Top Design: Matt Has The Top Design (4/11/07)

Nothing I like more than to see one of my favorite contestants win a competition-based reality show. After watching Sam get booted & leave Top Chef in 3rd place, felt Bravo owed me one. And they delivered! Matt, the 32-year old designer from Chicago, has the top design after beating Carisa in a loft design challenge. The best part was that they got to design the 1700-foot loft for themselves. Part of the reason Matt was able to clinch the title was the design of his 4 year old daughter's room. Congratulations, Matt! We'll be looking forward to seeing your work in Elle Decor magazine.

A Reality Check With ... Andrea Keller (Top Design)

Andrea knew she wanted to be a designer at age seven. Now 36, Andrea already has a successful design career, but feels there is no limit to her success. Hailing from Los Angeles, she teaches restaurant design and exhibition design at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, as well as at University of Southern California. She also owns a very successful design firm in L.A., Berry/Keller Architects, Inc., which specializes in commercial and civic projects. Andrea is half architect and half designer, and she has shared her expertise with the world in several television programs. Married with two boys, she is part Swiss, speaks four languages, and is in the process of learning two more.


RC: You teach at Otis College of Art & USC as well as own a successful design firm. What made you want to be on Top Design?
AK: I could answer emails from clients all day or I could be on a tv show! I had an interview & many interviews after that. There were big open calls for the show as well. Everything I went back, there were more people in the room from Bravo. The last time I was there, there were 12 people on couches with lights & cameras … and I ended up making it! And here I am.


RC: When I spoke to Goil last week, he told me that he didn’t tell anybody up front that he was an architect because he didn’t want people to dismiss him as a designer. Did you also use that strategy or did you not think it mattered what your background was?
AK: I told them that it was on my resume. I have the belief that we can do anything.


RC: Speaking of Goil, he has spoken of you extremely well both to me and throughout the show. It must be nice when you see your fellow contestants give you such high compliments.
AK: He was amazing! Goil is brilliant. I met so many great people here. I have, like, 6 friends for life. Actually, I’m in Philly picking up Erik. We’re going to a party in New York tonight.


RC: On the other hand, some contestants have not been so nice regarding your work. Is it hard to brush those things off & not take it personally?
AK: I’m used to being criticized. In architecture school, we would have public juries where a hundred people would rip apart the work I had been doing for 16 weeks.


RC: On last night’s episode, you were given a budget of $7500 to shop around L.A. & create a luxury living room for less. Being from L.A., you must have gone into this thinking you had the upper hand.
AK: We all looked up places to shop online. I told Matt & Carisa where the stores were & I only shopped at the same stores they did. I wanted it to be fair. Maybe I should’ve pulled something!


RC: When it came down to you & Carisa for elimination, were you surprised that it was you?
AK: Yes, I was really surprised. I didn’t do well in the previous episode but I didn’t think my room was horrible.


RC: Can I assume you’re rooting for Matt tonight?
AK: I don’t know … maybe a little!


RC: What are your future plans?
AK: I’m getting settled back into daily life. We have huge parties in the loft where I work in L.A. We project the episodes onto the wall & my students & clients come out. It’s great. I’d love to work all over the country & in places like Singapore & Dubai.

Thanks to Andrea for taking the time

to talk to Reality Check!
The finale of Bravo’s “Top Design” airs tonight at 10pm EST

A Reality Check With ... Goil Amornvivat (Bravo's "Top Design")

Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Goil moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. After graduating from Yale, he was handpicked by Robert A.M. Stern, a world-renowned architect, to work for him. It was here that he collaborated on a project to design and build the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Goil's work has been exhibited at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. He likes open spaces and can do everything from interiors, architecture, landscapes and product design. Goil believes he has a more worldly approach to his style, and says he's used to a competitive environment and loves to win.

Self-described as “small, spicy and fabulous,” Goil is known to stand his ground and confront his challenger face-to-face when conflicts arise.

