The Home Show: Thursdays, 8pm on C4 Barnet: The Story

Comments

1. I can't believe this! So many mistakes were made by George, how could you even start a job or do estimate the cost before designing it properly taking sizes/stair cases/ every thing into account?? I do think that C4 needs to change the whole principles of the programme; if George promissed something and could not deliver it due to his own mis-management, miscalculations or inability to keep on budget, then he has to pay for the rest itself! poor family, what was their fault? I think their fault was that they just hired a proffesional, without attending the site! C4 - we think you have to appologise and help in any possible way finishing the job.

   Posted by Nazly on 08/10/2009 02:26:24

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2. So... an architect that can't design a staircase without moving a wall a mere 6 inches... which added time delays and cost more... surely the Coopers shouldn't have to pay for that?????

   Posted by Rachel on 07/10/2009 17:42:39

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3. Can you please let me know where I can purchase the kichen table from your website gives us details of the chairs but not the table. Many thanks

   Posted by G. Heath on 02/09/2009 07:46:45

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4. I can't believe they took £123,000 and did not finish the job , that is a huge amount of money. If you can't find 3K for the bathroom in that budget something is seriously wrong with the planning. Mr clarke should remember he is playing withs peoples lives here, making fundamental mistakes with staircases is not something that you expect from someone claiming to have enough experience to host a show of this type. C4 should sort this out for the family ASAP !!!!

   Posted by Phil on 20/08/2009 13:45:21

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5. I cant beleive this home was not completed! the budget was big enough even for the size of the property, the interior itself was disapointing he did the typical architect who beleives he's an interior designer and didnt approach colour, everything was top of the range contemporary fixtures in white, the ensuite was n't finished and the stairs to the attic did not work! I would have been devastated had I been that family -I sat screaming at the television throughout the episode'I COULD MAKE THAT HOUSE LOOK FABULOUS WITH THE ORIGINAL BUDGET!' very frustrating episode for an Interior Designer!

   Posted by Lorraine on 06/08/2009 20:27:31

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6. Shame on George. Any (good) architect knows that the staircase up to a loft conversion is always tricky to design and should be measured and remeasured to make sure it fits. In the real world if an architect had made George's mistake s/he would be sued for negligence. How does he manage to get away with being so incompetent?

   Posted by Andrew CH2 on 04/08/2009 17:06:23

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7. Channel 4 - shame on you. This couple had given so much money to get the house of their dreams. The problem with the staircase was not theirs and the time delay that ensued, which obviously upped the costs. If the series carries on in this vein then maybe you could make another series to finish off projects that haven't been completed. By the way how many quotes/estimates do you get before starting these projects?

   Posted by elaine on 02/08/2009 19:57:59

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8. I felt the disappointment at the unfinished on-suite and cannot believe that expensive fireplaces were installed that will never be used when similar looking but much cheaper could have been used. I also do not understand what world George is in. In one programme he said he would have liked to move the water tank into the loft but did not have the ?6000 to do it. ?600 would have been more like the price.

   Posted by Howard66 on 02/08/2009 18:39:50

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9. Poor Neighbors, with that loft balcony directly overlooking their garden and the massive raised patio right up to the boundaries, No Privacy. Think of the effect of these developments on the surrounding properties George, don't overdevelop the site. Your client may get a dream home, but but consider the other people have to live with the intrusive results

   Posted by Observant on 31/07/2009 11:05:29

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10. The Coopers semi in Barnet was the most disappointing show of this series so far. They upped their budget to the amount George asked for saying it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and then he never gave them what he promised. There was no storage in their loft conversion and no finished en-suite. The amount of money involved is a huge amount and I felt he let them down badly.

    Posted by Shannon on 30/07/2009 23:07:33

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11. As a parent of grown-up children I too would have been devastated if George had chosen to give one of them the finished en-suite and not do mine! How insensitive to the couple who "found" (borrowed) almost the same amount again as their original budget.

    Posted by jclimecot on 30/07/2009 18:55:02

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12. This is boring now.The truth is that George made the kind of errors you would expect of an amateur or beginner and somebody lost control of the budget,not for the first time.Fundamental mistakes were made on design and layout and the Coopers now have to live with those mistakes.The last line of the post from the programme editor refers to snagging issues,which are hopefully going to be put right,can we assume this means correction of errors and completion of the job?it is also stated that the Coopers or whoever is taking part,agree to relinquish control over the final look.I agree this is a huge leap of faith and can only conclude that people's desire to be on television outways all other considerations.As for myself,I cannot imagine handing over so much money to a virtual stranger and pretty much giving them freedom to do what they want to my home.Although my sympathies lay initially with the Coopers,mostly because of George's attititude,I can't help thinking that if you are prepared to take that kind of risk,you are asking for trouble.

