More on “Trading Spaces”:

They call it a game: can you design a room for a thousand dollars? And it is a game, but it’s not that game. By the time the work begins, the game is over, because the real game is Russian roulette: will you get a good designer or a crappy designer?

As a (graphic) designer myself, I’ve decided to rate them, in order, here. Do feel free to disagree in the comments section below.

Top Tier
The good Hildi—unique design solutions, clear and interesting vision, steers clear of the “expected”
Vern—tight control, clear vision, pretty rooms, too much of an established “style”
Laurie—the female Vern; if she does one more yellow room, I’ll die

Decent
Edward—good vision, occasionally unique solutions, relies too heavily on fabric, and what’s with that hair?
Genevieve—interesting inspirations, eye for cool graphics and colors, lacks control over final solution
Doug—interesting ideas, relies too heavily on his glazes, tries too hard to be a “bad boy” to be truly successful as a designer

Bottom Tier
The bad Hildi—her failed experiments, rooms usually have one or two redeeming features, at least she tried
Christi—seems as if she’s trying to be Laurie but lacks her clear vision; when she tries for “unexpected,” she ends up with “unappealing”
Rick—comes across as if he knows what he’s doing, so maybe he does, but you couldn’t tell it from his rooms so far; seems as if he’s trying to be Doug, and may actually be his boyfriend
Frank—been getting better lately but still a disaster, no vision whatsoever

Run for Your Life
Kia—’nuff said