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?

Bi think you're right, Moln - they don't seem to look like homes any more - you couldn't imagine living in many of them.

I would love to have the opportunity to get my perfect house built, but I know for sure that Kevin would not be interested, because I don't want anything wacky, uber-modern or designery - I just want a house with lots of space for the family, the dogs, the cat, all the books and all my yarn and other craft stuff.

Actually, what I really want is a special room for me. It has plenty of bookshelves and storage for craft stuff and yarn, a big table to do cutting out of fabric and to put the sewing machine on, a desk with PC, and a corner with an open fireplace, TV, and comfy sofas so I can sit and knit or crochet. There's a little kitchen and a loo, just outside my Room, off the corridor to the rest of the house. Oh, and there are French doors out onto a lovely courtyard garden sun trap.

That's not a lot to ask, is it?

If I could do a Grand Design I'd want to make my own version of Bellamont in Dorset

Grand Designs is on right,showing the plight of a chap who lives on a boat,aaah shame - but there's hope -his nephew can design a house for him on a plot of family land with a old shack on it.
but .... the shack is a perfectly good bungalow and the poor chap happens to have a london flat - wtf is the point of this show ?

I've just watched that episode, BobandKate - it must be wonderful to have all that money and family land and a flat in London, and to be able to have mad ideas about doors and crows' nests, with someone else footing the bill!

He strikes me as a completely spoiled brat, tbh.

I loved the one with the Northern irish guy who built his house out of 4 shipping containers. It was a beautiful house, on his family farm. (Although I'm pretty sure he didn't have balconies!)

I cannot wait to see the episode which features the abominable new house being built very locally. It is currently rising, like a monstrous public lavatory on a site that caused immense controversy.