"Ellen's Design Challenge" Season 2 Episode 2 aired last Monday, Jan. 25. The episode took the seven remaining contestants in a beautiful SoCal backyard, where they were tasked to make outdoor furniture for their designated areas within three days.
Bradley Bowers, a furniture designer from Miami, got to choose first and he opted to make a bench to go with the fire pit. He decided to pile a bunch of wood in a twisting pattern. Alexis Moran decided to go with the pool and designed a chaise. She used concrete as her main material, never mind the discomfort issues.
Japanese-American Miles Endo went with the outdoor bar. He decided to make bar stools, but took a long time deciding on which materials to use. In the end, he went for steel and wood and created a sleek pair of chairs.
Sef Pinney from California settled on the patio and started on a table design. He chose a metal frame and an acrylic top. His partner craftsman warned him of durability issues, but Sef remained undeterred.
Meanwhile, Kyle, a woodworker from Michigan, decided to make a daybed for the gazebo. His inspiration came from an exotic animal -- a pangolin, which looks like a small armadillo. He made the side to look like the pangolin's armor and chose a bright yellow for the upholstery.
Melissa River Torres went back to her childhood days and created a hanging tree chair, which was basically an upgraded version of the tree swing. Vivian Beer also went retro with her wire mesh bench. She topped it with a sunny orange upholstery which gave the furniture a cheery look.
Come judging time on day three, hosts Christine Lemieux and Cliff Fong introduced designer Peter Dunham. He warned the contestants that he was looking for comfort and versatility aside from the aesthetics.
First up for the critique was Sef's acrylic table. The judges liked it and never mentioned the durability factor. Peter even called it "phenomenal" and "sophisticated." Up next was Vivian's wicker-inspired retro bench. Peter also liked its openness, but Christine scoffed at its unfinished look.
When Kyle's pangolin-inspired daybed came out, the judges said it looked like Big Bird. However, when they tried it out, they all liked the feel of the piece. Melissa's tire swing chair also got a nod from the panel, who all went giddy upon seeing it. Mile's barstools also wowed the panel. Peter called it "sculpturally spectacular," while Cliff and Christine liked its beauty in simplicity.
Meanwhile, Alexis' concrete bench looked nice, but the judges deemed it too uncomfortable upon sitting on it. Bradley's twisted fire pit bench also got a disapproval from the panel. Cliff liked its sculptural concept, but said it under-delivered.
At the end, Sef's table won the challenge, while Bradley's fire pit bench got the boot.
Next week, the contestants will be making their signature dining room tables. New York Magazine Design editor Wendy Goodman will be joining the panel. "Ellen's Design Challenge" airs every Monday, 9 p.m. on HGTV.
