Changing Rooms - Trust Me, I'm a Designer

Changing Rooms - Trust Me, I'm a Designer

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Editorial Reviews

"Trust me... I'm a designer!" Many neighbors did... and regretted it. Others had their doubts but were delighted. It's all here: the highs, the lows, the tears and the tantrums that make up the best of Changing Rooms, hosted by Carol Smillie, with personal insights from some of your favorite designers.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Biographies:Overview of the designers and their most memorable creations
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes

The title is a quote from star Laurence "the Cuffs" Llewelyn-Bowen himself, and Changing Rooms: Trust Me, I'm a Designer is a "best of" compilation, celebrating more than 100 editions of the popular BBC home makeover show. Although it might imply that the focus is on the designers themselves, despite their larger-than-life personalities what comes through most strongly here is the practicality of actually getting the work done. The question whether anyone other than the designers themselves actually likes the results is as cheerfully up-in-the-air as ever, of course. This compilation scores highly--perhaps higher than the show itself for anyone who's not a fan--because, with so many episodes to choose from and with the opportunity to use some snappy editing, we're spared all the finger-drumming, pacing up and down, and general waffling about, which inevitably takes up a certain amount of time in any individual edition. Instead, we move neatly and quickly between ideas, discussions, and practical considerations in a very un-boring fashion. Of course, there's plenty of fun along the way, such as the absolutely priceless moment when Llewelyn-Bowen nearly convinces "Handy" Andy Kane that he has to board over a swimming pool and create two rooms from the resulting space using only the inevitable MDF (medium-density fiberboard). It's instructive, great fun, and a very neat package of material. --Roger Thomas

Customer Reviews

Enlightening

Reviewed by M. Gosselin, 2009-11-03

It is amazing how we are all so different in this world. Fun to watch

It's just "okay."

Reviewed by Lee Winston Wright, 2009-07-27

It was entertaining and amusing to a point but hardly as delightful as full episodes. If you're a fan of the show chances are you'll be disappointed and if you're not, you're not likely to appreciate the show based on these clips, out takes and bloopers. Fortunately my version was a VCR tape and priced to sell.

Encore! Encore!

Reviewed by S. Mol, 2009-06-16

The original - and the best. I know, I'm repeating another reviewer, but it is true. The copycat shows don't match the fun of this one - even the title was clever (there are two meanings that apply).

As far as not buying this DVD and just watching the reruns on BBC: There are no reruns on BBC America, anyway. I'd buy the season collections, even though I saw every episode. I learned a lot from the crew - what to do and, more importantly, what NOT to do. It even served me well in some of my own projects around the house. But, until they come out with season DVD sets, at least I can watch this collection and reminisce. Even so, watching this DVD always leaves me wanting more.

the original and the best

Reviewed by Rebecca Winter, 2007-04-25

With copies of this show being made all over the world, I have to say that the UK version is the original and the best. It is the personalities of the designers, Handy Andy and Carole that make the show, and there are plenty of "personality" moments on this DVD as well as some of our favorite rooms. I wish BBC would release the entire ten seasons on DVD.

Designer Let Down - Less Talking More Changing Rooms

Reviewed by B. Stephens, 2007-03-26

This DVD was more of a commentary by select designers of the UK series than a encore of favorite episodes. Quite honestly the designers of the show aren't the draw. It is the wacky, drastic, and sometimes disasterous exchange of change that occurs between two consenting neighbors. The draw of the show is the concept of someone giving up a room in their home, reluctant but oddly excited at the same time, in order for a neighbor and "some pal" they've chosen to come in and totally redesign it. This DVD however, is more of a tribute to the designers themselves. We see some bloopers, select designer interviews, favorite moments, and basically none of the good stuff that really attracts viewers to the show. Don't bother adding this one to your library. Stick to watching episodes on BBC!