Design Star Challenge 3: .99 Reasons to be Creative

Get all of my design tips from the weekly judgment of the challenges.

By Vern Yip

Week three’s challenge is my favorite so far because it is a true test of each contestant’s individual ability to think outside the box. With limited time and only the basic furnishings in the room, each designer must showcase their design ability with just two paint colors and their dollar store purchases as their tools. While some contestants rise to the occasion and create visual masterpieces, others fail to step it up, risking their longevity in the competition. Unlike last year’s resource challenge, everyone showed ability, raising the stakes and underscoring that this year’s winner will have to demonstrate their best skills each and every week.

Add Architectural Interest

Next: Be Original!

This effort was a wonderful demonstration of Christina’s innate understanding of color, scale and balance. Not only does this room creatively deconstruct the bookcase to add more dimension to the walls, it also employs color smartly. By using bold red and black paint, Christina is able to take advantage of the existing white walls and add architectural interest to otherwise flat surfaces. Additionally, Christina employs stacked laundry baskets to create wonderfully original side tables. Well-edited and well-done, this room is a huge success and a demonstration that Christina may be a real talent.