Homeowners gasp in horror after nightmare makeover sees their property flooded with sand for 'beach cabana' transformation - and even the designers can't keep a straight face
Trading Spaces, an American home renovation show which aired on TLC from 2000 to 2008, sees two neighbours renovate a room in each other's homes on a budget.
One particularly awful episode had a poor couple astonished as they saw their transformed room for the first time.
The walls and door had been painted with garish red and yellow stripes and adorned with matching satin curtains.
Various strangely placed tables, decorated with bright yellow fruit, flowers and cocktails, and even tiki torches added to the completely bizarre look.
It was also palm tree overload, with a fake full-size plant with red and yellow leaves, a pot of fake tree fronds and an artwork depicting yet another palm tree.
But the icing on the terrible cake was the grotty sand, with barrel-loads of it dumped on the floor and raked out to cover it completely.
Interior designer Hildi Santo-Tomas was the professional designer assigned to support the renovators in delivering their clownish transformation.
Since the programme aired, she has explained the thinking behind her beachy plans: 'They wanted an adult retreat so I gave them a cabana!'
But it seems she did not quite understand their vision of a haven of peace and tranquility.
The home owners were forced to simply laugh along in utter shock when it was revealed to them, with one exclaiming: 'Oh my God!'
Even the other professional designers on the show could not believe their eyes, covering their mouths in total astonishment at the finished result.
But Hildi backed her vision, encouraging the owners: 'See? Now we can take our shoes off and get the sand in our toes.'
Since the show finished in 2008, Hildi - known on the programme for her crazy ideas - has backed every single creation, saying she has no regrets about any of them.
This includes another home where her plans included sticking hay to the walls.
She told People magazine of the cabana room: 'It was a fabulous room. I even had a little pail of water so they could clean their feet. It didn't go over well.
'The criticism I get is wonderful because it empowers me to do better.'
But viewers have since taken to discussion site Reddit to express how horrifying the cabana transformation was.
One wrote: 'My favourite will always be the beach room because I can just imagine the rage the homeowners feel years later when they're still finding grains of sand in their shoes.'
Another said: 'I vividly remember the beach room episode, nobody looked happy.'
Many felt Hildi in particular was not a good designer to be assigned on the show: 'I don't know how Hildi could sleep at night knowing she ruined so many homes.'
Trading Spaces returned for a reboot in 2018, after ten years off our screens, for two additional series, but it was not then renewed again.
One of the designers Genevieve Gorder explained why to People magazine in 2023: 'As far as keeping the attention span to watch an hour of a design show - we don't watch TV like that anymore.
'One hour can feel long. I feel like now, people need design with muscle, because we've been stuck in the same template for over 20 years.'
The show came back with all the original designers and carpenters onboard, with Genevieve agreeing the reboot saw the return of 'all the right characters', who are all her 'homies for life'.
But the star added she thought the format 'didn't move fast enough', even though its primary appeal was being 'nostalgia city'.
Genevieve finished: 'What was cool in 2002 doesn't really work in 2022.'
It comes after an array of other horrifying home renovations from reality series over the years have resurfaced - including one that left a hallway 'looking like a black hole'.
The moment came on a British programme named Your Home In Their Hands, which aired for just one series between 2014 and 2015 on BBC One.
It saw homeowners give amateur interior designers free reign to revamp their property and was presented by Celia Sawyer.
Presenter Celia Sawyer (pictured) said: 'Walking into the hallway was a nightmare for me because I was so worried it was so radical and it was very obvious walking in that June hated it'
One episode saw a couple, Steve and June, left baffled by their makeover after the designers added a plant wall to their entrance and fish tanks in the walls of their staircase.
'That's different, isn't it,' Steve said apprehensively, while his partner added: 'I wasn't expecting this.'
'I'm very shocked, it's not my "hug" I wanted. I don't really like the colour and I'm not sure about the carpet,' she said, looking down at the green flooring that resembled grass.
June then went on to admit, batting plants out the way as the couple looked at the fish tanks: '... At this moment in time, I'm regretting it.'
She commented: 'I'm assuming it's Rowan who's done this, I think he's off his head!'
The couple then made their way upstairs to the bedroom which was painted in a garish blue and pale pink.
'Where's all the clothes going to go?' June asked as she looked at a small blue wardrobe in the corner of the room.
Despite the contrasting colour scheme and storage concerns, she admitted: 'I quite like it though.'
'I know how much time and effort Steve has put into the house and now I feel like I've taken it away from him,' she added tearfully. 'I feel I've let him down'
Steve looked doubtful and replied: 'Well, good.'
Celia asked: 'So June, do you think this is what you were looking for? You wanted something more feminine?'
'I don't dislike it,' June said. 'But I'm just worried about where we're going to put everything.'
But overall, it was not what she was hoping for: 'The light I really wanted isn't there so for that I'm disappointed.'
Celia said: 'Walking into the hallway was a nightmare for me because I was so worried it was so radical and it was very obvious walking in that June hated it.'
June agreed: 'There's no light in there, it's going to be like a black hole of clutter.'
'I know how much time and effort Steve has put into the house and now I feel like I've taken it away from him,' she added tearfully. 'I feel I've let him down.'
She cried as Steve hugged her and said: 'No you haven't.'
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