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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think you should find out the client's tastes BEFORE you redesign their home?

49 replies

CircleofWillis · 08/02/2018 19:19

I'm watching 60 minute makeover on Quest red and the team are making over the home of a woman in her 50s who has had a stroke.

Key brother?/friend? sneaking the team into her house where they are asked about her tastes. No floral, very minimalistic and light colours. However the designer has already chosen the scheme and bought all the materials. Floral wallpapers are planned and a black floor. Friend queries how she is going to keep a black floor clean (she is in a wheelchair). Designer shrugs and says it will look very 'contemporary'.

I am watching in disbelief. How is that poor woman going to react coming home to 60 minutes of bodging and her ruined violated home?

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 08/02/2018 20:09

It was never really sixty minutes though. It was weeks of off-site prep plus several hours "preparing" e.g. stripping old paper, taking up old laminate.

Then thirty minutes of work.

Then a long break to reset, feed everyone, and let paint and paste and glue dry.

Then thirty minutes of work.

Then a little careful setting.

CircleofWillis · 08/02/2018 20:15

And PETER ANDRE!! What a bizarre presenter choice for a home 'improvement' show.

OP posts:
Heratnumber7 · 08/02/2018 20:17

I have a friend who is a TV producer. She keeps telling me NEVER to believe anything you see on TV.

FuzzyCustard · 08/02/2018 20:21

I would love to se a follow up programme where they go back and you see that the owners have painted over the wallpaper (magnolia) and replaced all the faffy themed trinkets with a giant telly.

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/02/2018 20:22

I was on 60 mm.

In case anyone is interested...

MyBrilliantDisguise · 08/02/2018 20:24

Your house was made over, MrsDV?

MyBrilliantDisguise · 08/02/2018 20:26

Anyone remember Changing Rooms or something with Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen? I remember one of the "designers" kneeling on the floor and using a biro or something to draw lines on plywood to make it look like floorboards...

FuzzyCustard · 08/02/2018 20:26

Oooh tell the insider stuff. Who was your designer?

AppleKatie · 08/02/2018 20:26

Yup I’m interested MrsDV, come on how shit was it really?

3luckystars · 08/02/2018 20:30

I am interested! Although I think everything on tv is all set up.
Even those lovely property brothers are just actors really, they don’t really create the plans or do any of it, they just show up wearing check shirts and pretend.
That was hard to break to my husband and all of you too, I’m sorry.

FuzzyCustard · 08/02/2018 20:31

George Clarke. He's real, isn't he?

3luckystars · 08/02/2018 20:33

I remember one episode if changing rooms where they mixed sand into the paint, and painted it on to the walls to give a rough ‘sandy beach’ appearance.
I’d say that was 20 years ago and it stayed with me, they must still be living with that sand, how would they ever get it off?

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/02/2018 20:37

It honestly wasn't shit. They were very nice. We had Tanya Dwyer (I think thats her name) and the little designer with the sharp bob.
She was very nice about my house pre-makeover and said I could do her job (something along those lines).
When they did the voice over they kept describing my home as SHABBY chic, very SHABBY chic Hmm Grin

They do one coat of paint but leave you the expensive paint to put another one on. The carpets are very well laid. Very thick underlay and proper grippers.
Wall paper put up beautifully.

Can't complain about the quality of work.

They don't half pack the furniture in though. My downstairs was very pretty but totally impractical. We were give EIGHT tables. I have only just had the heart to replace the massive non foldable dining table about 10 years on. We have a small ex council terrace, my OH has MS and I had a baby, a toddler with SN and a young teen at the time. We couldn't move for all the furniture.

They cladded out our large shed and we use that a lot now. Most of the other stuff has gradually been replaced over the years. Not sold, I wouldn't do that. It was hard because I wouldn't have ever been able to afford what they gave me so its difficult to swap it for cheaper, more practical stuff.

They did three thing that made no sense:
Replaced my faux victorian bedstead with a divan! Shock
Took my wooden blinds down and replaced them with (my) lace panels on a fecking curtain wire
Removed my wooden ikea racking that took up an entire wall and contained my vast wardrobe and replaced it with ONE very pretty but inadequate french style press. I still have that. Its too fucking heavy to get out the door.

They did my teen's room lovely but it was just before he had a massive break down and he ruined it within 6 months.

none it was their fault but I was very fragile at the time and the whole thing took me about 18 months to recover from.

FuzzyCustard · 08/02/2018 20:42

Thank you mrsDV. That's really interesting. Did you honestly know nothing about it before hand?

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/02/2018 20:48

Oh God NO!
I knew all about it.
My friend nominated me after we watched it and thought it would be a laugh.
I wasn't included in the pre visits etc but I had to know. You have to empty out your cupboards and stuff.
I spent weeks scrubbing and cleaning and decluttering.
I had to stay at a friends house overnight. I had barely left the house for the previous 18 months let alone stayed out.
I don't know if they knew I knew. We all played the game.

The crew were terrified of my neighbours. I live in east london Grin

Masonbee · 08/02/2018 20:49

That's interesting that it took you time to recover. I always think that I would hate people coming into my house and changing things without me knowing.and them feeling that you had to be grateful about it too. i am glad to hear they did a good job though, that always worries me that they might leave the person in a worse position

Masonbee · 08/02/2018 20:50

Ah, just seen the update, that might be better if you know!

TheFirstMrsDV · 08/02/2018 21:01

I had underestimated how difficult it was to have people touching my stuff.
It was weird afterwards. When people came to my house and admired something before the makeover I could feel pride. Afterwards it didn't have anything to do with me so I felt almost guilty.

I wasn't in the best of health.My DD had died two years previously and I had a very young baby.

CircleofWillis · 08/02/2018 21:29

MrsDV I'm sorry it wasn't a completely positive experience for you. I know I would hate it myself as I grew up an army brat and had nothing permanent around me. How do you feel about your home nowadays?

OP posts:
AppleKatie · 08/02/2018 22:48

Thanks for sharing MrsDV that’s a really interesting experience. I’m glad there were some positives- I feared there wouldn’t be!

TheFirstMrsDV · 09/02/2018 07:28

My home is back to its 'normal' self circle. Mostly pink. Lots of colours and textures.
Most of the stuff is gone now. natural wear and tear rather than a wholesale clear out.

I really can't moa about the experience. The negatives were down to my personal circumstances rather than the show.

You have to accept what you are letting yourself in for. I can't understand why anyone would moan.
Mind you....I am not sure I would accept the Orange One coming into my house...

3luckystars · 09/02/2018 14:29

What channel is it on, I must watch this now!

FuzzyCustard · 09/02/2018 16:51

3luckystars it is on almost all day on Saturday, starting at about 8am. Can't remember what channel.

FuzzyCustard · 09/02/2018 16:51

Oh, Pick, maybe?

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