hgtv design star...series 5...episode 2...

i'm a week behind with my hgtv design star round ups...but here we go...

episode 2 saw the men pull together and the already annoying nina take a bit of a fall...

this episode saw the first ever design star fashion show...the contestants were challenged to design an apartment based on the outfits worn in the fashion show...

after they all selected their outfit of choice...the catch dropped...they were to form teams, men against the women...and every outfit chosen had to be incorporated into the design...

clever and funny idea for a concept...yet a bit thinly stretched as far as i'm concerned about creating a cohesive scheme for an apartment...

anyway...the men won this challenge...and they did manage to pull together as a team and create a winning scheme...from the outside they were working as a team, i already think the next design star is among this panel...

the closest anyone got to a literal translation of their outfit was michael's leopard skin rug inspired by his outfits leopard skin print...no need...a bit more ingenuity and creativity there please michael...

the bedroom was our man dan's chance to shine...working together with alex who had selected a bridal gown, while dan had selected bright printed pyjama's...

take away the dodgy throw and pillows and i think they created a great scheme...things started to fall a bit for alex, and it was dan who stood up to the mark and helped him out with his ability to handle some of the carpentry needed...

the bright pink works really well against the black and the influence of the bridal gown on the bed-head wall looks great...the headboard is as commanding as any couture bridal gown walking up the aisle...i agree with the judges comments regarding the light fixture...something more powerful and attention grabbing could have worked well in this space...

nice work dan and alex...

i wasn't as blown away by the living room scheme but i did like courtland's colour stripped wall...

colour me black...

colourless...nope...!!!

black...yes...!!!

i love this black room...i'm not entirely sure its the room for me or that i could live with it personally...but i still love it...

via freshome via facebook...

idlebydesign...

it's been one of those weeks folk...and i've a feeling that i'm going to have a few more between now and our wedding...

i promise to keep her lit in the meantime as much as i can...

my parents arrive in 3 weeks so i guess at that point i'll be taking a wee blogg-break for a fortnight...

plenty of note taking done this week so plenty of posts lined up for next week...

literal interpretation...

the outdoor room...

hgtv design star...series 5...

are you watching hgtv design star...

i am...

i hadn't seen this show back in ireland but i did become a bit of a fan watching re-runs since i moved here to the states...

antonio ballatore grabbed my attention...bold statements, phunky rocking installations...he knew what he was at...hard grafter...no nonsense...design with flair and attitude...

david bromstad on the other hand causes quite the debate with me...one day i'll watch him create something stunning and admirable...and then more often than not i find myself thinking he just doesn't cater to my tastes...

and you'd imagine with your own tv show you'd be able to afford a shirt...

so season 5 kicked off sunday and it was quite the episode...and now i have an arkansas contestant to follow and champion throughout the series...

dan faires...age 26 from springdale, arkansas...

"dan says his love for construction began when he and his father worked on the family’s home, a century-old place that needed constant repairs. Dan also found inspiration by frequently watching HGTV and was often eager to try the projects he’d seen. After earning a degree in biology from the University of Arkansas, Dan moved to Gulfport, Miss., for a job in medical sales, but his professional plans changed when Hurricane Katrina hit. The destruction of so many homes rekindled his passion for building and he soon left his sales job to join a construction crew. Dan, described as having a warm heart and an easygoing personality, continues to work in construction and design. He defines his style as “rustic” and believes that “design should always incorporate rustic elements because it adds texture and warmth to every space.”..."

these are some of the portfolio images that earned dan his place on hgtv design star...

and so how did he do on the first show...

for the first competition each designer was paired with another designer, someone they have never met and they have to design a white-box bedroom for that person, based on their personality with a budget of $500...the catch is that it all has to be spent at an asian market...with only an hour to shop...

the contestants were all being really friendly...for now given the pressure...and the fact that these people are designers...creative people have difficulty with the part of their brain that controls reason...

anyway...here's what our boy dan produced and what the judges had to say...

vern on dan faires...

"Dan’s partner was Stacey, who conveyed that she is a confluence of sophisticated city girl and nature lover. The room that Dan creates for Stacey is sleek, minimal and urban at its core. His reinterpretation of the bookcase into a vanity and stool is thoughtful and well done. The room easily could have read too masculine, but Dan balances the gray walls and clean lines with a mirror and satin bedding in baby blue..."

candice's thoughts...

