Catch Up With Contestants: Where Are They Now?
See what the Design Star contestants you loved (or loved to hate) have been up to since the show.
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July 06, 2015

By:
Liz Gray
and
Keri Sanders

Photo By: Chris Tsambis
Photo By: Marcel Page Photography
Photo By: Erika Bierman
Season 1: David Bromstad
David has come full circle, from contestant to season one winner to this year's HGTV Star host and mentor.
Eclectic Dining Room
When he's not on Design Star, David hosts White Room Challenge and the hit show Color Splash, now in its eleventh season. Get his tips on how to re-create the colorful, vibrant rooms you see on the show.
From:
David Bromstad
Season 1: Donna Moss
In her hometown of Dallas, Donna is widely known as "The Queen of Bling" and operates a successful designer boutique, That's Haute, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. An interior designer since the 1980s, she also chronicles her design process on HGTV's Donna Decorates Dallas.
After: Great Room
On the show, Donna works with her two daughters, Tiffany and Ashley, to create traditional-yet-unique interiors, like this ornate living room.
Season 1: Vanessa DeLeon
Things have gone lightning-fast for Vanessa since her Design Star stint: Her business has grown and she's also gotten the opportunity to make public and TV appearances, including a part as a designer during season one of Food Network's hit show Restaurant: Impossible.
White Modern Living Room by Designer Vanessa DeLeon
Vanessa's style has moved forward, as well. "My designs, like myself, are constantly evolving," she says. "I like to keep designs modern, with a classic touch ... a style I call my own: 'glamilistic.'
Season 1: Tym De Santo
A lot has changed for this creative designer since his time on Design Star. Tym moved from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Los Angeles following the show, a move he says gave him a huge boost in opportunity and inspiration. He's hosted the "Style File" show at Las Vegas Furniture Market for the past five years, and he also volunteers as a designer with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.
HGTV Design Star: Midcentury Modern Living Room by Tym De Santo
Tym's designs have grown since the show, too: "Surprisingly (to me) my 'minimalist' approach to design has grown to include a warmer modern feel," he says. "I am using more texture and color to highlight my interiors, and I love it!"
Season 1: Ramona Jan
"More than anything, my experience on Design Star made me realize how 'out-of-the-box' I think," Ramona says. "Rather than fight this aspect of my nature, I decided to go with it by building an art studio and retail shop, Vintage Bling, in a defunct chicken coop." The shop attracts celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Deborah Winger and Michele Williams.
Farmhouse Kitchen
Ramona also started a design business, Country Home Restoration, which focuses on restoration rather than renovation. "My specialty is to first upcycle as many existing elements as possible and then to scour local scrap metal yards, church bazaars, thrift shops and junk dealers to find the correct period kitchen appliances and 'smalls,' right down to the salt cellars, vintage blenders and toasters, as well as linen toaster covers," Ramona says.
Season 1: Temple McDowell
Since Design Star, Temple has been busy with a dual career: a design business specializing in the classic contemporary style she was known for on the show, and working as a busy mom of two children, now ages 9 and 10.
Season 2: Kim Myles
Since this former hairdresser beat out the competition to win season three of Design Star, she's hosted her own show, Myles of Style, and also appeared on the all-star series HGTV'd.
HGTV Dream Home 2009 Rust-Colored Kids' Bedroom
Winning Design Star also opened other design doors for Kim, including the opportunity to create the kids' room in the 2009 HGTV Dream Home.
Season 1: Todd Davis
The season one runner-up was beloved for his creative touches and art installations. Now he's sharing his innovative designs with unsuspecting clients on the new HGTV show Room Crashers.
After: Gray Bedroom
On Room Crashers, Todd heads to a home improvement store and chooses a client from amongst the shoppers. Here, he transformed an outdated bedroom and patio into a chic, cohesive space perfect for Zen-style relaxing.
Season 2: Christina Ray
You might remember Christina as the mom who indulged in her passion for design on the weekends. Christina says her spot on the show gave her career a huge boost: "I honestly feel like I have designed more spaces in the last five years than I would have in my entire lifetime career!"
