Interior Design Masters judge Michelle Ogundehin has selected her two finalists: John and Rita.
The budding designers made the final after more than six weeks of competition, which saw the hopefuls doing everything from creating spaces for animals at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to making offices in shipping containers.
The semi-final of the BBC programme — which is hosted by Alan Carr — aired on Thursday, 22 May, with finalists Craig, John and Rita each having to do up a venue for Edinburgh Fringe. However, Craig ended up being sent home after Ogundehin decided that his bar, themed to feel like grandma’s front room, was a little busy.
John and Rita are now set to go up against each other in the last challenge in a bid to win a collaboration contract with John Lewis.
So who are the two finalists? And how do they feel about having made it to the last challenge?
John
John, 46, is a design and technology teacher from Stockport, and he’s always had an eye for DIY. He tuned into hit show Changing Rooms when he was young and later honed his skills when he and his wife renovated their Victorian home.
Over the series he has impressed with his novel ideas for design, but ended up in the bottom two several times.
However, he pulled out all the stops in the semi-final. He had to redecorate a bar for the Fringe and opted for what he called “apocalypse chic”, with beige walls emblazoned with various words, black ceilings and an elaborate chandelier.
Ogundehin praised his “subtle layering of devices” and said the room was designed in such a way that the performance area was the star attraction, which was what they had wanted. She also loved his bar area, which featured barrels for tables and marble wallpaper, and said it was “incredibly sophisticated”.
John was close to tears as he was told he had made the final, thanking the judge as he put his face in his hands.
“I don’t have words for it,” he said. “How has that happened? I have been on the sofa four times now and I am in the final.”
Read more: Interior Design Masters
Rita
Rita, 42, is a visual merchandising consultant and her flair for staging and making a design stand out has not gone unnoticed during her time in the competition.
The artist and illustrator spent her childhood moving between Iraq, Cyprus and Lebanon but now lives in Lancaster.
She aimed to create a “fun comedy club inspired by a circus” in her semi-final project, with a bold red and teal palette and little touches like an old wooden horse from a carousel as part of the decor.
Ogundehin was dazzled, saying that it offered “something unexpected”. She also praised Rita for taking previous notes on needing to use more colour.
Awarding Rita the Standout Space award and sending her straight through to the final, the judge said her design was “stunning”.
“I am thrilled,” the design hopeful said after being told she was in the final. “It is super exciting, This week feels very special because I doubted myself a lot.”
What will the final challenge be?
Next week, John and Rita will go head to head in their biggest project yet.
The pair will travel to Wales where they will be tasked with redesigning holiday cottages in a bid to win the title of Interior Design Master 2025.
Interior Design Masters’ final airs at 8pm on BBC One on Thursday, 29 May.
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