Currently working on a house in Cape Town, South Africa, Felicia Bushman has been quite busy since being eliminated on Top Design during last week's episode. Though in the past Felicia's designs had pleased the judges, last week's room prompted the client to say that if she lived there she'd "shoot [he]rself."  Felicia took time from her hectic design schedule to talk to BuddyTV about her experience on the show, her issues with the time limits, and her consistently positive attitude.


What was your motivation for going on a reality show?

Mostly exposure. I love what I do and it was a chance to show a great number of people rather than just the clients I work for. I am also very competitive, love a challenge, it excites me.


Were you surprised by the skill level and experience (or lack thereof) of your fellow designers?

I was surprised by a few people there and then there were the few that I felt didn’t belong there… What was really interesting to me was how each person excelled in different areas. I am always finding inspiration from other designers and I feel we can constantly learn from one another.

Other than their final assessment of your room, did you generally agree with the judges' opinions?

Mostly yes. I think the few times I disagreed with them it was with what they liked, not so much with what they didn’t like.

As a designer, what was the most challenging aspect of being on the show?

Time! I always try to get my clients to understand that if they give us time they will get great design. Design is an evolution, a process, it’s built upon, it deserves time. I knew we would be given very limited time frames from watching the other shows, so I was prepared but regardless, that was the most difficult part. Then it was not knowing the client which would never happen in the real world!

You seemed to try to stay positive and friendly during the team challenges; with all the stressors on the designers, this seems like it could be hard to do, and it seems many were not thrilled to be working in teams. Was it a conscious effort or does that come naturally to you?

Teamwork does come naturally to me. In my business I actually prefer working with a team, an architect, contractor, upholsterer, lighting designer, etc. We all work together to create the best design. I think people are fools who think they are better doing it all on their own. When you have a great team, you inspire one another. Besides, I’m a people person, I love people and enjoy being with others rather than being alone.

Your bio mentions that you are also an athlete who runs marathons - does the shooting schedule allow you and your other designers time to exercise, regroup, etc.?

Yes, I am an avid athlete. I do 5 triathlons a year. I exercise 2 hours per day, 7 days a week. I knew I wouldn’t have time for exercise while doing the show which was difficult for me. Exercise is like my "coffee" it starts my day, actually gives me energy. I think over the entire course of shooting I was only able to exercise twice, that was tough!

Did you develop any friendships or business relationships that lasted after the show was over?

Yes, I will remain friends with most of the other contestants. And some of them I hope to work with in the future. I’m always in need of an architect so I’m happy to know and admire the work of both Andrea and Goil.

What were your feelings being eliminated with Ryan (who seemed ambivalent at best and scornful at worst about interior design) in the bottom two with you?

I was shocked. I did not see that coming at all! Ryan is a talented artist but this is an interior design competition and week after week he made major mistakes that made his spaces not only not beautiful but not at all workable! (ie, jagged edge on a bed that’s too high in the kids room, tons of candles in the cabana that would blow out outside or worse start a fire!) He had been in the bottom every week and while I didn’t love the room I did on that particular challenge it certainly wasn’t the worst.

You mentioned in your closing interview that you learned about the necessity of taking a step back and reflecting on the overall design - even with time constraints. Did you take any other new design knowledge or tips with you from the show?

I learn something new every day that I am designing. Every project is different, every client is different and has different needs, I am never repeating myself which makes my job really exciting. I am constantly creating and that means learning something new.

Did you feel that your personality and style were portrayed accurately on the show?

Yes, I was nervous about how the show would be edited, you never know, I did feel that I came across how I am. I thought long and hard about how I would respond to the judges on that last challenge in the white room. There were many things I would have liked to argue with them but I am not that person and I refused to portray myself as someone I am not to hundreds of thousands of people just to stay on the show.