a bit...insubstantial?

Go Kelly

I buy her bedding range and it lovely ,good quality ,high thread count ,I wont buy any other range now.What she looks like isn't important to me

Kelly didn't like the peach ceiling as it was a bit 80's in last nights episode! Shame she didn't have a mirror infront of her as her skin tone matched. Kelly was famous in the 90's as was fake tan and taupe interiors and both I hope aren't coming back soon. Also she's hasn't any chemistry with Oliver so it's just painful to watch. Bring back the old judge please....

Just had a look at her web site. She has a design for Trump Towers Dubai which doesn't look as minimal as she would lead us to expect. kellyhoppeninteriors.com/kelly-hoppen-couture/#foobox-44/0/1.jpg