"Top Design 2" recaplet (Ep. 2.05): There's no I in Team

Last week on Top Design 2, the designers were once again teamed up and things got U-G-L-Y-you-ain't-got-no-alibi! Shaz and Preston fought like cats and dogs and Eddie and some attention-starved shop keep almost came to blows ... yet somehow our remaining four gay designers survived to decorate again.

This week starts off in the Designer Lofts where everyone is complaining about the team challenges - all except Schroder who's complaining about being a Mother of Four and how hard it is to be away from her demon spawn.

Okay: First of all, she's married to Ricky Schroder and the fact that she didn't remind everyone this week means that something is askew in the universe. Second, it's not like those kids are homeless on the streets living off their wits alone; worst case scenario, they're up in that Silver Spoons mansion chillin' with Alfonso Ribeiro and riding around in that little train of theirs. 

Ricky Schroder and Alfonso Ribeiro

At the Studio, India and Wacky Wearstler inform the designers (and the audience) of what we've been waiting for all season, that this week is an individual challenge!  Of course, it's not just any individual challenge, it's a Top Design Triathlon!

Instead of swimming, cycling and running this triathlon involves chairs, tables and earthy living spaces.  The first leg of the race is the Chair Leg! 

From purple velvet to hand stenciling, these chairs went from garish to garbage.   The winner of the Chair Leg was Nathan which means that he has immunity for the week. Gosh, what will they win on the 2nd and 3rd legs of the competition? Maybe the Schroder kids (wait, that's not a prize)!

Nathan's designs are killing it this week!

The 2nd Leg involved setting a dining room table.  If my Mother was in this challenge, she'd school these kids but alas, she's just my Mom ... not a TV Mom with super style abilities.  The tables ranged from a crisp and clean silver and white snoozefest to a children's birthday party theme all the way to an informal seaside picnic.  The winner of the 2nd leg of the TD2 Triathlon was once again Nathan. 

Team Gay FTW!

The next morning the Designers woke up like they honestly just competed in a real triathlon.  Everyone was spent and looking frazzled but there's no time to relax, as the 3rd leg of the challenge had arrived. 

The last portion of the triathlon revolved around creating an earthy space while only being able to shop for supplies in a garden center.  The winning design would be featured in a spread for Elle Decor magazine ... not too shabby!  

In my head I'm thinking lots of wicker, sea shells and dried flowers - thank heavens I'm not a designer.  These guys are using vegetable plants, antique pots, crazy paints, water features and lots of zen bliss-ness to accomplish their visions.  Some of the rooms looked completely sparse while others looked like they stepped right out of Martha Stewart's Living (*cough* Eddie).  

India, Wearstler, Jonathan and Margaret cast shade

The Judges descend upon the rooms and they're coloring the place snarky.  Poor Teresa, Margaret said her room looked like somewhere you'd wait for the valet.  That's not good.  Neither is getting called an Old Lady.  Eddie's going to faint when he watches this episode. 

The Judges loved Natalie's room which was inspired by her deceased Mother (it won) and they also loved Wisit's surreal take on French apartment living.

So if you're following along at home that's Nathan - 2, Natalie - 1.  The overall winner of the TD2 Triathlon was Nathan!  

The Bottom 2 this week came down to Schroder and Teresa and in the end, Teresa and her misconception of Zen got sent home.  Once again, the four remaining gays walk away from another challenge unscathed.  

This episode blew by so fast that I didn't even realize that the final leg of the triathlon was the end of the episode.  I don't know if the multiple mini-challenges had my attentions scattered but this seemed like the most random and uneven episode so far this season.  Aside from Nathan's winning almost every challenge, the focus on the gays was minimal.  I guess you have to give a little when Eddie and Preston dominated so much of the previous episode.  Did I blink and miss Todd Oldham this week?

Tell us what your favorite design was and whether or not the right decorator went home this week.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on the gay representation so far ... you know what to do!