SHOWBIZ: Winner takes home

Eight pairs of contestants sweat it out to design their dream homes in the second season of The Apartment, writes Dennis Chua

THE number of contestants in high-stakes reality show The Apartment is up from six to 16 this season. The joint production of the Imagine Group and Sime Darby Property is the first of its kind in Asia.

The 10-episode interior design reality show airs every Thursday at 8.55pm on Star World (Astro 711), beginning Tuesday. The final episode is on Dec 20.

The show demonstrates how living spaces can be transformed to complement various tastes and lifestyles. Teams of two each will design and decorate rooms and spaces in an apartment. The prize: An apartment at The Veo, a luxury condominium in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

Imagine Group president Riaz Mehta says: “It’s a DIY showdown, with a prize that will push the competitors to extremes of creativity, ability and sanity. Every week, they will try to out-design, out-shop and out-decorate each other.”

The first season last year had 97 million household viewers in 22 countries in Asia.

Jamie Durie, an international award-winning horticulturalist and landscape designer is the host and mentor to the contestants. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, a renowned interior designer whose clients include the British royal family, is the  tough-talking judge.

The Apartment also features celebrity guest judges Paula Malai Ali, Andrea Fonseka, Lisa Cross White and Kim Robinson who will guide the teams in terms of style and presentation.

Riaz says the theme this season is Style Edition, so a sense of style is important for the contestants.

“Dressing and grooming reflects them and their new homes,  so we have the guest judges to lend a hand,” he says.

The contestants come from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Argentina, the United States, the Philippines, Australia, France and Canada.  As part of the contest, they will paint, tile, wallpaper and install fixtures and fittings. However, this time there is a handyman to help them.

“The teams are specially selected from online auditions to represent Asia’s next generation home owners who look to invest their hearts, minds and souls into their property.”

Co-sponsored by Sime Darby Motors and Dulux, The Apartment was filmed at East Residence, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur over 30 days in June and July while auditions took place in April.

“It has been a far bigger challenge for us than the first season as we have more contestants, more moving parts and eight villas. Judging standards are higher, too,” says Riaz.

Sime Darby Property development head Zulkifli Tahmali says this is the first time that Durie and Llewelyn-Bowen are teaming up in a reality show.

“Both men are perfectionists who expect nothing less than the best. It’s going to be a tough fight for the contestants, and a chance for them and viewers to learn about home design and decoration from the experts.”

Details at www.theapartmenttv.com.

WHO’S WHO AT THE APARTMENT

1. Alex and Chelsea (Malaysia): He is a radio show host and she is a model. Chelsea  dominates the more aesthetic elements of design and Alex focuses on functionality and practicality.

2. Cynthia (Singapore) and Paula (USA): They have no design experience but are determined to win. Cynthia is a feisty artiste but is slow to make decisions while housewife and mother-of-two Paula is the opposite.

3. Paul (Australia) and Ash (Malaysia): Paul is a laid-back but ambitious manager while Ash is a chemistry student. He is a handyman and she has a flair for design.

4. Jesper (Canada) and Killian (USA): The brothers have very different personalities. Jesper, a photographer, is creative. Killian, a graphic designer, sticks to facts and is a strategist.

5. Kish and Mera (Malaysia): Kish is an events manager and Mera an art director.  Kish is focused and task oriented while Mera is creative.

6. Agri (Indonesia) and Clarissa (Singapore): Clarissa is a systematic make-up artist. Agri is a fashion blogger and party animal.

7. Iva (Argentina) and Philippe (France): The couple lives on a boat and is used to working under pressure.

8. John Paul (Philippines) and Daniel (Malaysia): John Paul is a fashion designer who studied in New York. He is adventurous. Daniel manages a hotel and is fun-loving.

The contestants

Jamie Durie (left) and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

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