In one of the most moving episodes of Grand Designs this series, 82-year-old Kathryn took on an ambitious new chapter: building her forever home right next door to the one she’s lived in since she was 24.
With the help of her architect son, James, Kathryn is saying goodbye to her beloved family home of nearly six decades, where her daughter was born and where she’s lived most of her life on the same street, by building a self-build right next door.
“I’ve come to the end of my time here,” Kathryn said quietly, reflecting on her decision. She now struggles with stairs and felt the time had come to create a home where she could age comfortably and safely.
Building a future beside the past
To make space for the new house, Kathryn’s existing garage and extension were demolished.
What rose in their place is a beautifully crafted, Edwardian-inspired home that pays homage to its neighbour while embracing the best of sustainable, accessible design.
The home includes:
- Air source heat pump, solar panels and battery storage for modern energy efficiency
- Triple-glazing, thick insulation and a cavity wall structure
- Step-free access and a ground-floor bedroom and en suite, built especially for Kathryn
- Reclaimed elm floorboards and tiles from her old home
- A triple-height space that adds light to the open-plan kitchen and space for an additional upstairs bedroom
The result? A graceful, modern home that blends old and new in a way that feels both personal and practical.
“The exterior might pay homage to the Edwardians,” said Kevin, “but the interiors are all modern.”
Kevin McCloud was visibly impressed by the detail and care throughout the build. “It feels so generous,” he said of the airy living space, calling the towering rooflight above the kitchen, “like looking up at a church roof.”
The elm used in cupboard handles in the new kitchen came from her late husband’s music room to help bring some memories of her late husband into the new home.
Built using the 'bank of son'
The project was forecast to cost £607,000, but as is often the case with ambitious builds, the final figure came in closer to £800,000–£900,000.
Kathryn’s son contributed £100,000 after she was unable to qualify for a mortgage due to her age.
“Ordinarily, people are lucky enough to have help from the bank of mum and dad,” Kevin quipped. “You’re using the bank of son.”
“I’m only paying them back,” James said: “They helped me buy my house. It’s only...”
“It’s family,” Kevin finished.
Kathryn even spent £50,000 on installing functional sewage - a steep cost, but one that came with the peace of mind that everything in the home was future-proofed.
House feels like 'a younger sibling'
When asked how she sees the new house, Kathryn beamed: “I think it looks like a younger sibling of the other house.”
While it reflects the style of her old Edwardian home, Kevin noted that this one “feels wider” and “more generous,” with smart space-saving features like an office tucked behind an oak screen under the stairs.
A hidden curved gutter, cleverly integrated into the roof and wall, is just one of many design details that give the home a sleek, contemporary feel without losing charm.
And most importantly, it works. Kathryn’s energy bills have dropped from £343 to £66 a month, thanks to the high-spec insulation and renewables - a major saving in both cost and carbon.
'Never too late to self-build'
The episode demonstrated that it is never too late to self-build despite many doubting Kathryn.
Even Kathryn’s daughter Rosaline admitted she was sceptical at first, but after seeing the finished home she said: “Hopefully she’s going to get lots of enjoyment out of this house.”
Kevin summed it up best, “It’s never too late to start a self-build…" but he did also jokingly say to Kathryn: "I have some bad news. Because the house is so good, it’s going to mean you live a lot longer - and therefore your overheads are going to extend into the future!”
To see this episode or others from this series like the floating house or rotten barn transformation then you can watch them on Channel4.com.
