Top Design

Top Design, airing on Bravo TV, is a competition reality TV show where aspiring interior designers compete to see who is America's Top Designer. Every week the contestants are given a challenge to design a different type of room. The host of the show is Todd Oldham, interior designer and a former contributor to the old MTV show House of Style. Oldham serves as host of the show and mentor to the contestants. Every week there is a guest judge to complement a base set of judges.

The winner of Top Design gets $100,000 from Lendingtree.com; a feature in Elle Decor magazine; a chance to display their skills and style at the Dining by Design charity event; and a brand new GMC Acadia.

The Judges for Season One of Top Design

• Jonathan Adler, the lead judge and an interior designer with his own retail stores and line of home furnishings, among other items.
• Margaret Russell, Editor in Chief of Elle Decor magazine.
• Kelly Wearstler, an interior designer famous for designing some boutique hotels and resorts.

Season One Contestants

• Andrea - eliminated in episode 9
• Carisa - runner up
• Elizabeth - eliminated in episode 3
• Erik - eliminated in episode 6
• Felicia - eliminated in episode 4
• Goil - eliminated in episode 8
• Heather - eliminated in episode 1
• John - eliminated in episode 2
• Lisa - eliminated in episode 1
• Matt - winner of Top Design
• Michael - eliminated in episode 7
• Ryan - eliminated in episode 5

Blogged during Season 1 of Top Design

Heather and Lisa first to be eliminated
John loses on Top Design
Ryan is eliminated
Felicia is not the Top Designer
Ryan's Design not good enough
Eric voted off Top Design
Tom Colicchio appears on Top Design
Michael loses the Chef Table Challenge
Goil is Eliminated
Andrea is Eliminated
Matt win Top Design

Latest Top Design News and Recaps

Top Design Final
Posted: 11 Apr 2007
The final was between Matt and Carisa.  I thought it should have been Andrea, not Carisa who was in the final with Matt.  The final challenge was to design a 1,700 foot loft.  The designers found out their clients were…themselves.  They have two months at home to create their design, then five days to build [...]

Top Design: Andrea is Eliminated
Posted: 5 Apr 2007
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 [...]

Top Design: Goil is Eliminated
Posted: 29 Mar 2007
The final four met at the Viceroy Hotel.  Their challenge was to create a high end suite.  Each had to choose an element.  Andrea got earth (and whined about it the rest of the episode), Goil got fire, Matt got water, and Carisa got air.  Each had $30,000 to spend plus $3,000 for linens.  They [...]

Top Design - Chef’s Table Challenge
Posted: 22 Mar 2007
The challenge was to create a chef’s table for a mystery chef. The designers were told he had an eclectic style and liked arts and crafts and natural fabrics. But, he also enjoyed mid-century modern. The room was supposed to be high-end and luxurious. The designers were given a $42,000 budget [...]