'Design Star: Next Gen': Redesigning the Ugliest Rooms in America

Eight designers, renovators and social media brand-builders compete in this episode of Design Star: Next Gen. Filmed in an isolated Design Hub in Southern California, the competitors are pushed to stretch their creativity and design skills in a high-stakes match. Tune in, because at the end of the season, one of these contestants will be the winner of $50,000.

Designer Chris leaned toward a Moroccan aesthetic with various natural wood, leather and jewel-tone accents to lend detail to the living room of his design lab. Ornate detailing in the coffee table, chandelier pendants and hanging tapestry helped him deliver on his vision for a classic global design.

Trim installed throughout the room was painted the same as the wall color for subtle elegance. The ornate archway also differentiated his space and demonstrated how a perceived "classic designer" could be challenged to reinterpret a space in a dramatic way.

Deep black walls and contrasting gray and cream-colored accents led the judges to describe Justin’s rooms as “absolutely sexy.” A daring chandelier adorns the living room area, while a light rug warms the space.

Justin upgraded the design lab’s dining room with a marble-topped oval dining table and statement chairs. He eliminated the pony shelving that divided the living room and dining room to embrace an open concept design. Modern accents, including that trendy fiddle-leaf fig, enhance maturity in this room.

Large open shelves and overlaid framed artwork demonstrate how statement-worthy and rich simple storage can be when scale is considered. Between the shelves, a handsome bar cart and gold starburst mirror tie the wall of the dining room into the rest of the design lab.

Peti added a wall in her design lab to create a division between the warm and welcoming living room, and cozy and intimate dining area. The bright living room embraces natural wood and jute, complemented by a mustard yellow velvet sofa and ottoman. The transparent yellow and orange lucite table adds an unexpected touch of contemporary style to the space.

The addition of a faux fireplace took Peti’s living room design to the next level. Accented with a round mirror and black sconces, the judges focused on this well-executed focal point.

Eli demonstrated the power of subtle wall art to add unique character to a home. His selection of material finishes lend to the modern aesthetic in the dining room. The statement-worthy pink dining table with matte black chairs and overhead pendants add presence in his design lab.

A coordinated table setting provided added character to the dining room, and further drew attention to the pink table. Matte black dinnerware and a simple orchid centerpiece appealed to the judges.

The brushstrokes of charcoal gray and white carried throughout the design lab, and the contrasting palette worked hard to marry the walls with the modern furnishings. Use of pink accent walls in the living room offers a welcomed contrast. The marriage of colors was well-received by the judges.

A wooden accent behind the couch is a nod to Eli’s industrial design background. The unexpected natural material in this modern space counterbalances the soft, round living room carpet and bold blue velvet sofa.

High placement of curtain rods and a tall shelving wall divider help Carmeon’s design lab feel loftier than others. The shelving was built with modern arches – a detail carried to other pieces throughout the space.

Unlike some other designers, Carmeon flipped the layout of her design lab, swapping the dining room into the front of the house. In the back, a cozy, modern space with textured accents is made unique with a custom pattern on the wall, framed with trim to resemble an oversized canvas.

Bronze-black walls and accents ground the design lab with significance. Carmeon’s personal style is sophisticated, and always grounded in culturally significant symbols. From the ground up, she embraces texture and clean lines to make her spaces stand out.

Pony walls were replaced with a large, custom built slatted accent wall in Tony’s modern space. The pink walls of the original room were retained and enhanced with black and gray for contrast and impact. Bubble gum pink curtains flank the windows, making it feel equal parts vintage-antique and retro-cool.

Pink, gray, and black accent carried into the living room, too. Tony’s POV is that design doesn’t have a gender, and as such, worked to create a space that anyone and everyone would find chic. He enjoys sewing, so he reupholstered a large chair. He also added a silver-painted mannequin to the room as decor.

Arianna jokingly refers to her style as “drug lord meets grandma,” favoring an aesthetic of luxurious, glamorous pieces mixed with vintage, repurposed and antiqued finishes sprinkled throughout. Like many of the designers, she upgraded her pony walls into matching white slat walls to provide division of space without compromising line of sight.

Playing off the use of the faux animal hide in the living room, she incorporates animal print into her dining chairs for a subtle tie-in. She distinguished her space with the use of marble tiles in the dining room, and carpeting in the living room. Light pink continues to flow into the back of the house, grounded by neutral “vintage” paneling and a glass top dining table.

Marisa’s design lab was transformed to match her personal aesthetic, which leans in the direction of maximalism, both in color and pattern, and selection of accessories. Midcentury furnishings provide a functional living space while brightly painted and patterned walls make her space a stand-out in the Design Hub.