Over the course of 22 years of Grand Designs, the Channel 4 program has delivered so many gorgeous Scottish homes.
Homeowners created their dream homes in the face of endless construction schedules and budget oversights.
Much has already been said about the “curse of grand designs” that has befallen some unlucky homeowners.
Whether it’s a mountain of debt or a flurry of trouble, some couples at Grand Designs have been bitten by the so-called “fuck.”
But that’s not the case for everyone – there are homeowners who have brought their dream home back to life and made it to the other side.
Scottish homes remain on the shortlist for the House of the Year award, an architectural award also covered by the Grand Designs.
Here are some of Grand Designs’ happiest stories…
Kinross both
(Photo: Channel 4)
(Photo: Channel 4)
Ian and Jenny Chiladi have moved their small family of four from Edinburgh to the countryside for this ambitious project that was introduced in September 2021.
The 150-year-old has a walled garden at Rumbling Bridge near Kinross.
Built in the late 1800s, their children described it as something out of a Beatrix Potter story, they told Grand Designs magazine.
Ian, an architect, and Jenny, a marketing manager, transformed the property by adding a recent £400,000 extension, which ended up being a £50,000 budget increase.
(Photo: Channel 4)
The building has been hit by the pandemic which has seen progress stalled for 10 weeks of its 11-month build.
Through Covid and replacing both rotten roofs, the project was completed and the family moved in in the spring of 2021.
Although Lieutenant Colonel Kevin McCloud was initially concerned that the new structure would “destroy the beauty of the garden,” he couldn’t help but be surprised by the completed home, calling the house “awesome.”
The Shilladys runs a home Instagram account @thegardenersbothy.
Neuhaus from Auchengree
The stunning North Ayrshire home of Mike and Sally Law was featured on the show in 2017.
The house has been shortlisted for a prestigious architectural award presented by the Royal Incorporation of British Architects (RIBA) for New Homes in the UK.
Scottish architecture firm Ann Nisbet Studio took inspiration from local farms when designing this £600,000 dream home.
Built as a mixed-use space for retired homeowners, the house is actually a group of linked buildings purposefully designed to withstand strong winds.
“The phrase our architect used was, ‘Your house will stand like a statue in the landscape,’” said Mike, a retired GP. “I think that’s very true.”
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Strathaven hangar house
(Photo: Channel 4)
(Photo: Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)
The home of Colin MacKinnon and Marta Briongos is listed in the books as one for aviation enthusiasts.
A 2011 episode of Grand Designs showed the creation of their home at Strathaven Airport.
Colin, a flight instructor, and Marta, a hammock enthusiast, wanted to honor the site with the vision of renowned Edinburgh-based architect Richard Murphy.
they The South Lanarkshire home is on land owned by Coleen and his family which includes Strathaven Airport, Scotland’s oldest continually used airstrip.
The quirky house took 10 years to complete, but the end result was an inspiring home that is clearly theirs.
For Colin and Marta, owning that land is a privilege they are happy to share.
Colin told the Daily Record in June 2021 that they hope to build more homes with plans underway for up to five barn homes on their eight-acre field.
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