Ellen's Design Challenge Season Two: See Miles Endo's Designs

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Meet Miles Endo

Miles Endo was born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii. As the son of two artists, he says he was drawn to creative pursuits at an early age. He describes his design style as modern with a Japanese influence and enjoys working with different types of woods and metals, such as steel, bronze, brass and cast iron. Miles specializes in custom furniture, culinary serving boards and Taiko drums, a Japanese percussion instrument.

Designer Miles Endo with carpenter Karl Champley as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

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Miles + Karl

Designer Miles Endo is partnered up with Ellen's Design Challenge alum Karl Champley.

The remaining three designers of episode 207, left to right, Vivian Beers, Sef Pinney and Miles Endo, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week the designers must create a multi-functional piece of furniture inspired by a bench-table on which they sat during the challenge reveal, without knowing that it was multi-functional. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: Multi-Purpose Furniture

The final three designers get ready to tackle their latest challenge: Create a multi-functional furniture piece.

The remaining designers and carpenters, left to right: carpenter Karl Champley, carpenter Matt Blashaw, carpenter Chip Wade, designer Sef Pinney, designer Vivian Beers (hidden) and designer Miles Endo toast with champagne standing up, not knowing that they stand next to a multi-functional bench-table, during the challenge reveal, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week the designers must create a multi-functional piece of furniture inspired by a bench-table on which they sit, without knowing that it is multi-functional, during the challenge reveal. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: A Toast to the Final Three

The final three sets of designers and carpenters make a toast.

Crunch time: carpenter Karl Champley (left) and designer Miles Endo (right) secure one of the two the custom made stools of the multi-functional kitchen table-island-cart that they are building as the clock runs out, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week the designers must create a multi-functional piece of furniture inspired by a bench-table on which they sat during the challenge reveal without knowing that it was multi-functional. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: The Building Process

Fighting for a spot in the finale, Miles dreamed up a multi-functional kitchen island and table. Here, Miles and carpenter Karl secure the custom-made stools below the island.

Designer Miles Endo's design, a steel frame and wood sided multi-functional kitchen table-island-cart with pull out stools is presented on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week the designers had to create a multi-functional piece of furniture inspired by a bench-table on which they sat during the challenge reveal without knowing that it was multi-functional. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: The Finished Design

Designer Miles Endo's design, a steel frame and wood sided multi-functional kitchen table-island-cart with pull out stools is presented on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: Mobile Design Detail

Large , white wheels make this kitchen island moible.

As designers Sef Pinney (left) and Vivian Beers (2nd from left) look on, designer Miles Endo (center) thanks judges Christiane Lemieux (right) and Cliff Fong (2nd from right) after his elimination judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week the designers had to create a multi-functional piece of furniture inspired by a bench-table on which they sat during the challenge reveal without knowing that it was multi-functional. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 7: Goodbye, Miles!

This week, judges Cliff Fong and Christiane Lemieux felt Miles was outmatched by designers Sef and Vivian, so he was sent home. Goodbye, Miles! Keep reading to see his past designs.

The remaining four designers, left to right: Miles Endo, Kyle Huntoon, Vivian Beers and Sef Pinney pose on the orginal set of the TV series "Friends" during a VIP visit of Warner Brothers Studios on day one of a new challenge, for which they will have to design new sofas for the green rooms of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 6: A Sofa for 'The Ellen Show'

The remaining four designers pose on the original set of the TV series Friends while visiting The Ellen Show's set on the Warner Brothers lot. Ellen's latest challenge involves her flagship show: Each designer will create a sofa to replace the tired, uninspired one in her show's green room.

Before photo of the of The Ellen DeGeneres Show green room for which designer Vivian Beers will have to design a new sofa, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 6: The Sofa, Before

The show's green room sofa, before the designers tackled its replacement.

Designer Miles Endo's drawing for a sofa designed for a green room of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 6: The Design

Miles created this comfortable, stylish design to replace the green room's sofa.

Miles Endo's design, a two pieces rust-clored sofa with steel sides that double as magazine racks, is presented on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. They had to design and build a sofa for a green room of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 6: The Finished Sofa

Miles and Karl created this modern sofa set, which features graphic metal details and plush burnt orange upholstery.

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Challenge 6: Magazine Rack Detail

The angular design detail on the edge of each sofa doubles as a magazine rack.

