Top Design: Andrea is Eliminated
I was really disappointed in tonight’s episode. The three remaining designers – Andrea, Carisa, and Matt – had to choose a cover of Elle Décor. Then, from the cover, they had to draw inspiration to create their own luxurious living room. Hum, keyword there is “luxurious.” They only had $7,500 to play with – not a very big budget.
Everyone was freaking out tonight. Matt had trouble recovering his daybed, Andrea didn’t like her wall color, and as usual, Carisa fought with her carpenter, Carl. You know that he above all others was probably really wishing tonight as her last night. I was so glad when he finally said “Stop talking to me like I am a *&^%ing four year old.” Matt’s carpenter Ed, who was hurt in last week’s episode, had to lay off this week, so Matt got Sarah.
The winner of tonight’s challenge got to be on the cover of Elle Décor for the July/August edition. In my opinion, Carisa and Andrea pretty much just copied their rooms from the cover. They were told to take inspiration, not imitation. And Carisa’s room was hardly “luxurious.” In fact, I don’t think she’s created a luxurious design since the show started. She always has those God awful funky pillows everywhere. What’s funny is part of the reason she was riding Carl’s back was the faux bricks he put on the back wall. She kept saying they should be thinner and if she lost because it looked like a log cabin, she was going to be mad. He kept telling her he knew what he was doing. In the end, that was the one thing in her room the judges praised the most – something Carl did!
I liked Andrea’s doors and her embroidered baseboards were pretty cool. Matt was most unhappy with his room, but the judges loved it and he was named the winner. I have no idea why, but the judges chose Carisa to stay and send Andrea home. Andrea’s rooms have always been much better than Carisa’s rooms. All I can say is Matt better kick her whiney butt in the final!
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April 5th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
As I was watching the show last night and Jonathan Adler says “Carissa, you can stay” I actually started yelling at the TV set “no”! You can ask my husband, I really did. Carissa’s room looked like a dorm room, there was absolutely nothing luxurious about it. I disagreed with the judges who said Andrea’s room looked “flat”. I’d rather have Andrea’s living room any day over that 60’s flashback monstrosity created by Carissa. I got a headache just looking at that. There’s no way I would feel like I could just sit down and relax in that room, a feeling I got looking at the other two rooms. As long as Matt holds it together and doesn’t freak out again he’s got it made.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I totally agree! Nothing luxurious about it. I absolutely hated the dog pillow they kept showing
And, she kept fussing at Carl about his bricks. That was the one part of her room the judges loved – something she wanted changed. Matt needs to put her in her place – SECOND PLACE!
April 6th, 2007 at 9:18 am
i, too, was very disappointed that andrea was sent packing. i just assumed it was because carissa is more controversial and the directors wanted to stir things up a bit at the end. i think matt is a good designer. but i was looking forward to seeing what andrea would do toward the end because she has a good eye for the big picture.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Carisa is definitely a stronger personality while Andrea seems more laid back. Since Matt is pretty laid back himself it would have made for a somewhat boring behind the scenes finale.
April 10th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Yes, I think Andrea was definitely stronger than Carissa in terms of skills and talent, but Carissa must have been kept around because of “production values”–she’s so annoying that it makes the show more interesting. The same thing happened on Top Chef this season. when the finals came down to the guy who cooked Spanish food and ultimately won, versus Marcel the brat. Marcel was so obnoxious that it made a more compelling show, while Sam was eliminated just before the finals but really deserved to be there.