IDM 5 Episode Six

The quarter final, already! How can this be. But yes, just four designers remain, overhauling shops, in pairs, for a place in the semi-final

Every Series, shops has always been one of our most challenging briefs. I think it’s because it’s the ultimate fusion of the requirement to both look good and function well. And on top of that, it also has to satisfy the desires of the owners in addition to tempting the eye of the ever capricious consumer. Throw in that many of us now buy many of our goodies online, and shops become the ultimate act of designer seduction,

It’s also hard that they work in pairs, but only one person will go home. While they will have separate areas of each shop to take responsibility for, I need to be able to walk in and feel that the whole is cohesive, not the work of two separate people. So team work is everything, but we’re also asking them to keep their individual eye on the ultimate prize of doing better than their teammate in order to get through to the next round! Not easy.

Icing on the cake, our guest judge is Mary Portas! I mean, if you’re going to do shops, then it can really only be Mary that we invite in to give her expert opinion. And she takes no prisoners. Then again, this is the semi final.

Key Challenge points: all as above really. But also, as mentioned in last week’s post, our designers have now been at it for almost three months solids. Consistently cranking out great projects. Collaborating. Learning. Growing. It’s really hard work! The stakes raise with every challenge, and they manage it while juggling all the usual demands of home life, including in some cases, very young children. So there’s potential pressure to bear from home-alone partners too. I really cannot applaud them enough. At this stage, they are ALL winners.

A quick note too on judging, as I’m fed up tbh of commentary which suggests I simply pick my favourites. This is patently untrue, and would be highly unprofessional. I don’t have favourites. I have a brief. And every brief has certain implicit challenges within it that the designers need to acknowledge and respond to. This, and this alone, is what they’re judged on every week.

In the briefing, which you pretty well see in full on the tellybox, I give the designers hints of what to watch out for. On judging day, myself and the guest judge spend a full day looking at the projects with a view to evaluating them against these requirements. We’re also looking for the feels — the spaces that lift and inspire. But even here, this isn’t about the looks I personally love, or would do myself, because that’s the fantastic thing about design. While we can have a subjective lean towards certain periods, colours, or styles, good design in any genre has the power to life you away from subjectivity and towards simple appreciation for a job well done. Others, as an example, would Abigail Ahern only be able to ‘like’ dark designs? No.

So, what else… at the top of the series with ten rooms to look at, each space can only have so much viewing time, but that’s fine because everyone gets the same attention, and we just stay for longer as required. As the competition progresses, we spend considerably more time in each person’s room or rooms. There is also a LOT of discussion between me and the guest judge, otherwise what on earth would be the point of having them there!

Each guest judge is also picked specifically for their pertinence to each challenge, bringing either expert interiors savvy like Abigail (Ep 1) to Shayne Brady (Ep 5) or challenge specific expertise like Mary for shops (Ep 6), or Nisha Katona for cafés (Ep 4). But ultimately, as Head Judge, I have the unenviable task of having to make the final call. But, sometimes, this has meant I was able to send no-one home — remember that episode, two seasons ago!

What you see is obviously edited highlights as we summarise the overall thoughts and steer of our conclusions, otherwise it would be a very long programme! Suffice to say I take it super seriously. I know I’m playing with people’s dreams. That’s why as a show we keep our critiques constructive — this isn’t The Apprentice! Interior Design Masters is all about understanding why someone did what they did and learning from mistakes, not humiliating anyone. Ultimately, I want them to go forth and succeed!

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PS For my fast-track, How to Become an Interior Designer ‘course’ see my notes on Season 4, back a year, right here on Substack (which will be behind the paywall unless you’re a subscriber). You can find quick links to every S4 episode via my website here.

IDM Alumni

Jack Kinsey: there were some viewer tears and tantrums when Jack didn't win Season 4, losing out to Monica (see last week’s post). But Jack continues to shine with his own practice, honing his skills and very particular style from his beautiful Norfolk home.

At home with Jack Kinsey

Behind the scenes

Oh Mary is an absolute blast to work with. Non-stop chat as we roam freely through every subject from our dogs to politics, via love, life and healthy living. She also re-

introduced me to the work of Duane Elgin, which prompted my post on Simplicity a while back. Our big debate this time was how to inspire people to make an everyday difference from recycling to where we shop, because that’s how we vote for the type of world we want to live in, in the future. What we do as individuals counts etc. This is the sort of conversation we get into, and I always leave feeling a better person for it. We are agreed that in a world seemingly inclined towards cancel culture (although I feel the tide is turning, more on this another time), respectful free debate is precious, and should be protected at all costs.

Mary also has superlative taste in clothing and accessories so I always have to grill her on where her shoes, bag, wallet, glasses case etc come from. Rubbish chronicler that I am though, I have neglected to get snaps. Next time! It’s all about those details.

Episode 6 Interior Design Masters, Season 5

Wardrobe notes

On location: Blue jumpsuit by Chiara Boni La Petite Robe, from Yoox. The rather dapper camel trench is from The Fold London. Trainers, same as ever.

In the studio: Another jumpsuit, but this one by Diane von Fürstenberg. I bought it eons ago, probably from The Outnet (last season designer togs at up to 70% off!). My silver strappy sandals though were brand spanking new season Rupert Sanderson!