Elegant White Kitchen With Ornate Chandeliers
This ornate, traditional kitchen is one of Christina's most recent projects.
Season 2: Robb Mariani
Fans of season two knew Robb's two main passions: diesel rigs and design. Design Star gave him a chance to understand TV production and work on camera, and a new passion was born. He went on to host Speed's American Trucker, and he continues to experiment with his design and remodeling projects.
Season 2: Will Smith
Will's experience since Design Star has been a positive one. "To this day, people still stop and talk to me about their experiences and how much they enjoyed me on the show. It just brings back good memories of fun times," he says.
Neutral Transitional Indoor Pool
How have his designs changed since the show? "They have become even better, if you can believe that," he jokes. Here, an ornate chandelier adds unexpected glamour to this exercise room.
Season 3: Matt Locke
After Design Star, Matt filmed pilots and appeared on home shows across the country. He's currently the host of the SheKnows.com Web series Homestretch. But Matt's latest venture is his biggest yet: a 20-foot-tall wall sculpture of the NYC subway map in wood and metal, a private commission to be installed this summer in a new home in Southern California. See more photos of the progress on Matt's website.
Season 3: Michael Stribling
While Michael's Design Star experience was decidedly positive, the best post-show benefit has been the friendships formed with cast mates. "I could not pay enough for the relationships that have come out of this," he says.
Traditional Master Bedroom
Michael's company, Michael Stribling Interiors, has grown like crazy since he competed on Design Star, but he says his style is still as adaptable as ever. He's also been featured on several episodes of the TLC reality series The Little Couple.
Season 3: Mikey Verdugo
"Being on Design Star changed my life completely," Mikey says. He left the police department to start a design firm and a personal training and fitness studio, and he has also become a voice for the gay and lesbian community.
Zebra Print Chair
This eclectic living room filled with texture and pattern is one of the many spaces Mikey has designed since the show.
Season 3: Tricia Beaudet
Other than being recognized, Tricia says, her life has not varied much since being on the show. That's not to say she isn't busy with three kids, a growing design business and a hosting stint on SheKnows.com's Web series Homestretch. In her spare time, she also completed a novel that features an interior designer as the main character. She's currently in the market for a literary agent!
Eclectic Red Living Room
Tricia says her designs have evolved quite a bit since Design Star. "I still love the modern glam look, but I would say that I Iike an eclectic mix of things," she says. "I don't worry about rules when it comes to design ... if I like it and it appeals to me, it goes in the room."
Season 4: Antonio Ballatore
The season four champion of Design Star brings his distinct and edgy design aesthetic to HGTV audiences on his show, The Antonio Treatment.
After: Contemporary Bedroom from Designer Antonio Ballatore
Maintaining a mantra of "go big or go home," Antonio takes ordinary rooms and makes them wow-worthy, like this Japanese-inspired master bedroom that features a 3-D painted wall mural.
Season 4: Alissa Sutton
Known for her sophisticated and glamorous style, Alissa spent time last year traveling and getting inspired in Europe and Southeast Asia.
Living Room with Beautifully Carved Fireplace
Since the Design Star competition, Alissa's design career has been hotter than ever. She was recently chosen to design this room at the prestigious Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills as part of Luxe Magazine's "Maison de Luxe."
Season 4: Amy Sklar
During Design Star, contestant Amy Sklar was known for merging modern and classic aesthetics to create beautiful yet functional design. The biggest thing the show taught her? "I learned to always trust my instincts," she says. "I think the show was a real wakeup call regarding that."
Modern Window Seat
Since the show, Amy has refined her style and grown her roster of clients to include Hollywood writers, directors, producers and comedians, including Patton Oswalt, Thomas Lennon and Rob Corddry.
Season 4: Jany Lee
Since Design Star, Jany's interior design business in Dallas has been booming. She's also spent more time in front of the camera as host of the online design show Homergency on SheKnows.com. Her newest venture? Being a mom to her 3-month-old baby girl, Kyra.
