Interior design masters s5 part 2 ‘Rise of the Bonk Ets’

[Netaporter]

Here we go ready for next week as the thread moves quickly across the hour!

I want to know which junk shops Ben frequents that sell cute little expandable vintage sewing tables.

NO!!! I despite Sophie Robinson's OTT style. She's a shopper, not a stylist. She wants colour and nothing else.

I'm so glad Francesca was sent home. Her apt was a mess. I couldn't imagine being her client and trying to listen to her weird pronunciations (presumably she unsuccessfully trying to be funny or cool) but she came across as inarticulate and teenager like. I don't think even schoolgirls would have liked her scheme. There was really nothing to like at all

If Sophie was a judge this week, no doubt Francesca would have been kept in. I think some of Sophie's own home is painted that electric blue colour although the wavy design might even have been too much for her.

I really liked Matt and Anthony's apts and the spaces they created. I'd happily live in either apt.

I can't see Roisin going further either Her apt wasn't great. Apart from the breakfast bar, I couldn't see what improvements she had made to it.

Ben's was styled at least but not to my taste.

I wonder what Michelle was referring to when she said 'Oh Mary' when she and Mary Portas were viewing next week's shops. Was it a good or bad 'oh'?

😂😂😂

NO!!! I despite Sophie Robinson's OTT style. She's a shopper, not a stylist. She wants colour and nothing else.

I find Michelle far too boring and beige!!

I think it would be good to get both types judging, but at the end of the day it is kind of Michelle's programme so I'll just have to accept it as is!

If Sophie was a judge this week, no doubt Francesca would have been kept in

Oh no I don't think so, its not just about some bold colours it has to be well designed, which Roisin can do, but francesca not so much.

I guess that is why Michelle brings in very different designers to guest judge.
She can't have someone like Sophie Robinson every week, where colour is the only thing that attracts her.

That would be terribly unfair to anyone who actually styles and designs. Sophie doesn't design. She throws a lot of bright colours together and shouts how much she loves her colours. I had to stop following her on Istagram as its just painting and buying primary coloured furnishings. I think Francesca and Sophie could easily work together and admire each other's 'tastes' all day long. That said, the Great Interior Design Challenge, was a wonderful show. I loved the areas and the properties they showed and particularly the piece about the original architect who designed them. Tom Dyckhoff had a lovely calming manner.

Abigail Ahern is also a stylist but has a very different vibe to Sophie (thankfully) and is at least interested in textiles, layering and furniture arranging so its fair to have different people every week.

The more interesting judges are the ones who admire design imo and really that is what sets the contestants apart and literally regroups them into those who can build and design and those who can shop. I'm looking forward to Mary Portas next week.

The main reason I thought Francesca's design failed was the green desk affair. It looked badly made, the finish wasn't wonderful and it dominated the space.

I thought Ben's red bedroom was not restful at all, although the extra storage space was thoughtful. I liked the sunny feel that the yellow brought to the flat.

Of the other designs, none appealed to me overall, although there were bits here and there that I liked.
The brushed copper splashback was great, as with vinyl wrapped colourful kitchen (not the wood). I liked the black wood and the desk framed by the window, although it wasn't at all deep enough to work. I wonder why Michelle didn't pick up on that.
I did rather like the orange circles.

I was glad not to see plywood everywhere, as always looks unfinished to me.

I think the main reason Francesca’s failed is because it was utterly crap.

Honesty, I made my terrible student bedrooms in the 1980s look more stylish - that’s how bad it was.

Yeah I didn't like Anthony's 'work space' - you've just about enough desk to write a couple of post-its! But the way he'd painted it into the window was very nice. I also liked the fabric Francesca used on her headboard/curtains but that was it really, the rest was ropey. Unlike a lot of other posters I actually quite liked her 😅 but I am drawn to kind of weird eccentric types.

Looking forward to seeing M P next week, she's my favourite guest judge.

I thought the desk was impractical for work use, dominated the room, blocked the view from elsewhere and would make opening/cleaning the windows awkward

but I can see what he was going for

I love Sophie Robinson style, I think she can see past her own preferences. She was good on the other ( much superior ) interior design show.

The Interior Design Challenge was a very different show alright but the Interior Design Masters is very enjoyable too. They are lucky to have Michelle as she brings sophistication to the show. Alan Carr seems nice. They are very different shows.

