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TBH I don’t think they are that high up in the spending way beyond their means league of grand designers
Yeah, you are right, but I don't think we are all thinking in the same terms. They seem to be two fairly normal people, without the moneyed background that you often see on GD, and when questioned about how they paid for a massively increased budget, they started to look a bit embarrassed. Which isn't an unusual response, tbf.
The mortgage borrowing seems about right, and they had a fortuitous windfall, but then managed to find a couple of hundred thou down the back of the sofa. I think most of us are a little puzzled about who we'd approach if needing that much money, and how it would be repaid on top of a significant mortgage, but that's not to say it's all that unlikely. Yet, it was another oddity in an odd episode - the house was odd, the back-story was odd, the borrowing was odd, even the toilet was odd.
Chatting to a colleague about it at lunch, and he knows one of the architects who works for Loyn and Co, so I've just looked at their website. Curiously, when GD showed the Gower house, I initially thought it was Stormy Castle, near Llangennith, before realising that it was a few miles away. Stormy Castle is actually one of Loyn's designs, as is Margam Parks' visitor centre. Makes you think... 😀
(If you've surfed at Llangennith, you've driven past Stormy Castle. )
I didn’t like the extension to the original building at all - and it sounds like that bit cost a fortune to dig out / concrete in etc.
I think I’d have kept the original building and had a kitchen / diner at the top (losing the mezzanine view over the edge - make it one proper floor) and put bedrooms in downstairs. Dig out a bit at the side to allow windows to the side of the bedrooms and add on a small extension somewhere for a decent family living room. No way did that house need to be so big and so fancy based on what they had to spend on it.
Architects just seem to go nuts trying to create something for their portfolio to look nice - as they know it’s not their money they’re spending.
I think I’d have kept the original building and had a kitchen / diner at the top (losing the mezzanine view over the edge – make it one proper floor) and put bedrooms in downstairs. Dig out a bit at the side to allow windows to the side of the bedrooms and add on a small extension somewhere for a decent family living room. No way did that house need to be so big and so fancy based on what they had to spend on it.
Absolutely this - I assume planning restrictions wouldn't allow the roof to change so they would have to keep that, but there was enough space to do something with it, other than it basically being a big walkway to a picture window (with great views tbf) when that will undoubtedly be one of the least-used rooms in the building.
Good that they both managed to get their teeth done before the last program!!
"The contractors have come in way over our budget"
"Shall we cut back our plans and just concentrate on the reservoir building, perhaps treating the extension as phase 2?"
"No, let's continue on with the extension that we don't need".
If they had a budget of £700,000, why did the architect design a building that cost almost double that in the first place?
Chatting to a colleague about it at lunch, and he knows one of the architects who works for Loyn and Co, so I’ve just looked at their website. Curiously, when GD showed the Gower house, I initially thought it was Stormy Castle, near Llangennith, before realising that it was a few miles away. Stormy Castle is actually one of Loyn’s designs, as is Margam Parks’ visitor centre. Makes you think… 😀
(If you’ve surfed at Llangennith, you’ve driven past Stormy Castle. )
You've confused me now...the one they showed on GD (that we've both cycled past) is called Stormy Castle (as shown on OS maps).
But is there another Stormy Castle? (The one up on the left off the Llangennith lane rings a bell)
If they had a budget of £700,000, why did the architect design a building that cost almost double that in the first place?
It was a four year project. A lot has happened in that time!
It was a four year project. A lot has happened in that time!
They got 3 quotes on day 1.... ranged from 1.2 to 1.4 I believe, so the comment is completely valid. If they had a max budget of 700k, why did their architect design them a 1.4m house?
Their "budget" was a bit of a joke anyway - it didn't include VAT...... or kitchen..... or bathrooms.
I think the thing I found most infuriating was all the hand-wringing about money (including resorting to borrowing from friends/family) - but at the same time insisting on a completely unnecessarily level of finish: How much did that copper tub in the bedroom cost? And the water feature in the courtyard? Top-end marble worktops (including waterfall ends to the island)? Massively over-specced oak boards that looked about 3" thick?
