Trading Spaces

Here in Canada, we have several American cable channels such as TBS, A&E, TNN, CNN, CNBC and Headline News. We also have the The Learning Channel, a network that I'd rid myself of if I could. However, that won't happen anytime soon, because my live-in mother is addicted to TLC's Saturday-night hit, Trading Spaces.

Trading Spaces (another import from Europe, no surprise) has a pair of couples who go into the other's homes and redecorate a room with a $1000 U.S. budget and two days to do it in. We get to see these people in what could be labeled as "reality home improvement" as they battle to get the place looking the best with the help of interior decorators, carpenters, and others. Then we see the reactions of the two couples.

I will admit that the show can be intriguing at times and that Paige Davis is a perky, spunky, and very cute host. Still, this show can be silly and kitschy (though not cheesy, that's reserved for Britney Spears and her ilks videos) most times. A lot of the people they find aren't, shall we say, camera friendly. While everyone else wears fancy clothes, the couples are forced to wear lame looking bowling shirts with the "Trading Spaces" logo. Also, the theme music sounds like Night Court's music all remixed! Guys, it's 2002, not 1985, get something 21st century.

Honestly though, the show can be a good watch at times, and TLC is using it wall-to-wall on the dead Saturday night. Paige is a cool host, but the show needs some changes made to it before I can recommend it. I'd rather watch that couple on Canadian Tire commercials do a home improvement show than this right now.

Well, I've sat through a number of these dull American rehashes of the vastly entertaining "Changing Rooms," and I'm not impressed.

"Trading Spaces" seems to lack all of the things that make "Changing Rooms" such a charming and entertaining program. First, the hour-long format is way too long, but only because it's filled with designer posturing and stupid homeowners with these "Hi Mom!" expressions on their faces. In the original show, the designers and host (Carol Smillie) have a rapport and chemistry, and genuinely seem to like each other, despite the odd quarrel. The folks on "Trading Spaces" just seem mismatched. Although I didn't catch their names, the lovely redheaded designer is pleasant and talented as is the female carpenter but these two elements don't make up for a dire show.

Try switching over to "Changing Rooms," on BBCAmerica, it's worth the price of digital cable.

There is waaaaaaay too much b**ching, whining,complaining and DRAMA on this show. Trim it by a half hour it would be interesting to watch. Less arguing and more of the details and ideas shown would be nice, leave it up to the Americans to ruin a perfectly good show.

For the life of me, I don't see where they spend $1000.00 dollars in any of these rooms!! The designers must go to a fabric store and purchase THE most expensive fabric and make one lousy pillow out of it or something, because these rooms just look awful. Hilda is the worst of the lot, as she wants everything painted black!! And who could forget her famous hay-covered walls?? LOL.

Have you ever noticed that these designers never really lift anything heavy when starting to decorate the rooms? If it weighs more than a pencil or a sheet of paper, forget it. Maybe the designers don't want to chip a fingernail or something. And why don't these designers stay and help their "team" get things done the first night?? What is it with all this "homework"??? I would be grabbing someone around the neck and threaten to wring it, if I was told to do all this work while "rich designer" is leaving for the night!! I keep watching and waiting for ideas on decorating, but so far.....nothing!! "Changing Rooms" is a much better show.

Through the good and the bad this show always managed to have a good time. Some of the designs were downright gorgeous (anything by Genevieve/Laurie) and some hideous (Hildi). The homeowners were usually good people and good sports, which makes the show enjoyable to watch. And Paige is such a fun and engaging host. I've definitely gotten some design inspiration from this show!