The Official Home of the Trading Spaces and Other Home Design Shows Addicts and Fans!

[MeanLaureen]

Welcome Design Fans and Fanatics!!

I figure I can't be the only one out there hooked on tv design shows - I never miss a trading spaces episode and much to Matt's dismay, get ideas on how to change a room in our house.

I figured it would be great for us to have a home to talk about the shows.. bash or compliment the designers jobs on this weeks episode and drool over the hunky or pretty carpenters!

Now we aren't just limited to the design shows I used the logo's for - just that HGTV doesn't have cool logos to put up there

So, lets get this thread a rollin'. Who's your favorite Trading Spaces designer? What is your all time favorite design show?

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

Hi, My name is Denise and I'm a Trading Spaces/design show addict.

On TS my favorite designers are: Laurie, Frank, and Edward.

Do I have to pick just one favorite design show. I'm addicted to many. Besides, TS, I'm hedging between. In a fix, While you were Out, Monster House, And that new one that Ty is in I can't think of the name but that is probably the one I would have to pick. But I'm open to em all.

 

[JayCT]

I love HGTV. My kids are always asking why. I really do not know. My favorite show is the grand-daddy of them all, This Old House. I love everything they do, probably because they are New England based, like me. I also like Designer's Challenge; Designing for the Sexes (with Micheal Payne); House Hunters and Curb Appeal. On Househunters, I laugh at the southern Californiains who get excited over molding around a window ("wow,look at the detail") or a mantel over the fireplace. I must say that I am very critical of some of the changes made on Before and After. I just shake my head at the choices some people make, particularly when they take an attractive small traditional home and make it a huge ugly modern McMansion. Oh well, that is just me. Jay

 

[Lisa F]

I used to LOVE trading spaces but lately they have shaken up the players too much. I liked it when it was just Ty and Amy Winn and the core set of designings and now some of my favorites are gone and there are all of these new people and I'm having a hard time coping with the change. That said, the home free competition really got me back into it and watching it religiously again (the home free episodes at least).

I always have HGTV on in the background, though. My new favorite is Divine Design with Candace Oleson. I think hands down she is the most talented designer on TV. Her rooms always come out gorgeous and she's funny too.

The other day I had Before and After on but I was in another room when I heard my husband yelling for me. One of my old architecture professors was the architect on a project. He's a really good architect too, but oh what a jerk! It was so funny because I could just see him restraining himself to not say what he was REALLY thinking (his body languate is pretty obvious to anyone who knows him) and finally when Pat Simpson said "so what's the before and after square footage?" and the architect said "it went from 2500 to just about 5000." Pat Simpson said "so, it pretty much doubled?" and the architect got THAT look (the one where he's about to say something to make someone cry) but he just laughed THAT laugh (the one that he laughs after he has made someone cry) and said "uh, yeah."

Still it was pretty funny and probably the best project I've seen on before and after. I sometimes wonder where they get those people!

 

[castlegazer]

Hi, checking in as an addict.

I don't have one favorite designer, but I do love how Laurie's rooms come out but she drives me a little batty as a person.

I have been inspired by Clean Sweep and have made a marked improvement in my cluttered life and I feel so much better about my home.

Oh, and if you want to talk about true addictions, I am an HGTV Dream Home addict. I lurk the message board there and know prior to HGTV's announcements where the next home will be located. By the time they announce it I already know the layout and by the time entries are accepted I have memorized every room in the home. I have a problem.

I actually generally do not watch a lot of HGTV - sticking mostly to TLC and their shows, but I do have a funny story to relate. I use HGTV to put my DS (2) to sleep for nap on weekends. He is a routine at daycare for naps that I can't recreate at home so I use the shows to put him to sleep - works like a charm every weekend.

 

[Galahad]

Hey all, Another fan of TS and WYWO. We don't watch much TV, but we always watch these. We also like Ty's Makeover show on ABS and In a Fix. Not too big on Clean Sweep, etc.

This will be great. The Message boards over on TLC for these shows are pretty poor.

 

[Jeafl]

Hi! I'm a big fan of Trading Spaces and While You Were Out.

I too, feel that TS has been a little stale lately, but I have been really enjoying Home Free. I guess I like the bigger budgets and the challenges are interesting to watch.

I would kill though for Stephen St. Onge to come to my house! I have loved every single room of his, and my all-time favorite was on yesterday afternoon--the West Indies beach house bedroomwith the white clapboard walls and the blue shutters. Gorgeous!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm in a Ty vs Carter house.I'm partial to Ty but my sister likes Carter from TS: Family

 

[JoGloMorKat]

I'm a recovering TS'aholic. I still watch it most Saturday's but its not the end of the world if I miss an episode or two.

I used to tape them all. I had a library of all the things I wanted to do in my house. The show seems to have gone a little stale. The beginning of the end for me was the 100 Grand episode.

I miss Vern the most. He was the best designer. I really hate Hildi as most of her designs are not liveable (straw room with Kids, plastic flowers in the Bathroom, Cardboard Room). It feels like we've seen to to much of Hildi recently.

My new favorite is Monster House. I would kill to get them to do my house. DW is ok with the show but I don't think she would let them work on our house even if we did live in CA. I like to watch real craftsmen at work, even if they are building the bizzare (anyone catch the Mad Scientist episode last night?)