I was sure that they were doing it to sell it..... thats the only remotely sensible reason you would be insisting on such a deluxe finish that you couldn't afford.
and yes..... OnlyFans was suggested as an explaination of how they were/are able to service a mortgage of that size on what we assume their income to be (pick-n-mix aside)
But is there another Stormy Castle? (The one up on the left off the Llangennith lane rings a bell)
I’ve just checked my OS map and you are absolutely right - it’s the same place. (Of course it is, I’m being a dumbass!) But what’s the one near Hillend called? I can’t be bothered to go down there today! 😁 (I was thinking of walking from Cwm Ivy tomorrow, maybe I’ll head down that way.)
They got 3 quotes on day 1…. ranged from 1.2 to 1.4 I believe, so the comment is completely valid. If they had a max budget of 700k, why did their architect design them a 1.4m house?
Then at the end she had the audacity to claim if they knew it would cost this much they wouldn’t have done it. She should be a politician
I do wonder why it takes so long to train as an architect. There never seem to design something the client can afford so clearly they don’t do costings. They have structural engineers to ensure what they design is physical cabae of being built and stand up. So clearly that’s not part of the syllabus. So what is
But that makes it even odder.
If the quotes in 2019 were 1.2m ish, how on earth was it delivered for that price given the rises in 2020/21/22?
I have only seen a couple of these sorts of programs where things came in on budget.
One was a build years ago on Grand Designs where the people building the dwelling earned their living as shop fitters and had a tight grip on everything and one where the guy built a house in the woods out of trees and straw bails.
Reasons can think of why the budget is busted are:
The achitect hasn't a clue, unexpected extra expenses as you don't always know what problems you find until you start. The owners upspec everything. Inflation, delays, weather.
Many architects are frustrated artists I'm my experience.
Sadly, artistic talent and practicality often don't go hand in hand. I've just spent a fortnight working with an artist and just had to resign myself to the fact our brains are wired very differently, and be thankful I was on a flat day rate...
The mind boggles at the debt they took on, and where on earth an extra couple of hundred grand was rustled up from.
What a great opportunity to take free land, along with a great inheritance, to build something decent and be left with a small mortgage to pay off. Vanity is a queer thing.
and where on earth an extra couple of hundred grand was rustled up from.
my guess is it’s a gift in lieu of an inheritance.
Or a well off friend who will now own a part share of the property.
Their “budget” was a bit of a joke anyway – it didn’t include VAT…
You can claim that back on self build can you not?
Or a well off friend who will now own a part share of the property.
Their “budget” was a bit of a joke anyway – it didn’t include VAT…
You can claim that back on self build can you not
I think they were hoping to claim it was a new build, and therefore VAT free, but cos they didn't knock the old one fully down, it didn't qualify as new build
We just watched this last night and loved it - I can't believe I have to live without Grand Designs for 10 months of the year. It was a classic though: pregnant, initial designs way over budget but let's do it anyway, budget delays... and ultimately a gorgeous house. You question why the new extension needed to be quite so enormous, and how they could afford their teeth whitening if they were so skint, but fair play to them getting it finished in the end
I think they were hoping to claim it was a new build, and therefore VAT free, but cos they didn’t knock the old one fully down, it didn’t qualify as new build
perhaps why the extension was do massively over sized
f they had a budget of £700,000, why did the architect design a building that cost almost double that in the first place?
I thought exactly the same. Kevin clearly loves the architect given how many times they got a mention by name. However, selling the customer a vision of what they can’t afford is a breach of their duties in my mind.
It’s one thing to design a house that might stretch the budget but they are clearly experienced enough to know they were designing a house that would be in the territory of doubling it.
Unless, of course, the couple presented themselves in a very different financial position when they met the architects … which I could equally believe.
My post was negative, I forgot to say that I thought the finished article was really nice. Looks like a right nice place to live.
I didn’t like it much. Total waste of space of the main building - the mezzanine served little purpose, the downstairs was just a big open space with a fairly small, gaudy kitchen. The dining room was a corridor and I don’t like the idea of half of the house being disjointed from the other half. Bedrooms were pretty small and the bath really didn’t fit at the end of the bed.
