Grand Designs

That's it for this year, only 5 episodes.

Final episode felt a little odd... Not quite the usual format.

Thargor wrote: »

Nice enough for a bunker house (a bit bland) but why is Kevin going on like this guy has reinvented the wheel? These types of houses have been around forever, Grand Designs has done about 10 of them over the years.

This the guy who was some energy conservationist with the self heating thermal house and all the concrete? Didn't enjoy this episode at all. The man didn't come across well - it seemed to be all about his pet project with the thermal heating, going around the whole time with his temperature gauge. Meanwhile his wife has to stop home schooling the children and retrain and return to the workforce to help fund it. She really didn't seem happy with the project at all.

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

This the guy who was some energy conservationist with the self heating thermal house and all the concrete? Didn't enjoy this episode at all. The man didn't come across well - it seemed to be all about his pet project with the thermal heating, going around the whole time with his temperature gauge. Meanwhile his wife has to stop home schooling the children and retrain and return to the workforce to help fund it. She really didn't seem happy with the project at all.

I picked up more a if you want new stuff you have to pay for it yourself vibe.

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

I was watching a "revisted" house last night and it got me thinking.... The revisit shows are usually done about a year later. Grand you have time to settle in. But I'd love to see some much older projects revisited - how the house has fared as the owners, kids etc have gotten older, if needs have changed, if things have been temperamental in the house, have they changed things much? If any of them have sold their house - why, and what do the new owners think? It just would be interesting!

I think a few of the "mad" and "vanity" project builds got sold on

They went too far over budget etc.

From top of my head "the lighthouse" with music director.

The house built into the hill, I think in the lake district, had to get a sponsor to finish it and was sold.

Then there's the marital break ups were they've been sold.

Princess Calla wrote: »

I think a few of the "mad" and "vanity" project builds got sold on

They went too far over budget etc.

From top of my head "the lighthouse" with music director.

The house built into the hill, I think in the lake district, had to get a sponsor to finish it and was sold.

Then there's the marital break ups were they've been sold.

Never saw the lighthouse one before so watched the revisit episode of it from 2017 or 2018 last night. Great idea and great looking house from the plans and 3D imagery but **** me that was some vanity project for a guy who wasnt a multi millionaire. Thats the kind of house you'd see some where like the French Riveria, Marbella or the Hamptons and owned by someone with more money then they know what to do with and only use it every few years. You could see from the start it was his project and the wife getting more upset the longer it went and the more money that was being borrowed but at least he realsied that and owned up to it at the end. Dont think the daughter knew how the whole borrowing, building and finishing it off thing worked.

There was another one a few years ago that was a vanity project for the guy. He bought an old warehouse or mill by a river and was pushing this layout and design for the house and gave his fiance/wife no say in it. Think she was from New Zealand and teh first time he met her parents he asked them for a loan to finish the house but during filming & the build in true Grand Designs style she got pregnant and the house was totally unsuitable for a kid but he wouldnt make any changes to the design

Princess Calla wrote: »

I think a few of the "mad" and "vanity" project builds got sold on

They went too far over budget etc.

From top of my head "the lighthouse" with music director.

The house built into the hill, I think in the lake district, had to get a sponsor to finish it and was sold.

Then there's the marital break ups were they've been sold.

Another one of the vanity projects that stick in my mind was the builder developer guy who tried to build the vast 4 storey house with pool and curved glass.
Project suffered loads of set backs, financial crash, he had health issues, his other house went on fire.
You'll remember it as the one where he had the ducati mounted on the wall at the end. Always thought the body language between him and the wife was very strained in the final interview piece they did with Kevin.

prunudo wrote: »

Another one of the vanity projects that stick in my mind was the builder developer guy who tried to build the vast 4 storey house with pool and curved glass.
Project suffered loads of set backs, financial crash, he had health issues, his other house went on fire.
You'll remember it as the one where he had the ducati mounted on the wall at the end. Always thought the body language between him and the wife was very strained in the final interview piece they did with Kevin.

I remember that one, he seemed nice enough though.

Princess Calla wrote: »

I remember that one, he seemed nice enough though.

Yeah, nice chap and I think his closing remarks were along the lines of regretting taking on so much debt and such a lavish build because at the end of it they still didn't have a finished home.

I really liked the finished house, but ya know a tiny million over budget ...pocket change Jeeves!

The house reminded me of (purely from memory so could be completely wrong) a house either him or Dermot Bannon ,though I think it was him, visited belonging to a maths professor over in the states/Canada....I think the guy wrote calculus books....it may have just been the atrium feature.

Loved all the rooms,I think they were blessed that they had everything interior wise paid for and delivered before covid it, especially with the way everything has increased in price.

I really admire the guts (stupidity) of people that embark on these projects, my nerves would be well gone!!

Have to say, that house is probably one of my most favourite ones ever in the entire 22 seasons. Unbelievable finish.

Not sure how there can be no legal recourse for the Latvian company though, strange one as he talked litigation earlier in the episode.

I missed first 5 mins did he say what he did for work? As that is a serious chunk over budget

Tonight is a revisit to the Lighthouse, deemed one of the 'saddest' episodes ever.

I still listen to his 'Euphoria' albums

Plus it pretty much stole his children's childhood.

I did like the "storm room" though.

I think they showed the eye house last season when it was completed.....I'm pretty sure that was repeated by rte2 recently so you may get it on the rte player!