Kevin McCloud Reveals His Most Hated House Feature on “Grand Designs”

Kevin McCloud has shared his thoughts on a particular architectural feature that he feels British homeowners might be better off without. The long-time host of Grand Designs is generally reserved about his personal design preferences. However, during an interview with The Times, the 65-year-old opened up about why he believes bifold patio doors may not be ideal for homes in the UK.

A bifold door is a type of door that folds back in sections, similar to a concertina. When asked whether he truly "detests" this style of door, McCloud provided some context to his stance.

"I don’t think there’s anything intrinsically wrong with a bifold door," McCloud clarified. He admitted that "if you have a house on an island in Greece, perhaps, it would be a lovely thing to put in."

"But in our climate, there’s nothing a brisk walk in the fresh air can’t sort out," he added. "If it’s possible, sit outside and eat for those four days a year when it’s warm enough in the evening to do that."

McCloud noted how homeowners often aim to create a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors by installing bifold doors. Unfortunately, their attempts frequently miss the mark. "Half a tonne of leaves fall into the kitchen when the wind blows and a sparrow flies in and poos on the floor,” he quipped.

Before venturing into television, McCloud worked in set design and ran his own lighting design and manufacturing business. He has been presenting Grand Designs since its debut on Channel 4 in 1999. The show involves McCloud meeting with individuals embarking on ambitious home design projects, often featuring unique or striking architectural elements. He then follows their progress over several years.

Over the years, McCloud has also hosted spin-off series like Grand Designs Indoors and Grand Designs Abroad. During his conversation with The Times, McCloud disclosed that his role sometimes feels akin to being a therapist. He elaborates, "It’s a bit like being a therapist, both in terms of holding the viewer’s hand but also listening to people’s stories."

Occasionally, he finds himself quite fond of the people he meets through the show. "Sometimes I think, ‘These are lovely people. It would be nice to see them again,’” McCloud shared. However, reality quickly sets in. “And then you do see them again and you realize all they want to talk about is their kitchen. It’s like the therapist taking their client out to the pub: the session doesn’t stop.”

Source: The Times