I have to say that I really like last night's Design Star, and thought the judges made honest critiques about functionality and scale. I think there should be a balance of creativity while still maintaining the need for function and scale.

Jen I agree, who cuts a blanket in half??? I was laughing and cringing all at the same time! LOL

I thought that in general, the designs were not as good, certainly not as well executed as what we saw in the first episode of last season. Although I did love that dinning room! I agree about the over accessorizing. We saw a good deal of that last season too.

I like design star and I was very excited about the new additions on the judging panel. I love Gen and Candice because in their shows they really are able to design great rooms for actual use and not a room that is pretty in a picture. I agree that the back and forth between the judges is great and I love it, I can decide if a room is "pretty" but I liked the judges comments, for example. The room with the blues and browns, I liked it but it felt off, and Gen nailed it when she said it wasn't balanced, and had that small clock. Her explanation nailed it and will help me in my personal quest to be my own designer, I think it is a common mistake and one that I would hope to avoid in the future because now I have a better idea.

The time constraint thing... like the way it happened with the comforters, they didn't have the time to shop until they found all they needed. I get how horrible it was to cut them down the middle and yet I understand that in real life that probably wouldn't happen. IF the store didn't have all the comforters you could work with the client to back order them, or shop more stores. So I get why they were knocked for the cutting, but at the same time I don't. For them to tape the stuff to the ceiling, uncalled for and I am glad they called out on that.

I watch HGTV too much! The first show was good albeit a little too much drama but OK. I guess the Producers are trying to compete with Broadcast channel offerings. Last night HGTV would win hands down though. Obviously the DR was great...though I wouldn't have wanted backless seating in a dining room just at summer camp. Judges were picked as some of the best as a start. Glad Candice stood her ground on a couple of comments from the other two. I got a little ill watching a couple of the designer wannabees mouthing "Thank you" as they exited the risers. What brown nosers! Ugh!!. The LR was very difficult to do in such a short time frame and was OK for starters but in this kind of house, Hollywood Regency would rule and was what one of the BRs was trying to be.

I was completely blown away by the dining room -- no other design was near their level of sophistication or coherency! I also loved the choice of judges because, as you mentioned, the critique process became more of a teaching moment for the audience. In my opinion, the judges from the previous seasons were like reading Architectural Digest and this new season is like getting your first issue of Domino (RIP...): fun, functional, and easy to understand!

I wondered why the designs were so gimmicky and theme-y. I told my husband that I see far better/more interesting interior design from more-or-less everyday people on my design blogroll every day.

Like you, I was reluctant to watch too, after last season (whatever happened to Matt anyway?)--
but I did, thinking Candice was a good addition.
Like the addition of more in-depth comments.
I was horrified by the room that was cut apart and taped together. It reminded me of one of my Barbie houses.
Liked the dining room best--most original and balanced.
Could not figure out why Vern was all over the pink geese.
My take-away: Candice's statement that no space should need to be explained. True!
I miss Top Design...

Oh I SO wanted it to be better.
That beautiful home SHOULD have been decorated in a unified historic way. All the designers should have worked together to make their rooms "go" with each other.
I was SO frustrated that the large, historic, BEAUTIFUL home was "ruined" by their scattered designs.

I would love to see them do a few minutes of research on the home itself and its past. Is there a "client"?

Why is the show always HURRY HURRY? Do real designers race around like that? I would HATE if I knew my home decorator was slapping my room together like that.

Maybe I don't get the premise of the show.
I just wish more thought was given to the building itself.
That home deserved WAY MORE than what it got last night.

I don't buy the "we didn't have time so we had to cut the duvets" argument. They are in LOS ANGELES, for crying out loud. They couldn't find a Crate and Barrel or even a Walmart to guy plain, white bedcovers??? I don't buy that at all. And if you have to ad-lib the curtains by the beds, where's a staple gun??? I loved the design of that room, but NataLee was quick with the excuses and thought that her illness would make her seem sympathetic. Didn't work.

I love the judges, love the idea of audience NOT choosing the winner, but am a bit disappointed that there's no one in the group that will have a different aesthetic. Not as exciting as Sparkle Josh, that's for sure! :)

I loved it. Great to hear that the Judges will decide the winner this season since I did not agree with the eventual winner on season 3. Matt Lock deserved to win and would have been great hosting a programme on HGTV.

I did not agree with the elimination last night since that team had a good concept and how do you eliminate someone saying you are not sure they have the energy to go the distance. Come on!!! The judges had to know that she was desparate and that is why she didn't eat and keep her energy up. I thought the two with the completely unfunctional bedroom should have been up for elimination. No concept, no clue!

Looks like a great season ahead!!

I thought the show (DS4) was downright terrbile. No one was great. I wont keep watching.

have a guest sit down with no back support and see how long they stay.

I'm REALLY happy they brought Gen and Candace in as judges. Their critiques were excellent, and I agreed with their choice for the dining room as the best one of the night. I was horrified by the master bedroom--cutting a comforter in half, then leaving ragged edges? Hanging up curtains with tape? And don't even get me started on the floor... Seriously, I have NO idea how they spent $10,000 in there. Disgraceful!

Overall, I'm looking forward to this season. It looks like it'll be a good one!

The bench seating in the dining room didn't bother me so much, I could see having that in my own dining area honestly, at least on one side with chairs on the other. It's a great space saver - though in this room space saving wasn't on the menu so I'm wondering why they went with bench seating in this case. But still, I do love this room best of all.

dining room is superb and designed really well, birds on wall are giving an exciting look ....... can i apply these designs in my house also ?