RC: You studied architecture in college – what was the first big project you got to work on? And how old were you?
GA: My first big project was the Comcast Tower in Philly working for Robert Stern.

RC: How did you gain your background in interior design?
GA: The two disciplines are very close to each other. They’re connected. For me, I don’t see the line.

RC: What was the audition process like for “Top Design”?
GA: It was so long ago! I think what we did was ... I sent in an application form, set up a meeting with a casting person. Apparently I was a day late, I was totally oblivious. I brought my portfolio, prepared a little bit of a speech - what I am about or what my work is about.

RC: Being more of an architect, were you intimidated going into the competition?
GA: Going into the competition, I was a littler nervous. For a while, I didn’t tell anybody about my background. I didn’t want them to count me out so soon.

RC: On last week’s episode, you had to design a hotel room using the element “fire”. You & Andrea ended up in the bottom two. Why do you think you ended up getting sent home?
GA: I’m not exactly sure. To be really honest, I don’t hate my room. I had one element that I didn’t finish … I couldn’t finish it to my liking. This time, I ran into time sensitive issues.

RC: How do you deal with stress?
GA: I’m really easygoing but when it comes to work, I’m quite focused. I work my way out of it. The first episode was the easiest, I had Elizabeth next to me helping me out. And my carpenter, Sarah, has been by my side, calming me down. As an artist, you need to go through the range of emotions.

RC: You seemed to have a high level of respect for Andrea’s work throughout the competition. Are you hoping she wins?
GA: Of course! I love her! She’s a few models ahead of me in terms of work. I hope that she wins. I love what she represents.

RC: Looking back, which project did you think was your best during the show?
GA: I actually liked the children’s room & the college student’s room. Those two rooms are very personal for me. The children’s room was all active, the concept part was very clear. It was executed in a clean & rich way. You can look at that way room & there’s a lot of different layers in it. The fourth room was the same way. My college student was a painter. I asked her, if your house was burning down, what would you grab? She said her painting. Her painting had much to do with abuse & violence. My room manifested itself in that way. All the pieces were broken.

RC: What’s next for you? GA: I have been back developing my practice. I left Robert Stern & started my own practice. Then this show came along & I’m picking up where I left off.

RC: Can we expect to see you on the finale?
GA: You’ll have to watch & see!

Thanks to Goil for talking to RealityCheck!

"Top Design" airs on Bravo Wednesday nights at 10pm EST.

SURVIVOR: SPECIAL TIME TONIGHT

Good thing I looked at AOL's TV page or I might've missed this. From their site:


Don't worry, you're looking at the right day. 'Survivor' is on Wednesday this week thanks to March Madness. About halfway through the season, 'Fiji' shakes things up by realigning the two tribes. Moto's been living large in their luxurious camp, but how will some of them fare when forced to live in Ravu's hellhole? And when two strong castaways are paired together, will anyone be able to challenge them?


Here are some other things to look forward to tonight:

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL: "The Girl Who Changes Her Attitude" - STRIKE A POSE - Watch out Madonna! The girls learn the art of posing with "vogueing" superstar Benny Ninja. The competition takes a nearly impossible turn during a high-tech mission where the models are challenged to duck, dive and pose through a laser maze.

TOP DESIGN: Bravo's "Top Design" is a real pressure cooker as the final five designers face their toughest challenge yet in an all-new episode. Even the carpenters feel the heat, as the contestants scramble to design a chef's private dining room, a space best suited for intimate social gatherings.


My DVR is on overload tonight, here's the lineup:
8PM CBS SURVIVOR (special time)
8PM CW AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL
9PM FOX AMERICAN IDOL (results)
10PM ABC LOST (my favorite non-reality show)
10PM MTV THE REAL WORLD
10:30PM MTV ROAD RULES
11PM BRAVO TOP DESIGN (runs new at 10PM & 11PM)