THE BIG SWITCH
Photographed by Bob Jackson

One weekend in September, interior designers Troy Broussard and Jennifer Loh took over the Fifth Ward homes of Jocelyn Wyatt and Patricia Wysinger. Assisted by carpenter Arturo Ruiz, and trailed by a camera crew from Houston PBS Channel 8, Broussard and Loh made "The Big Switch," the house-switching, room-decorating venture initiated by OutSmart, Bassett Furniture Direct, and Channel 8.

Selected by the Big Switch team from a field of entrants, Wyatt and Wysinger live next door to one another on a street of trim residences built in 1998 by Habitat for Humanity, the extraordinary organization that works with local communities to create affordable housing around the world. A dedicated contest applicant, Wysinger had convinced Wyatt to complete the requested information and drop it off in August at the new Bassett flagship store. "I told Jocelyn to pray and pray," Wysinger says with a laugh.

Wyatt lives with two young sons in her two-bedroom home (a third adult son lives in the Northwest). She has coped with cancer for several years and continues to receive chemotherapy treatments, which can leave her weak. Once the secretary at her church, Wyatt has recently been able to attend Sunday services once again. Wysinger, who lives alone, works for Continental Airlines.

For The Big Switch, the two neighbors changed houses during the two-day endeavor. Broussard and Loh worked with Wyatt and Wysinger-who could draft one helper each-to transform the living room in one another's house. The project rules limited each team to $1,500 for all materials, and supplies, and furnishings, including at least one Bassett piece. After much painting and sewing and building, each team revealed a remarkably changed room. The entire Big Switch process will unfold on November 2 and 3 on "The Connection," the Channel 8 program hosted by Ernie Manouse. -TB

BEFORE

Jocelyn Wyatt had more furniture and belongings in her living room at the start. Many of the items had been given to her, she said, and thus held little sentimental meaning. She did request that a wooden cabinet, a family piece, remain in the room.

Echoing the dilemma of many homeowners, Patricia Wysinger explained that she had never completely decorated her room, because she could not fully decide on plans. Over time, she had acquired a number of favored pieces, including an impressive black-leather chaise longue.

Once designers Troy Broussard and Jennifer Loh each drew a name from a hat, the two teams got to work.

In Jocelyn Wyatt's house:

Designer: Jennifer Loh, ASID, Burgess Loh Interiors, Inc. (This month, Loh opens her own shop, BLI Collections, in the Resource Center.)

Neighbor: Patricia Wysinger

Helper: Rick Nuncio, a friend of Wysinger's

In Patricia Wysinger's house:

Designer: Troy Broussard, Edward J. Perrault Design Associates, Inc. (Broussard's partner, chiropractor Kenneth Lester, was on the cover of OutSmart in October.)

Neighbor: Jocelyn Wyatt

Helper: Gloria Washington, Wyatt's sister

Assisting both teams:

Carpenter: Arturo Ruiz

AFTER

• Patricia Wysinger's Living Room

"From the beginning, I wanted to give Patricia an elegant room," designer Broussard says. "I'm amazed at how just the change of color made such a dramatic difference to the space. I did all the walls and ceiling in the same tone-Benjamin Moore 'Guilford Green'. That same color is repeated in the window treatments to convey a unified or seamless quality."

Broussard's sources ranged across the price-tag scale, from Denton Jones Inc. for the rug to Wal-Mart for a chenille throw. "No matter what the budget of the project, I will not compromise quality," the designer says. "I am also a firm believer that if the interior does not fit the personality or lifestyle of its inhabitant, then no matter how expensive or beautiful it cannot be good design."

Highlights:

- Green silk window treatments made by Custom Drapery

- Hand-woven wool dhurrie rug from Denton Jones Inc.

- Original acrylic-on-canvas paintings created on site by the team

- Pair of "Symphony" side tables and "Symphony" coffee table from Bassett Furniture Direct

Designer Discovery:

"I think that the eight-light brass-and-chrome chandelier was a fabulous find," Broussard says. "At $50.40-marked down from $127.50 at the Guild Shop-it worked into the budget, while stylistically it is transitional, a little contemporary and a little traditional. Its scale is perfect in that space."

• Jocelyn Wyatt's Living Room

"I wanted to create a family-oriented, kid-friendly room," designer Loh says. "I also planned a multi-functional room with lots of storage space. The entire room is unified by the color and the use of faux painting, which also gives the room a lot of character."

Loh, who is president of the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), drew on sources that ranged from IKEA for abstract wall prints to Bassett Furniture Direct for the "Giselle" sofa that anchors the room. "I agree with Troy. No matter how high the budget is on a job, good design is good design, and it is available in all price brackets," Loh says. "You just need to know where to go to find it and have the knowledge and resources to combine it. A successful project between client and designer starts with open communication, understanding, and trust.  Once that is established, the project can be all its owners want it to be."

Highlights:

- Slipcovers from Pottery Barn

- Chrome light fixtures by IKEA

- Oversized denim-wrapped ottoman that doubles as seating and a table

- Window treatments of sheer cotton and silk check from Loh's new retail shop, BLI Collections, in the Resource Center over faux bamboo blinds from Lowe's

Designer Discovery:

I think the art from IKEA was a great find," Loh says. "Those three pictures were under $20 framed."

WHAT THEY THINK

Patricia Wysinger got to view her new room first. "I love it," she said later. "Troy did an incredible job with the colors in the room and using some of my own things."

At first look, Jocelyn Wyatt did not like her room-a reaction recorded by the Channel 8 camera. Within days, however, she reported that she changed her mind. "Now I love it," she said. "I am so blessed. My neighbors and family have all come over and want this room, too."