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Your Home Made Perfect

138 replies

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 21/04/2019 09:46

Anyone else caught this new series? The idea is that two architects present different approaches to the renovation/extension/remodel (so far, so humdrum) but then the ideas are presented to the couple in Virtual Reality so they can walk through the scheme to properly visualise how it works. I'd absolutely love to do this: I have no ability to visualise spaces presented on paper plans, especially sizes of rooms. (Unfortunately we have no budget to do it so I'll have to make do with property programmes for now!) There's only been one episode so far but I was impressed by how different the two architects' ideas and styles were to one another (not just your bifold doors and steel supported open plan kitchen that seems to be the go-to for every George Clark and Kirsty Allsop plan). I also like the presenter, who I'd never seen before.

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HairyToity · 04/05/2019 08:45

Yes, I loved the male architects plan in the second week. Not that it got picked, as they wanted the extension. The other two weeks I'd have gone with the female architect. I would never have picked sleeping pods. I was pleasantly surprised with the diagonal extension. It looked good from the outside. I thought it wouldn't. I wanted to add some different textures with rugs and curtains internally.

Greengreengrass19 · 04/05/2019 09:25

I am loving this show but it’s making me so anxious about our own extension.

The man’s designs always seem a bit out there for my personal liking.

I like how the budgets aren’t massive. Obviously a lot of money but even on here we see people are spending £100-150k for an extension and no one on the show so far has spent that much I don’t think.

Dreamingofprosecco · 04/05/2019 11:29

Love this programme. Completely agree with the comments on the pods - I kept saying to DH how ridiculous it was when we were watching. DH quite liked the idea 🙄

CoolShoeshine · 04/05/2019 19:34

One weird thing about this show, as far as I’ve noticed anyway, is that they don’t seem to consider the impact on the environment in their designs. Surely opening up the spaces to such an extent would necessitate much more fuel to heat. The glass roof of the bungalow looked nice but to take out a ceiling, presumably with loft insulation above, would surely be massively wasteful of heat? Surprised building regs and planning pass these things, they asked a multitude of probing questions about how my very basic box extension would be insulated. Perhaps if you pay expensive architect fees they can get you off these conditions?

silverlocks · 04/05/2019 20:38

I too love this show. On balance, I prefer Laura's designs but have enjoyed some elements of Robert's styles. I'm all for light but I keep thinking those big glass ceilings are going to look really dirty before too long with dead leaves and mucky silt and grit - the way some conservatory roofs can look - and imagine the effort and energy needed to clean all those huge windows! As previous posters have said, the circular route in some of those designs are not practical as they just invite kids to run amok and one of the first designs, the one on split levels, made me shudder as I imagined those smaller children toppling down the steps. There didn't seem to be any safety rails anywhere. I do think Laura listens more closely and designs a beautiful home but with practical elements built-in.

BBC Media site has this to say about the two architects:

About Robert Jamison
On completion of a series of award winning projects, architect, practitioner and teacher Robert Jamison closed his London studio in the Autumn of 2009. Substituting contract administration and building procurement for a semi-nomadic existence, Robert spent the following six years travelling with purpose. As a practitioner responsible for creating space and place, Robert recognised the need to experience and understand the evolution of culture, population and individual beyond northern Europe. Returning to his native Belfast in 2015, Robert established a new experimental and progressive studio to research and test new ideas.

About Laura Clark
Lamp Architects was formed nine years ago by Laura Jane Clark, specialising in residential conversions, extensions and new builds. Her passion lies in innovative house designs, small scale redevelopment and micro-regeneration of long abandoned and brown field sites. Laura studied at the Mackintosh School of Architecture and also the Liverpool School of Architecture, qualifying in 2007. After leaving University, she worked with a building firm for several months prior to starting as an architectural assistant with Guy Greenfield Architects in London. Laura also builds and designs her own furniture and interiors in association with Universal Cloud Cover.

I looked at Robert's website www.robertjamisonarchitects.com and wonder what is "I Am That." supposed to mean??? HmmConfused

HairyToity · 04/05/2019 21:45

To those assuming Robert's designs indicate no children, followed the link to his website and Instagram, and he has a wife and two sons.

www.instagram.com/katesmithjamison/

Imfinehowareyou · 05/05/2019 07:55

Ah but having kids and understanding kids are two different things 😄

CoolShoeshine · 05/05/2019 08:38

Wow his wife’s instagram is full of pretentious guff Grin

jay55 · 06/05/2019 14:01

Just watched three in a row.

hate the built in seating Robert does each time.

So relieved the third lot didn't go for sleeping pods, I kept wondering what privacy the kids would have when older(stand on the bed to get dressed?) or how they'd have friends sleep over, and how stinky would it get, even with ventilation (which could whack up the electric bill?).

The second one I thought the woman hated it, her space was totally diminished and he got everything he wanted, her body language did not match her comments.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 06/05/2019 14:09

Yes - I hate the built in seating too - it always looks really uncomfortable.

