the ICONIC Trading Spaces episode (and how we would fix the design)

[@dannakuhr9718]

I used to watch a show called Design On A Dime. You might enjoy seeing a few episodes of that one.

[@krickette5569]

YES!

[@cordeliastrizak6628]

Yes I loved that show

[@jenl.4051]

Yes, that was a good one!

[@alexandras5347]

Genevieve Gorder and Vern Yip were my favorite designers. My mom and I watched every episode. I remember Genevieve having more of a boho vibe but wonder if we would consider it boho now. 🤔

[@Alcnwndrlnd25]

OMG I LOVED Genevieve! Not only were her rooms my favorite but she was just a gem! I also watched the show with my mom and some times my sister bc we would watch it after school. I also remember Heidi. She had some bold designs and…interesting choices lol

[@tan7593]

Genevieve was awesome, I agree! :)

[@christina.fictionality]

Genevieve was my favorite too!

[@Dbear1977]

I watched Trading Spaces religiously. Frank, Genevieve & Vern were the best. Doug & Hildi were sh*t disturbers. Sadly Frank Bilec passed in 2020 at 72 🙁

[@OrganizeCreateDecorate]

I could have written your comment other than your exact description of Doug and Hildi. They were both snobs on the show. I don't know if that was set up, or their real personalities. I was so sad when hear about Frank. He was such a sweetheart.

[@bevmacdonald9008]

The lawsuits against them made future episodes of the show unaffordable and potential liabilities

[@kwong06]

Do the straw/hay room next

[@TheSorryGirls]

Hahaha iconic

[@nikkimajean]

That's honestly the one I thought this would be with "the ICONIC" episode. Pleaaaaase do that one next hahaha

[@amyweaver4946]

😂😂😂

[@ChristinaMcIvorTina]

I will always remember that episode. I cringed the whole way through it and it made me question the qualifications required to be an interior designer.

[@sarakiiru]

Super fun to revisit TS with TSG! I'm old enough to have watched every episode back in the day and this one was definitely notorious! Would be fun to see you watch an episode with Genevieve Gorder and Vern Yip as the designers, since they generally had a more sophisticated sense of design that might have stood the test of time better. This show truly was groundbreaking, though. HGTV and TSG should give Trading Spaces its laurels because the popularity of that show spawned the whole renovation-as-entertainment genre.

[@cathylavorante6871]

Yes! I loved Genevieve and Vern! Hopefully they do another episode. Oh who was the one with the dark hair. She was kind of like Doug. I remember she did a kitchen with wine labels lol

[@chemistryflavored]

Agreed! They were my favorites too!

[@lorijacobs7078]

@@cathylavorante6871Hildy!!!!! She’s the one who covered a living room wall with hay (for a family who had kids with allergies) and a bathroom wall with silk flowers. 😮

[@jodiemim8584]

@@lorijacobs7078omg

[@cathylavorante6871]

@@lorijacobs7078 oh my ! I forgot all about those episodes! Me and my mom would watch it together. I miss that. Hildy , yes she’s the one . I also liked Laura( I think) she had curly red hair, maybe it was Lori lol. It’s been awhile since I’ve watched. I agree. It was ground breaking. I mean they did not have a lot of time or money to rehash a design. It had to be stressful, especially when the people don’t like the design concept. I would love to see Doug and Hildy rewatch some of their episodes and see what they think now. It was super fun to watch and I miss it.

[@jackandpiper]

I remember that episode!! Both rooms were bad to start with, and ten times worse after!😂

[@olbird7647]

Ah, this was based on the BBC's Changing Rooms...I remember some of the designs being quite hideous and a LOT of MDF being used. There were also some great successes, but I never really understood rooms being 'themed'.

[@donnaduguay7532]

Sorry girls. I never liked this show as most of their designs where tacky. I would say 99 percent tacky.

[@meghanbrede]

Okay but imagine: a TSG From the Workshop Floor episode of Trading Spaces where each of you designs a space in each other's homes. 👀 Even just drawn, with hypothetical budgets and all the amazing DIY flair.

[@bridgettebollig2649]

I loved this show back in the day. Many homeowners hoped they didn’t get Doug or Hildy because they were always terrible or over the top.

[@TheSorryGirls]

😂🙈

[@jennifergraham3752]

Do you remember the episode where (I think it was Doug) installed toilets as decor?!

[@bridgettebollig2649]

@@jennifergraham3752 oh my gosh no! I’ll have to search for that. I remember when Hildy glued faux flowers all over the walls, it was so bad!

