grand designs
 

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[Closed] grand designs

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Hate them already.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:07 pm
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I was about to start a thread exactly like this!!

EDIT: it still amazes me how much money / effort people are willing to invest to live in 'trendy' parts of London.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:09 pm
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650 k! Hes runs an eco taxi firm, and shes an out of work actress, bloodyell! How do they get this money!

Im not jealous 🙁


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:11 pm
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Triangle plot of land ... bad feng shui.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:16 pm
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I got the feeling she blames him for her being a failed actress, with two kids, that doesn't live in L.A
Arguments will follow, but the house will only be fuelling underlying problems


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:17 pm
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17 party wall agreements 😐


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:17 pm
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Shes a babe too, hate him even more 😉


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:19 pm
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Wtf is an Eco taxi firm?


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:22 pm
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I already thought he was a 'male chicken', but the Prius has overwhelmingly confirmed it!!


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:22 pm
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Don't understand. They say how important it is to have a house and garden. If so, just move out of London. What they paid for the plot would buy a reasonable house just about anywhere else in the UK.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:22 pm
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Eeek... he's just sold his company. Or rather he's just sold his Toyota Pious..?!


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:29 pm
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househusband - Member

Eeek... he's just sold his company. Or rather he's just sold his Toyota Pious..?!

Wow the man has the balls.
Yes, that's scary and very risky ... 😯


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:30 pm
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How much??


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:30 pm
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I think the builder may be slightly regretting his fixed quote


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:33 pm
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Shitters with heated seats wtf


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:38 pm
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Think the builder is doing a sterling job mind.

Always amazed that people plan on spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on these projects without getting an accurate price before starting. Also the basement projects, never understood why people are never advised about undertaking proper site investigations and surveys - the architect wants a kicking for getting the levels wrong - poor excuse blaming an unclear site, clear it ffs!

Edit: spoke too soon re the contractor!


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:39 pm
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Builder in administration...


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:41 pm
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Arguments will follow

I think the builder may be slightly regretting his fixed quote

wukfit, that magic ball of yours is on fire!!


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:41 pm
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Recording it, looks like it'll be interesting... 😉


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:41 pm
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Oops builder in administration.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:41 pm
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"I think the builder may be slightly regretting his fixed quote"
May be more than slightly.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:43 pm
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Does anyone know anything she's acted in?


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:47 pm
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" Does anyone know anything she's acted in?" The Bill ? Everyone had been in The Bill at some point.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:50 pm
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[quote=crankboy ]" Does anyone know anything she's acted in?" The Bill ? Everyone had been in The Bill at some point.

That, or Casualty


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:51 pm
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Something on RedTube, mebbe?


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:53 pm
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Does anyone know anything she's acted in?

The Bill? Everyone had been in The Bill at some point.

That, or Casualty

or Porn!


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:54 pm
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Swimming pool ... I can never get this ... 🙄


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:55 pm
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How do they get in and out of the house?

Did I miss seeing a driveway or a garage?


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 8:57 pm
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Rhythmic spaces - can't wait for next week...


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:00 pm
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They dont need a car, dey is urban cool init


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:02 pm
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Something on RedTube, mebbe?

I'd watch that 😉

where do these folk get the money? when the majority of the population can't even get a mortgage on a starter house.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:04 pm
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it'll be on the market in a few months (the swimming pool is to add sale value)

[url= http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-42165521.html ]channel 4 offering free advertising[/url]

[url= http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26590737.html?premiumA=true ]and again[/url]


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:09 pm
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Klunk - Member

it'll be on the market in a few months (the swimming pool is to add sale value)

The first link is ok but for that money ... hmmm ... London price I guess.

Crikey the second link ... that is hideous.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:18 pm
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Unbelievable, I drove through kennington today, why would anyone want to live there? Let alone spend 5 mill for the privilege, its a s**t hole.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:26 pm
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Klunk - Member

and another

How much? 😯

For that money I can live a stress free life for a long long time ...


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:32 pm
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Does anyone know anything she's acted in?

Eastenders?
Saskia Duncan 1999, storyline with Martin Kemp

Oh and of course an episode of Casualty


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:35 pm
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10.4 million for a basement, but hey it's been on the telly


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:35 pm
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I really don't get the London mentality, why anyone wants to live there is beyond me, (sorry CFH) I work there & grew up in an affluent part of it (well it all is really if your talking about property prices) & I really wonder about it if you are past the age of spending the whole week clubbing etc.

But hey ho, each to their own.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 9:43 pm
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That seemed to go remarkably smoothly I though given the potential it had to go wrong.
Liked the house and the people this episode.
Think it was £1.3m all in in the end - a "bargain" for that house in that area. They must have at least doubled their money.


 
Posted : 11/09/2013 10:50 pm
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Imagine a £ 1,000,000 mortgage, madness!!!


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 6:12 am
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My favourite part of this particular show was the couple persuading Kevin at every opportunity how they wouldn't be overlooked when they were plainly overlooked on every side. It was a goldfish bowl.

Also as often in this programme. The money side was a mystery.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 7:04 am
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I want to know where all the rain water goes that runs down the steps to the cellar/downstairs/underground bits. It looked like London clay so I reckon give it a few months and their proverbial gold fish bowl will be ready for a few fish.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 7:16 am
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The money side was a mystery.

There was a brief segment where she mentioned that his dad was crapping it..I suspect some family money entered the fray.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 7:17 am
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I really don't get the London mentality, why anyone wants to live there is beyond me

1) There are lots of very highly paid jobs there
2) There are loads of cool things there and lots going on.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 7:47 am
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It looked like London clay so I reckon give it a few months and their proverbial gold fish bowl will be ready for a few fish.

armchair expert v architect... hmm, I Imagine the architect has thought of that.