The remaining four designers, left to right Kyle Huntoon, Sef Pinney, Miles Endo and Vivian Beers listen to the judges on day one of a new challenge, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week, it's personal, as Ellen gives each designers a copy of her new design book with a personal note instructing them to build a specific piece of furniture for her. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 5: Ellen-Inspired Design

This week, it's personal, as Ellen gives each designers a copy of her new design book with a personal note instructing them to build a specific piece of furniture for her. Miles is charged with making a desk that suits Ellen's modern sensibility.

Designer Miles Endo and carpenter Karl Champley share ideas on how to create a desk designed for Ellen, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week, it's personal, as Ellen gives each designers a copy of her new design book with a personal note instructing them to build a specific piece of furniture for her. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 5: From Sketch to Reality

Miles and carpenter Karl brainstorm his concept: a modern version of a secretary-style desk.

The desk created for Ellen by designer Miles Endo, with a folding top and sides, inner compartments and a writing board, is presented to the judges on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week, it's personal, as Ellen gave each designers a copy of her new design book with a personal note instructing them to build a specific piece of furniture for her. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 5: The Finished Design

The desk created for Ellen by designer Miles Endo, with a folding top and sides, inner compartments and a writing board, takes the stage.

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Challenge 5: A Look Inside

The top of the desk doubles as a whiteboard for Ellen's next big idea.

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Challenge 5: Leg Detail

The angular legs combine walnut and acrylic.

Designer Miles Endo (left) and carpenter Karl Champley (right) pepare to glue a piece of wood that will be part of a folding room divider and shelves inspired by Japan. Ellen surprised the five remaining designers by driving into the workshop in an electric luggage car filled with five suitcases. After picking a piece of luggage each containing a flag from a different country, the designers have to create a piece of furniture inspired by the country they receive. At judging, the designers will explain how their piece was influenced by their assigned country, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 4: International Inspiration

Ellen's challenge to the designers? Create a piece inspired by one of her favorite travel destinations. Miles was assigned Japan, a country whose design is all about functional minimalism.

Designer Miles Endo's winning design, a folding room divider made of light wood and translucide acryilc panels and inspired by Japan is presented to the panel of judges on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. The judges were impressed by the piece's balance, elegance and functionality. After picking a piece of luggage each containing a flag from a different country; the designers had to create a piece of furniture inspired by the country they receive. At judging; they will explain how their piece was influenced by their assigned country. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop; a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need; the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 4: The Finished Design

Miles and Karl answered the challenge by creating this folding room divider with bold red accents.

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Challenge 4: Screen Detail

Translucent acrylic panels are a modern stand-in for the rice paper that traditionally appears in a shoji screen.

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Challenge 4: Screen Detail

Opaque sliding doors in a glossy red add additional storage (and functionality) to this room divider.

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Challenge 4: Screen Detail

This piece easily folds in half, creating an even more versatile and adaptable design. The judges agreed — Miles was the week four challenge winner!

Designer Miles Endo and carpenter Karl Champleys place the top of a dining table inspired by a fine china plate choosen earlier from the Mayfair Wall on its base, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 3: China-Inspired Design

For the show's third challenge, the designers were asked to create a dining table inspired by bone china patterns. After choosing a geometric-patterned plate, Miles designed a hexagonal wooden table with gold trim.

Designer Miles Endo and carpenter Karl Champleys work on a dining table inspired by a fine china plate choosen earlier from the Mayfair Wall, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 3: A Surprise Inside

Karl and Miles install the table's pièce de résistance: a hexagonal mechanical chamber in the center of the table.

Designer Miles Endo uses a router on the edges of a dining table designed around a fine china plate choosen earlier from the Mayfair Wall, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 3: The Finishing Touches

Miles uses a router on the edges of the dining table to make a niche for metal trim.

Designer Miles Endo dining table, the challenge winner, is a round wooden dining table with clean, classic lines that features a center piece that lifts up with an electric motor hidden in the table's base, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. This week's challenge was to design a dining table inspired by a fine china plate choosen from the Mayfair wall. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 3: The Finished Design

A round table sits atop a hexagonal base, trimmed with metallic accents.

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Challenge 3: The Inspiration

The place settings that inspired the design sit atop the finished table.

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Challenge 3: Metallic Trim

The edges of the table's black walnut panels are accented by metallic trim.

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Challenge 3: The Wow Factor

Under the black acrylic hexagon is a surprise: a secret storage compartment with an electric motor.

