Grand Designs has lost it's focus. AIBU?

[SecretLocker]

I've watched this lovely programme since it began all those years ago. It's always been a fascinating programme, heavily focussed on building, design and all related subjects. There would be brief info on the people featured each week, with relevant nods when necessary to their financial situation or project setbacks etc.

This current series seems to have changed the balance, and now seems more interested in the personal lives of the couples and their extended families and friends. Too much airtime is taken away from the actual project and the progression of the build.

This week's episode was the worst by far - it just didn't get going. It kept bouncing between the relationship of the female of the project and her best friend, and the struggle of living with kids in a caravan.
Kevin just appears to be conducting interviews now. There was barely any of the building process shown, and I gave up after the second ad break.

Anyone else agree?

Tonight's house was just hideous. Made from concrete - inside and out - just why?

Kevin is too busy speanding his unique pregnancy vibes!!!

It was horrible!

What a hideous house. Nothing homely about it whatsoever.

Tonight's home seemed really echoey with just the 3 of them. I kept wondering what the noise would be like living there with my dc (shudder)

£950,000 spent on unfinished concrete bunker with sewage treatment tank outside 🤦‍♀️

Was wondering if they will be able to sell the monstrosity when their marriage falls apart!

I was wondering if the wife was on the relationships board here saying what an utter control freak her DH is and how he makes all their lives a misery.

I’d be gutted as a child if I had a horrible grey, dull concrete room as my bedroom.

Weirdly, I loved this house from the outside (but I like brutalism).Inside was a bit much for me, despite their cliched ‘salvaged old school fittings’ furnishings.

It did make me laugh that when KMcCwas commenting on the rough finish, the DH said that he wanted the building to be ‘honest’, then followed that up with numerous comments about wanting people to wonder whether it had been around for 50 years+, whether it was an old converted bunker etc. So much for architectural honesty, eh?

His wife didn’t look happy though. I suspect those speculating divorce are right and this’ll be on the market soon. Sad.

Does anyone remember one of the early ones where the couple where converting an old water works (I think) and made desks out of classic minis?

That was a great episode. It was the one that failed GD bingo - they kept to budget, kept to their timescales, didn't have any financial, building or relationship problems and they didn't have a baby. Poor old Kev didn't know what to do with himself.

The couple that did it were hardworking and cool and calm with it.

TBF it was an awesome building to start with so maybe it was always going to be an easier build.

I wouldn't have like to live their though as it was a bit barn like

Kevin seems like a ice guy but I find his wobbly head annoying.

They really didnt look happy did they? Especially the wife

WObbly head and licky lips. Ick cupmug

Even Kev looked worried at the longevity of this pair’s relationship, when the H was saying he thought he’d ‘broken’ his W, during the little chat at the end, NewYoiker. Tense

I've just watched it. I'd cry if I had that house. It looks like something out of the missing district in the Hunger Games. Imagine a toddler slipping in there 😧

It'll be used for a lot of film/tv sets I reckon and they will get divorced - if she hasn't already filed!

You’d never sell something like that, I mean wtf would you do with it? They never seem to stay in the houses in this programme!

I thought the swimming pool/cattle trough looked like an accident waiting to happen with children (including visiting children) around. I suppose a safety cover/ gate and alarm would've ruined the aesthetic
How would you keep all the leaves/ detritus /random dead animals out. Surely costs a bomb to heat and maintain?

Weirdly I quite liked the house (polished concrete would be better) but I foresee trouble down the line.

Often these "forever homes" seem to come on the market after a year or so and keep having to be reduced. Wonder if they get sold? Many of them are white elephants. I've also seen a few for rent on Air BnB.

www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/temporary-designs

www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/19130859

Wonder if it still has a bath under the bed

Some for sale from last year:
www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/featured-homes/3-grand-designs-homes-hit-the-market/#iBPif29IaIV2dSAv.97

I watch watch this with Dh anymore. He builds houses and ten minutes in his 'they're doing that wrong' or 'let's put moss on the roof of our house too' makes me want to punch him in the face.

Kikashi, £195, 7 nights minimum stay = £1365 to stay in a cave near Kidderminster.

I’ll pass thanks.

Mind you, compared to £40k a WEEK for the banker’s wife’s ski chalet, it seems like a total bargain.

Someone upthread talked about the limekilns house. Looks like that has sold too. Sad as it seemed such as personal house to the owners. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68597264.html?utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=smspropertydetails&utm_source=url

I find that the finished products always look sparse and cold inside. And there is way too much concrete!