For me, it ended up a pretty small house for £1.5 million and being left in debts up to your eyeballs.
But then I don’t have to live there so what do my thoughts matter?
My house was architect drawn and he was just fine, but he worked pretty closely with the site manager. Trades are a complete nuisance tho', and can't stick to time schedules or promised budgets, and happy to blame everybody but themselves.
I've heard it said, and believe it to be true. that you need to build yourself three houses to finally get the one you really want.
I mentioned it to the missus and she went into full Columbo mode . I swear I’m going to set her and her mate in a Private Investigator company soon.
Apparently their latest business venture is in candles . Perhaps they are “special” candles like what Gywnneth makes 😂
Rosa and Craig that is, not my missus and mate 😳
Having thought about it.... all of the stuff that makes absolutely no sense, suddenly makes sense if they are just building it to sell it.
They are building the "most" house with the highest-end finishes they can possibly afford to build - not necessarily afford to live in afterwards.
They’ve created an insta account also, pops up on my feed (they’re listening!)
I don’t like the idea of half of the house being disjointed from the other half
It’s funny how people are so different. I love the idea of disjointed houses with sleeping, living and utility as separate areas.
So....25% over budget...and no comments?!
I like the location, but don't understand the heating system
That one was excellent. Loved it and a very down to earth guy with no pretension. I’m sure he will have a far easier time servicing the £175 k of debt he has compared to lasts weeks dreamers
Yep, enjoyed that one...nice build, good budgeting, lovely location, no real drama
Can't say i liked the building at all...and i don't know why they kept calling it a tree house. There's some trees in the garden...but by that measure, i live in a tree house.
I liked it. Sensible for the family, good thinking about the plumbing and a nice building. I'd like to know if it'd would have been on budget if not for trussenomics.
I liked it but it felt like a bit of waste of space under the ‘tree house’ bit. Could have been more indoor space or more of a garden feature.
Lounge out to the lake particularly nice.
Really liked the house and its setting.
We only caught the last 20 minutes - was there a particular back story or was he just a single dad?
I did wonder about the garage and drive. That seemed to remove from the tranquility of the house. The high shot looked like a lot of the grassed area between bungalow and house was occupied was also surprised that the bungalow went for £200k did they split the garden for two building plots? It's certainly be in my thoughts if I was as frugal as him
I thought exactly the same. Kevin clearly loves the architect given how many times they got a mention by name. However, selling the customer a vision of what they can’t afford is a breach of their duties in my mind.
My experience is that they have no idea how much stuff really costs to build, or certainly didn't keep pace with cost rises in trades & then materials.
We had quite at 150% and 210% of budget from builders, and another architect suggesting it could be done for 50%....
Best catch up with this series, always a good watch.
We liked last nights and the pond/lake really made it.
By those standards we also live in a tree house as we have trees near the house and I didn't understand the need for the raised section, other than added architect element, with its significant extra cost and no apparent plan for under it.
What I did like was that for once there was a massive garage/workshop space for all your tools, toys, turbo set up, and presumably a ride on mower for all that grass.
I notice there was no interview or name dropping of the architect this week. Is that because it was a good design that fitted the brief. Never ones Kevin likes
There was a name drop of the architect, Karen someone maybe.
I liked it. The tree house element is purely conceptual. The raised element was to give them the views / feeling of being in the tree canopy from the kids bedrooms.
I thought he did a really good job, £375,000 for that house is very impressive. Was pleased for the chap and his family.
Interesting that last week's build was 25% over budget, and they got grief on here...this week, 25% over budget..."didn't he do well" 😂
Interesting that last week’s build was 25% over budget, and they got grief on here…this week, 25% over budget…”didn’t he do well” 😂<br /><br />
ok I will bite. One was £75k and it was fairly easy to see how he could afford to cover it with what is presumably quite a well paid job and he only has £175k of debt to service. One was nearer £500k over spent with debts coming out of thier eyeballs and absolutely no apparent way they would ever be able to service the debt.
