Trading Spaces Reboot Discussion

[Spot's Meow]

Trading Spaces is back! It returned this past Saturday, first airing a reunion show with the designers and carpenters, and then the first new episode in 10 years. I have no idea if there's enough interest on this board to sustain a thread, but thought I'd give it a shot in case there's anyone else out there that loved the original like I did.

We didn't really learn anything revolutionary in the reunion show, just that these people really have not changed much at all. They look, talk, and act exactly the same. Seriously, it's kind of weird, like we're back in 2008.

The first episode was interesting. I'm not the biggest fan of Hildi or Doug (is anyone?), but the rooms could have turned out a lot worse. Even though the woman working with Doug fretted so much over the burlap, it turned out looking really nice. I didn't much like the design that Hildi had painted all over the other room, but at least it's just paint, and not something they have to literally peel/scrape off the wall. They can just paint over it if they really hate it.

What I didn't like was how rude Hildi was to her team. They were up until 4am painting that ugly pattern, yet she seemed so upset about them "not doing their homework." Whatever.

I like the addition of the little pop-up shop they got to pick one item from. Clearly meant to advertise that brand (I've already forgotten the brand, I guess it didn't work well on me), but still an interesting idea. And the homeowners picked perfect items.

What strikes me is how, watching it, it really felt like we were picking up right where we left off. It's the same old Trading Spaces. I'm interested to see who next week's designers will be.

 

[PureCrimson]

My mom and I used to watch this all the time back in the early 2000s; and hearing it got a total reboot with literally everyone was surprising.

Guess there was a passion or boredom to come fully back.

I don't plan to watch it though. Kinda past those kind of shows.

 

[wissaboo]

Loved the show back in the day. Im torn on the reboot though. On the one hand the genre has come a long way and the results on TS look pretty cheap in comparison. On the other hand, these looks are a lot more attainable for the average watcher and show you can make abig difference on a small budget.

I guess we will see how its received

 

[auntiehill]

I watched the reunion and the new episodes---but even after all these years, I still get really annoyed watching Hilde. She is not a good designer or even a good petson. I have found other designers' rooms awful but those people really wanted the home owner to like it. Hilde doesn't care and ends up destroying the walls or property of the person. Grr!

I do like that, unlike shows like Fixer Upper, where they work with $400,000 budgets, this show is something anyone could in a weekend. That aspect, and the personalities, make it fun.

I was kind sad to not see Edward back. I always liked him.

 

[bigdaddy]

I don't get the channel anymore, and all the feminist will attack me over nothing, but Hildi is a bitch. She is an awful designer and if it's even possible a more awful person. She shouldn't have been allowed to come back as she is the reason the show was canceled in the first place.

 

[Danny99]

The show is back because they couldn't risk another Duggar spinoff including a child molester or anti-trans person.

You couldn't get me to volunteer for this show. If I am going to re-do a room in my home, I'm not leaving it in the hands of my neighbors and even less so in a "designer's" hands.

 

[PureCrimson]

I watched the reunion and the new episodes---but even after all these years, I still get really annoyed watching Hilde. She is not a good designer or even a good petson. I have found other designers' rooms awful but those people really wanted the home owner to like it. Hilde doesn't care and ends up destroying the walls or property of the person. Grr!

I do like that, unlike shows like Fixer Upper, where they work with $400,000 budgets, this show is something anyone could in a weekend. That aspect, and the personalities, make it fun.

I was kind sad to not see Edward back. I always liked him.

Hilde only sucks if she gets YOUR house, other than that, I find her to be the most entertaining part of the show because she's so warped and insane with bad taste. Bad designers make the show more fun for me.

 

[Trekker4747]

I was looking more forward to this show than I should have been, it did not disappoint.

It, really. felt like it "picked up where it left off" and threw me back into 2002 or something as it seemed liked everyone else was more or less there with their personalities and the look of the show and everything.

Hildi.

Oh, Hildi. Jesus, why have you not be executed for crimes against design yet?

I don't get the "thought process" in her mind at all, she seems unable to grasp how the world around her works and that just because she has an idea for something that a)makes it a good one b)it should be executed c)it can be done.

Her "brilliant" idea to make the Murphy Bed backer by riding a bike through a foil paint pan and onto the board, not realizing how going over the pan would sort of destabilize the balance of the bike and result in imperfect contact with the canvas. And her apparently thinking that the overhead projector she got from a grade-school supply closet that hasn't been opened in 20 years would project the pattern transparency on the wall well enough to be of use in a completely lit room.

Yeesh. But, I love to hate her. This is the woman who, after all, so no problems with covering the kitchen walls of a teetotaler couple with wine bottle labels!

Doug's designs I could go either way on, really. His resulting room looked okay, but I'm just not sure on the "practicality" of the burlap walls, should they get dirty or something. I mean, your regular wall gets dirty you can just was it off with water or cleanser. What do you to when your wall is covered in an actual fabric? I was with the other home-owner on not painting such a small room with dark colors, which would only make the room seem smaller, but the end result looked pretty nice.

Hildi's end-room looked.... Okay. I'm not sure what in her crazy mind made her think that design looked like a "penguin" but, whatever. I do give her props for the "Murphy Bed" idea, which really was fairly brilliant and kudos to Ty for being able to construct a cheap approximation of one. Not entirely a "Murphy Bed" as there's a little more to it than just a bed able to rotate on a pole -gearing and such to allow for easier movement- and slide-locks for holding it in place. But, given time and budget, kudos to them.

