Ep 12. Into the Woods

Trading Spaces is a popular home renovation show that has been on air since 2000. The show follows two sets of neighbors who switch homes for two days and are given a budget to redecorate a room in each other's house. The twist, however, is that they have no say in the design of their own room, but instead have to trust their neighbor and a designer to create something they will love.

Season 10 episode 12, titled "Into the Woods," follows two pairs of homeowners who are ready to trade spaces and transform each other's homes. The episode features host Paige Davis, designers Hildi Santo Tomas and Sabrina Soto, and carpenters Brett Tutor and Joanie Sprague.

The first pair of homeowners are best friends, Jimmy and Margie, who have been neighbors for over twenty years. Jimmy loves the outdoors and the rustic feel of his cabin-like home, while Margie prefers modern and sleek designs. They are each given $2000 and two days to redecorate a room in each other's home.

For the first transformation, Margie and Hildi take on Jimmy's living room. Margie wants to give Jimmy a modern update and creates a design centered around a large statement piece, a unique ladder bookshelf that serves as both storage and decor. Hildi, however, has other plans and decides to go all-in on the "Into the Woods" theme. She brings in a tree stump coffee table, a moss wall, and even a deer head wall decoration. As the two women work on the room, tensions rise between them as they clash over different design aesthetics.

Meanwhile, Jimmy and Sabrina transform Margie's master bedroom. Jimmy decides to give the room a lot of wooden accents, a nod to his love for the outdoors. Sabrina brings in a few pops of color and some modern touches to balance things out. They create a lofted bed, with a cozy seating area underneath, making Margie's small bedroom feel much larger.

The second pair of homeowners, Kristen and Cruz, are a young couple expecting their first child. They live in a small home with Kristen's parents and are ready for a much-needed makeover. Overall, they are looking for a modern and functional space that can accommodate their growing family.

Cribbing off Cruz's love for the outdoors, Brett and Joanie take on Kristen's living room first. They want to incorporate natural elements, like raw wood and stone, that Kristen and Cruz can appreciate. Brett creates custom wooden built-ins for the room, which have the added benefit of extra storage space. Joanie contributes a colorful and cheery accent wall to brighten up the living room, showcasing the family photographs after the revamp.

For the last room, Kristen and Cruz work on Cruz's man cave in the basement. Kristen wants to create a space they can both enjoy, but Cruz would prefer to have the room all to himself. Sabrina creates a modern and comfortable space, adding some unique elements, such as a wooden wine rack and recycled hockey sticks repurposed as wall art. Hildi takes a different approach and creates a mini ski slope with a wooden platform, artificial snow and even a ski lift chair, much to Cruz's delight.

Overall, the episode offers viewers some great design inspiration and a glimpse into how real people tackle home decorating challenges. The homeowners are put on the spot to redesign their spaces, with varied outcomes from each pair. The designers add their creative touch, bringing fun elements to otherwise dull spaces, often much to the homeowners' surprise.