Neutral Eclectic Bedroom With Molding and Blue Headboard
"I design spaces that are timeless and elegant ... my style hasn't changed much since Design Star," Jany says. She loves to layer textures, like she did here in this crisp, cozy bedroom.
Season 4: Jen Guerin
Design Star opened doors to other creative pursuits for Jen, including the opportunity to speak about color at design events and create commissioned paintings for clients like Nissan and NBC.
Season 4: Jen Guerin and Jason Champion
"Personally, I cannot imagine my life without Jason Champion, my partner in crime and design since we first swapped jokes on the set of Design Star," Jen says. "Last year Jason and I shot an episode of Showhouse Showdown where we collaborated with his designs, my murals and paintings, and plenty of laughs on yet another HGTV show."
Season 4: Jason Champion
For Jason, the benefits of being on Design Star have been twofold: "First, I met 12 of the coolest people I respect and love to this day," Jason says. "Second, the opportunity was amazing and allowed me to continue working in the entertainment side of design." Catch Jason on an episode of HGTV's Showhouse Showdown this spring.
Contemporary, Open Living Room With Art Gallery
The judges' critiques continue to have an impact on Jason's design work. "It's hard to not hear Candice in the back of my head saying 'no blah but bam' and Vern saying, 'Step out of the box and push it,'" he says.
Season 4: NataLee Callahan
Since Design Star, NataLee, her husband and their two boys moved to Maine. She makes regular TV appearances as an interior design expert, and writes on her blog, Designed to the Nines, about creating a designer look for less.
Powder Room with Striped Wallpaper
"I think my design style still has a mind of its own," NataLee says. "I still try to push the design envelope with creative ways to stretch your dollar, but still have that little bit of shock and awe."
Season 4: Tashica Morgan
After Design Star, "my career bloomed and so did my belly," Tashica says. She and her husband had their first child, Maxwell, a few months after the show, and their second child, Melanie, soon after. And she's even been recognized internationally a local Jamaican woman was a fan on a recent family trip.
Nursery Wall Flower Decor
"My design style has definitely matured," Tashica says. "As a new designer, I was green on the show and now I really understand that execution is just as important as concept."
Season 4: Torie Halbert
The exposure on Design Star led Torie to even more media opportunities, like the chance to be a regular design expert on a local Houston morning show and a spokesperson for local and national companies. She also maintains her design business and, most importantly, she says, serves as Mom to her daughter, Taiven. Since the show, Torie has moved more toward green design and added more color to her repertoire. "Here in Texas, we love earthy browns, and tend to build color on that," she says. "Now I work in more color than ever before."
Season 5: Emily Henderson
The season five winner made the jump from photo stylist to home makeover maven on her HGTV show, Secrets From a Stylist. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband.
From:
Emily Henderson
Eclectic Living Room With Tufted Blue Sofa
Emily's specialty is using vintage and flea market finds along with the homeowner's best pieces to create a chic and collected look. Browse more of her best designs.
Season 5: Casey Noble
Casey's enthusiasm for design and polished on-screen persona led her to make it into the final three on Design Star and later become the host of HGTV's hit show Design on a Dime.
Season 5: Dan Faires
The season five fan favorite says that Design Star was just the push he needed to take his business to the next level. Since the show, he's been featured in The New York Times, released two lines of furniture and guest-starred on Emily Henderson's Secrets From a Stylist. Another honor: He was chosen to speak at his high school's graduation.
Vintage Wood Bookshelf
Dan also starred in the HGTV.com Web series DanMade, which features unique furniture how-tos created using reclaimed wood and recycled materials. Watch his series now.
Season 5: Julie Khuu
"I'm 100 percent busy 100 percent of the time, but seriously couldn't be more ecstatic with life's many design adventures," Julie says of her wild ride since Design Star. Right now she's running a full-service design firm, writing about fashion and design on her blog, Haute Khuuture, and shooting a pilot for a makeover show.