    Posted by jacqueline on 30/07/2009 12:52:15

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13. I think alot of people are missing the point here. Noone is saying that the Coopers didnt get a good deal for their money and whether or not they should be grateful is not the hot issue. It is the fact that George made a rookie mistake and not the first time either. Also it is the way that the mistake in calculations has been handled in what some might say is an arrogant and dismissive way that has caused the controversy. At the end of the day it was NOT unforeseen problems that caused the overrun but an inability to correctly calculate in the first instance and then a total lack of project management thereafter. As many people have noted there were other areas that could have been compromised in order to achieve a satisfactory end result. Simply put Project management is all about managing the magic 3 forces- Time, Cost and Quality - and in order to come in on budget and to brief those 3 have to be traded off against each other. In a usual project you are in constant contact with the client and are able to agree areas of compromise together. George was unwilling to budge on this and that is why the project did not achieve its objectives even after the initial budget was doubled. I am concerned that the reputations of architects, project managers(being one myself) and of George Clarke himself are being damaged by this inflexible attitude that is being portrayed. In the 'Real World' the Coopers would have had to pay more to achieve the result they got but equally they would have been able to have some redress against the unfinished work and unfulfilled promises. Yes the Coopers got ALOT for their money but its like giving them a top of the range Rolls Royce with only 3 wheels.

    Posted by Roisin on 29/07/2009 11:09:40

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14. My sympathy goes to George who must have been devastated by Mr Cooper's response to the trojan effort he and the styling team did on such a big house. I can full understand that he probably thought that if there had to be compromise that it should be at the top of the house where most people would not even see! Here they can decorate when they were able to and be honest.. it doesn't cost much to do an ensuite. Meanwhile downstairs everything was of the highest quality and chic right down to accessories.The whole place was transformed!!NONE of their old furniture etc was in evidence. AND They got incredible interior design expertise thrown in. Does Mr Cooper really think that the end result have been achieved without the backing of Channel 4 even at his budget?? I would have had more respect for Mr Cooper if he'd at least stood his ground and said that the team had done a good job but explained that he was disappointed that some of his expectations had not been met. Not gone off in a huff.

    Posted by ANNIE on 28/07/2009 22:28:54

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15. I really felt for the Coopers in last week's episode as they spent a great deal of Money that seemed hard to come by and their house was unfinished, the work that was done was Fab but I felt that George could have compromised slightly on the quality of, maybe the other bathrooms in order to have finished the project. i hope this wasn;t done just so the show would show some negative reaction for a change we don't mind everyone having a" Happy Ending" in fact it would be quite refreshing. Please George go back and finish the job as I am losing sleep!

    Posted by Beverly Jones on 28/07/2009 16:44:25

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16. I love the show however I am disappointed that george and the team have now left 2 ensuites empty, suely there is enough money in C4 to complete this work. I am a fab but felt disappointed with the show! Shae on you!

    Posted by mclaren on 28/07/2009 15:11:52

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17. I totally sympathise with the Coopers, George wants to amke everything look pretty with no thought to living in his spaces. He really need to spend more time with a tape measure, everthing that was wrong was due to bad planning, and I could see no evidence of "unexpected structural problems" Also, have you noticed that when things are going right it is always his idea, and when things are late or over budget etc then it is always 'we'. I hope he financed the en-suite and the storage space in the loft conversion with his own money. George, if you read these then you were very unprofessional and amateurish in your planning.

    Posted by Tim Shaw on 27/07/2009 18:56:08

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18. It is quite clear that, for George, form wins over function every time. The very thought of compromise seems to bring him out in a cold sweat, yet the key to meeting a design brief should be a compromise. Others have pointed out lots of areas where enough money could have been saved to ensure everything was finished. Perhaps the project’s financial management only knows what the bottom line will be once the money is already spent. The cost overrun wasn’t due to unexpected structural problems, it was quite simply inadequate design preparation (wasn’t there a similar problem with last week’s loft?). George promised something without having done sufficient work to ensure it could be done. That extra cost should have been down to him. So, the master bedroom looked great, with a large floor area, but providing enough room for the couple’s existing clothes would be far from trivial or cheap. They have been financially extended far beyond their original limit, yet still have to fund the en-suite. I wonder if they have already swapped rooms with their son? The %u201Coffice%u201D on the landing has absolutely no storage, and if you try to squeeze something under the stairs, you are blocking the radiator. Once (if ever) it is in use, it will make the whole landing look a mess, especially in contrast with the main stairwell. The kitchen-diner gets the full width door, so the layout places the flashy fridge about as far as it could be from the sink, hob and worktop. Smaller French doors would have left more wall space for kitchen equipment. Let’s face it, you go to the fridge many times a day, but having the doors open is a rarity in this country. I have to say that I am really dissatisfied with the way this all turned out. I can’t ever envisage that I would give anybody such an enormous cheque without demanding to be fully involved in every detail of the design, and in this case I feel that the customers had every right to be disappointed with what they were given. Maybe the programme-makers would count as a success the level of reaction this episode has caused, but these are real people, aren’t they?

