Ep 6. Design House

The show Designing Women follows the personal and professional lives of four women working together in an interior design firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. In season 1 episode 6, titled "Design House," the ladies welcome a client into their office who wants them to decorate her home for an upcoming charity fundraiser. The catch? The home in question is already fully furnished with antique and heirloom pieces, and the women have to incorporate them into their design plan.

The episode begins with the client, Mrs. Emily Dowling, walking into Sugarbaker's interior design firm and requesting their services for her house. The ladies are thrilled at the prospect of taking on such a prestigious client, but their excitement turns to confusion when they learn that Mrs. Dowling wants them to work with her existing furniture. They try to explain that it will be difficult to incorporate certain pieces into a cohesive design plan, but Mrs. Dowling is insistent.

Meanwhile, Mary Jo (Annie Potts) is dealing with her ex-husband Ted's (Tony Goldwyn) attempts to reconcile. While she's not interested in getting back together with him, she's also not immune to his charm and finds herself getting pulled back in. Her friends try to warn her that Ted is bad news, but Mary Jo is hesitant to completely shut him out.

Back at the office, the Sugarbaker women are struggling to come up with a design plan that incorporates Mrs. Dowling's existing furniture. Julia (Dixie Carter) is insistent that they work with what they have, while Suzanne (Delta Burke) wants to bring in new pieces to complement the existing ones. Anthony (Meshach Taylor), the office's handyman and confidant, suggests that they create a "world within a world" in the house, with each room having its own distinct style that still ties in with the overall design.

As the team works on the house, they encounter a number of challenges. First, they discover that one of Mrs. Dowling's antique rugs has been damaged by a previous designer, and they have to scramble to find a replacement. Then, they realize that the curtains they've ordered won't be ready in time for the fundraiser, and have to come up with a backup plan.

In the midst of all this, Mary Jo is struggling with her feelings for Ted. She confides in Julia that she's afraid of getting hurt again, but Julia reminds her that sometimes you have to take risks in order to find happiness. Meanwhile, Charlene (Jean Smart), the group's resident optimist, is dealing with a personal crisis of her own: she's worried that she's pregnant, but isn't sure how to tell her new husband, Bill (Doug Ballard).

Finally, it's the night of the fundraiser and the Sugarbaker team is anxiously waiting for Mrs. Dowling's verdict. The rooms look beautiful and each has its own distinct style, but will the client be happy with the final result? Will Mary Jo give in to Ted's advances, or will she finally cut ties with her ex-husband for good? And what about Charlene - is she really pregnant, or is it just a false alarm?

"Design House" is a classic episode of Designing Women, showcasing the show's trademark mix of humor, heart, and Southern charm. The interplay between the four leading ladies is always a highlight, but the episode also gives each of them a chance to shine individually. Fans of the show will love seeing the Sugarbaker team face new challenges and overcome them with their trademark combination of style and substance.