Saturday, October 04, 2003

By Cristina Rouvalis, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Paige Davis, the host of "Trading Spaces," flashed her best gamin-next-door-smile and confided, "I think we have another bad boy in the making."

	Ty Pennington, carpenter for "Trading Spaces," builds a Mission-style bench for Eric and Melissa Miller's dining room in Ross. Click photo for larger image.

The bad boy in question is Rick Rifle, the new designer on the hit cable decorating show, who was about to splash Dreamsicle orange and yellow paint on Eric and Melissa Miller's dining room in Ross.

As the cameras rolled Aug. 2 in an episode that will air at 9 tonight on The Learning Channel, Rifle was redecorating their room in "colonial Caribbean" decor -- whatever that means.

"You figure it out," said Davis with a bouncy shrug.

But what's "Trading Spaces" -- the TLC show in which neighbors switch houses and redo each other's rooms -- without the occasional bad-boy or bad-girl designer to shock unsuspecting homeowners? How else would they come up with all those surprises, the tears of joy or anguish, at the "reveal" in the end of each episode?"

When the show came to Ross, Rifle was the big unknown in a reality TV experience the homeowners called fun, exhilarating but occasionally nerve-wracking. A breezy Hollywood film and television production designer, Rifle was teamed with Rick and Karen Avon to remake the dining room in Eric and Melissa Miller's house at 735 W. Madison Circle.

His "Trading Spaces" resume describes his style as "larger-than-life" and "witty." But an Ohio woman certainly wasn't laughing at his imprint on her dining room. She flashed such a horrified look at the theatrical turquoise room that the episode made a special of notorious makeovers called "You Hated It."

Talk about an upstart bad boy.

"Is it possible to misread people? Oh yeah," he said. "God yes, you can get it wrong."

Then Rifle said his hero was Doug Wilson, the bad-boy designer who has a reputation for doing whatever he wants, homeowner be damned.

The Millers met Rifle briefly and thought he seemed nice and stylish. But they were worried after Rifle mentioned that he wanted to infuse the house with Melissa's Caribbean heritage. (Her parents are from Barbados.)

"We thought of sunsets and dolphins," said Eric, 32. "Cheesy Caribbean."

	In the kitchen of Rick and Karen Avon in Ross, Eric Miller, left, and Melissa Miller, right, discuss the makeover with "Trading Spaces" designer Edward Walker and host Paige Davis. Click photo for larger image.

"A parrot in the corner," said Melissa, 32.

They didn't want cheesy to replace the dining room decor that they had copied from another "Trading Spaces" episode, done by their favorite designer, Vern Yip. It had a chair rail with solid green paint below and white paint with green squares on top.

But they didn't have time to worry. They were off helping designer Edward Walker transform the Avons' tiny 1950s kitchen at 743 E. Madison Circle.

If Rifle was the wild card, Walker seemed like a sure bet. Genteel and classy, he never makes homeowners cry in agony. He never puts hay on the wall, a la Hildy Santo Tomas, another designer.

"I don't do ugly," he told the Millers.

But wait. What was he doing splashing fuchsia paint on the Avons' brown cabinets? The ponytailed designer kept reassuring the couple that the color was really more of a red-burgundy, color-coordinated to the shirt he was wearing.

Even after four coats of paint, Eric thought the red was overbearing.

"I'm going to trust you, but I am scared," Eric told Walker.

But even if Eric had pitched a fit, he probably would not have swayed Walker. Homeowners said they had only so much veto power given the fact that the designers have already gone out and bought everything.

	Karen Avon and Rick Rifle share a lighter moment in Melissa and Eric Miller's dining room. Click photo for larger image.

Karen Avon said the homeowners were in the dark about where the designers were going and saw the design unfold only one piece at a time. "It was unsettling -- you couldn't see their vision."

Walker and decorator Frank Bielec also redid the homes of two other area couples, Chris and Kathy Millroy and Gina and Dave Lecce, all of Hillcrest Drive in Cranberry. That episode will also air tonight.

While the Avons and Millers toiled away, neighbors and traveling gawkers were holding a block party of sorts outside. They waved to Paige as she bounded around in a Pirates shirt she had worn to PNC Park the night before to throw out the first pitch. She had the sewing team of "Trading Spaces" alter it so it better fit her feminine curves. What self-respecting TV babe does ballpark baggy?

"I threw a strike and it was awesome," she said.

Meanwhile, a buff and shirtless Ty Pennington was working the crowd in "Carpentry World," set up in front of the Avons' house. His green cargo shorts were hanging low on the hips, revealing a few inches of yellow-and-white plaid boxers.

He was busy making a Mission-style bench for Rifle. But he was happy to take a break from drilling to shamelessly but charmingly plug his upcoming book ("Ty's Tricks"), his Web site (www.Tythehandyguy.com), his furniture company (FU standing for Furniture Unlimited) and the Chinese jade necklace around his neck.

"I am such a capitalist."

Ty figures he should cash in while he can.

"I only have five years left of my looks," he says.

Ahhh, the short shelf life of a TV carpenter hunk.

Behind him, pounding away, is his nonflashy alter ego -- the carpenter homeowners called "Fast Eddy" Barnard. Off-camera, he put up the crown molding in the Millers' house and did other work. Ty said he needed help because the workload was getting insane.

The Avons and Millers would peek at all the activity outside from time to time.

"It was like seeing a party and not being able to go to it," said Rick Avon, a 38-year-old architect. "Like the host of the party can't enjoy the party."

Even so, they were having great fun inside with Paige -- Rick waltzed with her -- and Rifle, who calls himself a crazy multitasker.

"He acted like he had a chip on his shoulder -- Hollywood, I-don't-care," said Karen, 38. "But he was really very sensitive."

But Rick Avon had some serious issues with the red chandelier with the netting Rick Rifle was concocting for the Millers.

Did the homeowners prevail? Did the fuchsia-red paint and red chandelier go? Is Rick Rifle really a bad boy?

The Learning Channel won't let us tell you. Find out the answers to these and other pressing TV decorating questions by tuning in tonight.

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