The seating area in the last one looked really small too - I guess all five of them could use the five person sofa whilst the children are small, but there is no way that three teenagers an two adults would have enough space, even if they all sit up straight and keep their elbows tucked in.

threedeepatthebar · 07/05/2019 20:34

Tonight is the worst fo built in seating!! It’s like a bloody caravan.

Yubaba · 07/05/2019 20:37

He puts those built in seats in every design

woodhill · 07/05/2019 20:54

Like a restaurant

threedeepatthebar · 07/05/2019 20:55

Who wants that in their house?

Tonight is my least favourite.

Yubaba · 07/05/2019 21:02

I love what they’ve managed to do though. The windows are lovely

PCohle · 07/05/2019 21:04

The windows are lovely but I don't know what the corridor at the end leading to the garden is for. It seems like really wasted space.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/05/2019 22:17

I’m glad they went with Laura - the other design was just ugly - stupid angles, hideous red concrete floor, and another god-awful bench seat, with such thin cushions on it so you wouldn’t be able to sit on it for any length of time without getting a completely numb bum. These bench seats never look comfortable.

Laura’s design was much nicer - and moving the staircase did look like a good idea - though I didn’t see anywhere in her design for all the coats, shoes, bags etc that were in the lobby.

I can understand why they decided to make the tweaks to the design, and I liked most of what they did - apart from that leopard print stair carpet. That was beyond awful.

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 07/05/2019 22:24

Just caught up with this now - I was really impressed by how tight the budget was and how much Laura could do with it. Robert didn't really look like he was trying this time, I thought. A shame they didn't move the stairs in the end, but the difference in light and space was still impressive. And although it wasn't my taste, I loved that it wasn't the usual identikit neutral/industrial decor. I want Laura to come and redesign my house (and a lottery win to fund it.)

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lalalonglegs · 07/05/2019 22:40

I could only think how cold that bench would be in winter when the Lincolnshire temperatures were plunging and how damp your back would get once they steamed up from the kitchen area. Robert never seems to provide obvious access to the garden, always these big windows with seating fitted along them and no door because that would break the line Hmm. And I agree with everyone who said the sleeping pods were ludicrous.

beanaseireann · 07/05/2019 23:44

Where does the washing machine ( and dryer) go ?

CoolShoeshine · 08/05/2019 05:52

I don’t think Laura did so well last night- the glass area at the end.was a total waste of space, if that had of been widened a couple of feet they could have had a nice seating area overlooking the garden. All they really seemed to get for their £30k was a nice kitchen and windows. If I was doing such a project I’d always spend the money on having the extra space first, fancy finishes can always be added at a later date.
Not so many seem to be picking Robert! He might be better as a commercial architect!

beanaseireann · 08/05/2019 07:39

I agree with you CoolShoeshine, the space at the end was a bit wasted. The garden looked different too. What about the hall door they didn't use ?
I couldn't understand that and the fact they lost their "utility room".

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 08/05/2019 12:52

I thought I saw a door in the side wall of that glass end bit - I assumed that was a little utility room, with the washer (and dryer) in it.

In general, I am sceptical about all these open plan living arrangements. They may work well enough when the children are little, but when they are older, don't you need more spaces (sorry, hate that word) where people can go off and do their thing, without the noise impacting on what other people are doing?

When we moved into the house we are in now, we converted the garages into two rooms - one is my libary-cum-office, and the other was the boys' den - we gave them Sky TV in there, and the playstation, and a sofa - and they could go in there and play their games, or watch whatever they wanted to, without monopolising the lounge - and dh and I could watch whatever we wanted to watch.

The other thing that bothers me about the open plan kitchen-diner-living room spaces is the smells and the dirt from the cooking - I don't use a lot of oil in cooking, but even so, I can see a sort of greasy dust that builds up on the surfaces and cupboards in the kitchen, and needs cleaning off regularly. So if you have one big space, or even a kitchen-diner with a nice sofa at the other end, surely all of the nice stuff in the dining room and sitting room bits will get covered in that greasy dirt too - and won't be as easy to clean as the kitchen stuff is.

Same objection goes for the open shelves in the kitchen, instead of the wall-mounted cupboards - not only do you have to keep everything much tidier than if it was in a cupboard, but it will end up getting manky and needing to be taken down and washed, even if you haven't used it.

Frankly - who has time for all that extra cleaning?? Not me - I have too much to do on FB and MN!! BlushGrin

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 08/05/2019 18:12

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius Yyy - hate open plan shelving in a kitchen! We had it in a previous house and everything got sticky and it was a pain to keep it tidy. And I love to be able to close my kitchen door and sit in a separate room to watch tv - apart from anything else our washing machine is in there and we're only able to hear the telly when the door is shut. Your den sounds brilliant- wish we had space for one. Teen DCs just have to make do with their bedrooms!

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woodhill · 08/05/2019 18:18

Yes hate those open shelf kitchens, more cleaning and where do you stick all the random bits.

Don't like people watching me cook, I have some open plan. I would rather shut the door.

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