Recent Grand Designs

[plumbers mate]

OK, it's not period property but I was really hoping last night's houseboat build was a success - and that Kevin Smart***e wasn't so snooty and sniffy about them because they didn't do "drawing".
Compare that couple with the prats who were on earlier with their 2 million pound echoing, uncomfortable looking building (not a home but an advert for her company) and their blatant disregard for what ttype of brick they were supposed to have used.
I know which couple is preferable.
Let's hope their houseboat dream ends happily after all. I wanted to rush off and help them.

 

[Nimster]

Agreed. Maybe I'm odd, but I could see nothing homely about the earlier build. No, I tell a lie, his library bit was nice. The rest of it was like a warehouse.

I hope the boat people manage to sort it out. The Trade Secrets farce that was on afterwards was terrible - all three presenters giggling at the stupid people who thought they could do it without plans :evil: I thought they had actually done a decent job considering they only had £50k in total (though I was a bit worried about cutting up the structure to fit the windows). I wish the TS people would realise that not everyone has endless buckets of cash to do their projects, and that, even if you do have endless funds, you may not necessarily want your home to look how they think it should be. Just because they do interior design/architecture for a living doesn't mean their personal taste is "right".

Rant over.

 

[Manny]

I think the final figure for the boat was around £80k wasn't it? Even then it wasn't anywhere near finished. There was no plumbing or heating, it was basically 'Stig of the Dump' on water.
For that money I'm sure they could have come up with something better after spending a few quid on even a very basic design.

 

[plumbers mate]

They only wanted to spend 50K but it went over that - the chap did say that sourcing materials differently might have been better in retrospect -but hindsight is a wonderful thing and they believed they were doing their best.
These were people who had a dream and had to see it trashed on national TV - a big, big, shame.
I would like Kev to apologise to them on national TV too.
And for the TV Company to get rid of the Trinny&Susanna* clones from Trade Secrets.

* I think those are the names.

 

[Nimster]

I really like Trinny and Susannah

On a different note, the GD in the woods was on last night (the one where the woodman built his house near his charcoal business). I LOVE that episode. Kevin went back at the end (3 years later) and it looked like a fairytale cottage - really beautiful. Also goes to show how £30k can create something truly unique and stunning.

 

[Flyfisher]

I missed that episode last night and am really sorry about it because I also loved the original programme showing the building process of the straw-bale structure. It wasn't only the house that appealed, it was how the owner was so immersed in the whole thing and was clearly at one with the woods that really were providing him with everything.

However, I recall that he had many problems obtaining planning permission and, in the end, was only granted permission on a temporary basis for his own use and (I may be wrong here) only while he was earning his living from the woods.

On this basis, what will happen to this unique property? Presumably it is of no value if no-one else can live there and therefore can't be sold. Will the council really bulldoze it when the owner finally moves out (or dies?). Perhaps it will end up being listed before then, although that would still leave the occupancy restriction.
Did the 'revisit' episode touch on any of this at all?

 

[plumbers mate]

Don't forget he grew his own wood and had tools to hand, plus he didn't have to employ expensive labour or buy the land.

But it was rather idyllic when finished - the sad thing is the thought that if he sold the land or had to move, the house would have to be demolished.

 

[Nemesis]

We have had loong discussions here in the past about all this. I don't think really the place will be listable, so it will be interesting to see what happens when he moves. He did only get permission as it was a special case.

 

[andrew gayton]

not entirely sure that the building control surveyor got out alive.

 

[Penners]

I thought that the Grand Designs on the houseboat project was an infringement of the Trade Descriptions Act. It wasn't Grand, nor was it Designed.

And I'm sorry to sound a note of disharmony, but I thought the chap was a stupid, selfish prat (OK, Kevin is an arrogant sod, but that's not relvant here).

The guy didn't think anything through, and in every circumstance he seemed to have an unswerving ability to make the wrong decision. Consequently he put his family through a seemingly interminable series of disasters. His wife's indomitability was the only thing that allowed him to get away with it, and that held them all together.

God knows whether/if the project will ever be finished.

 

[jaykay]

I thought the houseboat man had a dream, but he was remarkably impervious to advice. I was sorry it went wrong, if not surprised.

Whereas the Woodman took counsel from folk who could help him - and what a result!! I'm sort of hoping that he gets the chance to leave it to his child (supposing the child wants to live in the woods). Even if not, what a place to have created and also to have grown up in.

 

[Gervase]

His wife's indomitability was the only thing that allowed him to get away with it, and that held them all together.

God knows whether/if the project will ever be finished.

Er, the very same thing could be said about any number of us who post on this forum!

 

[Nemesis]

I don't have a wife. Maybe one would be useful.

 

[Penners]

His wife's indomitability was the only thing that allowed him to get away with it, and that held them all together.

God knows whether/if the project will ever be finished.

Er, the very same thing could be said about any number of us who post on this forum!

Oh no! You're right - I never thought of that! Motes and beams.....

I don't have a wife. Maybe one would be useful.

I strongly recommend you to get yourself one. They're brilliant! You'll never have to do any washing, ironing, cooking or cleaning again. And you won't have to think for yourself, because you will receive unsolicited advice on every aspect of your life.

 

[Nemesis]

My husband disagrees with the bit about cooking, cleaning etc. Says you talk cobblers.

 

[Penners]

Tell him that there are new models of wife being introduced all the time. He may need an upgrade.

 

[Nemesis]

Chance would be a fine thing. I think he's stuck with the out of date version for while yet.

I'm not too sure either he'd appreciate one of the sort who likes a clean and tidy house...

 

[Penners]

I have heard of special offers - for example, two 25-year-olds in return for one 50-year-old.

 

[Nemesis]

Sounds exhausting.

 

[Penners]

On the contrary! Being ministered unto in the kitchen, laundry, garden, etc. by a pair of youthful, energetic handmaidens conserves a chap's energy for the more important things in life.