My friends totally saw this coming. They knew there was no way I’d let the premiere of the Trading Spaces revival go by without shouting, “I DID THAT!” from every possible rooftop.
Honestly, aside from celebrating my milestone birthday in Nashville, appearing on that iconic show (gulp) fifteen years ago was the most exhilarating experience of my life. The fact that it catapulted me into the realm of pop culture fame was something I could have never anticipated.
We were fortunate to join the show during Season 4, right at its peak popularity. Ratings were through the roof, and the producers decided to up the ante: our decorating budgets were skyrocketed from $1,000 to a staggering $50,000 (insert a string of shocked emojis, which didn’t even exist back in 2003). We were selected for the special Trading Spaces: 100 Grand! two-hour episode, and it felt like winning the lottery when we saw that oversized check.
Throughout that weekend, we enjoyed live music from Ty Pennington and learned just how scripted “unscripted” television can be. We even had favorites among the cast (I’ll share my least favorite only in person – wink).
The episode was meticulously planned, with little consideration for us as individuals. To the producers, we were more like props than people, but we happily embraced the experience. Months of sponsorships led to trucks filled with furnishings, appliances, and even cutting-edge plasma TVs (a big deal back in 2003) arriving just for us.
I might have shed a few tears into my lapel mic, proclaiming that unless someone from my high school had scaled Mt. Everest that summer, I’d certainly be the star at our upcoming reunion. Spoiler alert: I was right.
For two weeks after the reveal, once we returned home, gifted our old furniture to astonished friends, and tried to resume normalcy (which was no small feat since we had to keep the whole thing under wraps until the episode aired during sweeps week eight weeks later), I found myself overwhelmed with emotion each morning. I’d gaze around in disbelief, feeling the adrenaline surge of the experience wash over me, and I’d cry. Every single morning.
I’d quickly dry my eyes before my kids—aged 2 through 10—came barreling down the stairs, attempting to keep them off our $800 white chairs and a $4,500 silk rug, and far, far away from a $1,600 table lamp. As a side note, 15 years later, those chairs, although no longer pure white (thank you, fabric spray paint!), are still in great shape, and the lamp has survived multiple near-disasters (because, boys). Unfortunately, the $5,000 plasma TV did not fare as well. But hey, you can only do so much with four kids around (and rumor has it they’re blaming me for that one), but it’s all good.
The promotional push for the show’s premiere was monumental. We were featured on the Today show, appeared in USA Today, and dominated local newspapers for weeks. After the episode aired, I was recognized in parking lots. Yes, that was me; yes, I’m still a coupon enthusiast (laughing emoji). What they managed to achieve was extraordinary: our two hours on basic cable received the highest ratings for a non-network show ever. And they did it all without Twitter. Imagine that.
To promote the reboot, they’ve been airing many older episodes to build excitement, but I know mine won’t be among them. My episode debuted during the show’s peak and was the first in a series of gimmicks they used to revive a show that often saw cast changes. I totally get it; it happens to the best of them (we still miss you, Mr. Clooney, but we’ve moved on). I understand they’re returning to the basics to give fans what they loved initially, and I agree with this smart move (and really, I have a VHS copy. So, all good).
We’ve since moved from our Trading Spaces home and have downgraded to rugs from Home Goods, but we still keep framed photos around to reminisce about our incredible luck. Plus, I’ve compiled an impressive scrapbook from that time.
I’ll probably discuss this experience indefinitely, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like that deserves a permanent spot in my life. My friends know that I still find ways to weave it into conversations (cough, intentional) and they humor me. True story: I was recently at a restaurant bar chatting with a lively senior next to me, another early-bird dining enthusiast. She mentioned living nearby where that famous TV show filmed, and I couldn’t help but elbow her shoulder. My eyes lit up as I stage-whispered, “That was us.” My husband tried to shush me, but it was too late; she didn’t even hear, so I let it slide.
I penned my thoughts on this experience years ago (check it out here), but given the statute of limitations my kids have set, I might need to let it rest and simply enjoy the memories. But I’d be happy to share anything else you want to know. Just ask!
In summary, my unexpected foray into the world of reality television was nothing short of a thrilling adventure that continues to resonate in my life.