Candice Olsen was my favorite designer. Her fabrics and textures were beautiful. But, I have a suspicion her finished rooms were very expensive.
Back before the original show started, I answered an ad that was looking for homes for a new TLC series. My “neighbors” (our back yards connected - but we weren’t on the same street) and I got a visit from a location scout even. We were completely disappointed we weren’t chosen - until we started watching the show. Then we were completely relieved that we didn’t have a room in our house ruined by a “Trading Spaces” designer!!
I no longer have cable, but I would totally watch this show again if I did. (And if the opportunity for Candice Olsen to do my house ever arose, I would jump on it. Love her stuff! Even bought her book.)
One of the only TS shows I saw was one where Genevieve put moss all over someone’s walls. It was so hideous, and the homeowners hated it. The gist of Genevieve’s comments was “well, I’m sorry they don’t get it, but that’s really not my problem.”
I thought that was such a crappy attitude to have over what you have done to someone’s home. It’s really supposed to be about reflecting the owner’s style/personality/likes, not about smugly making yourself memorable at their expense.
But that’s really what the whole show was about. Being provocative, getting ratings, etc. It was likely never about making anyone happy.
I was really surprised later when she had her own show and actually seemed to care about pleasing her clients.
Oops, I tried to post pics of some rooms Hildi decorated, but the web site is not allowed.
I was scrolling through some pics of the most hated TS spaces, and Hildi is the common denominator. Come on, turning an interior room into a “cabana,” complete with a ton of actual SAND? Give me a break.
https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/trading-spaces/videos/what-a-beach
@Nrdsb4 – "The gist of Genevieve’s comments was “well, I’m sorry they don’t get it, but that’s really not my problem.”
But that’s the whole point of the show, IMO… it’s those outrageous rooms that bring in the ratings. The show is supposedly all puppies and rainbows, but in reality it thrives on that tension between the rube homeowners and the “designers”.
At the same time Trading Spaces was on, another “great” TLC show IMO was “While You Were Out” - we LOVED this show. Premise was that a member of the household to surprise was sent away for the weekend (not knowing it was related to the show coming) and another member of the household who requested being on the show stayed to help renovate a space in the house. TS was the funny, crazy show with design elements but not always SERIOUS design elements. WYWO was still DIY but with the sincere attempt to please the surprised homeowner when he/she came home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/While_You_Were_Out
We ALL had a crush on Andrew Dan Jumbo!!!
^^I had forgotten about that show, but yes, it was always delightful to see the person who was being surprised arrive home.
My two favorites were Curb Appeal, an interesting mix of architecture and landscaping, and Free Style, where a designer “shopped” for a room’s makeover at the owner’s home, using furniture and items the owner already had, while also making the room more stylish and functional. Now HDTV is house hunting and flipping/upgrading. Kind of boring.
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I loved Curb Appeal.
I had forgotten a lot of these shows. I agree that there are too many real estate shows on now.
Was Curb Appeal the show where they would revamp the landscaping and front of the ugliest house in a neighborhood? If so, I’d wish they’d bring it back because I have a house on my street I’d like to nominate for a makeover! 
^^ Yep. 
I can’t imagine letting anyone in my house to redo it however they felt like it. Apparently the workmanship was horrendous. Most of these makeover shows all say the paint jobs look fine on camera, but awful in real life. Hildi needs to stay far away - lol
I also love Candice Olsen, I’d love for her to do any room in my house.
There are very few HGTV designers I’d want to design a room in my house but Candice Olsen is my all-time favorite, followed by Sarah Richardson. And I’d love for Curb Appeal’s John Gidding to redesign the exterior and the landscape! I’m not a fan of the current lot on HGTV.
Here’s a slideshow of “where are they now?” past HGTV show hosts –
https://www.popsugar.com/home/What-Happened-Former-HGTV-Hosts-37434577
^^^^I miss so many of those shows!