Channel 4 Grand Designs fans left furious at ‘tone deaf’ couple after ‘smug’ remark during £420k renovation: ‘What world!’
Grand Designs viewers were less than impressed with the couple, Sarah and Pip, who featured in Wednesday’s episode of the Channel 4 reality show.
The programme follows designer Kevin McCloud as he meets the people behind some of the most ambitious property builds, but the latest episode was deemed by some to be “out of touch”.
The couple had planned to spend £420,000 on their renovation of a Bedfordshire barn, but ended up exceeding their budget.
McCloud first met the ambitious dup in 2022, when they explained they’d endured months of delays in starting their project.
However, they managed to make a start eventually, with McCloud estimating the project would come to £700,000, adding that they’d have to spend £1.1 million if they wanted a “top-class” result.
Sarah shared confidently: “We’re going to do it for half of it,” but they ended up spending £540,000.
As McCloud explored the property, which boasted floor-to-ceiling windows, he was surprised by the lavish kitchen.
“Oh, heavens. It’s actually giant,” he remarked, noting: “I know the carcasses were a budget choice, but the doors and drawer fronts, the golden handles, and the huge sheets of quarts seem suspiciously all bespoke.”
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This agricultural building has been transformed into a fabulous contemporary space.
It is a real meeting of old and new ♥️#GrandDesigns pic.twitter.com/kO8jX03ZDV
— granddesigns (@granddesigns) April 2, 2025
After taking in to impressive design, he probed: “There’s some money in here, isn’t there?”
“No, this entire kitchen came in at under £15,000,” Sarah detailed, which earned her plaudits from presenter McCloud
However, her comment didn’t go down well with viewers tuned in, with some taking issue with the Grand Designs star’s flippant comment about the kitchen’s cost.
One fumed on X: “When Kev asks [there’s] money in this kitchen then? Woman answers no came in under 15k… what world r u living in u dont think thats a v large amount of money? Utterly tone deaf #granddesigns.”
“I just think this is a vile tone deaf programme with all the c**p going on in the world. Oh let’s spend half a million on wood and steel and look smug about it. Idiots,” another agreed.
Someone else shared: “Absolutely horrid. It’s not a house, or a home. It’s a statement ‘look at us, aren’t we special’…”
“The cost of what would probably be 2 c****y new builds they did all that @ 540k,” someone else argued.
Another questioned the couple’s spending, with one adding: “£540,000 (so far). Does Kevin believe them?”
“The rear windows look great – but expensive. #GrandDesigns,” one more shared.
Some fans of the show left more complimentary reviews of the episode, with another person posting: “#granddesigns love watching this it’s fascinating what people build and how it turns out.” (sic)
Last week, the show left many viewers in agreement over one of the projects, with the final product deemed “depressing”.
The instalment centred around Howard and Sarah, who dreamed of building a “floating” home in a tidal estuary in West Sussex.