Designer Miles Endo reacts and his congratulated by his fellow designers after judges Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong declared his dining table the challenge winner on judging day, as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge. Left to right Kyle Huntoon, Vivian Beer, Sef Pinney, Melissa Moir, Miles Endo and Alexis Moran. This week's challenge was to design a dining table inspired by a fine china plate choosen from the Mayfair wall. Ellen DeGeneres puts eight furniture designers to the test when they come to Los Angeles to compete in various challenges designing and building amazing furniture creations. With a workshop, a lead carpenter and all the tools they’ll need, the contestants will be tasked with a new build each episode. A panel of expert judges along with appearances by Ellen will eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing to take home the cash prize and win “Ellen’s Design Challenge.”

Photo: Gilles Mingasson / Getty Images

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Challenge 3: The Winning Design

Designer Miles Endo reacts alongside his fellow designers after judges Christiane Lemieux and Cliff Fong declared his dining table the challenge winner on judging day.

Designer Miles Endo gives a thumbs up with carptenter Karl Champley as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 2: Backyard Furniture

Miles offers a thumbs up for his outdoor challenge design: a modern bar stool inspired by an origami-folded palm leaf.

Carpenter Karl Champley (right) wayches out the Multicam CNC laser cut the metail sheet for designer Miles Endo's bar stools as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge

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Challenge 2: The Metal Shell

Carpenter Karl watches the CNC laser cut the metal sheets for Miles' modern bar stools.

Designer Miles Endo's and carpenter Karl Champley's wooden accented metal bar stools as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 2: The Finished Barstools

Each modern bar stool is constructed from one continuous piece of stainless steel. The seat and foot rest are made of durable zebrawood.

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Challenge 2: Barstool Detail

A close-up of the zebrawood seat.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 2: The Judges' Take

"One of my favorite things in design is when you see something very beautiful that’s also very simple," Cliff said of this bar stool. Here, all three judges look at the design up close.

Designer Miles Endo's sketch for his bed challenge as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 1: Miles' Bed Design

A shot of Miles' drawn-out design plan for the first bed challenge.

Designer Miles Endo shows the metal detail on his bed as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

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Challenge 1: Metal Work

Miles poses with a fabricated metal piece that will serve as a support and accent piece on his modern bed frame.

Designer Miles Endo's and carpenter Karl Champley's bed as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 1: The Finished Bed

Miles and Karl created this low-slung modern wood bed, complete with an upholstered headboard, for the first challenge.

The hidden shelf under designer Miles Endo's and carpenter Karl Champley's bed as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

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Challenge 1: Bed Detail

A hidden shelf under the bed pulls out to hold books, cell phones and other by-the-bed essentials.

Detail of designer Miles Endo's and carpenter Karl Champley's bed as seen on Ellen's Design Challenge.

Photo: Ejen Chuang / AP Images

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Challenge 1: Bed Detail

Custom-made metal pieces accent the finished bed, giving it a modern-industrial look.

Ellen's Design Challenge Season Two: See Miles Endo's Designs

Meet Miles Endo

Miles + Karl

Challenge 7: Multi-Purpose Furniture

Challenge 7: A Toast to the Final Three

Challenge 7: The Building Process

Challenge 7: The Finished Design

Challenge 7: Mobile Design Detail

Challenge 7: Goodbye, Miles!

Challenge 6: A Sofa for 'The Ellen Show'

Challenge 6: The Sofa, Before

Challenge 6: The Design

Challenge 6: The Finished Sofa

Challenge 6: Magazine Rack Detail

Challenge 5: Ellen-Inspired Design

Challenge 5: From Sketch to Reality

Challenge 5: The Finished Design

Challenge 5: A Look Inside

Challenge 5: Leg Detail

Challenge 4: International Inspiration

Challenge 4: The Finished Design

Challenge 4: Screen Detail

Challenge 4: Screen Detail

Challenge 4: Screen Detail

Challenge 3: China-Inspired Design

Challenge 3: A Surprise Inside

Challenge 3: The Finishing Touches

Challenge 3: The Finished Design

Challenge 3: The Inspiration

Challenge 3: Metallic Trim

Challenge 3: The Wow Factor

Challenge 3: The Winning Design

Challenge 2: Backyard Furniture

Challenge 2: The Metal Shell

Challenge 2: The Finished Barstools

Challenge 2: Barstool Detail

Challenge 2: The Judges' Take

Challenge 1: Miles' Bed Design

Challenge 1: Metal Work

Challenge 1: The Finished Bed

Challenge 1: Bed Detail

Challenge 1: Bed Detail

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