Trading In Trading Spaces - When the Facelift Flops, The Homeowners Take Action

Washington Post ^ | 5/29/03 | Annie Groer

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The instant she opened her eyes -- after two grueling days and nights of giving her neighbors' kitchen a facelift -- Ruth Nelson was stunned by her own tarted-up Alexandria living and dining rooms. "I love it," she blurted as TV cameras recorded the moment.

Trouble was, she didn't.

A wall, once eggshell, was painted four-alarm scarlet. Two print sofas were obscured under hastily made off-white slipcovers with exposed seams stitched in black and red. A poster-size photo of her teenage son, Chris, showed only his chin; another just part of the family cat. Also baffling were 24 fluttering gold and silver paper squares pinned like insect specimens to said red wall.

Designer Genevieve Gorder, a regular on "Trading Spaces," the wildly popular TV decorating show, called the look edgy on the episode that aired in November 2000.

[honeygrl]

Did you ever see the episode with the lesbian looking short haired blonde lady (she was obviously someone they were trying out as a new designer for the show)? She couldn't hack it with the time limit and got seriously stressed out. She made Amy Wynn do stuff for her like putting up little decorative shelves that Amy would normally make the designer or people do themselves and I really thought the two were going to get into a catfight before the end. The room ended up looking horrible too. It was a great show LOL

[honeygrl]

"Black lady and faggy guy - Haven't seen enough of their designs to form an opinion
Vern - The only one with any taste. "

I thought all the male designers on there were faggy guys.. :)

[undeniable logic]

I also think Vern is in a different class. I have liked all of his work - he is a perfectionist (all of his drawings are CAD instead of rough sketches.) He would probably do a really as a designer without such tight time and budgetary restrictions.

Doug's style sucks and he is very rude. The new black woman has terrible taste. The rest are hit and miss...

[RMDupree]

HGTV is far superior in supplying real life expectations / results. TLC's programs are more entertainment-focused than design-focused.

On HGTV, you will see real designers at work. Designers Challenge is a great show!

[honeygrl]

That's the one that looked like a grave. I could not sleep in a room and in a bed that looked like a grave.

[honeygrl]

trading spaces ping! you'll like this thread i bet

[martin_fierro]

Yummmmmm....Catfights. <|:)~

[honeygrl]

"Thats show could use Alex McLeod(sp?) "

She was on atleast one episode of Joe Millionaire as a hostess or something and her dress up clothes were horrifying.

[honeygrl]

Did you see A Makeover Story with Amy Wynn and Ty Pennington getting makeovers? That was a great show.

[martin_fierro]

Eh, I can understand why they would replace McLeod.

Paige Davis is a lot more animated and hands-on. McLeod was always so ... paaaaaaasive and whiny.

[honeygrl]

"I have no idea why Hildi is on the show"

She's there for entertainment value. It's fun to see what horrifying thing she'll come up with next.

[Dead Dog]

T111...What were people thinking with this stuff? Not only is it butt ugly, it is freaking miserable to install. Nothing says "Future Ghetto" like T-111 and aluminum single panes.

The nice thing about T111 is that it makes a wonderful nailboard for installing cedar.

[honeygrl]

"If the Trading Spaces crew left a similar mess in their wake, it would not surprise me in the least. "

I've read that they do frequently leave things done shoddy that looks good one camera. You can look on their website here and there have a section where you can read what the owners had to say about it and what they changed after. (atleast they use to have that there) Atleast they don't try to lie about it once people tell after about how bad it was or only show the episodes where people like the room.

[honeygrl]

"I've thought about applying, but I'd find myself working with Frank or Vern at the neighbor's while Hildy trashed my joint. "

Or worse, working with Doug who's usually a jerk LOL

[Dead Dog]

That reminds me of a tasetless/disfunctional joke:

What's the difference between a mistress, a prostitute, and a wife?

Mistress: Are you done already?
Prostitute: Aren't you done yet?
Wife: Beige, I think I'll paint the ceiling Beige

[martin_fierro]

Then there's Michael Payne on "Designing for the Sexes":

He does good work, but you've gotta get used to all his flitting around.

I love it when he's trying to get the husband and wife to agree on a material:

Michael: "What do you think of this material?"

Wife: "Oh, I just love it."

Michael: "Ah, I quite agree. It's very beautiful. Husband, what do you think of it?"

Husband: "God, I hate it."

Michael: "Yes, I quite agree, Let's look at something else."

[honeygrl]

"The hostess, Page Davis, is the most annoying person on television. "

I don't know why, but I like her more than Alex McCloud(no idea how to spell it)

[honeygrl]

"They must have found all these designers working in trailer parks. No way they could get people with houses without wheels to actually pay them."

I saw a room Vern was paid to design privately by some homeowners in Atlanta (without the $1000 limit) and it was amazing. There is only so much you can do with $1000.

[RightField]

You're right .... I forgot how the floor ended up.

The guy has his mug in a picture in the new Trading Spaces book. Smarmy. He's probably the reason this episode is not replayed. He's not exactly Mr. Personality.

[RMDupree]

*cracking up loudly*

You are EXACTLY right about Michael. He agrees with everything they say, even if it screams with hyprocrisy!