HGTV’s Design Star 2009, episode 9, is the final challenge of season 4. The final two competitors, Antonio Ballatore and Dan Vickers, compete in the most difficult challenge in Design Star history. They have to remodel an entire house! On top of that is the pressure of becoming the next Design Star winner.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: The Challenge
Season four’s final Design Star challenge is a house remodel. Antonio and Dan are given separate houses, on the same block. They are to remodel the living room, kitchen and two bedrooms, in their respective houses. The Design Star hopefuls are given 44 work hours, spread out over four days, and a $50,000 budget. In addition to their budget, appliances and electronics are being provided by Sears. Lumber Liquidators is supplying their flooring needs. A team of carpenters were also given to the challengers. Unlike previous seasons of Design Star, season four did not bring back any eliminated designers to help the final two.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: The Families
Antonio Ballatore is paired with the Starr family. The Starr’s would like the Design Star finalist to use splashes of color and provide them with a light and airy space. In the kitchen they would like to see a light color scheme contrasted with dark counter tops. They would also like their son, Mile’s, space to be updated into a toddler’s room
Dan Vickers is redesigning the Goldberg home. Mother Gail and daughter Jackie want a new beginning. They request that the Design Star contestant provide a dance space for Jackie and update her bedroom. Gail wants an unused window taken out of her room, as it lets in too much light and makes furniture placement awkward.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: Antonio’s House
Antonio decides to give his family an open floor plan, and knocks out walls and a closet, opening the kitchen to the living room. In the kitchen, the Design Star finalist decides to use cream colored cabinets, a gray granite counter top, stainless steel appliances and wood flooring. He had a bad moment with the paint color, when the pale lilac came out too pink. A quick mix of two paint colors gave him a smoky grayish blue, which was a beautiful contrast to the cabinetry.
The living room was styled with eclectic modern flair. The walls were painted a gray/brown, with apple green curtains contrasting perfectly. He continued the family’s request for doses of brilliant color in his choice of red, orange and white chairs. A gray couch was enlivened by blue and pink patterned pillows. The coolest item in the potential Design Star‘s living room was his fireplace treatment. Antonio had found an exquisite Moroccan cabinet and decided to turn it into a fireplace mantle, using the cabinet doors to huge the new flat screen television. The wood and painted details vibed extremely well with his room design.
In the toddler room, Antonio went with medium blue walls. He referenced the family name with large graphic red and purple star cutouts , for the walls. A toddler’s bed was customized with more of the star cutouts. Striped cubes were placed in the room for seating. A blue rug was placed over new wood floors, to give Miles ample play space.
Antonio carried the wood floors into the master bedroom. The walls were painted a bright green, then toned down with black, gray and white accents. He provided the family with a seating area and workspace, to make the room more functional. In what was probably the nicest move this episode, Antonio decided to redo the master bath. This was not part of the Design Star final challenge, but he felt that “if I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do it right.” The master bath was opened unattractively into the bedroom. Antonio closed it off and relocated the doorway to a more convenient and discreet spot. He also gave the family a new bathroom vanity.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: Dan’s House
Dan also decided to open up his family’s living space. In the kitchen, he choose dark cabinetry with straight silver pulls, to contrast with light cashmere granite counter tops, bamboo stone back-splash and nude travertine flooring. The Design Star hopeful hid a new stackable washer and drawer behind cabinetry, solving a spacial problem. Stainless steel appliances were used throughout the kitchen.
The living room was styled with soft modern feminine touches. The walls were painted a soft lilac, the original color of the master bedroom. A sleek gray sectional was anchored by a blackish brown and white rug, which had a huge but simple floral pattern. A green side chair completed the grouping. Wood flooring was used in the living room and bedrooms. The Design Star 2009 contestant addressed his fireplace/tv needs by hanging a cabinet above the fireplace, to hide the television. He then covered the doors in beveled mirrors, to match the opposite wall. A sparkling crystal chandelier was hung above the dining room table.
The teenager’s room was painted a pale shade of lilac. A bed was custom made, with storage underneath and two pull out desk platforms. A purple side chair sat on top of a black and white rug. The soft color was accented by black and silver accents.
Dan eliminated the unwanted window in the master bedroom. The Design Star competitor placed the bed on that wall, surrounding it in built in cabinetry. The pale gray walls went okay with the steel blue and chocolate color scheme. He inset mirrors on the closet doors, to make the bedroom seem larger.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: Judging Dan
Dan Vickers’ hosting abilities were the first critiqued by Design Star 2009 judges Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and Candice Olson. Vern thought that Dan had significantly improved his eye contact, while on camera. Genevieve gave him two thumbs up.
They also judged the Design Star finalist on his design, starting with the living room. Candice thought his living room chandelier was an unexpected “jewelry piece.” Vern thought the room had “many beautiful moments.” Genevieve thought that it was a lot of purple and would have liked to see him use more colors.
Genevieve thought Dan’s kitchen cabinets were sophisticated. Vern thought he made a “bit of a mistake” in not finishing off the top of his back-splash.
During the potential Design Star’s bedroom review, Candice complimented Dan for thinking outside the box with every challenge.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: Judging Antonio
Antonio Ballatore’s hosting was critiqued next by the Design Star judges. The judges genuinely seemed to enjoy his hosting, with Candice actually busting out laughing. Genevieve thanked him for “not being so traditional.” Vern told him not to change.
The Design Star hopeful’s living room space plan was way off for Vern. Genevieve disagreed, saying she would only tweak a few things and loved the rooms colors. Candice loved how the wooden blinds spoke to the fireplace mantle and how the swirl designs on the mantle related well with the chair patterns.
The Design Star judges loved Antonio’s kitchen. Candice noted that it was a beautiful use of materials.
HGTV Design Star 2009 Final Challenge: Season 4 Winner
After much deliberating, Design Star season 4 host Clive Pearse brought Antonio and Dan out to see who the Design Star winner was. President of HGTV Jim Samples came out with an envelope. The envelope contained an HGTV contract, with the Design Star winner’s name on it. And the next Design Star is…Antonio Ballatore!
Antonio’s friends and family were brought out after he was announced the Design Star winner. Antonio had these words for HGTV, ” I hope HGTV is ready for me, because I’m gonna bring it!” On Sunday, September 20, HGTV is airing a special called The Antonio Project. In this show, viewers will get familiarized with their new Design Star, while he remodels his own home.
