Following that great American tradition of taking an original British TV programme, and re-making it with a US cast (see just about every 1970's US sitcom as an example*), The Learning Channel has made its own version of the BBC's Changing Rooms, called Trading Spaces

The differences in the show, are very indicative of the differences between Britain and America. For example, the UK version has a budget of £500 ($728) per room, whereas the US version has a budget of $1,000 (£686). With this kind of show, every extra Dollar or Pound can go a long way!

As you'd expect, the UK show has far more period houses, whilst the US features more modern properties.

I like both shows, but I think the British designers take more risks with their transformations (these, it should be noted, do not always work though!). Perhaps it's fear of lawsuits that hold back the Trading Spaces team, or perhaps there's only so much you can do with modern houses? I know the latter is true, from my owning a modern house in Littleton (anything post WW II is modern to me!).

The US show uses real wood, the UK one uses mostly MDF. This is obviously because wood is so much more expensive in the UK.

The US show has a cute female carpenter, but lacks the amusing conflict between Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen and carpenter Handy Andy.

All in all, it's good to see a British show being successfully remade in the US. Both shows are good entertainment.

*Three's Company = Man About The House
The Ropers = George & Mildred
All In the Family = Till Death Do Us Part
Reggie = The Rise And Fall Of Reginald Perrin
Dear John = Dear John