gorgy

I found the challenge too open-ended yet pretty limiting, which left me muddled as to how to feel about most of the looks. Video games can be about pretty much anything, not even involving humans, yet the judging standards were pretty rigid. It can't be too sexy, or too costumey, or too editorial, or this, that, or the other. IDK no one's outfit seemed very video game inspired to me. It just wasn't my cup of tea. On a side note, I'm not the biggest video game person, but for some reason, I always thought Kara Saun from season 1 made clothes that reminded me of Final Fantasy. I can't put my finger on why.

I appreciate Hildi's inspiration of a 1970s teenager's attic bedroom with posters covering all the walls, but it didn't fully come through in execution for me. I would have preferred if the wood flooring covered the angled ceiling with maybe a white wash and a couple of framed photos, but it wasn't too bad overall. I liked the photographs a lot, but it came off poorly thought out and executed. It's supposed to a fun space for the kids and their friends, so I'd probably kept it for a while. (depending on how irritated I'd be at the puckering posters) Doug's room didn't seem very designerly (if that's a word?) For a basement hangout, it was nice - forgettable, but nice. I feel like any person with some effort could have executed that without much help. Even though I'm not someone who does much redesigning, I like to feel inspired to try something by this show, and I didn't feel anything from that space.

Garo’s model looked like Lisa Kudrow when she wore a back brace in Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion

This is one of those rare episodes where both rooms are so bad, I question ever watching again

Genevieve won’t be coming back this season. I think she’s doing her own thing on Netflix

The producers really want it to feel like a gameshow and Hildi is the booby prize. Based on the incessant promo, I was a bit disappointed in the outcome. It was bad, but no where close to her true disasters. I feel like she wanted to do a circus tent, but since she already did one before, with sand, this was her plan B. The taupe part was nice, I guess. Laurie was Laurie. It was safe and a bit sleepy, which works well for a bedroom. I did like the paint color. I wish they let the viewers know some specifics like that. Her ferris wheel looked like some 1980s sunburst headboard that she just painted over.

Doug’s room looked like it was done under the old rules of $1000. He's always been hit or miss for me (hit might too strong), but this was just ugly. Plus, I can’t support any design that involves gold/silver leafing. I wasn’t blown away by Frank’s room, but it was pleasant enough. Back in the day, I would've taken a Hildi room over a Frank room, but it seems like he’s toned down his aesthetic. On a side note, I get the producers want a certain energy and drama, but the recent homeowners are a little bit too much for me. If there is another self-proclaimed diva showing up, I’m out.

I agree 100%. I watched a few of the older episodes when bulbous CRT tvs were the standard and could understand trying to “hide” them, but modern tvs are pretty sleek. Instead of being too substantial for a space, they might be to large for a wall, but other than that, they’re hardly an eyesore. Besides, if they brought back that one designer with the greasy ponytail, a flatscreen could serve as his touch of black.

I felt so bad for the blue team. They clearly wanted a space that was kid friendly (okay to run and jump around) and that was just not it. The behemoth with minimal storage on the sides wasn’t even the worst part. The set of sliding doors with the mirrored glass coming almost to the ground is an emergency room visit waiting to happen. Combine that with the two floor lamps a young child will surely trip over, (still) oversized furniture, and unnecessary chairs in front of the tv, it lacked a level of concern for the homeowners I expect from Hildi. It was well executed for what Laurie was going for, but not everyone is looking for “New York chic” or whatever Laurie called those barn doors and as someone who isn’t appalled at the sight of toys as some of the other people commenting on here, I understand where they are coming from. It’s a lovely room, but it’s just not right for them. The red team’s dining room came out really well. I’m almost sick of grey walls at this point, but they looked really good. The family name art project thing came out nicely. The pizza paddles on the wall were eh, and the wine bottle holder seemed like it also could be an issue with young kids around, but that was the clear winning room.

What a difference a week makes. Last week’s homeowners got nice, safe rooms that were exactly what they were looking for compared to this week’s travesties. I guess it helps that they had two real world designers in Nate & Jeremiah compared to this episode with one guy with no experience living out his fantasy and, of course, Hildi. Personally, each room had its positives but it ended up being completely wrong for each couple, but since I didn’t really like either of the ladies, I’m happy it wasn’t a team I enjoyed. Hildi’s Room: It wasn’t bad. I like her work more than most, but it almost felt like a better version of a Frank room with the leaf stenciling. Honestly, those leaves turned out better than they had any right to, but for some reason both rooms she’s done this season both feel like she’s working with $1000 budget. That ball sculpture thing was hideous. Clinton’s Room: It would look good for a couple of bachelors in their 20s. I just feel like Clinton thought it would be hilarious to put a stripper pole in someone’s house and didn’t care about the homeowners at all. Between that and the disco ball it’s on the wrong side of the tacky scale. I don’t mind a little tacky, but don’t design a room because it makes you giggle. Overall, I was disappointed in this episode, all together. I usually can rewatch a show to really take in the full change, but I don’t need to see this ever again.

Nah. While being good for tv, I think part of original appeal of the show was seeing these bold paint colors and faux finishes and letting viewers think about trying it themselves, but in the end people mostly played it safe. I’d say the show’s main takeaways were popularizing the concept of accent walls and those celery green paints Laurie used all the time. It was a safe color but wasn’t the off-white/creams most homes across America were covered in.