User Reviews

Like another reviewer, I went into this series hoping to get some inspiration for some design I have to do in my own house. Now, granted, design is highly subjective and I am not an expert. But with a few exceptions I thought that the designs were pretty ugly. There are also some really sketchy/dangerous shortcuts taken at times, and in one episode a huge wooden beam falls from the ceiling. There are two experts who seem to actually know what they're talking about: judge Jamie and a guest handyman called Darren. But we don't actually see how any of the work is actually accomplished.

The real turn-off, though, was the constant sexual banter/harassment from the male judges toward the female contestants and even the female guest judges. "I've always wanted to rub off on you" the lead judge leers at one young woman who laughs nervously. In another episode, Jamie lifts up a woman's leg (she is wearing a dress) and holds her leg in the air as he uses the heel of her shoe to make a point about the spacing of boards or something. Again, the woman in question is giving off major "uncomfortable but can't complain" vibes. It's icky to watch and it is *constant*.

In the season that I watched (season 2, I believe, the season on Netflix) I didn't actively dislike the contestants, but I didn't really like any of them either. It's kind of annoying how many of them are like *shrug* "We just don't know about interior design!". But you are on an interior design show!! One partnership gets assigned a room based on an artist and doesn't even bother to google the artist in question! It's hard to root for anyone, and I ended up just sort of hate-watching the series to its conclusion.

This series also indulges in the most stereotypical of "reality" elements: obviously staged sequences, drawn out and manipulative eliminations ("Susan, say goodbye . . . to Dave . . . because he's going home . . . eventually . . . but tonight you are going . . . back to your room because you've impressed me enough to last another week!"), choppy editing, etc. I love the concept of the show, but the execution is pretty bleak.

Good contestants, interesting design. Overall a good reality tv show except the head judge. When did it become ok to bully and demean someone? Constructive criticism delivered in a compassionate way is one thing, ridiculing people for something they are proud of, bullying and attacking, it's just not ok. It doesn't help that the main judge keeps popping up with design tips delivered in the most patronising way. I'd recommend the British, Great Interior Design Challenge as a better reality tv design show.

This reality competition show is a real mess. It feels dated and is often sexist. I think Netflix has given us season two, as the previous season's winners make a guest appearance. The show was shot in Kuala Lampur (in English) but it feels a world away by US standards. The head judge flounces around in a bold double-breasted suit clutching a walking stick (or umbrella or clipboard) trying his best to be funny in his dismissive attitude. Only co-host and mentor Jamie Durie manages to make the show semi-coherent. But one cringes when in their "design court' Durie slams his fist on the table in lieu of a gavel. Also, why are the room critiques done via video and not in the room with the contestants? The opening titles are like watching an 80's music video and include sexist imagery that makes a Coke commercial look like Masterpiece Theatre. If these are the best contestants the producers could find, someone better contact central casting. At one point, the only male team (college guys) say about a garden seat: "I could f*#k a girl on that." Why is it that the UK and US design shows find such talented contestants and Malaysia and environs yields monosyllabic dopes who do nothing but argue and complain? Skip this show and watch "House Doctor" instead.

I purely have continued watching this show to see how BAD it all is. From the horrid painting jobs (not to mention the psycho colour choices) to how the judges think it's actually a decent job. What I don't get, is that Jamie Durie...an actual amazing LANDSCAPE designer, is the judge. Surely he's dying inside entering those rooms. The other judge, who's stuck in the 90's, is the worst...he talks over everyone and defends horrible styling. Yuck. This show will make anyone think they're an interior designer.

I find the head judge extremely rude and a narcissist.

It's quite alright for him to voice his honest (most times insulting) feedback to the contestants but dare any of the guest judges and he's all over them.

The producers should be ashamed to allow this!!!

Just watched a few episodes on Netflix, not sure what season. It has every reality TV trope going for it: sob stories, deceptive judges, narcissism from the judges, playing with people's lives.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was last relevant in the 1990s, but somehow has convinced the Americans that he's the Simon Cowell of interior design.

The bit that has made me turn off is yet another "GOTCHA VIEWERS" moments that play with the contestants. Like rewarding prizes to one set of contestants then going... actually, no, you're not going to get all the prizes. Then they say to one set of contestants "You're going home (long pause). But but not this week". It's a massive two fingers up to the other two kids standing there who put their heart and soul into a design, thought they'd got through... but no, you were just used by the judges for a prank.

Disgusting.

And as an interior design show it just fails to really do the work much justice, there's so much padding and pontificating it doesn't really work on any level.

I started watching this show on Netflix and instantly fell in love with it. After just a few short episodes though, I began to notice awkward dialogue between the judges and the women that are apart of the competition. The women considered pretty are the recipients of sly, yet obvious, comments that are sexual in nature. There are also moments of gender biased comments too. I really like the show, just get rid of the pesky, cheesy one liners.

I was expecting to see some great designs, interesting ideas... I did know this was a reality show but really, interior design should have been more prominent. Part with sob stories was too long. During the challenge, the only things that were shown were for shock effect - being cut, stumbling, breaking... During the challenge, it was simply a collage of scenes, not really anything that will make you think 'I wonder how this will end up'. The part with judging was another disappointment: I expected judges to go into each room and as camera goes around it, they comment on various parts. Instead, judges are sitting on a bed, there is brief scene of the room and then judges talk about it, and the camera shows them and we can look at their faces instead of the room they are discussing. I don't know about other reviewers, but I really do not care what the judges look like/their sparkling wit etc. The timing provided for the challenges is off: less than a day. Not a lot can be done for that time. The rooms are huge and empty. I don't find that particularly challenging, there are no restrictions imposed by the environment. Perhaps I am used to a different type of interior design shows. Contestants are very pretty (e. g. Miss Indonesia and Runner Up) and/or have sob stories. I guess they had to have some inclusion criteria. I would have expected their background stories to be something like 'I always redecorate my rooms' instead of 'I am/will be homeless'. Oh well.

