Did anyone see Grand Designs...

**shirlthegirl43** · 26-02-2009, 08:39 AM

Never watch the programme, get too fed up with the state of our place

**Flummery** · 26-02-2009, 08:41 AM

Oh I SO did! The finished article looked so much posher than it promised to do during the build too. I shared Kevin's doubts about the glass-bottle walls but weren't they superb? I also think I saw a Bombay Sapphire or two in there!
Had some doubts when I saw the house they were leaving. The icky green kitchen and plum exterior didn't augur well for matters of taste but the result was a delight. You really need a team of slaves, though, like they had!

**JILLY JACKSON** · 26-02-2009, 08:42 AM

very often watch it but didn'tsee that one.Sounds interesting,shall watch for a repeat!My daughter needs a house.

**Mrs Dobby** · 26-02-2009, 09:03 AM

Loved it last night, but then again I think its one of the best prog's on Telly! I would sooo love to build our own eco house, butcant afford to do so, yet!

My dream would be to build an eco house on 4 or 5 acres of land, keep chucks, pigs, goats, grow all our own veg and be self sufficient for water, power and heating! One day perhaps............

**HeyWayne** · 26-02-2009, 09:17 AM

Indeed I did. I loved the bit about building regs - he had experienced problems with environmental departments about the use of recycled/waste material to construct in the UK, the attitude in France seemed much more - you build it, it falls in you, it's your fault.

Much as I thought the worktop looked nice in the kitchen, I couldn't help thinking that it wasn't that hygienic with all those nooks and crannies in it - would have made a lovely dining table though!

Interesting that they came in twice over budget. Wonder how that happened.

Top effort though.

**Rhona** · 26-02-2009, 09:53 AM

Can't watch anything like that at the moment. Was finding the whole buying and selling house thing a breeze, until recent days... it can be a bit hair raising can't it?!

**Nicos** · 26-02-2009, 10:00 AM

Oh D'oh...I missed it!

It's one of my favourite programmes too!
Was busy making part of my house un-eco ( ie removing the insulation)and hacking out thick cement rendering.
I'm so stiff this morning- I wish I'd sat downnow with a glass of wine- or a cuppa - and watched the TV!

**Eden** · 26-02-2009, 10:32 AM

It was a wonderful build last night, I get so bored with all those folk with a million or more pounds to spend on a self build and they are all great big white, sterile, impersonal, show home type places - last night's epsiode had a house full of charm and sooo much more interesting!!! Loved it, and would love to build a house like that too! Did you see that bed!! On those huge wooden balls, do you think the bed base might roll off though?! ;0 Loved all the recycling materials too, truly wonderful! Reminded me a little of the guy that built his straw house in the woods, anyone see that too?

**SarzWix** · 26-02-2009, 11:20 AM

I didn't see it, bit I DO love that program

I shall go and look for it on 4OD to watch later.
I'd love to build/have built our own house too, but my dream would be a green oak frame. Although I'd be just as happy with an ancient farmhouse

**HeyWayne** · 26-02-2009, 11:25 AM

Just had my "VIP" badge delivered for the Ecobuild exhibition - I know Kevin McCloud will be there. Wonder if I'll bump into him...

**SarzWix** · 26-02-2009, 11:32 AM

Oooh, lucky lad

My friend who is an architect is going to that. He specialises in Eco-Builds, freelance. He's still getting a surprising amount of work, well, enough to keep him busy anyway.

**pigletwillie** · 26-02-2009, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by HeyWayne View Post

Indeed I did. I loved the bit about building regs - he had experienced problems with environmental departments about the use of recycled/waste material to construct in the UK, the attitude in France seemed much more - you build it, it falls in you, it's your fault.

Much as I thought the worktop looked nice in the kitchen, I couldn't help thinking that it wasn't that hygienic with all those nooks and crannies in it - would have made a lovely dining table though!

Interesting that they came in twice over budget. Wonder how that happened.

Top effort though.

You big jessie HW, you probably get more bugs on your fingers from handling a �1 coin or a �5 note than hide on that fabulous worktop. Its character and modern, kitchens have very little of it.

I just loved the idea of using the walls and floor as a big thermal sink and using landscaping to keep the prevailing wind off the back of the house by backfilling, keeping the chilling effects down. The only bit I thought a bit twee were the silly little candle "hobbit holes".

Quite a thought provoking house, and yes, the bottle wall was fabulous.

**Alison** · 26-02-2009, 01:02 PM

I think the main reason that it came in over budget was that the estimate was wrong in the first place. Really good episode though, some of the recent ones have been a bit same old same old type of thing so it was nice to see something different.

**Glutton4...** · 26-02-2009, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by Mrs Dobby View Post

Loved it last night, but then again I think its one of the best prog's on Telly! I would sooo love to build our own eco house, butcant afford to do so, yet!

My dream would be to build an eco house on 4 or 5 acres of land, keep chucks, pigs, goats, grow all our own veg and be self sufficient for water, power and heating! One day perhaps............

Ditto all the above. My fave one (posh) was the green oak house, my fave one (non-posh) was the woodman's house. OH and I want to build a straw-bale house, and have done so since we first heard about the idea. Just got to persuade someone to 'give' us the land - so not much chance of that. Still - we can dream!

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