The 'Design Star: Next Gen' Finale: Five Unique Spaces, But Only One Winner

The remaining contestants compete in two separate challenges to showcase their talents and personal brand aesthetic. From dreamy bedrooms with custom headboards to lifestyle-driven, multipurpose rooms, who will win the $50K and be welcomed as the newest member of the HGTV family?

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Photo By: Rob Pryce/Lando Entertainment

The Final Challenges

Carmeon, Chris, and Eli compete in the finale of Design Star: Next Gen. This two-stage finale begins with an initial competition in which the designers create a primary bedroom to reflect their own signature style and unique brand. The judges will review the spaces and eliminate one of the three contestants on Day 2. The two remaining designers will race to the grand prize in the second competition, which challenges them to create a full build-out of their dream room including architectural elements. Who will come out on top?

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A Bohemian Bedroom With a Sitting Area

Carmeon divided her design lab bedroom to accommodate both a cozy lounge and a separate sleeping area. Using a wall and open shelving to add definition to the room, she incorporated her signature plants, textures, and patterns to accessorize a seating area. Woven lights brighten the space, and the filtered daylight that pours through the bedroom window helps this small, cozy room feel warm and welcoming.

A Black Bedroom With a Modern, Wallpapered Focal Wall

Moody, dark walls are synonymous with Carmeon’s design style, and in this already-small bedroom, help make the space feel cozy and sophisticated. A French toile wallpaper was used as a focal point on the back wall of the bedroom, and a clean-lined headboard anchors the bed without detracting from the rest of the design.

A Divider Wall in a Cozy Bedroom

The addition of the divider wall gives Carmeon’s design extra real estate for decor and accessories like a television, which helps make her space feel very real and relatable. White bedding, curtains and accessories provide a welcomed contrast to the dark, moody walls and vibrant greenery.

A Clean-Lined Headboard and Curated Nightstand

Carmeon’s bedroom offers layers upon layers of detail and styling that could appeal to someone who gravitates to French Country design as much as someone who appreciates a contemporary space. A handmade white headboard is installed over the French toile wallpapered backdrop behind the bed to elevate the design. Textured pillows and linens signal comfort in a sophisticated bedroom. A gold pendant light offers illumination of the nightstand side table, and warm wood floors and lush plants add warmth to the room.

A Pop-Deco Bedroom With Shades of Green

Inspired by the idea of hosting a television show dedicated to motel makeovers, Eli designed a bedroom that would deliver on that vision for his brand. Aligned with his “pop-deco” style with eye-catching curves and bright colors, this open concept room demonstrates that he understands design trends.

Shades of Green in an Art Deco Bedroom

The “Memphis-style” Art Deco details of Eli’s primary bedroom design incorporated shades of green including a rich jade green velvet headboard, and mint green slatwall wainscoting. Gold sconces flank the headboard, and a white, modern nightstand adds finish and function to the room. Lush, green plants help Eli to demonstrate his refined approach to accessorizing and attention to detail.

Art Deco Details in a Master Bedroom

Paneling in both black and bright green add appeal to this comfortable, friendly bedroom. White linens on the bed are left to be minimal. Green curtains are hung high over the French doors, and an archway is installed around another exit to further incorporate the architecture of the room.

Bold Colors and Oversized Scale in a Master Bedroom

Chris leaned into contrast and scale when designing his primary bedroom. He incorporated a funky color palette, a bold upholstered headboard, and blown-up, large scale floral wallpaper. The blue sofa at the foot of his bed adds a vintage, global character that’s synonymous with his brand.

Color and Contrast in a Bold Bedroom Design

Chris tells the story of a global traveler in his bedroom design. With arresting colors and patterns, a handmade headboard, roman shade and custom wallpaper, he sought to deliver maximized impact in a way that was true to his signature, worldly style.

Floral Wallpaper and a Custom Bedroom Fireplace

A romantic fireplace painted mint green adds appeal in the primary bedroom. The large-scale flower wallpaper is a complement to other oversized design elements, and offer a creative balance in this small space. Three modern fixtures that some may say look like golden blossoms hang from the ceiling to illuminate the room and marry vintage and contemporary design themes.

After the First Challenge, Chris Is Eliminated

Despite finishing his primary bedroom design true-to-brand, Chris was eliminated after the first challenge. He, as well as the previously eliminated contestants, return to support the vision of Eli and Carmeon as they move forward with executing their final space in the design competition.

A Reimagined Entryway

Eli updated the exterior of his design lab for the final challenge, incorporating an inset pattern and a bold, blue graphic to the door. Modern decor accessories complement the aesthetic of the loft studio apartment that he built within.

A Brooklyn-Inspired Studio Loft Apartment

The final challenge required designers to execute their dream room. As a builder and conceptual thinker, Eli transformed his design lab into a studio loft apartment reminiscent of the type of home he longed for during his years living and working in NYC. Adorned with modern accessories and bright colors that are true to his pop-deco brand, this well-planned space has everything you need (even the kitchen sink).

A Modern-Meets-Art Deco Dining Room

The entryway to Eli’s apartment includes an oval dining table and modern chairs. Three pendant lights hang over the table, delivering on his Art Deco design style. Blue graphic half circles and triangles add color and interest to the walls, and also complement the color of the cabinets used in the apartment kitchen. Up the ladder to the right, the resident would be able to transition into the lofted bedroom in the unit.

A Cozy Living Room Beneath a Lofted Bedroom

Eli sought the best ways to make the use of space in his design lab. He utilized the lowered ceiling from the lofted bedroom with a well-planned, cozy living area with recessed lights and a modern fireplace. Along one wall, he applied a wallpaper mural. A comfortable royal blue sofa and white chairs help the space feel cozy and sophisticated.

Blue Kitchen Cabinets in a Modern Apartment

Robin’s egg blue kitchen cabinets and modern appliances flank one wall of the apartment. A white vent hood and stone-textured backsplash add appeal. The overall color story may seem 1980s to some, but feels lively and livable, and demonstrates how well-conceptualized an empty space can become.

A Ghanian Dream Home

For the final challenge, Carmeon refreshed the exterior of her design lab to reflect the theme of her dream space: a home designed to reflect her roots in Ghanian heritage. She painted a pattern on the door that resembled native kuba cloth, added contrast with an inlaid door panel, and adorned the entryway with potted plants and texture-rich accessories.

An African-Inspired Sitting Area

Carmeon designed a raised platform seating area directly inside the entryway to her Ghana-inspired home. A modern fireplace serves as a focal point on the wall. Woven baskets and framed prints suggest how her dream home in Africa might look. Grasscloth wallpaper and layered rugs add texture and warmth to this room. A leather sofa and gray chairs make it an easy gathering place.

An Open Concept Living Space

Driven by a desire to communicate how interior design can be both authentic and culturally-rich, Carmeon built a dining room and a formal living room into the remaining area of her design lab. Her dream home thoughtfully incorporates significant textures and patterns reflective of her Ghanaian heritage, and her attention to detail from floor-to-ceiling allows her dream home vision to come to life.

And the Winner Is...

Carmeon transformed her design lab into her dream home in Ghana and – spoiler alert – the judges considered it a true success. In addition to the raised seating area, she built a large planter that helped to define her banquette seating, and incorporated a comfortable, well-planned living room that was richly accessorized with authentic nods to the geography and her culture.

Design Star: Next Gen