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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Grand Designs is an hour long stealth boast.

181 replies

mileend2bermondsey · 13/09/2015 10:25

I've never understood this programme. It's just an hour of, 'look how much money we have, look how great we are, watch us build a house which you could never afford to live in in your dreams peasants!' I can't stand to watch it because IMO it's just bragging. I can't even justify that perhaps they agree to do the show for money as most of them are rich as hell anyway (as shown by the houses they build).

My family say IABU but I can't be alone thinking this? Can I?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/09/2015 10:27

I love it. I love looking at people's houses, so for me seeing a house built from scratch is a perfect programme and ideal entertainment.

Kiddiewinks2008 · 13/09/2015 10:27

YANBU - the new episode last week with the guy who already had a big house that wasn't 'perfect' enough was a bit ridiculous! I rent though so might just be feeling bitter about that Grin

Oysterbabe · 13/09/2015 10:29

It's quite nice though isn't it to see what we could do if we had loads of cash? Kinda like watching a cookery programme and seeing all great stuff I could make if I had the time and skill :)

IAmAPaleontologist · 13/09/2015 10:31

Most of them are. Some are wonderful like the one where the bloke bought this old, crumbling castle and spent years and years getting the permission to stabilise it and rebuild. Because of his passion for our heritage a small part of it has been preserved. And the one where the us and died part way through, they built a lovely family home that cost no more to build than your average new housing estate home but it was far more environmentally friendly and it was so well conceived around family life. Not to mention the charcoal burner. I'd have moved to his house in the woods any day Grin

Ratarse · 13/09/2015 10:31

The people who own the houses get on my nerves but not as much as that smarmy presenter, looking down his hooter at things. As soon as I hear that music, it's off!

ProfYaffle · 13/09/2015 10:32

I think it's just an hour long boast, not much stealth about it! Grin I like to watch Homes Under the Hammer as an antidote. On GD though they do always seem to be having financial crisis, going over budget, trying to get extra money from the bank etc. I always wonder how they're getting on a few years down the line.

NullaBore · 13/09/2015 10:33

Definitely not stealth, but so what? I do like seeing how the other half live.

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 13/09/2015 10:35

Yanbu

Original poster
mileend2bermondsey · 13/09/2015 10:35

Yes apologies for the incorrect terminology.

Just an hour of fucking bragging I meant!! Grin

OP posts:
Ubik1 · 13/09/2015 10:36

Well of course it's boasting. It's the same as appearing in country living or Elle decoration.

There are some more 'worthy' projects though. The woodsman is still my favourite.

HarrietVane99 · 13/09/2015 10:38

Most of the people who appear on GD are somewhere on a scale of obnoxiousness, imo. And an awful lot of them build homes that I would never want to live in anyway, and might well be unsellable if or when they want to move, because they're quite unsuitable for family life..

Exceptions to the above are the man who built a house in the woods using traditional methods and materials; the young Welsh couple who restored a derelict cottage; the two women artists with a very limited budget who built a house on a Scottish island. One of the women was also the local bus driver.

Ubik1 · 13/09/2015 10:40

I like the bit when they run out of budget and refuse to compromise because this is art, dammit. But still spend £60,000 on a kitchen with three ovens and a work top made of solid diamonds.

WhatTheJeffHasGoneOnHere · 13/09/2015 10:48

They always run out of money, fall out with their builder and have a baby.

It's Grand Designs bingo!

Rufusgy · 13/09/2015 10:50

Yanbu.

I want a show that showcases creatively not oodles of money. Any pig shit person can build a fancy house if their loaded.

rainpouringrainbows · 13/09/2015 10:50

It's funny to see what people do with money I don't have, but I prefer the episodes where I really dislike the final result despite the amounts spent Grin

BathshebaDarkstone · 13/09/2015 10:53

YANBU! You're absolutely right! I only realised when you said it! Grin

LurcioAgain · 13/09/2015 11:00

I was about to say YABU there's nothing stealthy but I see that's already been done Grin

Agree though that some arr sweet - the woodsman's cottage episode. But yes 3 ovens and diamond work tops but it's "art" nails the vast majority.

WorktoLive · 13/09/2015 11:02

Well that is the 'Grand' in 'Grand Designs'.

I do wonder where some get their money, but it's just a case of them being very rich or having a shed load of debt. The guy last night went over budget by £300k+? and borrowed most of this from a friend Shock.

I'm not bothered about massive houses though - a decent sized 2/3 bedroom with good sized rooms and outbuildings would suit me. I remember the artists in Scotland - I loved their house.

bruffin · 13/09/2015 11:02

There are one or two obnoxious owners ie the Brixton house, which was a dreadful house and he was obviously on it to get some business,which hopefully backfired.
My favourite recent one was the soldier who lost his legs. He built a home that was built for his disabilities without it being obvious

BathshebaDarkstone · 13/09/2015 11:04

Grand Designs bingo Grin

MrsJamin · 13/09/2015 11:09

I think the guy in this week's episode was one of the most obnoxious people they've had on, up there with the couple who built next to a violin place or it was an old factory. They were so pig headed and didn't care about the planning process. I love the ones with a realistic budget, my favourite was the Welsh family that built a lot of it themselves, including the kids pushing the sheep wool into the walls. Don't knock Kevin mcloud though, we love him in our house!

Sparklingbrook · 13/09/2015 11:10

YANBU. there's always a problem too, it always pours with rain/snows when the roof is off. Hmm And whatisnname has to pretend to be concerned.
And yet it all works out in the end.

I gave up on it a long time ago.

iwouldgoouttonight · 13/09/2015 11:11

It is a big boast, and they always seem to end up with a house with a double/triple height living area with just one sofa and nothing else in it. I'd like to see a spin off programme 'Grand Designs: when they think we're not looking' or something, when we see their beautiful ceiling-high windows covered in grubby fingerprints and a fortnight's worth of washing hanging over their bespoke £10k banisters.

They always run out of money half way through but they always seem to be able to miraculously find an extra half a million to keep going, and then just giggle about it to Kevin at the end 'oh yes we did go a little over budget but it was worth it'. Where the fuck did you get the extra money from?? Do you now have a hitman after you because of all the undercover drugs deals you've had to do to pay for your £17k artisan chopping board?

Ubik1 · 13/09/2015 11:13

There was a wonderful but heartbreaking episode where a a couple had started a house building project but the husband - who I think designed the house - sadly died half way through.
There was something very brave about her determination to finish the house.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 13/09/2015 11:13

I remember the next door to the violin factory one
Pompous arrogant wankers
And they had an oven that cost 32k
Shock

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