Contemporary White and Pink Dining Room by Julie Khuu
"My style, once super glam and ultra-luxe has matured and developed with an antique and vintage sensibility in mind," Julie says. "Working with designers with so much varied style has helped me to think and live green, to make new out of old, and repurpose, repurpose, repurpose." Browse more of Julie's designs.
Season 5: Nina Ferrer
"My life has done a complete 360 since Design Star," Nina says. "I was working at Polo Ralph Lauren as an architect and project manager traveling the world, and, while that was amazing, I am now running my own business. Taking risks pays off." Nina can also add TV personality to her resume: She hosted the Style Network show Clean House NY.
Traditional Red Sitting Room
"I think when I was on Design Star my design style was pretty solid," Nina says. "I consider my style to be elegant and elevated. My goal is to make each space have a sense of home and class ... so far I have had no complaints." Browse more of Nina's designs.
Season 5: Stacey Cohen
Design Star may have put her in the spotlight, but Stacey has stayed there since the show. Chicago Social Magazine added her to the "Best of 2012" list highlighting the launch of her new online design service, Virtual Designer. Journalism is her first love, so it's no surprise that she's a contributing writer for magazines like Today's Chicago Woman and cheekychicago.com.
Neutral Contemporary Kitchen With Brown Cabinets and Tile Wall
Stacey Cohen Interiors, a Chicago-based firm, handles both residential and commercial projects. Browse some of Stacey's best designs.
Season 5: Tera Hampton
The exposure of Design Star helped Tera open a design studio in Georgetown, Texas, featuring custom fabrics and window treatments. She was also featured as a celebrity speaker at the Big Texas Home Show at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, where she participated in her second "white room challenge."
Black and White Bedroom With Blue Walls
Design-wise, Tera stands by her motto "taking what you have and making it better," but she has grown a little more daring. "I'm definitely more open now to bringing in color and a more contemporary style in my design and staging business," she says. Tour more of Tera's beautifully designed spaces.
Season 5: Trent Hultgren
After battling a serious brain injury just after Design Star, Trent bounced back and his design business in Austin, Texas, is busier than ever. "I am grateful for the amazing opportunities to fly in private jets for clients and be featured in magazines," he says. "I am in the middle of a stunning home on a lake in Texas that has allowed me to buy from around the world."
Traditional Dining Room With Chandelier and High Windows
"My design style, I think, has remained the same in that I have always enjoyed different styles," Trent says. "The homes I am currently working on range from a modern Moroccan to a California contemporary to a Hollywood home that looks like the Viceroy hotel. More important than all the awesome design experiences are the amazing people I have met along the journey." Browse more of Trent's spaces.
Season 6: Meg Caswell
The most recent addition to the HGTV roster is filming the second season of her hit show, Meg's Great Rooms. She's also had a busy personal life she was married last summer.
Eclectic Bold Kitchen With Red Glass Backsplash
On Meg's Great Rooms, Meg turns outdated kitchens and dining rooms into beautiful and functional spaces worthy of being the heart of the home. Browse some of her best makeovers now.
Season 6: Kellie Clements
The beloved fan favorite is still getting used to being recognized in public, but the exposure from Design Star has helped her achieve her goals even quicker. "I'm in the process of writing a series of books, and I launched a furniture line that includes vintage pieces with my signature use of bold colors and fun patterns." She also starred in a series of videos on HGTV.com featuring her creative design tips.
Kellie Clement's Living Room Design
Kellie says her design style hasn't changed much since the show, but long days on the set did help her prepare for jobs with a quick turnaround. "This is a show home I completed right after we wrapped filming. I furnished this 2,400-square-foot home in just two days!" she says.
Season 6: Blanche Garcia
Though Blanche's Design Star journey was cut short in the first episode, her short stay made a big impact on her life and career. Starting this spring, catch her designing hotels on a budget on Travel Channel's show Hotel Impossible. But her craziest moment since the show wrapped: walking down the street in New York City and seeing her face on the side of a bus. "Talk about an out-of-body experience!" she says.
