Architecture and interior design thread

They should have scrapped the basement idea once they scored that additional garage (for 15k!) next door and just gone sideways instead, but I guess they would have had to have gone through planning again.

I thought exactly the same thing: "£15k for the extra space, how fortunate! Now they can start over, save a huge chunk of money and have brighter kids rooms."

Can probably still use the basement to grow mushrooms and forced rhubarb.

I’m surprised that they are allowed in the building, surely if the basement walls aren’t strong enough to have people down there they are not strong enough to support the house above?

Timber frame with some steels, probably overbuilt for that construction, but yeah, surprised too.

Yeah, but the void and side pressure. TBF they didn’t show it, so it could be shuttered and braced down there to keep it in place.

im sick of grand designs doing episodes on unfinished houses, thats what pissed me off the most

Presumably it's unsellable and uninsurable in its current form with a dodgy basement. And how has the bank accepted the mortgage?

Not great images of the basement but went to see this during Open Doors and I would happily use the basement space. Good use of light wells, inner courtyard etc.

Edit - A few more pics here

it wont have been a normal mortgage, more likely a self build/bridging loan, with an interest rate to match the risk of something like this happening

They mentioned tanking so waterproofness rather than structural?

All this concrete doesn't work chat makes me almost worried for my dad's new family home.
Him and second wife are building a boomer fortress using basically only concrete.

Is this it?

Sure it was because it wasn't structurally sound? I didn't see that but usually I've only got one eye on things these days. I thought the problem with the concrete was that the appearance was not good enough to be presentable in naked form and goodness, covering it over would not be acceptable.

Yeah agree. Proven wrong!

nope, different one. think your link is (excuse the Mail link) this
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5016357/Grand-Designs-couple-build-323k-east-London-house.html

Ta. Doesn't mention basement woe. can't find any references to that online, any pointers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW7Z8cr6­a40&ab_channel=GrandDesigns

I flicked through the YouTube link above but I had the same thoughts. We have no money, had to borrow from friends. Well I'd be pissed if you were off to morocco with my money haha.

Get down to Carpet Right!

I have someone coming around on Monday to measure my daughters bedroom to have colour flooring cork installed. Anyone here have this flooring? I'm pretty set on it.

We've had it in one of the bedrooms for a couple of years. I think it looks great, it's nice underfoot (we put a thick acoustic underlay beneath which might have helped) and so far pretty durable, would recommend.

Haven’t watched, but did they go for something fairly generic just to top it off?

Great, I think it's a go!

Yep. We have the planks in our kitchen. Similarly - comfortable, quiet, etc etc. No regrets.

Is it easy to clean in a kitchen? I imagine it would get a lot of abuse in that space