Whether you’re remodelling an older property in a unique style or starting a new build from scratch, Grand Designs always primes the imagination. And you needn’t break the bank to emulate the eclectic designs featured, because thrifty post-recession builders often use deft development tricks to build dream homes on a range of budgets.
So here are five of the show’s best builds to get you grabbing that drawing board.
Water tower wonder
Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce converted a crumbling Kennington water house into a magnificent modern home in a project that featured in the 100th episode of the show.
The developers blended the building’s existing Grade II listed features with a superb new split-level structure in the lower section.
The property features breath-taking 360 degree views across London and is a dizzying nine storeys high.
And you can imbibe first-hand inspiration for your own project by booking a weekend away at the water tower.
Industrial inspiration
If you’re seeking more remodelling magic, Stuart and Rosie Treasurer’s ‘box house on a budget’ might blow your mind.
Their stylised design totally transforms the original boring bungalow and includes a sloping rubber roof and heat-treated timber cladding.
Part of the house even seems to float on air thanks to a clever fake cantilever supported by hidden struts in a sandstone sidewall.
Fans inspired by this industrial-chic build might follow suit by using a mezzanine floor for a warehouse to convert a cavernous interior into a two-story dwelling.
Elegant Edinburgh solution
Murray House in Edinburgh’s New Town has bagged a host of design gongs including Channel 4 House of the Year 2016.
The wonderful wedge-shaped design allows the property to slide unobtrusively into reclaimed garden space between Georgian homes to the side and back.
And a sloping glass roof allows daylight to stream through the interior while inbuilt solar panels add an eco-friendly touch.
Natural blend
Theo and Elaine Leijser’s cedar-clad home at the Campsie Fells near Glasgow is a prime example of awesome architectural features blending contemporary lines with rustic surroundings.
The design invokes a distorted Rubik’s cube with top-floor cedar panels melting into surrounding trees while a blue-tinged lower level creates an eye catching counterpoint.
And the globetrotting couple used materials from all over the world for the project — from American floors to Swedish windows.
Grace and Space
Cool Bauhaus beauty meets fresh sea air in Rob Hodgson and Kay Ralph’s dramatic clifftop home in Wales.
Whitewashed walls and expansive glass panels create an airy space with stunning sea views.
There are meditative spaces aplenty in the serene open-plan interior, making this minimalist design the perfect retreat from the rat race.
So there are five of the best builds from Grand Designs that combine brilliant building smarts with flights of creative imagination.
But you’ll need passion to pursue your building project to completion — your own new home is where your heart is.
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