Picking up on comments about The Great Interior Design Challenge. That was a great programme. Good presenters with additional history of the area and houses made for a really interesting watch. Coincidentally we recently rewatched a couple of the earlier series - found it completely by accident - and it was much a much better format I think.

That's not to say that me and DH aren't enjoying IDM (although the Alan/Ben innuendo is starting to get a bit wearing IMO). Did love The Full Monty last night though 😁

Matt is still my favourite but I did like Anthony's apartment - I liked the circles in the bedroom which surprised me as I don't usually like that sort of thing. Francesca just couldn't get away from that kiddie vibe, and whilst it might suit her that flat screamed children's nursery rather than young professional. She was the right person to go.

next week should be interesting with Mary Portas.

Anthony's desk should have gone into the window recess more, like a sort of window sill.

Michelle made a good point about keeping the furniture. Not many people would ditch serviceable sofas and tables

Also, the tenant would have to store the original furniture somewhere in order to revert it to the original state.

The main reason I thought Francesca's design failed was the green desk affair. It looked badly made, the finish wasn't wonderful and it dominated the space.

The finish everywhere was awful. The white "unit" in the living space was a basic modular ikea thing more suited to a garage. Painted badly. The lampshades were also badly done.

The curtains and headboard were clever though. She should have used one to curtain the wardrobe too.

Also, the tenant would have to store the original furniture somewhere in order to revert it to the original state

Yes this struck me - this cohort were largely generation rent, even if they now have mortgages. They must have short memories about the rental market.

I thought that too.
Sometimes a landlord would give you the option of furnished or unfurnished but you can just decide to sack off their furniture.

I thought the sofas were quite nice. The glass tables not so much

bens walk in wardrobe looked really cheap - the headboard didn’t cover it completely and it looked ramshackle. Bed against the wall is a no no. But the idea was a good one

Thinking about Roisin's multiple tables, I think the only one that had no use was the fold up dining table. I thought her reasoning for having the wall mounted one was sound (ie thinking about when both her and her partner were WFH)

Have now caught up. Anthony's was definitely the best space. He met the brief and thought about things a lot, though I agree about the depth of the table in the window. Also wondered how the velcro would last for the splashback (he did say it was velcroed, right???)

Francesca was absolutely the right one to go. Her rooms were awful! I think she should set herself up as a nursery designer as she makes lovely spaces for little ones.

I liked elements of Matt's, though agree that he put too much in.

And I thought Ben should have been on the sofa instead of Roisin.

Imagine waking up in Ben's red bedroom after a heavy night of socialising or even just with the flu !
Awful imo.

Surely as interior designers they have to think of the client????

I thought Anthony's was the best.
Elements of Róisín's and Matt's were good.

Did anyone else notice that Francesca’s tiles were already falling off the wall?

I agree with most of the points so far. I think Matt should have removed some items - the design looked better on paper. He’s still our favourite, but Anthony is proving to be the dark horse in the competition.

I was really annoyed that Michelle ignored the toddler seats in Ben’s dining area - also the really bad positioning of his dining table. He should have been on the sofa. I agree though that Michelle got Matt there to give him feedback.

I love Mary Portas and I too wondered whether the ‘ok look’ comment from next week was good or bad. I hope if Ben does something awful with taxidermy that Matt is not kicked out for not stopping him.

Yes I was worried to see Matt partnered with Ben!

The fold up dining table was so inconspicuous as well it really wasn't causing an issue.
I live in a small flat, the small kitchen table is fine for every day. But a fold out option is really useful even if you get it out in the middle of the lounge for Christmas Dinner once a year. Probably not needed for the demographic in question though. 4 could have sat at the breakfast bar easily enough.

Has anyone seen the “poem” on Domnalls Instagram story? Deliberately timed for last nights episode or coincidental?

Yes, I wondered why the use of Velcro for the splashbacks, when you can get some quite good double sided tape that functions like the sticky bit on command hooks and holds firmly, whilst still being removable

Good point about Ben's headboard not fully hiding the storage bit. If it had, you could just about have put up with the bed against the wall.

I forgot to emphasise how much the paper screens didn’t go in that other bedroom, not to mention not even covering the shelves. Really let that design down.

Not really a good week for me. I am now full of trepidation about shops week, which always has challenges.

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