We’re exhausted after the first two challenges. Slept three to four hours a night, didn’t eat much, worked all day on the first two rooms, the interviews, the judging and the eliminations that follow…and it’s been two weeks already. But there’s very little time to pity ourselves. We’re here to win an apartment ! Can’t complain, let’s get on with the third challenge.
It’s the kid’s room ! And this time we have real clients…kids ! And we got the best one ! An adorable ten year old boy called Victor. Straight away I ask him where he’s from…turns out he’s French, was born in Reunion island and lives in Kuala Lumpur…hum…Reunion island…you wouldn’t happen to have some sailing experience by any chance ? Yes ! he does ! Definitely not a coincidence…but a nice surprise !
Victor also likes football and he is a hip-hop dancer ! In his room he wants mirrors on the ceiling, a disco ball, a projector with a giant screen…he certainly seems to know what he wants ! We’re going to have to edit his requests, mirrors on the ceiling of a child’s room are maybe not the best of ideas, but we want to please Victor at the same time. He is French and therefore extremely critical, as we all are, and definitely takes his job seriously. I really like him.
And then it’s back to Viva Mall, running around, counting money, looking at the ticking clock… Choosing furniture and accessories that will influence the whole outcome of the room with an obscene time constraint is frustrating, especially if, as it happens to be for me, shopping is an excruciating experience in any condition…
But we manage, and we’re back at East Residences, looking at our empty space, choosing colors, getting the painting started. Iva’s brilliant idea of running two stripes from the entrance door to the ceiling and back over the bed, as two blue sails watching over Victor as he sleeps, is genius. But our little client will also have a little football corner and tall mirrors on the cabinets to practice his hip-hop moves. The idea is also to use a lot of adult designer pieces that would also appeal to a kid. Victor will grow up to be a teenager in this room. And he definitely has style.
Under the window we create a giant working space with a designer desk we bought and extended with two white-washed plywood tables on each side. Victor will have plenty of space for drawing, an activity he cherishes, but also for working, as our French kid likes school, his favorite subject being…maths ! Iva cannot believe her ears although I had been explaining to her the advantages of a French education for a while…
Judging time…Victor is “satisfied” Laurence finally seems to be excited about our work, he loves the blue stripes. And Jamie, as usual very supportive of our design gives us an extra boost of confidence for the elimination to come.
The elimination process is extremely stressful as usual, we are more tired then ever, the pressure builds up as we walk into the room to confront a very large judging panel this week, made out of Jamie, Laurence and all the kids…
And we made it ! Once again, we’re through to the next round ! Turns out everyone stays this week…a nice little twist that squeezes the first tears out of some contestants…well done !
Phil
Click here to continue to Episode 4 : The Gardens
