I think most of us have a little bit of extra time these days. Are you’re baking truckloads of banana bread, in between painting every square inch of the house? Or maybe you’re like me and struggling to get the motivation to brush your hair in the morning! Either way, we all deserve a bit of chilling out time, so let’s snuggle into the couch and binge on one of these TV shows. Think of all the inspo and ideas you’re going to get…you could even call it research!
Grand Designs
Grand Designs is one of those TV shows that’s an absolute classic. It’s been airing since 1999 and it was the first show to open up our eyes and see how unique and amazing an new build can be! Kevin Mc Cloud takes us to every type of house…from underground homes to converted lighthouses. Sometimes the houses didn’t get finished, sometimes the decisions made are daft enough for even Kevin to lift an eyebrow. And I always loved how he asked the homeowners, straight out, how much the whole thing cost. I’m so nosy! 😉
Grand Designs can be viewed on the Channel 4 player. You just need to sign up for free.
Stay Here
I don’t understand why there is only one series of this, because I found it really enjoyable. Basically, an interior designer transforms very basic holiday homes into beautiful spaces. Lots of gorgeous interior and exterior decor and ideas. There was also a real estate broker involved who discussed the rates and how best to make a profit. It made it a little different from the usual renovation shows and it would be very handy for anyone thinking of starting short term rentals.
Stay Here can be viewed on Netflix.
Escape to the Chateau
I had heard about this one for ages but it was only in the last few weeks I started watching it. It’s about an English couple who have bought a run down French chateau and are renovating it pretty much by themselves. Each episode show real ingenuity in their upcycling and DIYs. And each week I’m amazed at the amount of energy these two people have! What they are creating is simply beautiful.
Watch Escape to the Chateau here on the Channel 4 player.
Home of the Year
Everyone is Ireland knows about Home of the Year, but in case you’re reading this from abroad, it’s worth a watch. In each episode, three judges visit three houses and give their scores at the end. The house with the highest score goes through to the final. While admittedly, there’s not very many of your average 3 bed semi-detached, there is a good mix of modern and period houses, with everything in between! It’s a favourite.
Home of the Year can be viewed on the RTE player.
Tiny House Nation
A little bit different from the usual, Tiny House Nation is an interesting look into what people’s lives are going to be like when they ‘go tiny’. Each episode, the presenters help out to build and complete a tiny house. What they can do with such a small square footage is amazing and the houses really do turn out gorgeous. It would make you wonder if it would be worth doing to have NO MORTGAGE! But some of those houses are just a little tooooo tiny for me, especially in Ireland when those cute outdoor spaces would be useless to us for most of the year! But this show would get you thinking!
Watch Tiny House Nations on Netflix.
The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes
If you haven’t watched this yet, than I’m soooooo jealous!!!! Wish I could go back and watch it again with fresh eyes. The presenters, Piers and Caroline have great chemistry and make for entertaining viewing. They basically travel the world, visiting exceptional houses of every variety. They could be set up in the treetops, built into cliffs, underground or overlooking the most breathtaking views. It was on this show I spotted the overground swimming you see earlier!! I couldn’t recommend this one more…the most enjoyable watch! Have I mentioned I love it?!
Watch The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes on Netflix.
And if you’re looking for even more inspiration, check out my last post where I round up 6 of my all time favourite home blogs. So much inspiration, tips and tutorials to be found…between blogs and TV shows, you’ll be kept very busy!!
