Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reality renovation show features relationship drama, too.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SPOUSE VS. HOUSE is a reality makeover series designed to test couples' design and relationship skills. In each episode, a couple is given $25,000 for a three room home remodel. The twist? The wife and kids must leave the house for three weeks before making any design decisions, leaving the husband to complete the entire do-it-yourself project on his own. Cameras follow as husbands struggle with construction challenges, budget woes, and the pressure of trying to figure out their spouses' design choices. To help the wives cope with the lack of control over the project, they meet with Flipping Out designer Ryan Brown to create a life-size replica of the room of their dreams to be shown to their husbands two days before the reveal. After seeing their designs, each husband must determine if they have the time, money, and/or desire to adjust their renovation accordingly. When project is over, the wives return to a remodeled home that is (hopefully) to her liking.
Is It Any Good?
The show combines renovation mishaps with relationship drama to showcase how potentially disconnected couples can be when it comes to their design aesthetic. Much of its entertainment value comes from humorously emphasizing the distrust some wives have in their husbands' choices, while highlighting the ways their husbands are disregarding their tastes and preferences.
The show sends some questionable messages about the featured couples' willingness to compromise with each other. It doesn't offer much by way of do-it-yourself pointers, either. But no doubt that folks who like this sort of thing will enjoy watching how the remodels go, and the reactions to them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about renovation reality shows. Why is this type of show so popular? Who watches them? Do you think people get practical tips for their own projects from, or do they just find them entertaining?
If you were to redesign a space you share with someone else, how could you incorporate both your styles? What if you don't like their style? In what ways could you compromise and still get the kind of room that you both want?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 4, 2011
- Cast : Ryan Brown
- Network : TLC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 18, 2022
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