"Room for the Whole Family" (Falls Church, VA) Design Home Game Challenge - HGTV House Hunters

When I became a Design Home player (back in November 2016), I was really impressed to see HGTV House Hunter challenges being featured.  This partnership, for me, really authenticated the game.  So, I joined the now more than 241,000 players and started having fun designing. 

For many interior designers and decorating enthusiasts, HGTV is the go-to network for inspiration and ideas.  Among many, my favorite shows are the House Hunters series (I love guessing which home the buyers will ultimately choose).  And, the destination aspect of the show, where the viewers are taken to various domestic, international, and tropical settings, really sets the mood and style for design and décor choice, just as it does with the Design Home Game.

Now, I will admit that I have not had much luck in scoring high on the HGTV challenges. And, for me (and this blog), it is not always about the scores, but about my ability, as an interior designer, to represent how I would design the spaces featured on Design Home in the professional realm.  It is a fact, however, that scoring keeps Design Home challenges, well…challenging!



We find the latest HGTV House Hunters challenge for Design Home in Falls Church, Virginia.  Appropriately titled “Room for the Whole Family”, clients Jess and Michael have asked for a dining room that is comfortable and serves a multi-functional purpose for doing homework, and should include a sideboard that will give them extra storage space.



My goal was to execute a design that was not too formal in style (keeping in mind multi-functional use for the whole family), yet aesthetically pleasing since the dining room is in the front of the home near the entry.  And, as a result, my HGTV House Hunters design achieved 5 Stars, a first for this designer HGTV challenges!

I decided to go with a Mid-Century style that offers a more simplistic design. To pull this look together, I chose the Messina Round Dining Table (in Smokey Brown) and the Crawford Chair (both by Brownstone).  This pairing helps meet the design criteria, and has a harmonious blend of balance and proportion:  the regal beauty of the table anchors the space and is durable and height appropriate for multi-functional activities.  The lower chair backs help keep the space open, modern, and less formal. From the home's entry, the Kathy Kuo Home's Arbor Spring Tree Brown Carved Wood Wall Mural Art and Serge Gold Brown Sliding Door Cabinet is a welcoming focal point that emphasizes a nice contrast with the cool gray walls. The Treviso End Table from Brownstone is a nice accent for contrasting design genres (more contemporary, than modern).  Its surface has a unique pattern that is created with petite finishing nails. Lighting is essential in any multi-functional space.  DWR's Tube Top Floor Lamp and the Lisa Etched Gold Leaf Table Lamp from Kathy Kuo Home both serve their purpose, beautifully.  To finalize the design, a wool and jute rug of the Tanzania-Hemingway Collection from LoLoi was the perfect choice for this space.  It adds elegance and warmth, and the beauty of pick...jute is relatively maintenance-free.  Something I think Jess will certainly appreciate as a mom.


Now, after finally getting a 5 star for an HGTV challenge, my curiosity was peeked to see how I measured up to Design Home's top four HGTV Challenge Leaders that are featured on the awards page each day.  A quick review of each follows.

Designer - Cupcake7;  HGTV Challenge Leaders position - #1;
Score for this design - 4.26
Cupcake7 presents a nice design that meets the criteria for this challenge. The Brownstone Saratoga Round Dining table and Brownstone Palmer Side Chairs work especially well with the Madera Home Bovary Silver 4 Door Tall Sideboard in this monochromatic gray color scheme.  The dining table, which has a cement top, will serve its purpose by being naturally durable.  The choice of a different floor lamp with more volume and form, oppose to the slim design of the Kathy Kuo Home Bessette French Natural Linen Gold Leaf Bud Floor Lamp, would really "WOW" this space.

Designer - Cole's Design; HGTV Challenge Leaders position - #2;
Score for this design - 3.9
Whether Cole's Design low score was due to it's disproportionately electicism, the basic criteria was achieved.  No need to worry about feet in the chair with the Apt2B Milford Brown Side Chair that is faux-bonded leather.  It should handle those posture well.  Reconsidering the use of the Loloi Francesca rug would have been a good idea. Although a beautiful rug, the large scale pattern and semi-formal style diminishes the overall effect of the design.

Designer - 27834166424; HGTV Challenge Leaders position - #3;
Score for this design - 4.43
Here, Designer 27834166424, has created a design that is, perhaps, too formal for the multi-functional intentions of this dining room. There is a good use of color harmony with the Kathy Kuo Home Hortense French Antique White Brushed Gold Frame Dining Chairs and Loloi rug from the Wellbourne Collection.  Excellent choice for a traditional dining room that is used occasionally (like special holidays in my home), but not for everyday dining with kids.

For more information on the featured brands and furnishings, click on the link, or call McKinly Ray Interiors at 281-627-0269.  If you enjoy decorating and designing, you'll love the Design Home Game.   


Comments

Post a Comment