[@shootemupportraits4008]

The British versions like Changing Rooms were amazing too and I think were the inspiration for the American versions. Whole other vibe and the designer tries to make the homeowner happy. I watched them all when they were popular. As a young stay at home wife and mom I watched them all. With no budget I needed all of the inspiration I could get. Love what you girls do and look forward to Saturdays and hanging out with you ladies.

[@Sanflo78]

I think we have a lot of shows that were copies of British shows. A lot of my favorite shows are on Britbox and Acorn. I especially love British crime shows because they don’t feed you the info, you get to follow along and try to figure out who did it. I’m always shocked at the end of the show.

[@Dexy83]

Have Paige on an episode! This episode may be my favorite! More TS! 💙

[@chriskollar2731]

You need to check out Changing Rooms….the British show Trading Spaces is based on Many more HORRENDOUS makeovers!!!

[@dianegriffen2756]

Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen was always so over the top, but at least he wasn't a villian

[@NixBurkett1984]

We had a version of this in the UK called Changing Rooms, and my family (mum, dad, brother, and sister & i) would watch this religiously every week. It was all the rage back then, but it makes me laugh watching back and seeing how tacky & outdated the designs and diy hacks are. God, the designs in the 90s/2000s are so cringe worthy. At least most designs from the 80s and before are still retro and cool Love this series 🤍

[@DLRTraynorCoberly]

When the show first came out it was so good and then became a disaster! Hildi was likable but a terrible designer. And Frank was beloved! This is the show how Ty Pennington became a thing.

[@chemistryflavored]

I’ve revisiting old shows like this. I would love to see this continue with Property Brothers!

[@beckyrubin3754]

You guys need to watch the one where Heidi puts grass, (hay)all over the wall.

[@Loulou-hv2cx]

Or the one where she painted cross sections of pink and purple even on the ceiling 😮

[@AllieAngel]

❤ love this idea of this, please 🙏🏻 do another one as soon as possible! Much better than the other OG of um… I can’t remember the name of the show. The one with those crazy, HIGH energy looking bedrooms that you won’t be able to sleep in them! Also, GOOD MORNING!

[@jodiemim8584]

I found watching this weirdly stressful. Not y’all, but the decisions and personalities and made me so uncomfortable.

[@marshahaas1422]

So this show was famous for this. I'm sure they got compensated for this. I was 20 when this show aired. I loved seeing how people reacted. They had a few villian designers. It was fun. Ty comes into his own quickly on the show. My favorite designers were Genevieve and Vern. All of these designers moved on to other design shows that were way better.

[@tramagee]

Frank did comfortable and more didn't push anyone too far from where it already was. You are right Doug was a villain. This show was more entertainment than design. And $1000 in 2004 is $1666 in 2024

[@otakelblanchemanor0659]

I remember one episode vividly! Hildi Santo-Tomas was one of the designers... she painted the room all black. It was a disaster! I felt so bad for the couple!

[@TheSorryGirls]

Nooooo

[@cathylavorante6871]

lol I keep remembering the one with the black wine labels she used as wallpaper. I do think they loved it tho

[@KimSimful]

@@cathylavorante6871 I think they were non drinkers. I’m thinking they didn’t like it.

[@TeresaSlivinski]

This is so fun. I can't believe I never saw this episode because I watched this all the time.

[@jazbaygrapes]

I remember Monster House! My brother and I still sing the theme song sometimes.

[@cathylavorante6871]

Omg I loved Trading Spaces!! I can’t wait to see which episode it is!!!

[@cyruskaranjia]

also, i think we need a team TSG re-designing these spaces

[@blazevarone2344]

I love this Nostalgia series! More please!

[@beckyrubin3754]

Good morning TSG!

[@Spencer_123]

Yay!!!!

[@TheSorryGirls]

Morning ✨❤️

[@starrlesscreative]

I would LOVE to see your reactions to the episode where they literally glued straw to the walls... that's the episode that broke my mother and me xD couldn't keep watching after that

[@cjoy57]

Doug was rude but Hildi was the true villian. The hay walls room. The Hildi pop art of her own face room. The room with real bananas hanging from the ceiling....

[@ninareagan8373]

Gosh. I used to watch trading space. Design On a Dime AND the Christopher Lowell show. Christopher Lowell is where I learned "three of something is a collection". Man. Where is a version of Nick at Night for all the old decorating shows?

