Rating: 
Summary: Trading Spaces - A Breath Of Fresh Air!
Review: I'm a huge fan of TLC's "Trading Spaces". I love the concept (based on the fabulous BBC show "Changing Rooms") and I love the designers (they really are the ones that make this show a hit) and I love home design. BUT - if you are looking for a HOW TO book. This isn't for you.... this is a fun and gossipy book ABOUT the designers, carpenters and host Paige Davis. If you want HOW TO tips, wait until later this year when THAT book comes out. This book if full of profiles, home pictures, tales and reviews of each of the designers and their most famous rooms. It's a fun look inside their lives and recommendations. It's a marketing person's dream :) It's fluff --- but in a good way. It's a great soft sided book that takes your mind off more serious topics of the day. My favorite spotlights are Hildi (it really shows her softer and sweeter side) and my all time fav. groovy girl Genevieve. She's such a wonderful free spirit. BUT - without a doubt, my crush on Vern's talent is even greater after reading about him in this book. "Trading Spaces - Behind The Scenes" is just a great pick me up and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Rating:
Summary: The Stars of Trading Spaces
Review: The book is an inside look at the designers and others who appear on the TV show. It is not meant to be a "How To" book. Within the scope of its purpose, it does well. It shows many pictures and gives a lot of information about the people. It's a sort of introduction to the show through its stars and does a good job of showing their personalities, quirks, & mess ups. It does show a little about the rooms that have been decorated on the show and has a list with comments about every show at the end of the book. It also does show a few tips about decorating. There are two more books scheduled to be published that will be more like decorating "How To".
Rating: 
Summary: Okay...this book gets old fast...even though the show rocks!
Review: I bought this book recently, thankfully for less $ on Amazon. If I paid $20 for this book I would have immediately returned it after a day of paging through. There's barely any content with this book. I love Trading Spaces, it's a great show for the most part, but this book was a let-down. I wanted to know more about all the designers, especially Vern, and there just wasn't enough information. It was like they were holding all the fun or revealing information for another money-making book for us all to buy. I wish this book was written on more of a higher intellectual level, I read the entire book in 3 or 4 days. 60-70% of the book is pictures with very little content. The true talent on the show is definitely Vern, Laurie, and the wild Doug, & Gen. they are the best designers. Of course Doug has his "what were you thinking???" moments, but that's my opinion, and Gen always seems to amaze you with her creativeness. Gen. has a wonderful personality. The carpenters bust their behinds trying to crank out quality workmanship in a time crunch with not-so-great MDF wood, it's amazing what they can do sometimes. I think it's an absolute PITY that the budget isn't slightly higher. $1000 must be truly a challenge because their wood cost and paint adds up to a lot. I wish the budget was at least $1100, $1500 like While You Were Out would be best, but I can't believe they can't raise the budget to $1100, it seems like whenever a designer's over budget, it's never more than $20-100. It shows TLC is stingy, but they can pay Paige big bucks....Paige needs to grow up a little, loose the baby voice, sorry to say! Sadly, because of the somewhat let-down of this book, I will not be buying anymore TLC Trading Spaces book unless something SPECTACULAR comes out. As much as I love Trading Spaces, I'd HAVE to say with the risk of getting a horrid HILDI room, if I were to sign up for Trading Spaces it'd have to be for an insignificant room like a basement or unused den. Also, I think Hildi is a DISGRACE to this show. She may fool you with her slight good looks and talkative charm, but once you see how her "VISION" for the room unfolds, it's a nightmare. I don't know about you, but I FEEL SORRY for all the people who had Hildi rooms they've dreaded. Feathers on the wall, CARDBOARD was the worst! People do move to a new home, lady! She has NO CONCERN for the happiness of the homeowner. To paraphrase, she's said when asked why she doesn't stay to see the reveal...."My work is done here, I know it was an excellent job". You're scared the homeowner will come after you wanting to know what the hell you did with thier HOME! Hildi is the reason I wouldn't go on Trading Spaces.....There should be a "HILDI RELIEF FUND"...I'd donate! I am not the only one....
Rating:
Summary: The Stars of Trading Spaces
Review: The book is an inside look at the designers and others who appear on the TV show. It is not meant to be a "How To" book. Within the scope of its purpose, it does well. It shows many pictures and gives a lot of information about the people. It's a sort of introduction to the show through its stars and does a good job of showing their personalities, quirks, & mess ups. It does show a little about the rooms that have been decorated on the show and has a list with comments about every show at the end of the book. It also does show a few tips about decorating. There are two more books scheduled to be published that will be more like decorating "How To".
Rating: 
Summary: FOR RABID "TRADING SPACES" FANS ONLY...
Review: This is really a large sized, coffee table styled, soft cover book that focuses on the stars that make "Trading Spaces" the cable show hit that it is. It is a pictorial odyssey with text that reads as if a fawning fan were writing it and striving for the lowest common denominator. Still, a rabid fan of the show, to which I admit being, will enjoy finding out more about those who make "Trading Spaces" a show worth watching. The book gives an overview the show and some behind-the-scene details about what goes into making an episode. It also gives a relatively brief biography of each member of the show's cast, as well as lavish, loving color photographs of them. It tells the reader how each cast member came about landing a spot on "Trading Spaces". There are also before and after photographs of some of the rooms on which they have worked. The book ends with a complete episode guide for seasons one, two, and three, replete with room by room discussions for each episode. If one is not a rabid fan of "Trading Spaces", one should deduct at least one star from my rating and not buy this book. It is a book only rabid fans of the show would appreciate.
Rating:
Summary: Getting to Know You
Review: This book is primarily a tell-all about the designers and the hostess of the show Trading Spaces. While the book has a few tips and tricks, it is not about learning skills. I'm a huge fan of the show, so I enjoyed reading about these characters who frequent my living room. The book is put together in a colorful fashion with loads of beautiful photos and is fun to read. If you like the show and want to learn more about the cast, then read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Trading Spaces - Behind the Scenes
Review: This isn't supposed to be a "how to" book. It's called "Behind the Scenes" for a reason. It gives a look into the life of the designers and gives a description of past episodes in the back of the book - just reading about the episodes made me think back to how crazy some of the shows have been. All of that was reason enough for me to buy it and then I got an extra surprise...all of the pictures of my favorite designer, Doug...he's SO cute!!
Rating:
Summary: Great fun for true fans
Review: Oh sure you're left with unanswered questions, but what's wrong with a little mystery? I really enjoyed this book!
Rating:
Summary: Not serious
Review: With big two page pictures and a little writting this is more of a fun book. It get's old pretty fast. Plus points off for the two page spread of Hilldie.
Rating:
Summary: If you love the show you have tobuy this
Review: This book looks and feels like the Trading Spaces TV show. If you love the show, you have to have this. Behind the scenes pix are good but what I really like are thte shots of rooms from the show. I can spend time enjoying rooms that went by too fast when I watched them on TV. The book is as fun as the show.
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