Parents' Guide to

Million Dollar Decorators

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Reality show with elite designers, egos, and materialism.

TV Bravo Reality TV 2011
Million Dollar Decorators Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

MILLION DOLLAR DECORATORS follows the creative drama of a group of elite interior designers in Los Angeles, California. It stars high-end designers like Jeffrey Alan Marks, Mary McDonald, and Nathan Turner. Internationally renowned designers like Kathryn Ireland and celebrity decorator Martyn Lawrence Bullard are also featured. Satisfying wealthy and demanding clients isn't always easy, especially when the designers are also trying to balance their personal lives. But the time, energy, and money they spend on their work results in big payouts, luxury lifestyles, and decorator stardom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This reality series showcases lots of expensive homes and lavish design details, but the show's real focus is on the people being paid big bucks to tastefully showcase their extravagant lifestyles. While some of these designers' personalities are amusingly quirky, their endless discussions about what it costs to hire them, how much they spend on their clients, and (especially in the case of Martyn Lawrence Bullard) who their famous clients are, get pretty tiresome.

Folks who like watching design and decorating shows might enjoy watching these professionals stress over projects like Sharon Osbourne's apartment, especially when things seem to be going horribly wrong. Meanwhile, in between the drama, the designers' commitment to a client underscores the importance of creativity and being professional. But it's the designers' larger-than-life egos that makes this show entertainingly comical.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how interior designers are featured in the media. What kind of personality traits do they seem to possess on TV? Why are so many male designers on TV gay? Do you think these media representations are based on stereotypes about the industry and the people who work in it? Or is this simply a part of interior design culture?

  • How realistic is the show's depiction of working as a designer? Is it as fun and/or glamorous as they make it seem on TV?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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