I Kid. You Not. - TD Episode 2

For the second week in a row, we have a challenge designed around a mystery client– actually, ten mystery clients. But unlike last week's team challenge, the designers will work on their projects individually.

The remaining designers each received a dossier with their new clients' profile. Who knew in order to become a successful interior designer you needed to have some investigative and intuitive skills to help ID your client. Do they even offer a class in Forensic Science at the leading design schools?

The designers were given an initial budget of $8,000, hardwood flooring and $600 for hardware and supplies. Their mission was to construct a bedroom for their new client.

John was enraged that Felicia picked the hardwood sample he was eyeing. He decided to forego the free hardwood flooring. Instead, he told his carpenter to go buy some linoleum flooring.

Midway through the design process, Todd Oldham threw out a few curveballs.

He revealed the big twist: their clients were actually kids, around 10 years of age. Also, the beds they were building should accommodate a twin size mattress.

Andrea whipped together an ambitious bedroom that included a murphy's bed. Carisa transported her client to the Amazon jungles. Elizabeth had a ball building a soccer-themed room. Erik went overboard recreating a Pirate ship. Felicia created a stateroom for her young client. Goil built a clean, modern room with a bed on wheels. Matt turned the spotlight on his future Hollywood starlet. Ryan splashed some cool blue waves on the walls and accessorized the room in hot pink cat furniture.

Michael completed his room (installed the hardwood floor and painted the walls) all by himself. Too bad the room looked like it was designed for an elderly person.

John simply ran out of time. He also ran out of patience with his carpenter, who didn't come back from the hardware store with a floor.

Now it was time for lockdown. The designers lined up outside their sterile 12 x 12 cells awaiting the judges' arrival.

In the White Room, the designers were quizzed about the choices they made. Goil treated us to an impromptu lesson on the Theorem of Spatial Displacement.

The judges gave Erik the win and John the kiss off for his unfinished room. John tried his best to keep the raging testosterone beast in check.

So now we know the lead judge, Jonathan Adler, came up with the dreaded "See you later, decorator" phrase. He also described John as the "Mayor of Excuses Village." Note to Mr. Adler: coming up with cute little phrases only work if you're a six year old, for which you are not. For crying out loud, you're a middle-aged man. How about saying things in plain English. Don't try to outdo each other coming up with funny zingers and catchy soundbytes?

(Oh, how I miss my Project Runway.)