[@dianegriffen2756]

My heart goes out to Pam, I think that brown room is hideous too... Thank goodness they didn't paint the fireplace, and it can all be reversed. We had a show like this here in the UK in the 90s, called Changing Rooms. As I recall not all the designs were enjoyed by 'our' home owners either. One of our couples had a very expensive teapot collection, and the designer created a hanging mantle/shelf unit to show them off. It broke and every teapot was destroyed. Oops. We also had a show similar called 60 Minute Makeover, and yes any painting/wallpapering was done within that time too. It was to surprise someone who was due home, and had no idea a makeover was even happening. The 60 minute makeover team was massive - lots of people in multiple rooms to get it done, and the 60 minutes took place in two segments of 30 minutes each, with a 'tea break' in between. All painting/wallpapering was done in the first half to give it at least a chance to dry for the second half.

[@jennifergraham3752]

I would LOVE for this to be a series! Reviewing TS episodes and then suggestions and renderings of how you would fix the final looks. Also, it is a fantastic idea to choose a craft/art project from the episode and make a Sorry Girls version using the techniques.

[@dsf114]

This show was often a trainwreck. A couple of the designers liked to do stupid, awful stuff to people's rooms just for shock value and ratings. I remember this one. I felt so bad for them. Another episode that stuck out for me was the lady who got a brown room, after she vehemently said NO BROWN in the previews. She looked around the room afterward and despairingly cried, "I hate brown!" Everything was brown. I think Hildy did that one. She was always horrible. That lady was so upset, just like this lady. Unless it's a rich chocolate brown, me, too, lady, me, too. I see baby poop and depression on a wall. (Sorry, Kelsey) So, I still hear her voice as I look at a brown something and say in my head, I hate brown! I always hoped the show helped people fix their rooms later, off camera, but I doubt it.

[@lisapoulsen5452]

Doug’s job was to destroy friendships…his rooms were always ones that the neighbours hated (and Hildy…she always made a crazy room too). This is giving me so much anxiety🤢. We used to watch this every weekend and Paige did her best to keep the peace😆

[@saraocampo9066]

There were that problem they did not respect the owners if the owner specifically said that he or she hate purple. The designer decide that everything will be purple that was something that I really really didn’t like of that show. I am a fanatic of that kind of show that you love remodeling. I love DIA. I love it. Shows like yours.

[@erinbabbey8261]

Trading Spaces is a fever dream for me. Literally. I remember watching this whenever I had a sick day in elementary school. Consumed by fever, I never noticed how atrocious some of the makeovers were.

[@vernieplummer5148]

They did do a few episodes here and there of changing things that Doug had done and other people. I think they would like check in a year later or something.

[@peggynorton5145]

Find and Design. Thrift, rummage sales, DIY with what you find, then design a room. Jennifer Convey was the host..

[@becorations1]

This needs to be a regular type of episode! I loved TS! You need to pull in some Hildi designs! She was all about things like feathers and straw and ick! 😝 😊

[@amberdoran]

What about Candace Olsen's show? Curious if her designs stand the test of time. And she had silly moments mixed in.

[@justme5544]

Pick the straw room!!! Also Vern's designs were pretty good, if I recall correctly.

[@Momoney-ob6xp]

Please do more of these!!! I desperately need to watch yall react to the hay wall!!!

[@jencopeland8449]

You’ve got to review the episode with Hildi doing the room in flowers!

[@berilbasako]

Here in my country , in the 2000s, there was a TV program with the theme of interior design and decoration. In one episode, the architect designed a wall ornament with the name of the owner's deceased husband written on it, and a blood-dripping effect of paint was flowing from that decoration. The woman cried her eyes out. Daytime broadcast is wild.

[@becorations1]

What. The. Eff?!? lol Thats horrible!

[@janehollander1934]

😯😓😐

[@SnarkySoprano]

Who remembers Hildy’s hay room?

[@smileitsalright7]

You guys need to do Flea Market Flip

[@zeldster1]

More trading spaces!!!!

[@laurensnider8209]

Best from the workshop floor yet!!! Hope you do more trading spaces episodes!!!

[@TheSorryGirls]

🥰🥰🥰

[@Dexy83]

Watching TS with TSG made me realize, I've been watching home decor shows for YEARS! I just bought my first home that I can make all the choices without a parent, partner, or landlord makes this hit different. The episode where Hildi (always lol) put SAND on the walls and floors... 🤦🏼The look on Kelsey's face at 7:03 🤣

[@becorations1]

Sand…straw…feathers….She was cuckoo! 😂

[@TheSorryGirls]

😂😂😂

[@psychedlicsouljam1995]

14:32 i just had major nostalgia 😅 i always thought black sweater guy was hot

[@cburgos09]

PLEASE DO ANOTHER EPISODE LIKE THIS!!!! The memories of this show!! Remover the lady who HATED THE BROWN AND ORANGE!!

