Trading Spaces

From LoveToKnow Reality-TV

Trading Spaces is a popular show on TLC that allows neighbors to redecorate two rooms in each other's houses with the help of an experienced decorator and with a limited budget. While some participants are absolutely thrilled with the results of the activities, other participants are actually repulsed by the redecorating.

The Premise

Two sets of people are chosen to redecorate two rooms each. The two groups trade places and redecorate rooms within the other people's home. Nobody has a say in what is done to their rooms and they aren't allowed to see the redecorated rooms until the new design is complete. While some participants have been known to leave notes in the rooms asking to have certain things left alone, the designers helping the participants usually disregard any instructions left by anyone.

Each team is given a designer to help them, but the teams are actively involved in creating the design of the room and doing the work. Participants clean, paint, and do other activities leading up to the final reveal of the new rooms. This gives participants a little freedom to put some of their own sense of design into the rooms while also giving them some responsibility if the other team hates the new design.

The teams have two days and a budget of $1,000 to redecorate the two rooms. Although the teams rest while working on the room, most participants spend quite a bit of time engaged in the process.

The Participants

While the initial episodes included neighbors, subsequent episodes sometimes included special groupings such as college dorm roommates and families. Although different formats have been explored for Trading Spaces – including with and without a host – the premise has always included participants redoing rooms on a limited budget and timeline.

To apply for a spot on this show, visit the TLC website and fill out an online application.

The Cast

Trading Spaces has a varying cast of designers, carpenters, and a host. Alex McLeod hosted the first season of Trading Spaces, with Paige Davis taking over hosting duties in 2001. Later the show moved to a different format that did not include Davis, but she has since returned as the host of the show.

Participants aren't allowed to choose which designers they work with, but the show features a variety of highly experienced – and sometimes opinionated – designers, including:

Frank Beilec
Goil, who goes by one name only
Laurie Hickson-Smith
Hildi, who also goes by one name only
Lauren Makk
Nancy Hadley
Edward Walker
Doug Wilson

Although the two designers who appeared on the very first episode of Trading Spaces – Frank Beilec and Laurie Hickson-Smith – still appear on the show periodically, other designers have come and gone. Some designers on this show also branch off and appear on other popular shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The show also features a variety of able carpenters, many of whom are quite attractive and therefore appealing to the show's target audience. Carpenters appearing on this show include:

Amy Devers
Faber Dewar
Gordon Holmes
Thad Mills
Brandon Russell

Perhaps the most notable veteran carpenter from this popular show is Ty Pennington, who later went on to host Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. A popular reality show character, he has since gone on to enjoy lucrative endorsement deals as well as getting his designs featured in major department stores.