I know it's grand designs, but depending on how pokey the bungalow was you'd think that keeping the whole lot & building a jetty and simple garden room by the pond would have been money better spent. Didn't warm to the guy myself, wonder if there was a bit of tempting the younger kids away from mum was part of the reasoning behind it all, but I've been on the receiving end of that sort of thing so maybe I'm biased.
you’d think that keeping the whole lot & building a jetty and simple garden room by the pond would have been money better spent.
If you can build the forever house of your dreams for just a £175k debt then it sounds like money well spent to me.
Didn’t warm to the guy myself,
Agree there. There was clearly a lot of issue from his childhood carried over .... the stark comparison between his minimalistic life and the clutter of his Mum's house, perhaps over compensating to his kids for not having his Dad around and as you say, maybe a little competing with his wife.
Still a cracking house for the money.
wonder if there was a bit of tempting the younger kids away from mum was part of the reasoning behind it all, but I’ve been on the receiving end of that sort of thing so maybe I’m biased.
ooof that doesn’t feel a nice thing to say. Personally I thought he did a great job, clearly loves his kids and there would be a million other easy ways to ‘tempt the kids away’ than pouring two+ years of your life into a project like that.
The juxtaposition of this weeks with last weeks was deliberate - they have done similar in previous series.
I thought he seemed genuine and sincere.... again the opposite of last week. Yes there was obviously a ton of baggage there re: his own childhood, and his past relationships, but his: "I just want to be the best dad to my kids that I can be" really got me in the feels. My wife thought he was a bit wierd though (for balance).
Kevin was good this week too - maybe because he didn't have any impregnating to do?
I found the design a bit fussy - I would have preferred cleaner lines/levels, but thats a personal thing. I would rather he had copied the simpler aestehetic of the (really expensive) Berkshire version. It wouldn't have been any more expensive, and I just think it was just better designed.
I couldn't really understand the heating either
Overall, a good one I think.
I liked it - was nice to see someone design something to a budget. Not sure I get the raised bedrooms thing but certainly as a house it worked and it seemed to fit the brief.
I did think that design cock up with the levels was inexcusable though. I can't believe they were all so chilled about, I would have properly kicked off and the architect or whoever would have been paying to make good. There is no way it was either the client or the project manager's fault, can't quite fathom how he came to be paying for it.
Normally Kevin doesn't annoy me at all but the way he kept on snipping about "penny pinching" etc.. got waring. The guy was clearly careful with his money but knew he had a tight budget with challenges, which given everything outside his control like our recent inflation / increasing building materials costs, he did well to mitigate.
The house? I'm not a fan of the raised part, it seemed to be there for design reasons - to look different - rather than any other reason. Very different to the "flood plain house" that Kevin visited. Also the extension without facilities seemed odd even if it was a cost saving issue. One bathroom in a new 4 bed house seems would be viewed negatively in today's new houses
True about the lack of services in the bedrooms - I guess he's not interested in selling up any time soon but seemed a bit of a shame not to put them in now while it's cheap as there's almost certainly no cost effective way to retro fit them.
Was also a bit confused about the raised area, it wouldn't have been a huge amount more to actually fill it in but then this was designed to a budget and the compromise was he wanted to feel like they were up in the tree and this was the most cost effective way of achieving that. It was no bigger than necessary and has no room for clutter.
Normally Kevin doesn’t annoy me at all but the way he kept on snipping about “penny pinching” etc.. got waring.<br /><br />
I agree. It came across as Kevin being a bit snobby because the guy had the audacity to want to try and stick to his budget.
It dies make less interesting TV when things go to plan . . .
I think it had a en suite and family bathroom in the main the block plus cloakroom downstairs. I think that is sufficient in 4 bed house!
I liked the raised element it was part of the design and allowed you to look through the site from front to back. Plus the novelty of living in the tree canopy.
Overall the best one in a while for me and nice it was a realistic budget.
But it was 25% over!! 😂
If he was so limited in his funding, where did suddenly find another 25%?? It's just the same as last week but on a smaller budgetary scale....
