MPDP stands in front of the Arch in St. Louis as she explains that it is the tallest monument in the United States. She compares the size of the monument to the size of the designers' plans. A bit of a reach, but at least it wasn't the usual horrible pun that she wedges into the show's intro. Cut to Edward, Frank, and Ty, gambling on a riverboat. Ty jokes that he needs to win so he can buy a new skill saw.

The first set of homeowners is Karen and Bob, who are hoping Edward will make their bedroom look more contemporary. I'm happy to see that Karen and Bob are a little older than the typical TS participants, because I was getting a little sick of the plethora of twentysomething McMansion owners we've seen in the last year or so. Karen says that their bedroom has a lot of potential, and Bob adds that it's a work in progress. The room has beige carpet, and then white wainscoting with the upper walls painted a melon color. The furniture is all made of medium-toned wood. Karen says that their house was built in the '50s, and there's only one closet "for two people who like clothes." She'd like an armoire, another way to use the closet, or another closet. The room has a skylight as well. Karen says that they love contemporary furnishings, but haven't been able to afford new furniture while paying for college at the same time. Bob concludes that they want to see their nothing room turn into something. Bob looks like some actor, but I can't figure out who.

The other set of homeowners is Ben and Judy, who would like to see Frank "carve an oasis of serenity in their eclectic but cluttered house." Their bedroom is long and narrow, but has nice wood floors and white walls, with a high ceiling. They have a four-poster bed and Colonial-style wood furniture. Above the doorway is a nook that is filled with hatboxes. There's also a sitting area. Judy explains that they built this master bedroom and then never really decorated it, and would like someone to give it some focus. Ben says it's a beautiful room, as we see that it has a gas fireplace as well. Judy says that she loves the architecture, and that she would even like the room to be gray and black. Overall, Judy wants some serenity, because she has a busy life. Ben adds, "Just so long as it's on the good side of hideous, that's all right with me." Ben has clearly watched the show before. Ben wants something that they can be proud of, and a room that won't keep them awake at night. Okay, maybe he hasn't seen the show before.

During the key swap, MPDP talks about how cold it is there, but I don't see any snow, so I'm not buying it. Karen and Bob walk in and meet Frank, who asks what they want to do to the room. Bob says that the rest of the house is very eclectic and freeform, so he thinks Ben and Judy will love whatever Frank does. Karen says that it's very exciting downstairs, but that the bedroom is supposed to be Judy's retreat. With all this talk about the rest of the house, I'm dying to see it. I know they don't have much time on this show, but maybe they could cut out five minutes worth of Ty mugging and MPDP babbling and do a quick tour of the rest of the house. That would be kind of interesting. Frank says that the bedroom is supposed to be "comfortable, but sort of exciting." He holds up a painting of Ben and Judy's daughters that scares me. The older daughter doesn't look bad, but if the younger daughter actually looks like that painting -- yikes. It kind of looks like it was paint-by-numbers. Frank wants to use the painting for a color palette, and then hang the painting above the fireplace, which will get a faux finish. Frank wants to add rich color, a new bed, a curtain to separate the work area, and lots of accessories. They clear the room.