When it comes to binge-worthy tv shows, nothing ticks the boxes more than competitive reality tv. We've had a huge amount hit Netflix recently, including The Big Flower Fight, American Barbecue Showdown and Skin Wars, to name just a few. All the contestants bring their expertise in a certain area and battle it out over a series of rounds to be crowned the champion. And Interior Design Masters is no different.
Based in the UK, the show brings together 10 budding interior designers. With varying degrees of expertise and experience, the group are all hoping to win a coveted commission renovating the bar of a top London hotel. Hosted by Fearne Cotton, each episode focuses on a new task with the contestants broken into groups or teams. Those teams must then undertake an interior renovation with the winning team safe, and into the next round. The losing team must then meet the head judge, the former Elle Decoration editor-in-chief, Michelle Ogundehin. Along with a guest judge, she questions their design choices and offers some advice before deciding which designer will go home.
As a format, there's nothing particularly unique about it. However, some of the judging choices do leave you scratching your head a little. Without doubt, some designers completely miss the brief. I'm all for individual taste but some designers simply don't know when to reign it in and actually give the client what they want. And yet, they stay in the competition. So much so that the final is quite underwhelming with two designers who are good but by no means the best the show had to offer. I got the impression that they picked the winner based on the style the hotel would be looking for, rather than the actual best designer – if that makes any sense.
That said, I love a good reality competition show so in that regard Interior Design Masters is as good as any of the others currently streaming. I just kind of felt sorry for whoever owned the properties that were made over. An old victorian hotel room or a bright pink living room anyone? No, I didn't think so!
Groovy
** SPOILER ALERT for Season 1**
After coming across this show on Netflix and binge watching for the weekend, I am honestly now in complete and utter shock how the judges – judge (Michelle) – chose Cassie as the winner of the comp. I am all for great design (which is why I am in shock) and am personally a lover of Victoriana and an antique dealer but Cassie’s designs were beyond hideous. The bedroom she did for the expectant couple looked like a Gypsy bordello (no offense to gypsies). The other “Cassie” bedroom for the hotel which featured the canopy was even worse though in the same nutz style.
I am so upset at the winner and the judging that I will NOT watch further installments of this series. While my favorite designer overall was Ju – I love floral toile! – when it came down to Frank vs Cassie, Frank was the clear choice.
I tip my design hat to Frank, whose designs were mostly amazing and applaud him that he grew a lot during the show. Even though he ran out of budget to do the book nook in the final challenge, I felt it was something the client could have done – expand the reading area – at very minimal cost after the fact.
Terrible judging. Cassie is who she is and likes what she likes but the judges should know better. Also, the timelines for the design completion (most 2 days) are quite beyond ridiculous as well. I feel it is like asking a heart surgeon to save your life, but to do the surgery in 4 minutes.
Get new judges Mr. Carr and re-think your timelines! I am quite confident in saying if this was put to a viewer vote | People’s Choice winner Cassie would have been gone after the dreadful bedroom she designed for the hotel with her Victorian canopy – saving the expectant couple from the caravan she later delivered to them.
In what world is it a good format to have ONE JUDGE decide the fate of the contestants? In this case, I have to assume Michelle was either paid to keep and select Cassie as winner, or she has recently suffered a problem with sight.