But, yes, I watched it and I will continue to watch it. The show is just too much a level of "fun."

 

[Trekker4747]

So, Ty and Carter did a better job at "designing" than Hildi and Doug.

 

[auntiehill]

Yeah, they kinda did. I found Ty's room very loud--but livable, practical, and very easily changed if they wanted to do so. It certainly will appeal to the kids. I think Mom was thinking it might work but Dad seemed less enthused. Carter got the better deal because that room was TINY. While not my taste at all, it definitely was what the woman wanted--a cute, little girly-type room.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I agree that Ty and Carter's rooms looked better than Doug and Hildi's. I actually really liked Ty's room; gray with some bright colors as accents is a great idea.

I get what some are saying about how the design shows have evolved since Trading Spaces popularized the genre, but I personally never got into the other shows. House Flippers, Fixer Uppers, etc. weren't that interesting to me. Trading Spaces (and the kid's version, Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls) was really the only design type show that I watched. So, when Trading Spaces ended that was kind of it for me. I think that's why I'm happy to have it back, even though the genre has definitely changed.

I did watch some Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but even that was not as interesting to me.

 

[Trekker4747]

I liked how both of these rooms turned out, though I think Genevieve and Vern are the better designers who probably have the least blemishes in their respective dossiers, liked the spunk in the homeowners and how Genevieve used the "nook" area of her room. (Also got a chuckle out of the play on the phrase "fifty shades of gray" when it was mentioned during the planning.

 

[auntiehill]

I actually didn't like Genevieve's "nook" all that much but thought the overall room was rather nice. The photos with the silver paint around them was a nice touch. I really liked Vern's room, too, especially the bed. I almost always like Vern 's designs, so I was glad to see him again.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Genevieve and Vern were always my favorite designers, and they didn't disappoint this time either. If I were to hire a designer for some reason, I would want the room to end up looking like a mix of their styles.

I was happy to see that the homeowners seemed really pleased with their rooms. They had genuinely delighted reactions, which is always fun to see.

I can't remember, does anyone know at which point the homeowners learn who is designing in their own home? Last week Carter told the couple immediately that Ty was designing in their house, but normally it seems to be a secret. Or maybe it's not and I'm just assuming it is because they rarely talk about it. I think it would be fun to see the moment where they learn who their room's designer is, as some of them may be really thrilled and others disappointed. It might be fun to do it at the end of the process, before they walk in and see their new room. That way it's a surprise during the process but we get to see the reaction.

 

[Trekker4747]

They could learn who's designing their own home just through conversational absorption or paying attention, if they're never formally told. I'd think at some point over the two days they'd here the other designer's name mentioned or simply see them around, either in the carpentry tent or doing something outside.

There's also to consider that TV production is going on here and what we're seeing here ins't truly "candid" so there's lots of opportunity for them to pick-up who else is around.

 

[Trekker4747]

Wow. Just... Wow.

Hildi's fail train continues.

This was a double fail. What a disaster.

 

[DonIago]

At first I thought this was a thread about a remake of the movie, and was going to...voice a strong opinion on the subject.

(breathes a sigh of relief)

 

[auntiehill]

Hildi's room was FUGLY. WAY, WAY too much stuff going on with all those ugly leaves. I thought Clinton's room was OK, except for the stripper pole and disco ball (seriously?). They should've left the carpet , though, because the bare floor looked weird. I could've worked with Clinton's room but not Hildi's. WHY does she keep nailing all kinds of shit to the walls?? That's going to be a bitch to replace and fix back up.

And both women on the homeowners teams---yeesh. How childish can you be? I felt embarrassed for the husbands.

 

[Timewalker]

Is this still on TLC? I had no idea the show was back.

I've been working on a Voyager/Trading Spaces crossover fanfic - started years after the show was canceled, so there's no way to check individual episodes I remember. I need new inspiration.

I don't get the channel anymore, and all the feminist will attack me over nothing, but Hildi is a bitch. She is an awful designer and if it's even possible a more awful person. She shouldn't have been allowed to come back as she is the reason the show was canceled in the first place.

No, you're right. Hildi is a bitch. She's oblivious to what the homeowners like and what their friends/neighbors tell her they like, and she really doesn't give a crap if the homeowners end up hating her designs. She creates spaces that are meant to be looked at, not lived in (prime example: the room she did where she nailed the furniture to the ceiling).

I hadn't heard she was the reason for the show's cancellation. What happened?

You couldn't get me to volunteer for this show. If I am going to re-do a room in my home, I'm not leaving it in the hands of my neighbors and even less so in a "designer's" hands.

Funny, I was just musing about this a day or two ago as I was staring at my beige walls and desperately wishing the management would let me paint them something that's not so bland (I prefer pale green for walls).

Hildi. <snip> This is the woman who, after all, so no problems with covering the kitchen walls of a teetotaler couple with wine bottle labels!

That's not quite as bad as the time when she stapled thousands of fake flowers to every square inch of wallspace in a bathroom.

 

[auntiehill]

Loved Sabrina's room--it was lovely. Laurie's room was OK in itself but was too busy, too sophisticated for a family with small children. It was an attractive room but not the least bit practical. There was too much furniture and WAY too much glass for a family with very small children running around. I'm sure they took out the mirrored barn door and the extra wooden chairs right away. There really wasn't a space for a preschooler to sit and watch TV or play in there.