Apparently I’ve got to watch last weeks, my mates in it for a few milliseconds 🙂
If he was so limited in his funding, where did suddenly find another 25%??
Oddly, no suggestion of Only Fans…
IdleJon
Full Member
But is there another Stormy Castle? (The one up on the left off the Llangennith lane rings a bell)I’ve just checked my OS map and you are absolutely right – it’s the same place. (Of course it is, I’m being a dumbass!) But what’s the one near Hillend called? I can’t be bothered to go down there today! 😁 (I was thinking of walking from Cwm Ivy tomorrow, maybe I’ll head down that way.)
So there are 2 stormy castles on Gower...the one on the left on the way to Llangennith is indeed also Stormy Castle...
So there are 2 stormy castles on Gower…the one on the left on the way to Llangennith is indeed also Stormy Castle…
Thankfully it's not just my ageing brain getting frazzled... 😀
Anyone watching the bonkers Hackney house with the grumpy teenage girls watching on in horror?
I was waiting for something to go wrong. The basement / concrete contractor was blurred out earlier.
Oh good grief. That’s horrendous.
Yep, it’s pretty disastrous. They have lost a third of the space!
Mum & Dad should take it on the chin and have the Mezzanine and give the girls the bedroom!
Just catching up. Another recurring theme for the bingo card is building a home for your family then missing a big chunk of family life getting it built.
What a mess they have got themselves into. A tiny tiny plot!
They could have moved to the commuter belt and got a lovely house.
If I remember correctly.....
£270,000 for two garages?
Then a last minute £15,000 for the 3rd one!
£440,000 mortgage before going over budget...wow.
I think his dress sense in Morocco explains alot...lol!
Yes. One of the worst results I've seen. Externally an eyesore (IMO of course). Massively over budget. Unfinished. More money needed to sort out the basement.
Amazed it got planning permission . Completely different style to the rest of the street. Wonder how the neighbours reacted to it.
Edit - they didn't like it. Before and after pics from neighbour's garden here.
https://twitter.com/nellenagem/status/1717443085049692425?s=19
Was trying to work out what was wrong with the steel. They said the welds were bad. Could have been rectified in situ . I wonder if the timber company supplied them and used a fabricator who didn’t have the correct credentials.
Wow. What a car crash. I didn’t really mind the external design but I think the £450k was build only so with the plot as well they are £720k in for an unfinished one bedroom house. Crazy stuff. No wonder they don’t want to sell, they’d lose a fortune.
It's bogging !! How did it get planning permission?
That neighbour tweet says no consultation with neighbours. I would be very surprised if council ignored their statutory responsibility for planning consultation.
They had to get part of the exterior rendered rather than brick, for expedience. I presume that was the bottom part of the walls? I quite like the fibre board upper walls, but the red render just didn't work. I can see if it sat on brick (same sort as the neighbouring houses?) then I think it would have worked better.
unfinished
They seem to be lashing some stuff together this series. Maybe they're committed to a series and didn't quite have the body of work to make it happen, so they've had to rush some stuff?
Just watched the red blob episode - what an ugly POS. Totally out of place in that street, same basic design in just crisp white render would have been better. Architect trying to create something fancy for his "portfolio" and media exposre. The teenagers clearly not happy, when they first saw the basement hole...."We'll never see daylight again" lol.
In that situation, could the neighbours have refused point blank to allow scaffolding access in their garden?
I like these people and potentially the house too - hope it doesn't go too wrong...
oh
Seriously. Zip ties!
A talented family.
Great house design, maybe a bit too near that tree!
I hope those concrete columns are up to the job, esp with frost action etc
Not sure about her future and how she will complete it though,
I wonder if she sold the other place or needs the rent income.
Nice looking storage shed (1st Nov episode) - all be it empty !
Wanted to like it but much preferred the architects house than inspired it, think I was hoping for something more organic and in keeping with the surroundings.
I really liked last nights house, but have major envy of the architects house they went to in the middle of the programme. Anyone have a link to it?
That was possibly the nicest looking architect design I've seen in a long time on GD. Particularly the overhangs that didn't scream "I'm an overhang!"
And what P20 said.