Lee recalls asking her husband to film her for the required five minute application video on January 4, 2008. Interestingly, the deadline for entries was January 5th.

Almost 9,000 entries and a few production meetings later, she was one of 50 applicants chosen for an L.A. casting call. "I never actually thought I'd get called back!"

When chosen as one of the ten finalists (Lee says it was a 'squeal' moment), she was off to Los Angeles, where she was promptly sequestered for five weeks during the filming. No phone calls, no emails, and she wasn't even allowed to keep her ID.

She and the show's nine other contestants were put up in a house on a cliff overlooking L.A. that, in a previous life, was once owned by Marilyn Monroe and later, Frank Sinatra.

As HGTV viewers know, the first project thrown at the ten roommates was to redesign the very house they called home for the duration of filming. "Obviously there was a lot of history to the home, but it was outdated," says Lee.

"I think it was part of the producers plan, in fact, to have one challenge after another, starting from the very moment of our arrival." Lee says it was also the beginning of a lot of hard work, operating on just four or five hours of sleep every night for the duration of the competition.

The contestants were on site by 9:00 a.m. every morning and spent 10 or more hours working on each of the projects assigned by producers. Says Lee, "We had to do everything ourselves - design, shopping, building, constructing."

"We didn't get any assistance. Sometimes I actually wondered if the show should have been called Construction Star!"

Each evening the contestants would arrive back at the house, sometimes after midnight, only to be reminded that it was time for individual interviews, which the producers inserted into the project footage during post-production.

Lee says that the long hours and lack of sleep were just considered part of the process. In fact, the producers made it clear that whoever ended up with their own show would need to be able to stay focused, work extreme hours and learn to operate on adrenaline.

When asked if it was difficult operating on the intentional shoestring budgets provided by Design Star, Lee says not really. "I actually thought the budgets for each project were quite manageable," she says.

"Some of my competitors told me they never even think about budgets when they're designing, but I don't agree with that philosophy. I don't think you need to spend a lot of money to make a room more beautiful. I shop at thrift stores and flea markets," she says. "Another favorite of mine is Craig's List."

"I believe that finding something that's really classic and re-working it is far more creative than spending thousands of dollars on a piece of furniture, putting it in a room, and calling it good design."

She also appreciates the state of the economy and understands that people are looking for design ideas and ways to spruce up their home without breaking the bank. Lee advises that paint absolutely offers her and DIY designers the most bang for their buck.

As viewers of Sunday night's show know, Lee is no longer in the running for the coveted title of HGTV 2009 Design Star. But in a twist this season, producers surprised the contestants with the addition of a new on-line contest, which is currently underway on HGTV's website.

Viewers are able to vote on-line daily, and from their cell phones, up to ten times a day until September 15, 2009. So, Lake Highlands can still support our local resident and designer by logging on to HGTV's website. As of last night, Lee was currently holding the second place spot in the contest.

To vote and to learn more about the contest, visit http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-design-star-vote-for-your-favorite-designer/package/index.html.

To get in touch with Jany Lee, our newest Lake Highlands designer and local celebrity, about your design needs visit http://www.janyleedesign.com.