"I find myself really trying to reach for positive moments when I fail to see an overall creative concept in this space - where's the big idea? An entire wall of decorative screens makes a confident statement; one panel is timid..."

i think he did a great job with limited budgets, material selections and time constraints...i think i need more in terms of concept from dan, but i think i need to hear more conceptual ideas and notions from every body on the show...i like his colour palette, i agree with candace in that he could have taken his design statement a bit further...look what he did with the windows in one of his portfolio pieces...

ok...that's it for this weeks re-cap but check in every wednesday where i collect and gather my thoughts and views on hgtv, our boy dan faires...and all the obstacles he faces, from the challenges, judges and fellow contestants...

a new leap...

leap...training and rehabilitation building...by meme architecture...

this building is up for the public choice award from the irish architecture awards...and i for one am quite taken by it...

the leap building is meme's first completed project and i'd like to wish them every success with their entry...

jason miller chandelier...

what a stunning creation from jason miller...i really love the elegance and simplicity and overall phunkyness of this light fixture...

what a stunning creation from jason miller...i really love the elegance and simplicity and overall phunkyness of this light fixture...

tiring...

i've had a tiring weekend...thinking alot about this on a sunday evening...

my bed...i need my bed and i need my sleep...

summer living...

summer mood...summer style...summer living...

transformers...buildings in disguise...

i saw this building today and it reminded me so much of a transformer...

cooper union, at cooper square, new york city...this building was designed by morphosis architects...

i'm a bit of a morphosis fan...i had a lecturer at uni who was obsessed by morphosis and he kinda instsilled a bit of love for them in me too...

i actually attended a lecture by thom mayne while i was living and working in dublin and i really enjoyed listening to him...like many of the architects i've grown to admire, he's a bit quirky, kooky and eccentric...but i guess the personality traits maybe sometimes shine through in the design process and final outcomes...

who's a clever tomato then...

not only are these guys having a fantastic summer sale...

they also create a sustainable line of furniture...kids adirondack chairs...made with 136 recycled milk bottles...finger paint proof...juice proof...banana proof...sticky chocolate finger proof...

and they also create the following stunning kids furniture ranges too...

clubhaus...

so i'm all about getting into a routine as much as can be done...so that being said, i started out as i mean to go by hitting the gym after work both today and yesterday...

i'll probably take wednesday and friday off and go back again thursday and saturday...

but what a fine gym...membership rate are great, staff are great...very helpful superfriendly...

but the big draw for me was that the interior was undertaken by local designer missi walker...

"Clubhaus Fitness is the latest innovation in health clubs: a modern boutique setting with a relaxing, environmentally-friendly atmosphere equipped with full amenities, offering an integrated program of wellness in a refined environment to create a new kind of fitness experience in downtown Fayetteville."...

clubhaus fitness followed the green design standards set forward by the LEED for commercial interiors rating system...going green means that the health club is associated with improving the 'health' of the environment and the community...

for the most part...the buildings efforts to reduce environmental impact are highlighted with signs throughout the buildings...these features include

• minimising any materials containing toxic emissions or VOC's...
• use rapidly renewable or recycled materials...these include bamboo aerobic floors, countertops made of recycled porcelain and glass, and rubber flooring made from 100% recycled tyres...
• implementing strategies for efficient lighting and mechanical systems and reduce water use - all to reduce the carbon footprint of clubhaus...

personally...i think that the sustainable issues, as well as the overall urban and modern look and feel to the gym makes the place a very appealing place to work out...plus the motivational prints help me keep going...

"since when did doing nothing change anything"...

first day of this...

5.45am: alarm goes off...

6.00am: snooze goes off for the 2nd time...

6.02am: breakfast...tomato juice and a slice of toast...

6.05am: good morning...shower time, and a nice smooth shave...i'm a professional now...

6.20am: a nice cuppa coffee and a wee bit of republic of loose on the i-phone while i get dressed...

6.30am: pack the bag for the gym and get a few wee snackables into the man-bag...

