Celebrated Interior Designer Jonathan Adler Tapped As Lead Judge -- Joined By Editor In Chief Of Elle Decor Magazine Margaret Russell And Famed Interior Designer Kelly Wearstler As Regular Series Judges
Todd Oldham, world-renowned designer, has been named the host of Bravo′s all-new interior design competition series TOP DESIGN. Three judges have been chosen to critique and celebrate each TOP DESIGN, including lead judge Jonathan Adler, who will be joined by Margaret Russell, Editor In Chief of ELLE DECOR Magazine, and interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Production will commence this month in Los Angeles on ten episodes of TOP DESIGN, which is scheduled to premiere in first quarter 2007. The announcement was made by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo.
"The world-renowned and ultra-talented designer Todd Oldham is a perfect fit as host for Bravo′s newest show about creativity and competition," said Zalaznick. "And to be able to call these three industry-leading design professionals our series judges provides the highest level of credibility to this new series."
Off the heels of the critically acclaimed TOP CHEF and the Emmy-nominated hit PROJECT RUNWAY, Bravo′s newest reality competition series TOP DESIGN offers a behind the scenes look at the creative, competitive and client-driven interior design business at the highest level. The series features twelve aspiring interior designers who are united in their quest to create the TOP DESIGN in each episode in the series as they vie for cash to start their own design firm and a spot in one of New York′s finest designer showcases. Production, which begins this month, will take place in Los Angeles.
"This highly anticipated new series puts the spotlight on interior design," said Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, Bravo. "Los Angeles is an exciting and colorful backdrop that will give our competing interior designers the chance to utilize all the city has to offer, while giving viewers a peek inside their creative and challenging world."
In TOP DESIGN, high pressure, eccentric personalities and creative egos combine to fuel the next big hit in competition reality. Aspiring and professional interior design contestants will converge and compete in a series of challenges to create the TOP DESIGN while living in a decked-out studio loft as they are inspired and critiqued by professionals who are leaders in their chosen field.
About Todd Oldham, Bravo′s TOP DESIGN Host:
Known as one of the most beloved designers working today, Todd Oldham joins TOP DESIGN as host, delivering challenges and inspiring and leading the designers to be their most creative and original in their pursuit of creating the TOP DESIGN. Originally a New York fashion designer, and the host of "Todd Time" on MTV′s "House of Style," Todd′s career has evolved to include all areas of design, from interior design, film and photography, to furniture and graphic art. Todd is the author of Hand Made Modern by Regan Books, and has hosted HGTV′s "Hand Made Modern" series of specials. Todd designed his own line of dorm room furnishings for Target and currently designs a line of furniture and accessories, Todd Oldham By La-Z-Boy. Todd also designed The Hotel in South Beach, as well as The Fairfax Hotel, South Beach, to open in 2007.
About Jonathan Adler, Bravo′s TOP DESIGN Lead Judge:
Jonathan Adler, the lead judge of TOP DESIGN has been celebrated for the mod shapes, vibrant colors and organic eye-popping patterns that are the signature of his work today. His business encompasses seven retail outlets in Soho & the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Los Angeles, East Hampton, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago; a thriving interior design business, responsible for the re-design of the Parker Palm Springs hotel in modernist style with a comfy residential feel; a burgeoning licensing business under the brand name Jonathan Adler Happy Home that′s expanding into bedding, bath accessories, stationary, dinnerware and table linens at accessible prices; and he continues to sell his wares to high-end boutiques around the world. Jonathan′s "happy, handcrafted, and luxe" designs for the home have become a part of American pop-culture, appearing on the sets of the "Today Show," "Sex and the City," "Will & Grace," and "The Apprentice." In November 2005, Jonathan launched his first book My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living, which combines his wittiness and enthusiasm for creating happy homes everywhere with serious design.
About Margaret Russell, Bravo′s TOP DESIGN Judge:
As Editor in Chief of ELLE DECOR Magazine, TOP DESIGN judge Margaret Russell has infused the magazine with a singular sense of sophistication, while helping to preserve its mission to inspire designers, architects, and homeowners with the best in interior and product design. In July 2000, Margaret was promoted to editor in chief of the magazine she helped found. Since then she has spearheaded an award-winning redesign of the publication-one of 23 ELLE DECO editions worldwide-and shifted coverage to portray an increasingly diverse array of talents through images and articles that blend striking graphics with incisive, personality-driven text. In addition to overseeing ELLE DECOR, elledecor.com, and the ELLE DECOR series of books, Margaret serves as a trustee of DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS), and co-chairs the series of ELLE DECOR Dining by Design events that take place in eight cities across the country each year. Stewart, Tabori & Chang, published Margaret′s book, Designing Women: Interiors by Leading Style Makers, which profiles 16 trendsetters in the design world.
About Kelly Wearstler, Bravo′s TOP DESIGN Judge:
TOP DESIGN series judge Kelly Wearstler is well-known in the industry as an acclaimed interior designer. She is the author of Modern Glamour and the founder of the Los Angeles architectural interior design firm kwid (Kelly Wearstler Interior Design). Her designs for the trendsetting Viceroy resorts from California to the Caribbean; such taste-making hotels as Maison 140 and Avalon; unique office retail, and leisure spaces, including BG restaurant and lounge in Manhattan′s Bergdorf Goodman; and an upscale residences such as the Trousdale Estate have been profiled in House and Garden, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Elle Decor, Vogue, and W. Kelly is also the designer of her own kwid line of furnishings and accessories.