I gave 2 stars because I liked some rooms (I think, they went by too fast).

This show is so bad it isn't even camp. It's like if you asked a few middle schoolers to do a show about interior design, no I take that back middle schoolers would make a better show using their iPhones and an edit app. They would also be better interior designers then the contestants. I question if this is really a contest or just some rich 20 something who wanted to put their friends on television. The prizes are so bad, you win a watch, you will laptops, this show is so low budget and bad Do not waste your time. I love design shows and this one is a waste of time. If I could give it a negative number of stars I would give it a -10 so bad so very very bad. Netflix should be ashamed to have it

I love this show. It is the most poorly contrived show I've ever seen and you will not gain any design inspiration from it. The intros are bizarre and cheap. The composed music is bonkers and incredibly loud. The principal judge is borderline inappropriate but also high key arrogant. THE FURNITURE AND DESIGN IN THE CONTESTANTS SHARED SPACES ARE HORRENDOUS. They have a ridiculously small amount of time to renovate entire rooms but the budgets are so high that the contestants buy everything in the stores. They spend hours painting shapes on walls like it's original? THE DESIGNS ARE HIDEOUS. The judges pretend they are good? Anyway, I love this show because how horrible it is. Can't look away.

Head judges are awful. Can't understand how you can judge design and fashionable items when you dress and act like this guy! good concept...wrong judges.

What an awful show, I get a couple minutes in, the intro is as sexist as it could get, revolting, this is a show about renovating? I know Americans won't tune in unless the woman are half naked but geez there are limits! Let's get onto the contestants. A lady that works in fashion, a model, Miss Indonesia and the runner up to Miss Indonesia. You aren't trying to hide anything are you? All the contestants were just stereotypes, geezus had to turn this trash off 😂 I wanna see real people who are struggling in life to be on shows like this, people who actually need it.

I think the show has an interesting concept with having people who aren't interior designers design rooms but the main judge ruins this show. He is extremely arrogant and rude. He may as well be the only judge because he makes it seem as if his opinion is the only one and he has the final say. He talks over everyone very loudly and a lot of the sexual jokes just weren't needed on what's supposed to be a design show. He seems a bit biased as well. Saying someone's design was too perfect (umm what?) and splitting up prizes. The show also seems to focus more on finding a winner with the best sob story instead of who had the best designs.

I actually don't know how to describe this. They go through all the purchasing of items and picking colors and such for room designs, but you never get to see the finished product. There is just a quick shot of the room in question, and then the judges rip it apart. It's very frustrating.

"You are learning from the last time. Which makes me feel good. Because there's nothing I want more than to rub off on you." ... While the main judge is literally standing in a zoot suit with a jewel encrusted... panther headed(?) cane that is an obvious stand-in for... what he usually has on hand? Maybe a fedora with a peacock feather in the brim?

Queue cheesy sassy laugh and two dudes sharing a look over the one female guest host as she sits in the center cushion, looking uncomfortable and trying to bring relevance to the judging?

Is this a tragicomedy? It may be too dry for me.

I have no idea why this show keeps being renewed. The Designs are absolutely horrible. You would have to gut every room - Even the winning designs are terrible. The chaotic editing and production means you are moving from one team to another every few seconds and it's hard to get any idea of what they create - except you do get enough of a peek to see that it's absolute garbage, full of the worst of Asian/British taste.

Great show with engaging contestants and entertaining hosts.

Seems my review is in line with what everyone else is observing. Calling it B-Grade would be complimentary. It's so poorly produced you wonder why they bother. It's great to see some international content but please, at least make it worth while! Laurence's so over-the-top tirades are so junior and just downright irritating. However I do have an idea to improve it: add commercials. It we can at least watch commercials in this show at least it would help alleviate our frustration. Such a pity. If they had people who knew how to produce a reality TV show, this could actually be good.

I would like to hire an designer, but this show cured me! If this is an example of what the future of design is coming to, it's pathetic! I love Laurence Roderick Bowen and Genevieve Gorder, but this show brings out the worst in them. I have only watched season 5 and I fast forward through the foul language, bickering and tears because it is not entertaining or helpful. The only thing I have learned so far, is don't hire a young designer! I will finish out the season, but I won't be back. Hard to belive they have 12 seasons.

Stopped watching when you let crazy arguing, absurd control, and overall drama to sway your decisions in who stays and who goes home! I have watched several episode and one women is just nasty, controlling and so difficult to work with, that her teammates have been removed because" they didn't display progress" when all they were trying to do is get the job done without cause drama! Shame!

The spunky asian girls was my fav but the whole show contestants are simply perfectly casted. The judges are my favorite. They can be so sweet but justified in their rulings plus they are funny!

This show is all over the place, it's obviously just some rich people decided to host a show and make it sort of about design. There is so much drama (especially in the celebrity edition) which was kind of enjoyable to watch. The celebrity designs were mostly okay,some were actually beautiful, but the normal person season had really bad designs! I don't think any of those people had ever done it before. The layout of the episodes is okay, but they spend to much time on judging and didn't really show the rooms. Just kind of blah.