Plot Synopsis

Produced by Ellen DeGeneres' production company and hosted by Jay Montepare, ELLEN'S DESIGN CHALLENGE is a one-hour reality series that features a group of furniture designers who travel to Los Angeles, where they compete in various elimination furniture-design challenges as they vie for the $100,000 grand prize. The contestants are tasked with a new build each episode, and with a workshop, an expert carpenter, and all the tools they need, they must design and build an amazing furniture creation in just 24 hours. Each contestant gets help making their designs a reality by a lead carpenter, one of HGTV's and DIY Network's show hosts: Karl Champley, Jeff Devlin, Matt Muenster, David Sheinkopf, Brooks Utley and Chip Wade. Then, a panel of expert judges -- Amanda Dameron, editor-in-chief of "Dwell"; Christiane Lemieux, executive creative director of Wayfair.com; and a third, rotating judge -- along with appearances by Ellen eliminate them one by one until one designer is left standing. The six competitors in Season 1 include Carley Eisenberg, Boone, NC; Gaspar de Jesus, Los Angeles, CA; Tim McClellan, Durango, CO; Mark Moskovitz, Cleveland, OH; Leslie Shapiro Joyal, Los Angeles, CA; and Katie Stout, Brooklyn, NY.

Season 2 of ELLEN'S DESIGN CHALLENGE premiered on Monday, January 18 at 9pm ET/PT on HGTV. During each episode, the competitors face design challenges that inspire their creativity and, since the clock is ticking, they are paired with an expert HGTV or DIY Network carpenter to help them complete the task at hand. The experts include Chip Wade, Matt Blashaw, Jeff Devlin, Matt Muenster, Karl Champley, Brooks Utley, Stephen Zimpel and Ali Azhar. Each contestant also has access to a "build team" and a large workshop. The weekly challenges are judged by Cliff Fong, a 20-year veteran interior designer and owner of the interior design firm Matt Blacke Inc.; Christiane Lemieux, executive creative director of Wayfair.com; and special guest judges including Sean Yashar, founder of the design talent management and brand discover firm, The Culture Creative; interior designer Peter Dunham; Wendy Goodman, design editor for New York Magazine; furniture and industrial designer Karim Rashid; Adam Blackman, owner of furniture gallery Blackman Cruz; Thomas Lavin, owner of Thomas Lavin home furnishings; Rodman Primack, Executive Director of Design Miami; and Mallery Roberts Morgan, design writer and curator and Los Angeles correspondent for Architectural Digest France. Earlier in the month -- on Friday, January 1, 2016 -- at 11pm ET/PT, HGTV premiered a "Meet the Cast" special, introducing the 10 new contestants: Bradley Bowers, Miami, FL; Melissa Rivera Torres, Pleasant Hill, CA; Dave Yale, San Jose, CA; Sef Pinney, Los Angeles, CA; Alexis Moran, Orinda, CA; Kyle Huntoon, Detroit, MI; Julie Browning Bova, Indianapolis, IN; Vivian Beer, Manchester, NH; Miles Endo, Providence, RI; and McKenzie Gibson, Providence, RI.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Monday, March 7, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT, HGTV premiered the Season 2 finale of ELLEN'S DESIGN CHALLENGE. In the season ender, "The Finale," the two remaining designers -- Sef and Vivian -- compete by being tasked to build not one but two pieces of furniture. During the build the designers are surprised with heartwarming gifts. As the final build of the season comes to a close, the designers race against the clock, drawing from their best ideas and techniques to create their pieces. During the judging ceremony, Ellen joins the judges to review the pieces and help crown the winner.