I liked it, was cool, without being over the top, thought the basement pool / gym was a bit cramped though...


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 8:01 am
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For a Grand Designs that had "car crash" written all over it based on the trailers and the speil about party walls and basements this episode sorely failed to deliver.

In the end it all seemed to go OK, couple we either very good at hiding their male chickenish tendencies or were atcually genuinely nice, house got completed despite issues with the builded (who was again a very nice chap) and the finished product was actually very good.

Pool and gym were a bit OTT but as a house and a peice of architecture it was very nice.

Kev is losing his touch as well, not a single pregnancy yet this series.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 8:45 am
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I liked the part that was above the ground; a nice-looking, sensibly sized house. I wonder what it would have cost to build just that part, in a sensible part of the country?

Unfortunately, they had to dig a big hole and fill it with pretentious status symbols first.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 8:50 am
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MrsBouy loves these programmes, me I'm a bit meh over them. As often Kevin has a good sense of style and honesty which at some point does err on the side of pretentiousness, but he's often probed the right angle, invariably money.

As to the designs, some have been wonderful textural spaces, this in particular had some lovely features, the air, the light the space but again it was stuck in the back garden(s) of a part of London that is seen as trendy and up and coming (cough, for the last 15yrs at least so no surprise it was built there)

Invariably these places are soulless, clinical, cold and open to the elements which takes the owner(s) down a route of constant repair, upkeep and money. Eco credentials creep in with a simple sledge hammer effect and a doom bell ring, just how many tons of concrete were used exactly ? All that steel ? All that glass ? It looked like a tunnel for the Crossrail link at one point and suspect it could have been given the right planning permission.

Refreshing too see another "architect" bashed for lack of foresight, does make you wonder what you pay for professionalism in this country, nice to own up and offer to pay for the lack of actual structural surveys, dear God.

But really the programme has lost it's way, less a design from the heart Homelife and into an echascetch by 4 year old whilst on the toilet doodle and reality camera up the owners nose and scope out the cracks in their personality feux celebrityism. I fear the programme production company have derailed the original scope in favour of selling reality TV made for the whining beat the Joneses crowd.

Kevin's too good for the show, his own build a shed programme was worth more in both concept and production than all of the last Grand Designs season put together.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 9:12 am
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In a couple of weeks time they're doing a newly-built property from out my way that's built on the edge of an airfield and strongly resembles....an aircraft hangar.

I'm still undecided on that one.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 9:26 am
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armchair expert v architect... hmm, I Imagine the architect has thought of that

I imagine the architect thought "hmm, that looks nice, now lets see if the engineers can make it work...."

I am of course a bitter civil engineer. The below ground drainage would only be an issue if the main sewers were not very deep, and even then a small pump would sort it out.


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 10:09 am
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In a couple of weeks time they're doing a newly-built property from out my way that's built on the edge of an airfield and strongly resembles....an aircraft hangar.

Cool! I always wanted to live in an aircraft hanger - what's not to like?


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 10:47 am
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Wonder if it will be like that barn one. That was weird. Built a pretty much basic three bedroom house in a massive barn...


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 10:53 am
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Well i got my planning permission today and will be talking to the structural engineer via my architect on wednesday. the upfront costs are a bit of a pain but i'm reckoning it will save me money and hassle in the long run. i do not expect to spend over £1m!!!, mind you i dont plan a pool!!. Money wise i am absolutely astounded that they could access that sort of cash, his company must have been worth a mint!. I watch GD now more on the basis of the people rather than the build, i warmed to the couple last week and not to these guys even though they both appeared to be the concrete shows!. last weeks seemed to have a bit more heart and soul whereas last nights was a bit showy for me. My favourte remains (predictably) the guy who built his place in the forest for about £20...


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 10:55 am
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ps. How does that house drain into the sewer? Does it require a pump and what happens if that goes?


 
Posted : 12/09/2013 10:59 am
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Does it require a pump and what happens if that goes?

Shit happens. That's what happens.

Quite liked the end result last night and really wanted to hate Mr Eco Taxi but in the end quite admired him and his variable hair style. Wonder where the money came from though?

I do prefer the smaller projects built by people on a tighter budget. 9 years ago me and the missus did our own bit of mini grand designing by spending £120k on a rebuild/extension and it is a massive rush/nightmare!


 
Posted : 13/09/2013 6:04 am
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Anyone know where abouts in Camden this house is?


 
Posted : 13/09/2013 9:02 am
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The money side was a mystery.

There was a brief segment where she mentioned that his dad was crapping it..I suspect some family money entered the fray.

I must have missed that bit. I did get the feeling it was more largely self funded. I didn't have any sympathy for them in terms of the money side, they knew how much it was going to cost and fitted it out with a really high end build (the guy was obviously a bit of an obsessive about this) and might have racked up another £100K on the finishings.

Although I felt quite sympathetic to them especially when the whole kitchen and bathroom unit's were in their one bedroom flat.


 
Posted : 13/09/2013 9:24 am
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Just watched this and tbh I really found them thoroughly annoying (the trendy looking dutch bikes also put me off) and the building did nothing for me. I also couldn't work out if the pool was supposed to be swum in or just to look good: looked to narrow for a swim.


 
Posted : 14/09/2013 8:04 pm
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[i]Did I miss seeing a driveway or a garage? [/i]

You've not been to London have you?

Right at the end though when they were discussing money, you need to watch her face - the last look. In deep shit would be my guess.


 
Posted : 14/09/2013 8:51 pm