apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

all these people scare me

Oh look, Kelly's dressed like a fancy mechanic. Her insane wardrobe choices are my favorite part of the judging.

I hope with all they changes they made, one of them included the nixxing of Adler's horrific catchphrase "see ya later, decorator."

Good Lord...

UGH! this show makes me sick. First of all only one judge actually has a degree in Interior Design (and it's NOT Jonathan Adler). It's a decorating show and to call it design is just spitting in the face of all those who have worked hard for a degree in Interior Design. Jonathan Adler is not an interior designer, he's a potter who makes home collections. And Margaret Russell has triple majored in History, Political Science, and American Civilization. What qualifies these two to "judge" decor? Having good taste is one thing (which most people lack on this show) but having a trained eye and skill for design is completely different.

It's shows like this make people assume that I'm a decorator or that I enjoy decorating. I'm a designer. I have a degree that I worked very hard for that did not focus on fabric and paint color. Interior design is not decorating and decorating is most definitely not interior design.

I love the new-and-improved look of the Sponsored Posts. Thanks for responding to reader feedback. This is just obvious enough to know which posts to ignore, without being so glaring as to become yet another screaming ad on this site. Nicely done!

leen... switch to decaf, please.

You don't have to have a degree in design to be called a "designer," just like you don't need to have a degree in music to be called a "musician." If the design world hasn't trademarked the term "interior design" and created a trade association requiring membership dues, the appellation is free game.

...by the way, Kelly Wearstler is wearing more metal than Robocop.

Oh lord, not Todd Oldham again? Last season he was so boring. I hate to say it but I doubt this season can be any better than that horrible Design Showdown HGTV had on earlier this year. Just like that terrible show Shear Genius...Bravo needs to quit trying to make everything into a reality tv show.

And just by what definition is Jonathan Adler not an interior designer?

He's designed interiors for the Parker Palm Springs (formerly Gene Autry's Melody Resory and Merv Griffin's awful old neo-classical Givenchy Resort/Spa) as well as numerous private residences - many of which have inspired furniture pieces sold in his retail stores.

In my opinion, there's a fine but very specific line between designers and decorators: Interior Decorators choose paint, fabric, furniture and wallpaper, etc. to fill a space and cover surfaces. Interior Designers, on the other hand, do that but also may alter the interior spaces themselves by adding/subtracting from the architecture of the rooms (moving doors, adding mouldings and other architectural details, etc) and creating custom furnishings (more than "this fabric on that frame") to better suit the client's need.

Actually, hejiranyc - several states do have a title act in place that restricts the use of the title "Interior Designer" or "registered interior designer" to those with the proper education, experience and NCIDQ exam certificate". Real designers are trying to take back the title and for good reason.

ASID and IIDA are entirely separate organizations and anyone can join if they pay the dues. Membership does not make one a designer.

Your musician analogy is incorrect and shows that you do not understand the roll of an interior designer.

A lawyer has the title and is requred to pass the bar exam. A doctor goes to medical school and has a MD after their name. Designers are required to follow building and health and safety codes to protect the public.

Using the term designer like they do on TV is not correct. It just sounds better on TV than decorator so they get away with it.

Am I the only one that thinks Jonathan Adler gives me the creeps...like in a pedophile looking sorta way. He just screams squierrely

Laura, I may not understand the "roll of a designer," but I do understand the "role of a designer." I also know how to spell.

oh wow.. I said roll instead of role. Wow.. big mistake there. So sorry

Oh wow.. I spelled a word wrong. Take away my internets now..

Haha, looks like a show about white people.

Adler and especially Todd Oldham are really lame!

I just hope they do away with those awful three walled "rooms" with no ceilings and get the Designerators out in to the real world dealing with real challenges and coming up with real solutions that people watching the show can relate to.
I also agree with other commenters that to call the show Top Design when in reality it is just a decorating show is a big misnomer and I really hope the producers remedy that by having the contestants be more hands on and have them design custom stuff.

ALSO. As much as I think the Pacific Design Center is a really amazing place, I think the show needs to have the designers shop in places that are open to the public rather than just to the trade.

Thank you Laura! I was about the post the same response but glad you did first!

No problem. I hate the confusion as well. I think Trading Spaces is responsible for the misuse of the word and where we are today.

Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!

I love this show.

I'm with you, Vanessa in New York!

J.Ad looks to be auditioning for the role of Willy Wonka's insufficiently medicated, CPA brother.

Wearstler thought she could divert the eye away from the fact she zipped herself into some sort of coverall/unitard/onesie contraption by wearing every accessory, hair extension, and coaxial cable she owns, all at the same time...
Nice try, but i've seen it done before. http://www.dyers.org/images/200805/mr-t-gold-chains-sparkling.gif

Not much to say about Margret Russel.
i am relived she finally had that stick removed...
Though, i cant for the life of me understand why she insisted on posing with it.