Blanche Garcia Kitchen Design with Kitchen Island
Since the Design Star competition, Blanche says, her designs have become more innovative. "Working on a new show where you have to squeeze every last drop of money out of the budget ... forces you to come up with creative solutions," she says. Browse more of Blanche's designs.
Season 6: Cathy Hobbs
Fans may remember this reporter-turned-designer for her authoritative presence and clean, contemporary aesthetic. Since the show, Cathy says, she's seen an increase in coverage from national magazines and TV stations, as well as a boom in her design business.
Contemporary Living Room from Designer Cathy Hobbs
She continues to refine her clean, minimal and textured look as she secures more projects. And with so many open doors, she's on the lookout for national opportunities: "What's next? As I used to say during my 20 years as a television news reporter ... stay tuned!" she says.
Season 6: Doug Hines
Even after seeing himself on the small screen, being recognized still catches Doug off guard. "I'm grateful for all the support and kind words and love Atlanta shows me," he says. "Months after the show aired a burly tattooed, pierced, Harley-riding guy stopped me in a parking lot to congratulate me and compliment my work. I loved that moment because it reinforced the old adage 'you can't judge a book by its cover.'"
Contemporary Living Room from Designer Doug Hines
He's kicked his design business into high gear, working on both commercial and residential spaces, including a 20,000-square-foot sports bar. And Doug has finally had a chance to put 100 percent effort into his pet project: his own midcentury ranch home. Browse more of Doug's recent projects.
Season 6: J Allen
"Post-Design Star life is amazing once you get used to strangers calling you by name," jokes J. "You're almost a part of a secret club that piques interest, creates credibility and plunges you into a design frenzy." Her firm, Perception Interiors, has grown, and she's even had opportunities to take on new international projects.
Timeless Design in a Formal Living Room with Modern Furnishings
After Design Star I was faced with some tough questions about why I pretty much choked when it came to execution during the show," J says. "I believe Candice Olson said it best, I wasn't trusting my voice, and I found myself second-guessing my design instincts." Since the show, she's nailed down her minimal, modern aesthetic and learned to own it. Browse more of J's design work.
Season 6: Karl Sponholtz
The season six runner-up's design schedule has been busier than ever. Karl's residential architecture firm is working on several large projects, including the restoration and renovation of an 11,000-square-foot Italianate mansion on Lake Michigan and a gut-rehab in Santa Barbara overlooking the ocean.
Green Galley Kitchen
While Karl's personal aesthetic leans more modern, he creates many traditional high-end spaces, like this bright and airy galley-style kitchen. Browse more of Karl's design work now.
Season 6: Kevin Grace
The biggest change in Kevin's life since Design Star? "Until the show, I worked in fashion retail and just dabbled in interior design," he says. The show gave him the confidence boost, he says, to finally open his own Chicago-based design business, Kevin Grace Design.
Kid's Room with Bunk Beds
After the show, Kevin partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation to turn a drab bedroom into this dream living space for a terminally ill child. It's complete with his signature "pop of color"!
Season 6: Mark Diaz
Life has been moving at full throttle for Mark Diaz since Design Star. In addition to completing many remodeling and design projects, he's also working on new structures of his own, including a series of boutique hotels in Miami, New York City and Columbia, as well as a new office and design center in Miami's Little Havana.
Sleek Gray Room With Bold Floral Wallpaper
Mark still has a passion for edgy, modern styles like Asian-inspired minimalism and postwar industrial designs. Browse some of his best spaces now.
Season 6: Tyler Wisler
For Tyler, the friendships he developed on the show were the most valuable part of the experience. "I've managed to stay in touch with everyone, as they are all part of my history, and I don't want to lose that," he says. He's also grateful that the show allowed him to show off his work to a larger audience.
Tyler Wisler's Design
The show forced Tyler to push himself creatively, but it didn't change his overall design style. "I was an uh-mazing designer prior to being on Design Star, a phenomenal designer while on Design Star and am continuing on being the best husband, dad and designer I can be after Design Star," Tyler says.
