These last few weeks, I've been watching Season 2 almost exclusively, with having just bought the new DVD. Tonight, I decided to watch a Season 1 episode, and chose "Break-In" (I haven't watched that one for a few months). As soon as the first kitchen scene arrived (from memory, it was just after where the commercial break would be) it struck me...there's something different about the kitchen. It looked a little bare compared to Season 2, although nothing much had changed. Then I realised it was the wallpaper! The Season 2 wallpaper is much more stylish that the original 'spotty' wallpaper. I wondered if the wallpaper was changed after Season 1, so I went through a few more Season 1 episodes, in production order (as opposed to broadcast). I found out that they changed the wallpaper in between "The Heart Attack" and "The Custody Battle".

Has anyone else noticed that they changed the wallpaper, or is it just me who isn't paying enough attention? I hadn't even noticed it changed half way through Season 1, despite watching the DVD many times! Lol.

I think I somewhat remember noticing a differece. Wasn't one of the wallpapers much more brighter than the other?

Yep, I’ve noticed this for along time. I think the original wallpaper was too harsh --- I’m glad they changed it.

You'll also notice the thing on the kitchen door changes from a poster/chart (haven't seen Season 1 in along time --- can't remember exactly what it was) to a calendar in later episodes.

I think the wallpaper changed in mid season of season 2. They also brought the baker's rack from the garage area just beyond the kitchen phone into the kitchen. It was placed just behind the swinging door.

Sorry to bring up an old topic of mine, but I realised a couple more things about the kitchen. As I said in 2005, I noticed that the kitchen wallpaper changed beginning with the episode "The Custody Battle" in Season 1. Before that episode it was the original spotty wallpaper. After doing some research, I found out that "The Custody Battle" was the first episode directed by Terry Hughes. I wonder if it was he who decided that the original wallpaper was too harsh? Before that point, the main directors had been Paul Bogart and Jim Drake.

The second thing is that since I've been watching Season 6 on DVD, I've noticed for the first time that the kitchen curtains changed. They were green for the bulk of the show, but starting with Season 6, they are yellow frilly ones. They stayed that way in Season 7. I love spotting these incidental things when watching the show!

Yeah I noticed the change in curtains too Rob. I never noticed the wallpaper though so I'll have to watch season 1 again. I always just thought that it was the table that changed. Good spottings Rob!!

Oh my! I'll have to check that out! I've never noticed the wallpaper nor the curtains, but I've noticed taht the salt/pepper thingy on the table changed quite a bit toward the episodes.

Yep, all the episodes directed by Paul Bogart and Jim Drake in the first season used the original wallpaper and from the first episode Terry Hughes directed until the finale in Season 7 used the second wallpaper. Here are some screenshots:

First wallpaper:




Second wallpaper@



I must say that I prefer the second wallpaper. I agree that the first one is far too harsh. It also makes the kitchen look very bare.

I agree. When I watch the first few episodes the kitchen always looks very empty and bare, like it had just been created which was probably the case lol.