6.45am: quick approval from herself that himself looks the part for corporate america...

6.46am: hi-ho...hi-ho...it's off to work we go...

7.10am: drop herself off at the office (it's on the way so we get to car-pool, which is a-ok for us and our wallets and the environent too) and give her a wee smooch...

7.25am: arrive at work...way too early...didn't need to be here until 7.45 but yeah me for taking no chances...

7.45am: check in...new associate stuff...got me a badge and security pass and filled out the relevant forms...

8.40am: wowsers...i learnt so much about this super quick growing company...and all the various operations across the globe under which they operate...i learnt all about walmart, who they are and what they do...all very interesting...loads to take in

11.30am: my manager came to meet me for lunch, so i had lunch with him and 2 other new starts in my division and their manager...thank you walmart...

12.50pm: more about walmart and the company and the culture and the operations and the founder...

3.20pm: time for some of those wee snackables...

4.50pm: yeah...we got to leave a little bit before 5 cos we're clearly super talented quick learners...

5.00pm: picker herself up from the office...

5.30pm: hit the gym for an hour or so...treadmill, stepper, bycycle, a wee bit of weights...

7.00pm: home for dinner and time to fill the future-in-laws all about my days wheelings and dealings...

8.00pm: clearly a super glass of shiraz and a piece of dark-chile-chocolate was needed...

8.30pm: i was a wee bit bold and i watched herself and herself-in-law-to-be stuff envelopes and stamp wedding invitations...then i felt 11% guilty and joined in...

9.09pm: time to finish la blogg and call it a night...i might try getting up at 6.00 and leaving at 7.00 tomorrow and see how that goes for me...

as hard as it was rising this morning...it was so nice to know i was heading out the door with a sense of purpose...and i was back on someone's books, earning my way again and learning new skills and facing new experiences and meeting new people...

all in all a great experience...walmart put together a great introduction/orientation...now i can't wait to meet my manager again tomorrow and meet the rest of my team and find out where my desk is and all that jazz...

{i promise everyday isn't going to be a minute by minute journal...}

last day of this...

well it's a fine hot sunny day here in fayetteville, arkansas and i'm taking full advantage of this...

this is my last day at the pool...well last lazy week day anyways...

i start me new job on monday as a cad specialist with walmart, with their customer experience team...i'll be designing the store layouts and the likes...

i'm very excited about my new job...

previous experience has led me to be creative and innovative and apply different concepts to different projects for different clients...

now, i'm going to be facing a new challenge...i'm going to have to be creative and innovative for the same client for the same projects...i think that's a big challenge and i'm really looking forward to it...

and i'm ready for it...

i haven't worked full time as a designer since october 2008, and while i was able to collaborate and work on other projects as a freelancer since then {light nightclub, blanchardstown dublin...denny "home is" advertising campaign in conjunction with mary ryder designs, dublin...the flower company, glasthule in conjunction with danielle mc innes of fuse interiors...west end bar, fayetteville, arkansas}...i am so ready to be creative again, panning and zooming and problem solving and sketching and meeting clients and dealing with suppliers and contractors and brainstorming....

monday and tuesday are training and orienteering days for me so i guess the later 3 days of next week will give me a real feel for what lies ahead for walmart and me...

wish me luck...i'm excited to learn new things...

and i've spent the morning watching walmart 2010 shareholders meeting live-stream from the bud walton arena at the university of arkansas campus...aside from the ceo's, guest speakers and performers included associates from around the globe, jamie foxx, enrique iglesias and josh grobin...now thats a line up...walmart put on a show...

the flying dog...

if the name 'the flying dog' isn't quirky enough for you...

then step inside...

what about this for kicks and giggles...

a circular velvet bed complete with sultry mannequin...complete with matching pendants and end stool...

what a great store...possibly the best thrift/vintage store in town...

famine and byrne larder...

i love the irony...i love the humour...

will st leger recently teamed up with furniture makers zelouf+BELL to collaborate on an irish style larder...it got a lot of attention at the interior design & art fair...

i can see why...

great work will st leger...

i almost want to open the door and see the finest tins of caviar (do you buy caviar in a tin) stack alongside dunnes stores own brand baked beans and a loaf of bread...