Who has won the Interior Design Masters crown?
Banjo Beale has won series three of Interior Design Masters, bagging a career-defining contract with a luxury hotel in Cornwall.
The BBC One show, which follows 10 new designers all looking for their big break in the fast-paced world of commercial interior design, has come to an end after eight weeks.
Banjo will now get the chance to redesign a Beach Retreats self-catering property in The Village, Watergate Bay. Banjo will curate colours and textures, style furniture and draw inspiration from the Cornish landscape to create a space designed for holidays by the sea. The dog-friendly property is just moments from the shoreline and will be available for bookings from late spring.
Interior Design Masters, presented by Alan Carr and with former ELLE Decoration Editor-in-Chief Michelle Ogundehin as head judge, saw aspiring designers take on a new interior design challenge up and down the country each week, ranging from show homes, shops and restaurants to beach huts, bars and luxury holiday villas.
At the end of each challenge, the weakest designers found themselves on the sofa to face the judges and explain their design decisions, with at least one contestant being eliminated.
Guest judges throughout the series offering advice and appraisal included Matthew Williamson, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Mary Portas, Guy Oliver, Sophie Robinson, Ross Bailey, Abigail Ahern and Sarah Willingham.
Take a look at all the eliminated contestants from series three, and stay tuned for our exclusive interviews with winner Banjo and runner-up Amy...
• WINNER •
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BANJO
Banjo, 36, from the Isle of Mull, is a cheesemonger and marketer. He describes his style as playful and wild.
Q: What was it about the series that made you want to apply?
A: I have always fancied being an interior designer, but I live on a cheese farm on a remote Scottish island. This was my chance to study, gain experience, meet the professionals and launch a career all in one. I couldn't have had this crazy experience from the wet and windy Isle of Mull.
• RUNNER-UP •
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AMY
Originally from Ayrshire in Scotland, Amy, 39, lives in London and is a print designer and illustrator. She describes her design style as Sophisticated Print.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced during the competition?
A: My biggest challenge throughout the competition was the constant battle of confidence. I knew in my heart, deep down, I had the ability to go far but I spent most of the time trying to talk myself into just going for it! I'm sure our lovely sound men overheard many a pep talk to myself in the bathroom! The competition is a real pressure cooker and can be very emotionally and intellectually draining so you genuinely have to be made from strong stuff to endure it. My desire to present the best work possible and to push boundaries drove me to discover I have more mental and physical energy reserves than even I thought I did.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 7
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PAUL
Paul, 52, is a Visual Merchandiser and lives in London. Originally from Fleetwood in Lancashire, he describes his style as Mid-Century Minimalist.
Q: What did you expect from the series?
A: To be honest I didn't know what to expect. I was excited with nervous anticipation. Even though I watched the show in the previous season where all the designers went through the same creative process under the same timelines, nothing prepares you for the design intensity, long hours and fast turnaround to deliver a design in a limited number of days or in many cases hours! The cameras, questions and scrutiny under a lens, it's like design therapy where you're being asked questions all the time and it challenges you on many levels to take time out and think, not only about the design fundamentals, when you break it down, but our emotional response to our environment – a luxury we don't afford ourselves often enough.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 6
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FRAN
Fran, 38, is a fashion stylist from London. She describes her style as Contemporary Bohemian.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced during the competition?
A: Juggling family, work and the competition at the same time was really hard. I felt at times that I was failing in everything and excelling in nothing as I left my kids to disappear off to do a makeover each week. I spent a lot of time designing and redesigning and trying to hold it together (probably quite unsuccessfully as I cried on every challenge!).
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 5
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DEAN
Dean, 41, is a Store Manager from Reading. He describes his style as dark and moody.
Q: Which interior designers is your style most like?
A: There's not many interior designers I know that love black as much me, but I know I was always inspired by Abigail Ahern as I loved the way she makes a room feel dark and moody but still feel warm and cosy.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 4
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MOLLY
Molly, 23, is a Business Administrator from Bedfordshire. She describes her style as Eccentric Classic.
Q: Who or what are your design inspirations?
A: My mum has always taught me that there is beauty everywhere in the world, you’ve just got to look for it. I got a lot of my design inspiration from her. I come from quite an arty family of painters, writers, tailoresses etc. My home was always my absolute haven and when I was a kid and we spent time wandering around eclectic, antique, second hand shops, finding individual, one of a kind homeware companies and playing around with fabrics etc. So I was exposed to a lot of lovely arty things as a kid and my passion just grew from there. I also look to nature a lot for colour palettes as if it's good enough for mother nature, it’s good enough for me.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 3
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ROCHELLE
Rochelle, 34, is a Team Coordinator from London. She describes her style as Modern Glamour.
Q: What was it about the series that made you want to apply?
A: I have always had a love for interiors and even studied it as a degree. In 2017, I set up an interior accessories and gifting online shop as a way for me to keep my hand in design and share with others. I did small things around my house on tight budgets as well as event settings for friends and family. Though I love the show and the last series, I never thought it would be something I imagined myself stepping out of my comfort zone to apply and be part of.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 3
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ABI
Abi, 27, is originally from Birmingham and now lives in London. She is a luxecycler and describes her style as Maximalist Kitsch.
Q: Who or what are your design inspirations?
A: I’m inspired by those who aren't afraid to push boundaries, break rules and just do what they want and be who they are! I describe my design aesthetic as if Dolly Parton and RuPaul Charles lived in Tony Montana's LA Mansion – just so you can get an idea in your head. I love all things bright, over the top and kitsch – it's all very camp but I guess that's why I worship big and bold icons such as Dolly Parton and RuPaul. They are fearless, unapologetic and drop dead fabulous, which inspires me on a daily basis.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 2
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PETER
Peter, 63 is a hair salon owner from Newcastle Upon Tyne. He describes his style as being a 'Style Chameleon'.
Q: What was it about the series that made you want to apply?
A: I have loved watching the series, and although it sounds cliché, I always compared my ideas to that of the contestants. I have a genuine passion for interior design and lived through the shagpile 70s and minimalist noughties with my homes reflecting the latest trends. The challenge of the series excited me, and I got lots of encouragement from my family who said I should apply. It just seemed like a really fun thing to do, and a great way to demonstrate my individual style and ideas.
• ELIMINATED: WEEK 1
READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD
Richard, 29, is from Birmingham and is an interior stylist. He describes his style as Abstract Colourist.
Q: Which interior designers is your style most like?
A: I'm definitely carving out my own niche of colour and shape but it takes huge inspiration from Peter Tarka. He is basically the champion of the retrofuturism movement, and whilst most of his work takes place in digital mock-ups of spaces, I wanted to bring that aesthetic into real life with Trompe-l'œil arches, colourful murals, and unexpected furniture design. Straight lines begone, the curvier the better!
Catch up on Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr on BBC iPlayer.
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