to think Grand Designs is an hour long stealth boast.

[mileend2bermondsey]

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?

I knew it Drugs.

Dh loves it he moans about it as he watches its torture for me and i always think how can they afford to live if they are in so much debt and they always have tonnes of windows huge they are sod cleaning those.

We used to watch it but it started getting very formulaic.

Couple always want to do open plan with polished concrete and breeze blocks. They have LOTS of glass, grass on the roof, tons of clever insulation that requires then to never have to pay for electricity ever again. The woman always gets pregnant, they live in a Caravan over Winter and at some point there's a financial crisis.

I'm always at how much the project takes over their lives and seems to be all they think about. I CBA. Will do the odd bit of decorating when required but far too many other exciting things to do with your life than spend a year or more focusing on a house.

They did a catch up programme a couple had bought acooling tower the house still wasnt finished and their small kids couldnt actually live in the tower bit because it was to dangerous arses

And the way they simply have to have the most expensive option because it's art, darling, and they couldn't live with it any other way.

Trying living in the real world on a budget like the rest of us do. You'll soon work out your priorities.

Wasn't there one that went so over budget that they couldn't afford to run it and turned it into a b&b to help pay the bills? At least they found a practical solution to their pretentiousness.

And who can forget the barge? That went very wrong. I actually felt sorry for them. A bit.

They bought the tower 10years previous or something

If I had more money than Branson I'd totally buy that arty house from the other night. I live in a box standard and traditionally decorated 1930s semi but oh God I'd love those clean lines and giant windows. So the cleaning - I'd have staff for that.

I'd love a quirky, modern, totally loony home. Bragging? Too ducking right I'd brag!

Am I the only one who refers to the presenter as 'Kevin McCloud of the Clan McCloud'? (I probably am)

Yanbu, op. And I don't care what anyone else says, the houses are usually monstrosities ( with a few exceptions). All glass and concrete boxes with floor to ceiling windows and staircases with no banisters. As the majority of the people have young kids (and usually have a baby during the 'build' which they 'project manage' themselves) these house just aren't practical.

Imagine all the sticky fingerprints over the glass and white decor and toddlers tumbling willy nilly down the stairs.

Ah staff of course

Although the cleaning lady would need a harness and a cherrypicker to get into the corners of the windows

I loved the house that the man built in the woods. And then he met someone and had a baby with her. That was lovely!!

Yeah that's true - "Wanted, cleaner. Must have GoApe experience and an IPAF licence"

I also have window cleaning anxiety. It would bother me.

Much better to live in crumbling Victorian pit

With a few notable exceptions, they all seem to spend a fuck load of money building something which looks like a glorified storage container with a sofa in it!
They think they are being oh so original but it's virtually the same as the last 700 houses built on that shiw.

OMG toddler hand prints on acres of glass . I already feel as though I have glass cleaner attached to my hand permanently as it is, I honestly couldn't cope with living in a greenhouse.

I agree that the programmes where the owners are loaded and just throwing money at the house are far less interesting than the programmes when the owners get really involved themselves and do things creatively rather than expensively and have a proper budget they have to stick to.
The totally loaded cleaning boss just made me wonder how exploited his cleaners were if he'd made that much profit from their labour. He didn't seem to be getting his hands very dirty.
The house looked beautiful but high maintenance.

Surely building regs require banisters on stairs those sweeping stairs in the middle of rooms are an accident in waiting.

I always sit there thinking how cold it will be in the winter and cost ££s to heat. Cosy they ain't.
But the toddlers can use their bikes to ride around the the sports hall of a living area so that's good.

I think the series lost its way early on there were interesting projects which didn't necessarily require eye watering amounts of money, now it all seems to be about money & bling (even if it is minimalist tasteftl bling). The grand has become very grand & I think it's less creative as a result.

I agree, it was lovely when Kevin went back and met the woodsman's new partner and very new baby.

Here's his website: ben-law.co.uk/

I swear I saw that water tower one on right move during a bout of property porn recently.

I love Grand Designs, some people really go to crazy lengths to build their dream home.

What a depressing thread full of bitter , and dare I say, jealous posters. Some people really need to look at their posts and have a word with themselves. So sad.