Trading Spaces

Infobox Television
show_name = Trading Spaces


format = Reality
runtime = 60 minutes
presenter = Paige Davis
starring = "See Cast section"
first_aired = October 13, 2000
last_aired = present
repeated = May 26, 2007
country = USA
network = TLC and Discovery Home
website = http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/tradingspaces/tradingspaces.html
imdb_id = 0278249
tv_com_id = 5581

"Trading Spaces" is an hour-long U.S. television reality program that has aired since 2000 on the cable channels TLC and Discovery Home. The format of the show was based on the BBC TV series "Changing Rooms".

Premise

In each episode, two sets of neighbors redecorated one room in each other's home. Each two-person team had two (later, three) days, a budget of US$1,000, (later $2,000) and the services of a designer.

The teams have no say over what happens in their own homes, but are able to give input into what happened in the home they are redecorating. The teams are not allowed to enter their own home for the duration of the show, and the transformed rooms are revealed only at the end of the second day.

The show was generally creditedwho with sparking a nationwide interest in home decorating and improvement television shows in the United States. At the peak of its popularity, it inspired ancillary products such as two Trading Spaces books and a computer software program.fact|date=March 2008

Changes

The original format, featured a host and a carpenter shared by the two teams. Beginning in March 2005, "Trading Spaces" moved to a "no host" format, with two carpenters. The change allowed the two homes to be farther apart, with the most extreme case featuring homes in New York and Oklahoma.

On November 13, 2007, it was announced that Paige Davis would be returning as the host of Trading Spaces beginning in January 2008. [ [http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617199.shtml National Ledger: John Legend, Kerri Russell and Cast Go Extra Mile for August Rush.] ] [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/15/people.paigedavis.ap/index.html Paige Davis returning to 'Trading Spaces'] ] The first episode with Davis as host aired on January 26, 2008. The show also changed production companies, from Banyan Productions to A Smith Productions.

Cast

The show featured different participants each episode. The designers and carpenters alternate for each show.

Hosts

* Alex McLeod (2000)
* Paige Davis (2001-2004, 2008-present)

Designers

Current

*"Goil Amornvivat" (2007-present; from Bravo's "Top Design")
*"Frank Bielec" (2000-present)
*"Laurie Hickson-Smith" (2000-present)
*"Lauren Makk" (2007-present)
*"Hildi Santo-Tomas" (2000-present)
*"Edward Walker" (2002-present)
*"Douglas Wilson" (2000-present)

Past

*"Laura Day" (2004, 2007)
*"Mario DeArmas" (2007)
*"Nadia Geller" (one episode in 2007)
*"Genevieve Gorder" (2000-2003, 2005-2007)
*"Jon Laymon" (2005-2007; winner of "Pick the Next Designer" competition)
*"Christi Proctor" (2003-2007)
*"Rick Rifle" (2003-2004)
*"Dez Ryan" (2000-2001)
*"Leslie Segrete" (2005-2007)
*"Roderick Shade" (one episode in 2000)
*"Kia Steave-Dickerson" (2002-2004, 2007)
*"Barry Wood" (2004-2007; now on "Hidden Potential")
*"Vern Yip" (2001-2003, 2007; now on "Deserving Design")

Carpenters

Current

*"Amy Devers" (2008-present)
*"Faber Dewar" (2004-present)
*"Thad Mills" (2007-present)
*"Brandon Russell" (2007-present)

Past

*"Patty Benson" (2007)
*"Jason Cameron" (from "While You Were Out")
*"Andrew Dan-Jumbo" (one episode in 2007; from "While You Were Out")
*"Andy Kane" (2002-2003, 2007; a.k.a. Handy Andy of "Changing Rooms")
*"Jimmy Little" (several episodes in a row after "Town Haul" ended)
*"Carter Oosterhouse" (2003-2007)
*"Amy Wynn Pastor" (2000-2007)
*"Ty Pennington" (2000-2003, 2007; now host of "")
*"Leslie Segrete" (2005-2007; from "While You Were Out")

pin-offs

"Trading Spaces: Family"

The first spin-off, entitled "Trading Spaces: Family", also aired on TLC (2003-2005). It allowed larger teams of three or four, including children considered too young to participate in the original "Trading Spaces" program. The same designers and carpenters (one per episode, shared by the two teams) worked with host Joe Farrell.

"Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls"

Another spin-off, "" airs as a part of "Discovery Kids" (and also formerly aired on the network's Saturday morning block on NBC). Unlike the original, this version uses the same two designers and two carpenters for each episode. In addition, there is no budget limit, and the rooms are rebuilt into theme rooms, making the show look more like Monster House.

References

External links

* [http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/tradingspaces/tradingspaces.html Official "Trading Spaces" website]