Trading space

[magid]

According to the bulletin board at work, the show Trading Spaces is looking for Boston-ites for their show in November. The rules include that the neighbors must be within a 15 minute drive of one another (would that be during rush hour, or not?), and that the rooms be a minimum of 12 feet by 12 feet. Which got me thinking, because I'm not sure I have a room that size. Larger in square footage, sure, but with the minimum dimensions? I'd have to measure. Not that I'm about to apply, anyway; though I like the idea of someone helping me change my space, I couldn't bring myself to give up control completely.

Comments

[cutieperson]

oh, i wish. we're not allowed to paint though.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Is painting part of the possible package? Would things dry in time, since it's only two days?

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I saw one episode once. Paint (ugly ugly dark brown paint) was definitely involved.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Dark brown paint for an interior room? Did they want to make it small and gloomy? Ick.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I think they were going for something outdoorsy and woodsy (they also put in some kind of indoor waterfall kind of thing).

For whatever reason though, when the designer proposed the paint color she first brushed a bit of melted chocolate on the wall. And the chocolate had a warm reddish tint that was actually rather nice.

The actual paint though was much darker with no red hints and it just looked drab and, IMO, ugly.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Probably. Paint dries very quickly and is a fairly cheap and easy way to really turn a room around.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see that.
(says the person who should repaint, and hasn't gotten around to it yet...)

[cutieperson]

paint is almost always used. one of the designers likes feathers, hay, fabric... she covered an entire bathroom in fake flowers once.

[magid.livejournal.com]

(a) Fake flowers all over a wall? Ick. Even worse that it's a bathroom, somehow.

(b) Someone has a huge bathroom. I know they're the trend, but still, wow.

(Hay? Feathers? Isn't it the person doing the redesign, with the designer's help in implementation?)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I don't care for that show. I've only watched it a few times, but it strikes me as kind of annoying. The neighbor often has a good feel for what the owner would like, but the designer will override that and do whatever stupid shit they feel like.

There are so many excellent and fun design shows on HGTV whose goal is to leave the residents HAPPY with their new space -- Trading Spaces is for drama, not style. You'd be far better off with the Design on a Dime team redoing your room.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Worth asking for a special dispensation, given that it'll definitely be professional quality?
(Especially if you're willing to offer repainting to (white?) before you leave if the landlord/next tenant doesn't like it. I think that's how Treacle_well's apartment got painted wild colors.)

[cutieperson]

nah. as pheromone said, it's mostly drama. which while amusing, has the potential to annoy me. but i looove watching it :)

[bitty.livejournal.com]

Rhinestone walls are soooo not you.

[magid.livejournal.com]

It's apparently not too far off for my parents, though; their current house has a whole wall that's mirrored.... in the dining room. I always jockey so I'm not able to watch myself eat.

(And they've been there a couple of years; presumably if it really bothered them, they'd've changed it by now.)

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

It's amazing what you get used to ;) (Although the horrible floral stenciling in my bathroom got nixed pretty quick)

[magid.livejournal.com]

OK, but watching yourself chew? It's so distracting, much worse than clear glass tables that let you see your knees during dinner.

(Then again, I don't spend much time looking in mirrors in general.)

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

I just prefer having my back to a wall.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Well, that, too, though that comes most into play for me in restaurants; there're a lot fewer people meandering about in houses.