Design Star Season 4: Where Are They Now?

Want to know what happened to season four contestants after the show? We caught up with some of your favorite designers and got the scoop.

Filed under: Decorating

Jany visits the Christ the Reedemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Jany Lee
How has your life changed since Design Star?
After being on Design Star, I was able to start and open my own interior design business in Dallas. The publicity from the show has been a wonderful start, generating various opportunities to work on projects ranging from an entire home renovation to a boutique nail salon to a Japanese restaurant.

What have you been up to?
I have recently been asked to teach a workshop at the Institute of Academy and Design in Sacramento. I am truly excited to meet design students and to inspire them to follow their passion. I am also participating in a "Dancing with the Stars" local charity event to raise money for a no-kill animal shelter that I volunteer with here in Dallas. Dancing is one of my other passions so I can't wait to put my skills to the test.

Jany fosters dogs from a local no-kill shelter, Paws in the City.

Have you kept in touch with fellow contestants?
I have been in touch with Antonio and Lonni. Both are doing well. Antonio was busy filming his new show, and I am looking forward to watching it.

Jany spends time with her many foster animals.

What was the most important lesson you learned from being on Design Star?
One of the lessons that I learned from my experience on Design Star was to not hesitate about making a decision and to follow your instincts. Following your gut and being true to yourself is important in allowing yourself to grow.

Which HGTV talent would you let have free rein in your house?
Even though Candice Olson was one of the judges on Design Star who analyzed and sometimes criticized our designs, I like her eclectic approach to design. She's fun to watch and has a great collaboration with her crew. She's also from my home town of Toronto, Canada, and I've been watching her since she was on a local TV show before she started with Divine Design.

What's your home "secret shame"?
I foster dogs with a no-kill shelter called Paws in the City, and with a constant stream of stray dogs living with me, my backyard gets damaged all the time. I have had to replant grass and change my landscape design every year. I have learned to use less grass and more pea gravel in my design to make it more functional for the pets.

What celebrity home would you most like to design?
I am a big fan of Ellen DeGeneres and would love the chance to design any room for her. Not only is she funny, but she is kind and such an inspiration to me. I also admire Oprah Winfrey, even though she already has Nate Berkus as her designer.

Which three books would you take on a desert island?
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski