Love it or list it Viewers have criticized the show’s “ugly box” transformation of a stunning period property, saying the results have been “burned into their retinas.”
On last night’s episode of Channel 4’s renovation show, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer visited Katy and Carl in Chester, who were looking to improve their family home.
After having two children, four-year-old Iona and newborn Wilfred, the couple realized their £330,000 three-bedroom Edwardian terraced house was no longer of use to them.
Although the house was impressive with its exposed brickwork and period features, it lacked insulation and family space, while Carl said his home office was “freezing”.
Phil began the search for a new property for the couple, while Kirstie came up with a “raised ceiling loft conversion” to expand the space, costing £75,000.
Their plans added a new floor to the property, with an extra bedroom and bathroom, while storage facilities were greatly improved.
But onlookers were not convinced by the appearance of the extension, saying it looked like an “ugly carbuncle” and comparing it to a “shed on a roof”.
They wrote on social media: “I still think a downstairs bathroom is so helpful with little kids (and their older relatives!). I would have put one under the stairs.” Ugly loft conversion’;
Love it or list it Viewers have criticized the show’s transformation of a stunning period property into an “ugly box”, saying the results have been “etched into their retinas”. In the photo after the transformation.
Viewers didn’t hold back, with one even saying the loft conversion looked like a “huge carbuncle” on the ceiling.
‘A woman who loves the ‘character’ of her house destroys it so much that no one can bear to look at it from the outside anymore’;
I hope they fired someone in the planning department for this. It’s crazy’;
‘I always wanted to love the house in this show, but this time I’m afraid that the ugly box on top of that beautiful house will burn into my retina’;
“It looks like a huge carbuncle on the ceiling”;
‘I’m going to put a shed on the roof of my house to increase its value’;
‘The interior is fabulous, but, to be honest, I don’t like the exterior’;
‘My eyes, my eyes.’
Previously, Carl and Katy’s loft had been cold and drafty without any insulation (pictured before conversion)
However, by expanding the space, they had a new double bedroom and a family bathroom. Pictured: the added bedroom.
Carl and Katy (pictured) had bought their house in Chester seven years ago and were deciding whether to love it (keep it) or put it up for sale (sell it).
Onlookers were not convinced by the appearance of the extension, saying it looked like an “ugly carbuncle” and comparing it to a “shed on a roof”.
Katy, a psychologist, was clearly determined to stay on the property, or “love” it, from the start of the program.
She said: ‘I love this house, I love the red brick, it feels light and airy. It’s our first family home and we definitely have an emotional connection,” and admitted that she had made an offer before Carl saw it.
However, Carl was willing to go ahead and “list” the property on the market, as he wanted more space for the children and a warmer office for working from home.
Phil showed them three properties in the Westminster Park, Wervin and Huntington areas of Chester.
The final property in particular caught the couple’s attention with its spacious garden with panoramic views of the city and cathedral.
Priced at £550,000, it was £50,000 over budget, but was in immaculate condition and ready to move into, with a large open-plan kitchen and dining room, and a garden 20 times larger than the current one.
Despite Carl’s clear preference for the house, the couple ultimately decided to “love” their current home after the loft conversion.
They spent £75,000 on the renovations and saved money by redecorating the rooms themselves.
The property had original Edwardian features but lacked space for Katy and Carl’s growing family. Pictured before the new loft was added.
During renovations, the family created a bedroom for four-year-old Iona. In the photo left, before and right, after
Before, the living room was cluttered and there was no storage space (pictured)
The couple added a new storage solution under the stairs, with space for coats and shoes.
The previous kitchen had a breakfast bar, which took up a lot of space (in the before photo)
By removing the breakfast bar, Kirstie added space for a family dining table (pictured below)
The new master bedroom up the elevator had built-in skylights, which meant Katy and Carl could stargaze at night.
And Carl finally got his dream home office in the loft, with a nice, warm temperature.
Phil was trying to find the couple a new home, but winner Kirstie was determined to transform their current space.
The house was valued at £335,000 before the loft was added and was worth £463,000 after the work was completed, meaning the earned value was £50,000.
But its appearance was clearly not to everyone’s liking, although onlookers agreed that the interior looked much better.
During the series that aired last year, Love it or List it viewers branded the show “useless.”
Carol and Andrew Pogson, who live in the “posh” North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate, first appeared on the show in 2017, when they were deadlocked over the fate of their three-bedroom detached property.
Carol wanted to “list it,” meaning put it up for sale, while Andrew demanded that the family of four stay put.
The family decided to renovate the property and sell it, but upon visiting the seven couple, Phil Spencer discovered that the couple were still living there.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, after the show left viewers confused.
‘This program just doesn’t make sense. They wanted to list it in 2017. “Let’s visit again in 2024 to see their new house”… Oh, still there, you changed your mind. What’s the point? one wrote.
Kirstie and Phil’s new series of Love It Or List airs Wednesdays at 8pm on Channel 4. The first episode of the new series is now available to stream.