[@helenecorbett7487]

Rachel's facial expressions are EVERYTHING!! 😂

[@rumorsgoods]

I cannot hear Trading Spaces without immediately thinking of the time they filled someone’s living room with sand because they liked the beach 😂

[@jackandlill]

I loved it when shows started appearing that had some type of transformative element - whether it be decor or beauty related. I remember watching Trading Spaces & thinking the premise was how well do you know your neighbors, so the makeover would represent that. And I always enjoyed it the most when they did something that made the other happy! But the more uncomfortable episodes created more drama naturally & since audiences tend to like drama - that's probably what the producers hoped for.

[@anniefeliz]

Hey girls! I love your channel and look forward to new episodes every week. But I really need to be honest... I didn't enjoy this one. It didn't inspire me the least bit, plus the recording of the show was bad quality. Anyways... cheers from the Dominican Republic, where Punta Cana is... for those who don't know😂

[@aimsly86]

I love how - as Doug is describing the wall colour as mocha and ivory - Rachel is TOTALLY wearing that palette 😅

[@Tantejuju65]

Google Trading Spaces Fails where are they now...

[@saraocampo9066]

At that time ladies, decorators love, love, love a very very dark walls everywhere.

[@zmonr3799]

this episode was so funny 😂

[@lisanham]

This was SO FUN to rewatch with you guys. Oh Doug was such a troll, and Frank is adorably unhinged. All of these cheesy shows are absolutely what got me into design & diy at a young age. Thanks for bringing back these memories! More of these vids please!

[@christina.fictionality]

I watched every new episode when they first came out. I only liked some of the designs, very far and few between, even back then. 😂 I feel like that was part of the "entertainment," designers running amuck doing whatever they wanted that someone wouldn't necessarily hire them to do. And the homeowners had to deal with the the aftermath.

[@amyweaver4946]

This show used to break my heart as so often the designers did really bad design. There were a few that improved the rooms, but most were just terrible.😂

[@tamara10]

The concept of this show is crazy to me, I can't imagine someone would willingly sign up to have their neighbor redecorate any of their rooms

[@tan7593]

Loving spending Saturday mornings watching this show! So fun! I remember this Trading Spaces episode...felt so bad for the lady. Wish they had a follow up! :)

[@heidiavera5071]

It would be interesting to find out if that designer has that personality in reality

[@kathrynledger]

We painted a sofa bed with wall paint, using loads of water, and it ended up looking leatherette. We did it 6 years ago, sit in it, sleep on it occasionally, still looks great. I'm so surprised!

[@emilyscott2066]

This was such a funny video, I was literally giggling to myself drinking my coffee and my partner had to come see what was so funny to me. I love this Saturday series!

[@jackandlill]

Also notice how her already high pitched voice went up another 4 octaves when she said she "liked it" - lol!!

[@timpettcreations1282]

I used to watch the show religiously. There was the one designer, I forget her name, but every time she would do an episode I would cringe. I think the one time she put like or something on the wall oh my gosh. but I used to love the show. I don’t think that it was on HGTV, but I wish they would bring it back. Thanks for bringing me back the happy memories.❤

[@haleighen]

I was 10ish when they show came out. I remember that mocha brown color was so popular. And darker reds. DIY paint textures became an epidemic because of this show. 😂

[@cordeliastrizak6628]

I watched that show and quickly became overwhelmed with how ridiculous it was. The host was nauseating and basically boring with her fake personality. There were more unhappy homeowners than happy. So glad we got more people like y’all who have way more talent than all the “designer” people on the show.

[@saraocampo9066]

Most of the time they did not reupholster the furniture they just covered it

[@Huggible11]

I remember Trading Spaces. I loved watching it growing up. I feel like I recall an episode where they had cardboard furniture 🤔

[@vernieplummer5148]

I’m with you, I don’t actually hate the brown wall. I think it would look great with something else with it except solid cream. I like the lines the way they are done. It’s like he knew how to do painting over tape correctly and he knew how to do it incorrectly, and he chose incorrect for effect. I think their original fireplace would look great with that, and I’d probably leave it. I agree that those bright concentrated colors don’t work right, but Becky has ideas that I think would work. I can’t believe they talked him into not painting that fireplace. The people who own this house are very lucky today. And of course they have to let them suffer as if it was painted out and not tell them it’s not until after we’ve all gotten to see their reaction.

