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Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:06 am
by weeksy
New series just started. I find it interesting at times, but as much from a car crash persepctive as they get things completely wrong, but they all seem to get there in the end.
Most of the houses leave me feeling cold, but some are things of beauty.
But in all honesty i think it's more about the 'where' rather than the what is built. You can build me the best house in the world in the middle of London and i'd rather live where i do now. By the same account, build me a shed in the right location, i'd live there

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:14 am
by derek badger
The wife and I watch it, not started the new series yet though. I enjoyed The Street too, which was a very interesting project.
https://www.gravenhill.co.uk/grand-designs-the-street/
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:34 am
by Mr. Dazzle
I think you have to have either a properly amazing house, or be obviously a tit, to get on there.
A fairly decent house made on budget and on time does not make great TV.
I quite like it, Mrs D ain't really interested. I've always said that if we ever move out of here it would be into a house we built ourselves. I know right now we wouldn't agree though, I'd want something properly experimental and "out there" whereas she wouldn't.
Did anyone else watch that programme with Caroline Quentin and some architect dude travelling around the world looking at special houses? There was some properly cool stuff on there.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:48 am
by Yorick
Our lass loves that sort of program and makeover stuff.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:51 am
by Mussels
I used to love Grand Designs but have barely watched it for a few years. All the houses now seem to be carbon neutral adverts for architects, they are mostly uninteresting and a far cry from converting derelict buildings on a small budget.
I liked George Clark stuff for a while, he ran out of material a bit but at least he tries new ideas.
Return to the Chateau was good as well until they also ran out of stuff to do.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:58 am
by weeksy
Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:51 am
Return to the Chateau was good as well until they also ran out of stuff to do.
Only because i can then dream about stabbing Angel with a fairly blunt knife multiple times through the heart.
I enjoy it, but she is really getting a bit tiresome.
I also think their kids are going to grow up just a little bit weird.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:02 am
by Mr. Dazzle
This is the programme I was thinking of.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09tqy ... e%20world.
Very much a "if I won euro millions id build that" rather than "that's my next project" sort of programme, but some brilliant houses on there. Some people might find the architect guy a bit irritating when he gets his felt tips out, but I liked it alot.
My favorite was the house in Spain made from prefab concrete sections normally used to build motorway bridges and the like, complete with cantilevered swimming pool stuck out the bedroom window.
I can see why it might not be to everyone's taste

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:10 am
by weeksy
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:02 am
My favorite was the house in Spain made from prefab concrete sections normally used to build motorway bridges and the like, complete with cantilevered swimming pool stuck out the bedroom window.
I can see why it might not be to everyone's taste
Yeah it wouldn't be for me...
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:12 am
by Claude
Yep love it.
Friends of ours were on 'building the dream'.
We are currently planning our own 'grand design'.

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:14 am
by slowsider
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:16 am
by Mr. Dazzle
slowsider wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:14 am
parkour !
You long would you live there before attempting the high-dive off that top beam into the main pool?
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:26 am
by cheb
Generally they do nothing for me, too much fake tension. One of my cousins was featured on something like this, their's was a boring episode as they built and renovated house before so the timescale and budgets were close to predicted. No stress, no tantrums.
I've renovated one house and would love to do another and never again in equal parts. Happily though my older spawn is having a house built up here, at least the fourth generation of my family to have built, or had built, their own house. For some reason that pleases me.
I'm far too much of an unimaginative peasant to build an interesting house, I just want comfort and practicality. Preferred style: Vernacular.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:33 am
by Horse
cheb wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:26 am
I've renovated one house and would love to do another and never again in equal parts.
We had a small (4m x 6m) single storey extension built, and that was almost 9 months of grief - but it pleases me that it turned out almost exactly as intended.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:54 am
by cheb
Mine took ten years, 5 bedrooms, two public rooms, workshop etc. I didn't do all the work but I did a lot of the insides. The walls were already there and that what the building was taken down to in two stages. Approximately 300 square metres over two floors.
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 10:20 am
by Rockburner
cheb wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:54 am
Mine took ten years, 5 bedrooms, two public rooms, workshop etc. I didn't do all the work but I did a lot of the insides. The walls were already there and that what the building was taken down to in two stages. Approximately 300 square metres over two floors.
And bloody lovely it is too.
(assuming it's the house I'm assuming it is!)
Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 1:48 pm
by Taff
weeksy wrote: Fri Jan 08, 2021 8:06 am
By the same account, build me a shed in the right location, i'd live there
That's it, I'm ordering better locks for my sheds to keep you out

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 2:45 pm
by Cousin Jack
Some are fantastic, but others are pretty boring. Technical/budget challenges maybe, but boring houses.
I would love to be ale to afford a fantastic view with a fantastic house to match it, but it ain't going to happen, so I just watch and dream.

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:02 pm
by Rockburner
If I ever catch GD, I tend to have fun watching the 'drama' bits, but there's always one or two little details on each house that I think, "hmmm - that's a nice idea, must remember that." Even if it's just a very small thing like furniture layout or some other irrelevancy. Every day is a learning day.

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:41 pm
by Claude
This is our plan

Re: Grand Designs, yeah, no, maybe ?
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:44 pm
by Claude
As it is now.
