Your Home Made Perfect

[Brillig]

Apologies if there's already a thread, but I couldn't see one. Anyone watching? Apparently this is a new series.

I'm waiting for the bench seats to make their inevitable appearance......

Like someone else said I think they should have just got rid of the conservatory and made the Downstairs just a bit more clever for them to live in it. There's only 2 of them. If I'd have been Laura or Robert I would have been itching to totally redesign the downstairs!

Loved the windows.

I didn’t understand the issue with no wanting Ramps - was the husband controlling ? She said he ‘sometimes forgot to put the ramps down’ before he went to work so she couldn’t access the conservatory during the

And why would you trap her in the house by putting steps without a ramp into the garden in the renovation? Bizarre .

I really liked the final outcome. Shame they didn't do the roof window as per Laura's design. There was no way they were ever going to re-use those windows. I think the steps were a mistake - there's ways to make ramps look alright.

I though Robert's design looked like it would be part of an eco gardens or nature reserve cafe. I did quite like it, but not in a home.

I did like the bit where laura showed the conservatory with a tiled roof and the woman was happy with just that!

I like that they did a smaller/cheaper build but I think they could have done two in one episode.

I thought probably re-sale when they didn’t do a ramp

Surely it could have just been a slope rather than a big ramp, and it wouldn't affect resale value that much?

I was just thinking, is it not a risk for her to have to rely on someone to put the ramp out if there was a fire hazard or something and she was home alone?

Fair enough if they both just didn't want the aesthetic of a ramp, but just found it a surprise to spend all that money on making the downstairs more accessible for her to not put one in so she could access the garden herself.

That’s what I thought @covetingthepreciousthings just a sloped bit of patio would have worked surely?

And yes, being able to do things (such as get outside) independently would be a priority for me. Also safer for grandkids etc than stone steps.

Did Robert really say that the bench seating is more flexible?

Surely it's the opposite. As well as being extremely uncomfortable.

Once again I think a combination of the two would have worked. I like Laura’s design, but agree that the reuse of the original windows was never going to work, and it actually didn’t give them anything beyond 1 room. For once I also think the way the clients decorated it was far better than the original design - it was light and airy and lovely - even with the 2 smaller roof lights instead of the 1 big one Laura had put in.

I hated the plants in Robert’s design - they made the whole room look way too cluttered. I also hated the browny/orange plywood. BUT - if they had done his design and decorated it in their own style (inc painting the plywood), I think they would have gained much more.

I can see that bench seating might work as part of the dining bit of a room/dining room - although even there, it isn't as flexible as chairs, which can be moved to other places when needed. I suspect that Robert has the bench seating as a stock item in his planning programme on the computer, and just hits a button to shove them in every room he does.

I swear, I will actually faint if he ever produces a design without bench seating. But I think if he tried, his head would explode.

In all seriousness, I think he shows a distinct lack of imagination - he is trying to be alternative and whacky, but does it the same way every time - all his designs just look the same to me.

No - I think it is full of big, squashy armchairs, Cath Kidston print fabrics, and Emma Bridgewater pottery. In his spare time he crochets and does patchwork.

STDGisAnEvilWolefGenius you say "....I think he shows a distinct lack of imagination - he is trying to be alternative and whacky, but he does it the same way every time.......'
I agree.

I'd love to see some examples of his actually commissioned work in real life.

Here you go @LadyEloise

This is the link to his website and some of the projects he’s worked on

The presenter reminds me very much of Kate.

Angela Scanlon ?

How was bench seating ever going to be practical for her?
And I agree, why no ramp. Fuck resale value. You can’t be trapped in your house because someone in the future might be to sniffy to buy a house with a ramp.

Yes Angela Scanlon

I loved how the presenter asked Robert about his love of bench seating. Glad it's not only us who have noticed it 😂

What did they spend overall?

Do you think they get help with decorating and design once the build has been done? The finished products always look very stylish and I can’t imagine this weeks couple having the idea to put planks of wood on the walls as their style was previously quite basic.

I think the husband said they had spent £26,000 because they had to underpin it, and that cost £5,000 alone

The husband said the £15k budget was for the conservatory but they spent £26k because they did work to the kitchen too.

Do you think they get help with decorating and design once the build has been done? The finished products always look very stylish and I can’t imagine this weeks couple having the idea to put planks of wood on the walls as their style was previously quite basic.

I wonder this too.

The original ramp had to be put down every day otherwise the door wouldn't have been able to close every evening, for warmth/security.

A temporary ramp to the garden would be permanently down outside as the door wouldn't interfere with it - so no need for a permanent ramp that could affect resale value or up costs. They'd already pushed cost up. Perhaps the extra costs were a step too far.

I think they probably get help with decor. That George(?) bloke used to do a programme where they painted the inside of your house all white to create a "blank space" and then redesigned it. I read a piece that said couples had to find the money for builders themselves but the design and survey work was free and usually all or the majority of the furnishings and decor was provided and styled by the production company and that researchers could help with finding local builders, chase up planning etc to keep filming schedules on track.

I've always wondered if partcipants get helped with the "over" budget spend that always ensues in shows like this and Grand Designs. Is it a case of negotiating hard on an individual basis?