 

[castlegazer]

No, but I love it too. I really like watching them build the different elements, plus its an hour so you really get to see them so the craftmanship as opposed to TS.

I too went on the web site and discovered that they only do L.A.

 

[castlegazer]

Here's something to throw out there.... does anyone know of any new shows in the pipeline that you could get in on the ground floor of prior to it becoming virtually impossible to get onto. Not that I want to be on a reality show, but some of them are like winning a game show with the prizes. Unlike Designer's or Landscaper's Challenge where you have to spend your own money - what fun is that?

I know that NBC puts casting calls up on their web site for future shows they are developing, does TLC do the same or other networks?

 

[MeanLaureen]

TLC did have something maybe 9 or so months ago asking people to fill out applications and apply for a show where they come in and help you out with repairs that have gotten out of hand. I guess that was the beginning of "In a Fix"

The one thing that frustrates me the most about some of these shows is that they only do houses in Southern California. (Like Monster House)

I used to like that show on HGTV where they followed people around who were looking to buy a house but since they film in the same area over and over the houses were starting to look the same and it got boring. I want to see what other areas of the country are like!

Plus I think TS needs to get back into doing older houses like the majority of the US lives in - not these $500K McMansions with the huge rooms. I don't know about you guys but I want to get ideas of how to handle my 35 yr old ranch house!

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

I agree with you Lauri. The rooms they have been doing on TS lately, well are bigger than my 30 something ranch. It would be nice if they would get back to the beginning a bit.

 

[JayCT]

MeanLaureen - The house-hunting show on HGTV is called Househunters and they are now starting to travel to different cities around the country. I have seen them do Chicago, San Francisco, New Jersey, North Carolina, Seattle, New Orleans. I think a lot of people were growing tired of southern California. Like I said in my post above, DW and I would laugh at some of the homes people would rave about. It is a differnent part of the country and they do not judge homes by the same standards we do in the northeast. If you do not have wood trim around windows here it is considered a cheap house. I will say that the California homes are much brighter and open than ours. But I do love a colonial home best.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by CourtasanSatine
I'm in a Ty vs Carter house.I'm partial to Ty but my sister likes Carter from TS: Family

You can have them both.

Pass Faber my way please!

 

[castlegazer]

Househunters drives me batty. My family owned a real estate agency for 30 years and the staging of that show is so fake and completely contrived that it throws me into nutties anytime I see it.

As for TS and the houses they have been doing, I think it depends on what part of the country they are in. I don't think any of the people competing in the Home Free contest are rich but their houses are typical of Orlando homes vs. NE homes - quite big and brand new. I did hate that epsiode they did with the very wealthy florida families. Again, Hildi making a mess of things. They do do homes that I can relate to when they are in New England.

I have a 57 year old house which corrolates to small rooms and gorgeous woodwork.

 

[piglet too]

My favorite is Trading Spaces and I like Laurie and Frank. (Vern too, but who really knows what is going on there) I also watch Rally around the House, Extreme Makeover - Home Edition, and I like to watch the one where there are two realtors and they are trying to find a house for the people. I am very fortunate that my husband likes to watch them with me too, I know my Mom does not watch as much as she likes 'cause my Dad does not care for the shows.

 

[JayCT]

Alright, i just want to say one more thing about Househunters and then no more. Why do they never talk about price? When looking for a new home price is the key thing. They barely mention it on the show. I am not saying that they should tell what the buyers are earning but there should be something said about it.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by JayCT
Alright, i just want to say one more thing about Househunters and then no more. Why do they never talk about price? When looking for a new home price is the key thing. They barely mention it on the show. I am not saying that they should tell what the buyers are earning but there should be something said about it.

Probably because house price varies so much across the country.

for example - some of those TINY homes in California, will run you as much as a mid-sized home in Fairfield County (just trying to give you a local example)...just like town to town is different - so it state to state.

 

[Alice28]

Another big fan, checking in!

I like Trading Spaces, WYWO, Clean Sweep and Extreme Home Makeover. I was ADDICTED to TS not that long ago; still am to a degree, but something has happened this season that I am not liking. I think it's a mix of new designers who bug the you know what out of me (Except for Christy- I like her and most of her designs- get Laura, Barry and Rick outta here!). I think they are just doing bigger house, not as realistic or something for me. I don't really care for Carter- he's not as dynamic as Ty and Amy Wynn. And he always seems to flub up.

My favorite designers---Edward, Doug eek: I know, some of you hate him, I love him and 90% of his stuff), Laurie (although the way she talks and uses her hands bugs me-isn't that petty? I'm sure she is very nice) and Christy. and Frank. And Gen. I miss Vern and the rumor mill says this is Gen's last season. Sniff. I don't think I have ever like one of Kia's rooms and Hildi is VERY hit or miss- when she misses it is HIDEOUS, but you have to give her some credit for some of her more elegant and pretty rooms.

I LOVE ANDREW DAN JUMBO! Yummy! And Steven St. ? as a designer. He does AWESOME AWESOME rooms. In fact, if I had to pick any designer from any show, it would be him, even though overall I like TS better.