What do you think of Sarah Beeny's mega-mansion?

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

A new programme has started on Channel 4 following Sarah Beeny and her husband (and their four kids) as they build their ginormous new house in Somerset.

The house looks like a Lego version of a Georgian country pile. It's naff looking I'm being honest. (yes I can say that. no it isn't a very mean thing to say). The kind of house a Russian oligarch who fancied being an English country gent two weekends a year might have built.

I think we're supposed to worry along with them as to whether their Lego mansion runs over budget and doesn't get finished on time.

Their dog Maple is gorgeous though. No grumbles about Maple.

Lots of new houses are built in a period style, the arts and crafts style is particularly popular where I live and they do look really pretty, often called the heritage range. Just because a house is new it doesn’t have to be a boring grand design white and glass box, I’m bored of seeing them so it’s nice to see a Georgian style home built with modern living in mind, I think it’s the lack of landscaping and plants that make it look incongruous, give it a few years and it will have settled into its surroundings.

@Thecurliestwurly

It's a shit hole. Needs an abandoned pissy mattress and discarded cans of Tennant's super to finish the look.

In all seriousness, it's a bit OTT and wouldn't be for me, but someone has to spend the money and put the hard work in so we can gawk at these places, and I would much rather it was Sarah Beeny than me.

I much prefer the French Chateau and the couple that do that programme personally.

Oooh no the Chateau family annoy me far more than Sarah Beeney every could!

@WheresThatCatGoneNow

What happened with Rise Hall in Yorkshire?

Did they just give up on it, because it was too big a project?

They did it up and ran it as a wedding venue.

Their place in London which was so gorgeous I was green with envy is non comparable to this place!!

Not seen the show.

Quite like Grand Designs and property shows, which are also usually about rich people buying, building or renovating properties, but there are different people each week!

Dislike it when people put their DC on TV.

Those puppies! Adorable.

What's wrong with Graham? Seems a nice enough bloke.

@Bontanics

I don't mind the house I just don't know why they tacked 2 sheds either side of it.

Yes I agree with this. The house would look so much better (impressive even) if it were stand alone.

They did say they’d planted 20,000 trees, but obviously there’s a lot to do outside, especially the driveway once the big work vehicles are off site.

It's hotel sized, and I'm not talking boutique hotel. They'll end up occupying 25% of the rooms. Personally I'd prefer something cosier.

@BigSandyBalls2015

Those puppies! Adorable. What's wrong with Graham? Seems a nice enough bloke.

Twitter seemed divided between some people drooling over him and some people thinking he was a bit of a David Brent.

I think it looks naff and awkward, pretending to be something that it's not. A bit like those 1980s much Tudor houses. I don't see the point.

I like Sarah Beeney and have always enjoyed her programmes. But when she worked with the public, there was an aura of unpredictability because who knew what the public would do. Here, just like Rise Hall, you know they're going to make good in the end so dragging it out for so many weeks is a bit boring.

House is fucking hideous, but I want a picture of the dog pls.

There are so many beautiful old houses crying out for someone to spend £££ on them that it seems a huge pity to build something fake and hideous from scrstch (and far less environmentally friendly). But I suppose she’d done that with Rise Hall and Tv always needs novelty!

This is her dog. She gave birth to three little pups during the show and it was all delightful.

I used to enjoy Sarah's programmes. The house is horrid and they will probably sell it within the next few years.

I used to like when she, heavily pregnant, would look at someone witheringly as they explained their madcap plans.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

This is her dog. She gave birth to three little pups during the show and it was all delightful.

Maple had 4 pups. 3 black and one golden.

I think it looks like they kept one black one as there were two dogs running about when Diccon and Caroline visited to see the finished hallway.

@Tuliptulip that would probably be incredibly expensive, old houses can costs hundreds of thousands to renovate and still not be as environmentally friendly as their new build which has used modern eco friendly technology and materials, plus she has planted over a 10000 trees, added the lake and bees, so far as part of a biodiversity programme.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

I used to like when she, heavily pregnant, would look at someone witheringly as they explained their madcap plans.

🤣🤣 She used to have like a pained smile and nod at what they were saying, and then completely demolish their plans with logic and financial sense. Then she'd go back and say waspishly, "oh I see you still decided to stick to your plans", whilst staring at plasterless walls and no stairs. She was sooo good.

I need to watch this. I liked their Rise Hall series, even if it was a bit disingenuous. It sold for such a small amount because it is in a cheap part of the country and still needed vast amounts of investment in terms of restoration.

I’m quite surprised to see the mock monstrosity they’ve built in the OP’s post. Both for planning reasons and because Graham came across as very interested in aesthetics and proportions in the Rise series, as you’d expect of an artist. It seems weird that he’d be happy to live in a pastiche.

What's wrong with Graham you ask?
Nothing, apart from being ridiculously sexy.

Secret crush revealed. Beeney's hot husband Graham.

He’s always been a looker.

I love it but Sarah Beeney can do no wrong in my eyes!

Then she'd go back and say waspishly, "oh I see you still decided to stick to your plans", whilst staring at plasterless walls and no stairs. She was sooo good.

Yes, I liked that she didn't really do inscrutable!

I haven't seen this but I think she is by far the best presenter they have on now. Her earlier shows were really really good and she has none of that faux bubbliness/sweetness that all the other female presenters seem to have now

I’m watching it now and watching Graham going round the stately home and looking at the ornate plaster mouldings, marble floors and high ceilings and seeming surprised at the details, scale and potential costs involved but they’ve owned an enormous house of a similar period and intricacy before and know about the designs, ceiling heights and plaster details . It’s not a surprise. Obviously the visit and reactions were all for TV drama purposes but it just goes to show how (again) disingenuous all this is.