Interior Design Masters

[covetingthepreciousthings]

Is anyone else watching?
Couldn't see another thread for it. I'm hoping it's going to be good.

I'm not sure what is wrong with me,but I cried at the end of the judging process! I'm obviously over invested in this. I really hope Ju wins,I can't believe the brass neck of Cassie.

Yes, I was yelling at the TV when Cassie said she wanted to lead!

Frank has definitely grown on me!

I was not a fan of the sofa this week, it felt like they were dragging it out and getting them to wallow in the emotion.

I also much preferred Nicky and Frank's design and didn't really understand the criticism that it didn't fit together- I thought it looked fab and had far more original elements! Loved the light box. Although I think they should have bought cushions rather than the light up B. It definitely wasn't worth £300!

Also I thought they got a hard time for not doing the front when that wasn't in the brief and it was for the other group. The judges seemed to be saying that both groups had the same opportunity to make the change and I don't think that's entirely true. Their brief was dark and sophisticated and I think they met that.

Also Ju and Cassie's design looked really squashed.

Nicky hadn't got a new blog when I checked last night, it will be interesting to see what she says

I live locally, I can confirm that Muino, one year on, looks exactly the same. Bellita is never busy, I’m going to go and have a look tomorrow to see if it has closed.

Ooh thanks for this!

Oh yes, Cassie asking to lead was cheeky af! I'd forgotten that.

Interesting that she's the one most people seem to find difficult to work with, despite Frank's early snark

I'm keeping an eye out for a new blog post, I'm hoping there will still be one.

I do think £3,000 and 2 days is very tight, also noticed on stories that Frank said on the second day after they'd finished the redecorating both restaurants completed a full service (presume this means they opened for the evening!). So I can see why Nicki felt pressured to take things home to paint.

So, I went to have a look.

Muino is still EXACTLY the same, even down to the cushions with lemons on them. They’ve kept the tables in the middle.

Bellita looks like is closed although there’s no notice up. But, but ... funniest thing ... they’d painted the outside back to the gun metal grey colour around the windows etc. Clearly the owners did not want the outside changed and didn’t like that the window frames had been painted.

As an aside, it’s really weird that they filmed it over 2 days at the end of August last year and neither me or DH, both of whom walk down the road and past both restaurants at least once or twice a day, noticed!

I think at this stage in the competition they shouldn't have been working in teams. It feels like Cassie has been carried through by others. I don't understand how she's in the semi final! The only design of hers I remember is that god awful chocolate hotel design.

I'm sad to see Nicky and go. I thought she and Ju were the strongest two.

Definitely Ju for the win!

Bellita looks like is closed although there’s no notice up. But, but ... funniest thing ... they’d painted the outside back to the gun metal grey colour around the windows etc. Clearly the owners did not want the outside changed and didn’t like that the window frames had been painted.

Thanks for this!

I don't think they needed to paint the outside, I think they just panicked because the other team had, but the other restaurants exterior looks drab & cracked.
Funny that they painted it back though.

Did you peer through the window, does it look the same inside?

I agree with Etty they should be working on their own now.
Though I found the teaming up ridiculous, how can you send 1 person home out of a group project?

Yes actually I agree, they shouldn't really have teams at all. They've done it for entertainment value but it's not really very fair at all.

The problem is that when they make them rush it, they spend more than if they had more time. That letter B would've been available much cheaper than that if they'd had time, and they would've had time to get much cheaper cushions for the chairs, too.

No interior designer in their right mind would agree to refurbish a restaurant on very little money and in a very short time.

And I thought that painting the outside could have led to problems - "You're wasting the budget and they didn't ask you to do it" - but it seems like it should have been a question to ask the staff in the restaurant while you're getting your brief.

Every episode I have been frustrated at the lack of time they are given. If you want to really assess someone's skills you need to give them a fair amount of time!

I think programme makers think that the mad rush to finish is exciting for viewers but it isn't, I want to see how good it would look if they had time to finish properly. Also cannot believe Cassie is still in, I wouldn't let her design a dog kennel. Such a shame she go through again.

I'm not sure there is going to be a blog post, usually it's up by now.

I totally agree with all the comments about it being too much of a rush, it would be so much better to see what they can come up with, with more time and perhaps a bit more money too.

I think some of the comments on social media from the contestants make it sound like they were frustrated with time constraints and very little time speaking to the owners of the businesses too.

It's all very well saying they have to take into account the customer's needs, but then if they don't give them much time to speak to the customer, what's the point?

I thought that both of the restaurants looked better before !! Ju's one looked like a Teashop and the other one, Well!! Blimey they all really want to win don't they? A bit too much emoting IMO.

Ooh, just found this thread. Judges were so harsh! Looking forward to the final.

Can anyone link to the blogs/social media?

Agree with all the comments on here. The way the programme is produced really let's it down. They shouldn't be in teams at this stage, they shouldn't have surprises other than the brief, they should be consistent with the criticism, the budget and the amount of time should be bigger.

I feel for the contestants. I feel like they've been stitched up and I do think they have kept certain people in for entertainment value when they shouldn't have. I've still enjoyed the programme, but it's a shame about the above as it could be so much better. The only reason I can think they put so many limitations on the designers is the budget must be minuscule.

I would also be incredibly pissed off if I was the owners of the properties being made over and I'm not surprised most of the changes aren't kept. I expect the finish is probably poor if given only 2 days, but it isn't the designers of and their teams fault.

Will keep watching though as I'm too invested now! I hope the programme makers see this thread and take note!

Well I'm obviously in the minority but I'm delighted to see the back of smug, arrogant Nicki and if she'd taken Fearne with her soft lighting and oh-so-cool persona with her I'd have been overjoyed!!!

@showmethegin

https://www.andthentheywentwild.co.uk/blog

This is Nicki's blog, her Instagram handle is the same too.

Ju is @blueberrylivingco

Frank is @franknewbold

Cassie is @dighaushizzle

Where are Cassie's dungarees from?

Lucy & Yak. Much loved on MN.

Oh yes I know! Thanks.

100% agree with EttyG. How Cassie has come this far is beyond me and I think that if this wasn't done in teams then she would have gone home. I agreed that Frank had grown and Nicky hadn't but she's a better designer than Cassie.