HGTV Star, named HGTV Design Star for the first seven seasons, is an American reality competition show that premiered on July 23, 2006, on the cable television network HGTV. Clive Pearse served as host for Seasons 1–4, then judge Vern Yip served as host for Season 5, replacing Clive Pearse. HGTV'D host Tanika Ray served as host for Season 6 and Design Star Season 1 winner David Bromstad joined the show as a mentor. Bromstad later returned not only as mentor but as host, replacing Tanika Ray, for the remainder of the show including Design Star: All Stars, even though Tanika Ray was announced as host for Season 7. Vern Yip (Deserving Design), Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve), and Sabrina Soto (The High/Low Project) currently serve as the show's three judges. Candice Olson ("Divine Design", "Candice Tells All") served as a judge for seasons 4 and 5; starting with season 6, a third rotating judge was brought in to fill the spot left by Olson. Previous judges include Cynthia Rowley, a designer of fashion and home accessories; and Martha McCully, Executive Editor of InStyle magazine.
The contestants compete for their own design show on HGTV, which follows the format of The Next Food Network Star on sister channel Food Network. Each week, the judges decide whom to eliminate; and, in Seasons 1–4, Clive Pearse would tell the contestant(s) who had been eliminated, "Your show has been cancelled...please exit the studio."
Each week, the remaining contestants participate in an interior design challenge such as designing a living space with a specific purpose (bedroom, livingroom, garage) or creating a space in an empty room, using unconventional items from a pet store, mechanics store, or a discount store. The designers are given a specified amount of time and cash to create their designs, sometimes working alone and sometimes in teams.
The series was cancelled after eight seasons. On November 2, 2020, it was announced that a spin-off titled Design Star: Next Gen will premiere in 2021.
Cast
Presenters PresentersSeasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7AS 8 Clive Pearse ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Vern Yip ♦ Tanika Ray ♦ David Bromstad ♦ ♦ ♦
Judges JudgesSeasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7AS 8 Vern Yip ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Cynthia Rowley ♦ ♦ ♦ Martha McCully ♦ ♦ ♦ Genevieve Gorder ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Candice Olson ♦ ♦ ♦ Sabrina Soto ♦
Seasons Season No. ofdesigners PremiereDate FinaleDate Location Winner Winner's Show Runnerup Third Place 1–2006 10 July 23 September 10 New York City David Bromstad Color Splash Alice Fakier Tym De Santo 2–2007 11 July 29 September 16 Las Vegas Kim Myles Myles of Style Todd Davis Will Smith 3–2008 9 June 8 August 3 Nashville Jennifer Bertrand Paint-Over! Matt Locke Trish Beaudet 4–2009 11 July 19 September 13 Los Angeles Antonio Ballatore The Antonio Treatment Dan Vickery Lonni Paul 5–2010 12 June 13 August 22 New York City Emily Henderson Secrets from A Stylist Michael Moeller Casey Noble 6–2011 12 July 11 September 12 Meg Caswell Meg's Great Rooms Karl Sponholtz Mark Diaz 7–2012 12 May 29 July 24 Los Angeles Danielle Colding Shop This Room Brittany Simon Hilari Younger All Stars2012 6 July 31 August 28 Leslie Ezelle N/A Hilari Younger Tom Vecchione 8–2013 10 June 9 July 21 Tiffany Brooks The Most Embarrassing Rooms in America Brooks AtwoodJeribai Tascoe Anne Rue
Season 1
Winner: David Bromstad Location: New York City, New York Host: Clive Pearse Judges: Vern Yip, Cynthia Rowley, Martha McCully
Season 2
Winner: Kim Myles Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Host: Clive Pearse Judges: Vern Yip, Cynthia Rowley, Martha McCully
Season 3
Winner: Jennifer Bertrand Location: Nashville, Tennessee Host: Clive Pearse Judges: Vern Yip, Cynthia Rowley, Martha McCully
Season 4
This was Clive Pearse's final season as host, and two new judges (Olson and Gorder) joined the panel. Winner: Antonio Ballatore Location: Los Angeles, California Host: Clive Pearse Judges: Vern Yip, Candice Olson, Genevieve Gorder
Season 5
Season 5 featured a new producer and a new format. Prop stylist Emily Henderson won the competition; and her show, Secrets from a Stylist, premiered August 29, 2010. Winner: Emily Henderson Location: New York City, New York Host: Vern Yip Judges: Vern Yip, Candice Olson, Genevieve Gorder
Season 6
This season features Tanika Ray as host and David Bromstad as mentor. It premiered on .
Winner: Meg Caswell Location: New York City, New York Host: Tanika Ray Judges: Vern Yip, Candice Olson, Genevieve Gorder Mentor: David Bromstad
Season 7
This season features David Bromstad as host and mentor. It premiered on May 29, 2012.
Winner: Danielle Colding Location: Los Angeles, California Host: David Bromstad (Tanika Ray was originally announced as host) Judges: Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder Mentor: David Bromstad
All Stars
This season features David Bromstad as host and mentor. It premiered on July 31, 2012.
Winner: Leslie Ezelle Location: Dallas, Texas Host: David Bromstad Judges: Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder Mentor: David Bromstad
Season 8
This season was the last to feature David Bromstad as the host and mentor. It premiered on .
Winner: Tiffany Brooks Location: Los Angeles, California Host: David Bromstad Judges: Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder, Sabrina Soto Mentor: David Bromstad
See also Ellen's Design Challenge Designer Superstar Challenge
References
External links
Kim Myles Q&A at AllYourTV.com David Bromstad Q&A at AllYourTV.com