Season 7: Danielle Colding
Danielle, the season seven winner of Design Star, says her most memorable experience was shooting her own design show on HGTV, Shop This Room. "I fell in love with the process of making a show that highlights my approach to design," she says. "Before doing Design Star I never thought about being on camera and having a show. Now, I'm hooked!" She has also participated in two HGTV specials: Celebrity Holiday Homes, where she designed gospel singer Bebe Winans' home for the holidays, and Yard Takeover, where she worked with Chris Lambton and Dan Faires to design her first outdoor space. Since Design Star, she has returned to her New York-based design firm and taken on several design projects, including Housing Works' Design on a Dime event for charity.
Fun and Functional Coastal Style Kitchen
Danielle still considers her design style global chic with a mix of classic modern. "I wouldn't say that my style has changed; I still like the same things in general, but my confidence and ability to trust my gut as a designer have certainly improved after going through the Design Star fire," she says.
Season 7: Britany Simon
Being on Design Star pushed Britany to finally take the leap she needed to focus on her own business, Britany Simon Design, full-time. She recently began a partnership with home furnishings retailer Ballard Designs to host a series of videos and provide online content on various home styling and decorating dilemmas their customers typically face. She was also brought onto SheKnows.com's HomeStretch competition show as their host and design expert. On top of all that, she and her husband are expecting their first child, a baby girl, due in September!
Country Christmas Decorations in Neutral Living Room
In fall 2012, Britany designed a series of room vignettes for HGTV.com's Holiday House. Starting in the entryway, Britany decorated two living spaces and a dining room for a Hanukkah celebration. Even in a seasonally decorated home, you can still recognize Britany's sense of style. "My design style hasn't really changed [since Design Star], but I can tell you that all of Vern's and Genevieve's advice rings in my ear at every client install," she says.
Season 7: Hilari Younger
As a contestant on season 7 of Design Star and spin-off series Design Star All Stars, Hilari is quickly recognized by HGTV fans. "My biggest memory is greeting an audience of 1,500 people in Atlanta who came out to a showroom opening because my name was on the flier," she says. Since All Stars, Hilari's small boutique operation has turned into a full-fledged design firm. This fall she plans to debut a brand-new line of home goods and is currently working on a design-based TV show.
Glamorous, Fashion-Inspired Black, White and Pink Living Room
Hilari's fans love her for her bold and glamorous sense of style, like in this feminine living room that mixes an array of patterns and colors.
Season 7: Mikel Welch
No more "Middle Mikel." Since Design Star, Mikel has grown to step outside of his design safety zone. Currently, he's the featured design expert on the Steve Harvey show and has now designed spaces for Steve Harvey, first lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Joan Rivers.
Gray Transitional Living Room With Leather Trunk Coffee Table
Being on Design Star created new opportunities for Mikel, like designing this rich and masculine office space for actor, comedian and TV personality Steve Harvey.
Season 7: Rachel Kate
Since Design Star wrapped, Rachel has stayed busy with various design jobs, television appearances and speaking engagements. After the show, she began appearing as a regular featured design guest on Twin Cities Live in Minneapolis. Vying to put her design skills back in front of the camera, she recently teamed with season 7 Design Star contestant Bex Hale to shoot a sizzle pilot for their own design show.
Traditional Living and Dining Room Design
In late 2012 Rachel finished up the design of Nightingale, a restaurant and cocktail lounge in Minneapolis, and is beginning another restaurant project. Most recently she completed this rustic-meets-contemporary living room design for the 2013 Minneapolis Home & Garden Show.
Season 7: Stanley Palmieri
Since Design Star, Stanley's design and construction business, Stanley Boyd Palmieri Design, has increased its clientele tremendously. "I have had a lot of fans contact me and commission me for custom pieces. I have jobs scheduled far in advance, and the calls keep coming in!" he says. This year he plans to make a return to residential design and construction, and is currently working on a custom furniture and lighting line. He recently bought a house with his wife, Samantha, and they are in the process of designing their new home together.