[@krickette5569]

DIY Paint from Debbie, in Oceanside California can successfully be used to paint fabric. She has painted 2 velvet sofas with it on her show. The paint has only 9 ingredients and is toxin free.

[@JulieSMiah]

I remember watching a British show called Changing rooms when I was a kid. The premise is similar. People swap homes and design a single room. I would love it if you gave that show a look. Some of the designs were very brave and ahead of their times 😅

[@vernieplummer5148]

I moved in a house a few years ago with the bedroom this brown color. It was pretty, but in a bedroom it just felt so dull. I ended up repainting it in Perrywinkle, because it’s my house and I can paint my room periwinkle if I want lol. The kitchen was the same color, but it looked good in there.

[@vernieplummer5148]

I remember that guy. He was always so mean. Even if the owners told him what they wanted, he would do whatever he wanted, and it was always crazy and stupid. I seem to remember a bordello bedroom with a red bed, red walls and a red canopy and red lace all over it. The homeowner was in tears. I really hope he tries to be nice today. Seeing his face honestly made me dread watching this, and I’m only half kidding. I would just skip the episode when he came on.

[@vernieplummer5148]

I am going to bet you right now that they do not show anybody sitting on that painted fabric. I am positive that it would be so stiff that it would crack the second you sat on it, and then you’d have little pieces flaking off. I remember this guy as being one of the wacky ones, but I don’t remember him having great taste. I think he’s letting us know about that right now.

[@cashmerenerd]

rochelle gently saying "it was 20 years ago guys" just brilliant

[@alduinc]

Let’s watch more of these 😂 i cannot believe i used to like these makeovers as a kid, and hoping to be on these shows 😂😂😂

[@saraocampo9066]

I painted 2 chairs from IKEA, everybody think they are LETHER and I did it probably 5 or 6 years ago and still intact and let me tell you I have four grandkids all boys 😂😂

[@peggynorton5145]

Look up Debis Design Diaries. DIY AGOGO. She has clay based paint and yes you can paint furniture. She did an orange velvet couch 🛋️ teal. Her most watched video. Over 2 million I believe.

[@karmanjones8346]

OMG i need more of this for sure!!! So entertaining make my morning!!

[@Bigluciouz]

Y’all need to review the episode where Hilde put REAL Hay all over the walls 😂

[@ConservativeVeteran]

Doug is arrogant....Frank is misguided.

[@Laura-tb7nm]

How was Frank even in that business? I would have cried if he did that to my house! Edit: I would have cried with both of those rooms just that Frank seemed visibly and verbally more clueless. 😅

[@JRR0013]

But, if the couple didn't like it, they would redo it, so basically they had nothing to lose. At least that was the idea.

[@Loulou-hv2cx]

Omg I’d love if you had Lorie and Amy Winn as guest. This was fun. BTW I actually had those 2 brown colors as a foe finish in my living room. It was truly awful, especially to paint over it.

[@vernieplummer5148]

Yes, you described that wallpapering tool perfectly. It really does work well to get all those little holes in the wallpaper and then when you steam it or wet it, it comes off easier.

[@saraocampo9066]

But there where specially one interior designer who almost destroyed the houses every time, people did not like her everybody asked all the time why she was still on the show but there were a very unbelievable changes. It was entertaining and personally I learned a lot.

[@26Bluegb]

For Pam''s room if they would've done the oatmeal as the grid and the mocha wainscotting, she could've easily brought in her old wall decor (& some different pillows) and bring back some personality.

[@taylorjohnson2909]

Iv been excited for this video! Trading spaces was such a big part of my childhood! We watched it as a family every time😄

[@jenknox2478]

OMG watching Traded Spaces totally gave a anxiety 😂

[@leeleeskiski]

I'm so glad you watched Trading Spaces! My family watched this show together, and it's how my mom shared her love of design. Would love to see your redos.

[@alexandras5347]

Also I dont think the designers were trying to be villains but sometimes the designs were editorial - a full on lewk. The average person looks at a magazine/pinterest/social media and they maybe change out their art, add accessories get an aesthetic mug. Some of the homeowners loved the full on transformations and were like I can wait to entertain in my "designer" space while others felt the change was too dramatic and great for a photo shoot but not liveable. Are there any times TSG do something for the reveal but change it right after cause its not practical in real life?

[@cyruskaranjia]

do a review of the show with Ty please either the Extreme Home edition episode or Trading Spaces or may be both. These shows were my extreme fav childhood memory

[@bevmacdonald9008]

I used to enjoy that series too, until I saw a couple of disappointed ( and disrespected, imho) homeowners. Then I realized the show's hosts and designers were regularly bullies to their contestants