J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

The church, fantastic !

No difficult customers, prima donna architects, maybe it wasnt perfect but it was pretty amazing.

davyboy

I really enjoyed that, real people with massive desire.

120k that placed owed them, yet how much could they sell it for?!

Fair play to them.

sti-04!!

Kevin McLeod (sp??) = Over critical b*s*t*rd.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Kevin McCloud may be over critical, but the programme is called Grand Designs.

The chap mentioned a few times he was building a family home and was from a working class background. Although he did prove his design ideas were limited and his thinking a little blinkered.

swampster

iTrader: (1)

Fair play to the builder/architect/owner guy, his determination & dedication was remarkable, and to achieve what he did on that budget was outstanding but I think Kevin McLeod's criticisms were pretty fair comment to be honest..

There was simply no class, or respect to the building (other than for the windows, which was a forced decision anyway being grade 2 listed) from the plastic dome to the "footballers wives" bathroom.. each to their own, but it could have been a lot better, and more sympathetic to the original building.. the only things that were looking really right for that particular project were the dining room (albeit dark) and the kitchen!

The "sardine can" swimming pool looked tat.. even the blokes wife didnt like it in the end, and said she would prefer it to be out of sight.

speedking

Condensation

Clarebabes

I liked it, but wouldn't have had the swimming pool, but understand why they did have it. I thought making the kitchen out of the old pews was inspired and really looked good.

I would have one concern - no views apart from in that God awful dome. It would play havoc with choosing what to wear in the morning

Reality

To be honest the planning regs were his biggest problem and even the presenter said it would be a challenge for an architect to work the balcony in.

The planners should have let him knock the balcony down - Would have given him more options and probably would mean no pool

Still - Good result for £132k - most places in Engerland that would get you a two bed semi !!!!

Playsatan

iTrader: (2)

But did it really cost £120k?

The guy was a builder to trade and lost almost 2 years salary, more if you factor in the 16 hour days. What must that have cost him?

davyboy

How much could he sell it for?

Coffin Dodger

There's no getting away from it though, nice house, but it's in Dudley / The Black Country. The dome would have been a nice idea if they lived somewhere scenic. Instead you get to look out at thousands of houses and industrial waste land. Therefore worth about £150k max

Clarebabes

Er, I don't think so.

PeteBrant

Not very much.

Inside it was an absolute mess in terms of design. From the outide it looked great.

However, he put his heart and soul into it, so he is unlikely to sell it at any point. Fair play to him, he made something for his family, and he loves it, and that's all that really matters.

davyboy

He's sell it for a damn site more than he paid for it.

A person buying that house, would not be too put off by the layout.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I think Kevin McCloud struggled with them not being 'posh' enough.

Ray_li

Black counties finest

If the dome was not plastic it wouldnt last 5 mins

The bloke had more ***** than brains and zero design skills

Wish

iTrader: (2)

But he got off his **** and did something for his family. He wanted to make something for his future.
Family First ..... Not a lot of that in the UK now.

The very best of luck to him!

burns

iTrader: (1)

The building was in Tipton ,not Dudley and they didn't mention that all his gear got nicked by some theiving S**ts.The swimming pool was a tat idea but all power to him for having the ***** to do it in the first place,don't forget it only cost £12700 a bargain even in lovely Tipton.

tonybooth

I would have kept a few quid back to sort the wife's teeth though

logiclee

What's it worth? Doesn't matter he wanted a family home not an investment.

I have friends with houses that are worth a fortune but both partners will have to work until they are 60 to pay for it. Why? They can't afford luxuries or to save for old age so they will probably have to sell it soon after they have payed for it to pay for retirement.

I'll have paid for my 3 bed semi on just my wage and will have it paid for before I'm 40 in two years time. OK I bought it 16 years ago when they were cheaper but my friends got on the housing market at the same time.
I've no intention of upgrading or moving, I like where I live and I intend to enjoy my mortgage free years, buy the things I want and do the things I want to do. Might even work less hours as well.

This whole UK housing obsession is pointless, I feel for the people who have to borrow 4-5 times their income over 30 years. What a way to spend the best years of your life.

Cheers
Lee

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Say what you like about the design etc. but he and his wife had what so many lack in this country and that is a belief that if you want something you have to work for it. 6 days off in 2 years and no moaning about anything, just getting their heads down and getting on with it, fair play to them and I was actually pretty impressed with the end result.

hades

Personally thought the upstairs, the kitchenn and to a lesser extent the dining room and some of the bell tower worked pretty well. The swimming pool wasn't to most people's taste, but the space there was difficult, and considering his kid's illness, it made good sense for their situation. The disappointment to me was the living room/lounge/whatever you like to call it. The intrusion of the encased balcony parts made the space seem completely wrong, as least on a TV view.

Chip Sengravy

They weren't teeth, they were headstones from the cemetry outside!

I couldn't sleep at night with all them stiffs in the back garden

decepticon

was definately an interesting property and worthy of a 'grand design' show unlike quite a few other projects which have been featured. The one thing that would concern me is that it will be freezing cold in the winter with solid stone walls single glazing and high ceilings, its going to cost a fortune to heat.
neil

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Sleep inside then ?