Gourmet Sandwich Shop Design
Stanley still remains true to his pre-Design Star sense of style. "My design style is and will always be 'artistic industrial,' but I do pay closer attention to the softer side of things like fabrics and textures," he says. "In the words of Genevieve Gorder: 'Stanley, I want to see what you can do with fabrics.'" Here, Stanley adapts his visual industrial style through Edison bulb pendants and polished stainless steel chairs into the design of gourmet sandwich shop Taste Unlimited in Virginia Beach, Va.
Season 7: Kris Swift
Since Design Star, Kris' design firm, Future Design Now, has expanded and taken on more commercial and residential clients across the U.S. and Canada. His firm is currently redesigning a historical electrical contractor's building into a ranch-to-table restaurant in Austin, Texas. He also has two TV show concepts in development, a retail concept in Austin, a line of home goods in the works, and is planning on representing a major furniture manufacturer in the coming year. "Having the opportunity to design and collaborate on the corporate offices for Jenner Communications and the Kardashian family still resonates with how fortunate we at Future Design Now are to meet the demands of our private and celebrity clients on a monthly basis," he says.
Contemporary Kitchen with Gray Tile Walls and Farmhouse Sink
Kris' design style is and has always been eminently original and completely unique for every client. This contemporary kitchen, designed by Future Design Now, is sleek, functional, and fit for culinary pros and novices alike.
Season 7: Miera Melba
Miera considers her time on Design Star an eye-opening experience. "Being chosen helped give me the confidence in the present economy to escape and pursue my dreams of loving interior design again as an independent agent," she says. To stay up to date on design trends, you can find Miera at several industry trade shows throughout the year, discovering new furniture designs and seeing what approaches other designers are taking. Plus, her interior design business is thriving with a growing list of clientele.
Nautical Living Room With Ocean View
Being from Southeast Florida, Miera's style includes outdoor, coastal influences inspired by the Sunshine State. This living room's color palette mimics the hues of a sailboat: polished, dark woods and bright whites with blue accents.
Season 7: Bex Hale
Since the show wrapped, Bex filmed a TV pilot with former Design Star contestant Rachel Kate. She is moving her design businesses, Relics Home and The Design Center from Abilene to Wimberly, Texas. In Wimberly, she'll be partnering up with HGTV Star season eight contestant Abby Vasek in the business scope and transforming her new home's guest house into a bed and breakfast/wedding venue.
Dramatic Dining Room With Reclaimed Pine Furnishings
Bex will continue to travel and scour the globe for one-of-a-kind treasures and import furniture, architectural elements and home accessories back to the U.S. Whether at her new home, in The Design Center or hosting a TV show, Bex plans to make use of her Design Star experience. "My time filming with HGTV has transformed my life beyond my wildest expectations," she says.
Season 7: Jordan Cappella
Jordan says one of the biggest changes he's noticed since Design Star is being recognized by HGTV fans on the street. "It's still strange having people come up to me and asking me to take a photo with them, but I love it and all the fans of HGTV and Design Star," he says. Since the show ended, Jordan was the keynote speaker at the Chair Affair Gala in Boise, Idaho, and the head judge for the Chair Affair's 20th Annual Furniture Design Competition. Jordan has also teamed with designer Vanessa De Vargas to co-design a battered women's shelter, The Mary Magdalene Project. Together they were able to get a majority of the furnishings donated for the shelter's redesign. Jordan has also been able to get back in front of the camera. He played the male lead in singer Kitten Kay Sera's newest music video, "Sex Kitten," premiering in June.
Blue Transitional Bedroom With Twin Beds
Jordan claims to remain true to his pre-Design Star style. He likes to call his personal design style "masculine glamour," using dark colors with lots of gold and silver accents and mixing old and new pieces. This shared bedroom at The Mary Magdalene Project, co-designed by Vanessa De Vargas, showcases his signature use for mixing and matching materials.