And the winner is...

(your not getting off that easily!)

To be honest, after last week's episode, nothing was much of a surprise this week.  Each designer pretty much stayed within the limits of boring design.  Although there were a few cool features in Nathan's townhouse, Preston and Ondine were a little less shocking and a lot more predictable.

Preston seems to be living in his own, sad little world.  He actually thinks Eddie is a big help.  Little does he know Eddie thinks his house is the worse of the three.  Probably not good to have a partner who doesn't like you or believe in you.  Meanwhile, Nathan and Natalie are getting along famously, as are Ondine and Andrea (who regrets leaving the show...).  Sucks to be her.

This week, the remaining four designers fight for the final three spots, and the opportunity to decorate an entire townhouse.  Each designer is to pick any one room in their home to decorate for tonight's elimination.

Poor Ondine, she's only in the final four because Andrea CHOSE to go home last week.  She really needs to step it up, I have yet to see a room of her's I actually like.  Meanwhile, it's Eddie's birthday and everyone is celebrating. Well, except for Preston whose too cool for school.  Let the margarita's flow!

I know someone who's happy about tonight's results!

A bathrobe-clad Eddie gleefully informs us that he's "wearing undies today!" He "congratulates" Preston on his victory last week and explains that since the start, Preston has been excluded from his "reindeer games", because he thinks his competitor is just "a lot of talk and not much to back it up." He then complains loudly, to no one in particular that "someone" was washing the dishes improperly. The longer he sticks around, the more he gets on my nerves. Andrea was greeted with a bouquet of flowers and a love poem from her hubby. It made her miss home even more. Ondine says she has a special bond with Andrea and reminds us for the umpteenth time that her husband is actor Rick(y) Schroder. We know, we know!

Next season, the designers will work on Kelly!

It's time for another "deloosh" hour with our remaining six designers (none of whom are Wisit - I miss my little singing angel already!) Nathan missed him almost as much as I did. He also couldn't believe he didn't win the eco-office challenge, especiallty since the judges had nothing negative to say about his space. Andrea missed her family once again and read some letters her kids wrote for her before she left. She is proud of herself for making it this far. So's Preston.

My Little Asian Design Angel

Eddie is slightly resentful that Nathan has won yet another challenge and can't believe with his experience working with Martha Stewart that Nathan bested him because, as he put it, "Martha only hires the best." Oh yeah, Eddie's bitter. Natalie wants the judges to know that she's "funky, crazy and loud" - I'm sure they already know that - and again promises to "edit." Andrea knows she's up against designers who are better than her and promises to "step out of the box" for the next challenge. Eddie tells everyone it's time to get out of the "disgusting dump" of an apartment they've been holed up in (complete with cuts to the place - if it's a dump, I'd gladly live in the slums  - what is up with the Ed-ster today, anyway? He's definitely not feeling a-maz-ing! today.)

You can never get enough Wisit! (Bravo)

Eddie has been hoping for an individual challenge so hs could exercise his "creative freedom." Teresa feels underutilized and has realized that she's going to be the painter on every team challenge to come. Natalie thinks she still has to prove herself. Andrea has four kids and misses them a lot (no mention of the famous hubby.) Kelly's back with another eccentric hat. India tells the designers the words they've been longing to hear - individual challenge. It's time for the Top Design Triathalon! Nathan's worried - he's not an athlete, he's more of a "smoke-a-lete."

Preston is feeling pretty confident about his designs and said that winning the whole shebang would be an "amazing experience" because he's never had to compete for anything - he's always just been challenging himself. Wisit notes that Natalie "has never been in one of those elimination things." He felt bad that Big Daddy Kerry sacrificed himself to keep him in the game, especially because he felt Shazia should have been the one sent home. Shazia knows she's in the "hot spot" and needs to prove to the judges that she can "make it" in the competition. As everyone heads out of the loft, they all say "I miss Kerry." I do too. India says this week, the designers would be working with clients who "desperately" need their help, clients who are "stumped" about design and decoration - bachelors.

Big Daddy loves his "mirrahs"!

It's getting a bit more quiet in the house, and Nathan is glad to be put one step closer to being a "starlet of design." Nathan's new solumate Wisit says he was a graduate of Parsons, but was never happy in the fashion industry. Eddie jokes that the next challenge would involve "two dollars and a box of macaroni and cheese." He's hoping for an individual challenge this week so he can show off his skills. The remaining designers gather in what looks like a strip mall parking lot (are they in Florida? We're overrun with those things!) India is there to tell them that they are at what will be an "exclusive boutique in LA." This weeks challenge pairs them in order to create window displays. As always, the teams are assigned randomly via drwaing. The designers' clients are former "Project Runway" designers. Sweet P (yay!) from sesson four, Daniel Franco from seasons one and two, Andrae Gonzalo from season two, Jeffrey Seballa from season  three and the evil Santino Rice from season two. Each one of them has designed a garment which will serve as the inspiration for the window. Eddie (paired with Teresa) is delighted to be working with Santino because he's all "bitchy, attitude, talks back...I mean, a little bit of me. Kerry and Wisit are working with Jeffrey (and his disturbing 70s-era porn star moustache), Ondine and Natalie are working with Sweet P (God help her), Shazia and Nathan are with Andrea and Daniel is with Preston and Andrea (who, in case you didn't know, is married to Ricky Schroder.) The newly-formed teams have 30 minutes to meet with the clients and pitch their vision. The designers will then pick their favorite to be the team leader.  

Wisit and Nathan tell Todd Oldham where they're registered.

Kerry was "disheartened" about being in the bottom two last week, because he wants to show that he is a competent designer. Eddie calls the show "decorating boot camp" and says "you've got to get it done, no if, ands or buts." Way to work it, Captain Cliche. The designers all share some (I'm sure still slightly awkward) conversation and nervous laughter before heading out of the loft for their next challenge. India tells the designers will be testing their abilities in a much smaller space than last week - it's only 12' x 14', and they're going to be sharing the space with another designer. Robert is concerned because he's never been limited to sucha small space before. I already kind of feel sorry for whoever gets paired with him. The pairings are assigned by the random drawing of paint chips. Andrea (Mrs. Ricky Schroder) says she "lucked out" when she was matched with Eddie. The other pairs are Ondine and Preston, Jennifer and Robert, Natalie and Teresa, Kerry and Shazia and Wisit and Nathan.

I must admit that I didn't watch the last season of "Top Design", but when I learned that Bravo enlisted the help of the brains behind both "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" for this season, the "Bravo reality junkie" in me just couldn't resist. So, our hostess, India Hicks, welcomes us and says that 13 of the country's top interior designers will be facing off in ten challenges, designed to test their abilities. They will be judged by "author, retailer and decorator" Jonathan Adler, Margaret Russell, editor-in-chief of Elle Decor and Kelly Wearstler, one of "the most influential designers in America." (Never heard of her.) The winner of "Top Design" gets $100,000, a spread in Elle Decor and the "right to say they have the Top Design." Cue theme song and the 13 faces we'll grow to know, love and (in some cases) hate.