Over the years, Kevin McCloud has worked with some of the most amazing and strange properties in the world.
But the Grand Designs presenter, 65, has largely remained tight-lipped about his own preferences and tastes.
However, since buying a 400-year-old Grade II listed property for £1.1m in Herefordshire three years ago, the renovation expert has been more candid about some of his interior tastes and “obsessions”.
He has spoken about his penchant for historic settings and places with “character”, as well as advising when it is advisable or not to opt for folding doors.
Elsewhere, she’s also dished on her favorite furniture brands, with a surprisingly affordable option in the mix.
From his criticism of the inclusion of unnecessary and “absurd” toilets to his controversial views on kitchen islands, FEMAIL looks at what Kevin believes makes a perfect house a home…
A HISTORICAL SENSATION
Kevin’s latest project showcases the host’s penchant for preserving the natural character of a property, especially if it has a rich history.
He has quietly spent the last three years converting a derelict old farmhouse into his dream home after purchasing the rural hideaway (which came with planning permission to convert a cow shed into another new home) for £1.1m in June 2021.
Planning documents highlighted how Kevin set out to restore “the lost dignity and historic character” of the 400-year-old Grade II listed property in Herefordshire.
He told how he fitted the ‘casing and doors’ and did some ‘basic carpentry and screwing’ before adding that he brought in ‘proper craftsmen’ to customise it and bought a ‘very, very beautiful and expensive hot water tap’.
Kevin has spent the last three years transforming an old, derelict farmhouse into his dream home after purchasing this rural retreat. Pictured are images of the farmhouse’s “charming and generously proportioned” layout before Kevin’s renovation
Father-of-four Kevin acquired the property after splitting from his wife of 23 years and marrying businesswoman Jenny Jones.
A previous owner of the cottage, which dates back to around 1600, has been prosecuted for carrying out a major series of “disrespectful” alterations without planning permission.
Planners said the unauthorised works had led to “an irreparable loss of historic fabric which compromised its character as a building of special historic and architectural interest”.
Despite this, real estate agents were keen to highlight the property’s positive selling points when it came on the market in 2021.
IKEA FURNITURE
Given that he has witnessed some of the most incredible kitchens in Britain, you might have thought Kevin would opt for something even more impressive in his own home.
But the Grand Designs presenter revealed his love of Ikea kitchens earlier this year after installing one himself at his property after working on it at nights and weekends.
He said he fitted the frame and doors and did some ‘basic carpentry and screwing’ to install the new units at his Herefordshire home.
But he added that he bought a “very, very nice and expensive” hot water tap and hired craftsmen to do the customization, including a luxury Dekton countertop.
Kevin also said he encourages his show’s participants to purchase kitchens from Ikea and likes the retailer’s Lixhult cabinets, which he can build in “four and a half minutes.”
Talking with The timesKevin said of installing his Ikea kitchen: “It took a long time, I did it in the evenings and on weekends. I’ve always done things myself.”
‘My natural instinct is ‘I could do that. ‘ But then I have a huge to-do list in front of me… it’s endless, so I have to learn to say, ‘No, I can probably find someone to do that. ‘
WITHOUT KITCHEN ISLANDS
When asked about the potentially obstructive design feature in an interview at The timesKevin replied: “How interesting. I just drew an island out of the center. I think islands are for people who want to get away from society.”
‘However, many want to be one and in some ways the kitchen island has become a kind of symbol. If you can’t afford a real island, put one in the centre of your kitchen.
A look at the staircase and hallway of the 4,858-square-foot farmhouse, which Kevin purchased in 2021
The presenter admitted he had spent a year working nights and weekends to install a new IKEA kitchen. Pictured: The kitchen before its renovation
‘Instead, we have a peninsula, like a breakfast bar. Two people on either side can talk to each other. It’s very social.’
The news means the large central island with granite worktop that previously featured in photos of her new home has now been ripped out.
NO UNNECESSARY BATHS
One of Kevin’s concerns is homes that are overcrowded with bathrooms.
He has said Radio times of his dislike for “houses with more bathrooms than physical occupants.”
“Why do people judge the status of a house by the number of bathrooms it can offer to its guests?” he asked. “It’s absurd.”
BE SENSIBLE WITH FOLDING DOORS
Kevin has clarified that, despite past rumors, he doesn’t “hate” folding doors.
However, he cautioned that it was necessary to ensure they were used in the right climate.
He said in a Times Interview There is nothing “intrinsically wrong” with them, but he believes they are better suited to the climate of Greece than that of the UK.
Kevin’s latest project shows the presenter’s penchant for preserving the natural character of a property, especially if it has a rich history. Pictured here is a general view of his new home
Kevin has said his biggest problem is that “things are too big”. “Most houses could be reduced overnight by a third, and the occupants would never notice,” he said in an interview with Radio Times.
In his experience he said that when people install them instead of putting the ‘outside in’ and the ‘inside out’, it is like being outside.
He says that half a ton of leaves fall into the kitchen when the wind blows and “a sparrow flies in and defecates on the floor.”
HOUSES WITH PERSONALITY
While Kevin often works with some of the most beautiful properties out there, he has emphasized that for him the best homes are those that have character.
He said Ideal houses‘The houses that excite me are not those that look like showrooms or that are beautiful, simple and impersonal, but those that are truly idiosyncratic.
‘A lot of times when people design and decorate, they just look things up on the Internet, they go to Pinterest, they go to magazines and they create an artificial version of themselves.
‘But some of the best homes, the most inspiring, are the ones you walk into and think, “There’s someone’s life here.”
‘I love those houses, whether they’re old or new, borrowed or with blue furniture, where things are still in progress, and where there’s a big record collection or a big book collection or where people just haven’t completely tidied up.’
DON’T MAKE A SIZE ‘TOO BIG’
Kevin has said that his biggest problem is that “things are too big.”
“Most houses could shrink overnight by a third, and the occupants would never notice,” he said in a Radio times interview.
“The word ‘grandiose’ in the title refers to the power of human imagination. It doesn’t refer to budget! We’re always looking for smaller projects.”
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