The TLC show “Trading Spaces” is fascinating to me, sort of like watching a car accident is to some people. I want to look away from the hideous things they do to each others’ living rooms, but I can’t. On today’s show, they transformed someone’s basement rec room into the holodeck on Star Trek by masking off the white walls with varying widths of painter’s tape, then spraying the entire room, including the ceiling, a dark blue. Peel off the tape and you’re living inside Tron. Gak. I mean, who among us wants their neighbors to come in, make a bunch of furniture from old doors and burlap sacks, paint the walls weird colors, and leave to let us stew in the hideous mess they made?
I would like to know what percentage of those rooms are dismantled the minute the cameras turn off.
Trading Spaces is actually based on the British show Changing Rooms. The Brit version is so much better that it makes me ashamed to be American.
On the other hand, the basic concept (and weakness) is still the same, and I’ve had the same question in my head.
I mean, I hate for my wife to redecorate without my being involved in it, let alone my friends and a “consultant.” Yeesh!
OMG!! Jennifer, if you think the UK version is better – how BAD must yours be??
I’ve watched it (US version) a few times. My favorite moment was when the owner arrived in her newly redecorated living room with a depressing mocha (hello, it’s brown) paintjob and an enormous mirror looming over the fireplace. It was all she could do to muster “that’s different.”
I think it’s entertaining because I know that it’s not happening at MY house. I saw one truly awful show where they used this dark brown felt or velvet on the walls and orange and yellow napkins glued to the ceiling. It was HIDEOUS. There was another one where the guy painted the kitchen walls purple and then put up a ton of clocks on the walls to represent different times all over the world. ::shudder::
If one of my friends called me up with this suggestion, I’d have to be very rude to them. 😉
The pine cones (or maybe it was woodchips) glued to the night table tops my list of “Ideas I Won’t Steal From ‘Trading Spaces'”.
I don’t need a designer to help me decorate, thank you very much. I’m quite content with the stark white walls of my space, the sofa from Sears and the black velvet picture of Elvis.
Really, I am.
We saw that episode too. What was up with the grid? Reminded me of TRON. I miss the old host, Alex. She was always harassing the carpenters and flirting with every guy on the show.
The lines also reminded me of the deactivated holodeck on Star Trek:TNG.
this is reality TV in the extreme. most of the fun is anticipating the horrified reaction from the unlucky homeowners. it must say, i think i have passed the point of no return – i have a strange urge to paint every room in my house pea soup green.
I just loved the show the time the evil neighbors actually spray painted the couch………..oh, i bet that was comfy cozy……….(scratch..scratch…scratch)
and the show when the lady cried………………hehe…