{"id":2903,"date":"2025-04-09T22:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T22:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/?p=2903"},"modified":"2025-04-10T15:40:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T15:40:28","slug":"grand-designs-viewers-celebrate-best-build-ever-after-widow-rebuilds-family-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/09\/grand-designs-viewers-celebrate-best-build-ever-after-widow-rebuilds-family-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Designs viewers celebrate \u2018best build ever\u2019 after widow rebuilds family home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A widow determined to stay on the same street she\u2019s lived on for over 60 years has rebuilt <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/10\/30\/grand-designs-viewers-crying-eyes-out-first-ever-home-build-25-years-later-21897926\/\">her family home<\/a> on <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/grand-designs\/\">Grand Designs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/02\/grand-designs-couple-reveal-incredible-540-000-transformation-rotting-barn-caused-chaos-22839842\/\">The latest episode<\/a> of the <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/channel-4\/\">Channel 4<\/a> series followed Kathryn, who <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/26\/grand-designs-makes-history-radical-new-build-22796227\/\">undertook an ambitious project <\/a>aged 82.<\/p>\n<p>A year after the death of her husband Jon, she decided she could no longer live in their family home.<\/p>\n<p>The couple had moved into their 4-bedroom Edwardian house in Barnet, North <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">London<\/a> in 1965, where they went on to raise their two children (their daughter was even born in one of the upstairs bedrooms).<\/p>\n<p>However, after the death of her husband, she\u2019d been struggling to live there, especially with the number of stairs that she was finding increasingly difficult to climb.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It has lovely memories, but I think I\u2019ve come to the end of my time here,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957891-8efe.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882363\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Kathryn had lived on the same street in Barnet for 60 years(Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957901-62c2.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882354\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>A widow has rebuilt her family home on the latest episode of Grand Designs (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I have an urgent need to move as I can\u2019t look after the house\u2026I know I\u2019ve got to move.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But if I were to leave this street I would feel desolate.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Not wanting to give up living on a street she\u2019d loved for so long, Kathryn came up with an audacious plan to build a new, accessible, ultra- sustainable home right next door where a garage and extension had sat.<\/p>\n<p>It was planned to be a mirror image of her current home, but with a 21st century twist.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957792-52d5.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882368\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Some, including her own daughter, questioned the project (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With everything she needed to be built on the first floor, the second level would provide extra rooms for her family.<\/p>\n<p>The project had a budget of \u00a3607,000, but as always, the build faced several issues and spiralling costs, including eye-watering fees just to connect basic services (which ended up costing \u00a350,000).<\/p>\n<p>However, a year and three weeks after the work began, the home was finished.<\/p>\n<p>After tuning in, many viewers shared their thoughts on the final result.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Best one ever. At least it\u2019s not like a. Village hall, b. glasshouse c. concrete cold interior designed house,\u2019 Sue posted on X.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957911-2a3b.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882347\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>It was completed in just over a year (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957914-9fd9.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882343\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Host Kevin McCloud was in awe (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957818-c1e2.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882344\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>The open-plan living area was designed to be accessible for Kathryn (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018What a lovely property, wishing Kathryn many years of happiness in her new home,\u2019 Chris shared on Instagram.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What a great project, and an inspiring lady transforming life. Wishing her all the happiness in her new home.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Within a few hours of being put up for sale, the family home of 60 years was snapped up by a young family who were already living nearby.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking about her new home, Kathryn said she \u2018felt at home\u2019 and was \u2018very pleased\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_246957823-f451.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22882341\" alt=\"Grand Designs viewers celebrate 'best build ever' after widower rebuilds family home Kathryn, host Kevin McCloud\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>It ended up costing between \u00a3800,000-\u00a3900,000 (Picture: Channel 4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile host Kevin McCloud said it was \u2018the most beautiful place to walk into\u2019, highlighting the open-plan living space and massive skylight.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the entire build going way over budget (it cost between \u00a3800,000-\u00a3900,000), Kathryn was glad it had all come together.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I think it\u2019s a beautiful building and I am really looking forward to spending the rest of my life here,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n<p>As Kevin said at the end of the episode: \u2018She gets to stay on the street she\u2019s lived on for over half a century. What price do you put on all that?\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Grand Designs airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\">Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text-justify mb-2\" >{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T3M51S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/04\/10\/06\/97112555-0-image-a-7_1744262403925.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2025-04-10T06:17:10+0100″,”description”:”Edwardian in style, but this home has had a 21st century facelift to be envious of.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2025\/04\/10\/3936854481789273872\/480x270_MP4_3936854481789273872.mp4″,”height”:270,”width”:480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2903"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2913,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2903\/revisions\/2913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}