    Posted by Chris JD on 27/07/2009 09:14:03

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19. I cannot understand why people are shocked with Mr. Cooper's reactions. They paid ?123k to get a FINISH house. They lost what was meant to be a study and George expected them to use the landing and their new study. Why not give them a full Rear Dormer than that stupid Juliette balcony? No sensse having a room without storage. And expect the Coopers to find extra money for the ensuite and wardrobes If that was me I would be livid, anyway I would never give anybody my ?123k without being onsite to see what's happening, don't like surprises. ps.. how can these people just get hold of an extra ?53k?

    Posted by Muchette on 26/07/2009 19:59:04

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20. Absolutley agree with the comments below, the guy should be ashamed to have taken all that money and failed to complete the job. What was he thinking to give the kids an en suite and not finish the master bedroom. poor, poor poor. he should finish it out of his own pocket. and stop passing the book.

    Posted by andy on 26/07/2009 19:45:35

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21. Having lived through three loft conversions and two kitchen refurbs/extensions, with none of the projects going over budget, I found George's mishandling of the project inexcusable. The Coopers paid out £123K to get their 'dream' yet George still couldn't complete it. The mistake over the staircase was incredibly elementary and as others have said it was HIS fault and the clients should not have suffered because of it. He seems completely unable to manage a budget. If he had used less expensive materials in the rest of the house, or not fitted the son's en suite, he could have finished the loft room to a good standard. If I had given an architect the enormous sum of £123K and he had presented me with a different build to the one agreed, AND blandly told me the money ran out I would have been incandescent.

    Posted by Annie on 26/07/2009 17:34:55

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22. I was disgusted with this program and how George tried to wash his hands of his mistake. As it was his idea to convert the loft, incurring extra cost, he should pay for the rest of the job with his own money. Channel 4 should take note and dock his pay.

    Posted by nm on 26/07/2009 17:30:31

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23. Although George did the usual lovely job on this house, and obviously puts his heart into each project, the number of comments make it clear that many viewers felt strongly about the last-minute cuts and alterations he made in the promised scheme. These seem to have been the result of errors and cost overruns caused by inadequate planning and measurement, not unforeseen structural problems. Surely key responsibilities of the architect include making sure that a scheme is drawn out properly and keeping a tight control on the budget - even though the family were presumably receiving the benefit of his services free, that doesn't excuse this lapse. And even if changes were unavoidable, surely he should have consulted with the clients before the end as to what to amend/cut back, and given them the option of stretching their finances a little bit more - coming back to the work later will inevitably cost more than including it in the main scheme. Maybe George should spend a bit less time spraying the rooms white and more at the drawing board!

    Posted by Dee and Michael on 26/07/2009 16:23:52

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24. I deffinately feel very strongly about the outcome of this episode. At the end of the day you have to think what sort of clients have we got here. Well the type where the lady of the house precariously lays a heavy fireplace against the wall and a hubby who is quite happy to leave it there. This is the way things are in this household and now we have the situation that after spending everything they saved and everything they can possibly borrow there is still work to be carried out. I cant see it ever getting done. Of course they have a beatiful home but for what they paid so they should. I doubt they will recoup all that spent on the house when selling.

    Posted by Sally Marshall on 26/07/2009 13:21:43

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25. In response to the last email sent by Tom - I think there is probably more to this story than meets the eye.

    Posted by jane smith on 26/07/2009 10:28:41

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26. Don`t understand how a couple who "bought at the top end of their budget" suddenly found "120k for improvements..

    Posted by Tom on 26/07/2009 00:03:03

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27. I think George did a fantastic job in transforming the Barnets house into a beautiful, stylish and modern home. I was very shocked by Mr. Cooper's reaction to the unfinished ensuite. I love this programme and think George does a great job every week and continue to be amazed by the results!

    Posted by Ann on 25/07/2009 01:13:40

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28. As someone who has drawn plans for loft conversions for many years, I know how difficult it can be to get the stairs right. For that reason, I am very careful to make sure that they will fit by accurate measurement and drawing. I therefore think that it was George's mistake and that Mr Cooper had every right to be upset. Had I made this mistake, I would expect to have paid for it, rather than the client.

    Posted by paul.138 on 25/07/2009 00:04:48

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29. I totally empathise with the Cooper's reaction on their return to their home. Why was Sebastian given an en suite in preference to his parents who now, I assume , have to walk in and out of his room every time they want a shower - as you will note there was no shower facility in the family bathroom. With 3 teenagers in the house sufficient shower facilities are vital and which teenage boy wants his parents in and out of his bedroom every day? Poor planning on George's part. As was the blunder with the staircase. As a well respected architect surely he will not be comfortable with this and if he has any conscience he will put the matter right for the family who entrusted him with their savings and were left disappointed.

    Posted by jane smith on 24/07/2009 22:21:38

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30. I have just watched this ep and I must admit I was initially shocked by Mr Coopers reaction considering how much the house had changed the work left is fairly minor but having thought about it and taken on board what people here have said I think cost savings could have been made on the kitchen units etc. Loved everything George did though but would have been nice to have done it all.

    Posted by Helen2609 on 24/07/2009 19:52:19

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31. I love these programs but found it strange that George hadn't meassured the stairs right from the start! I completely understand that Mr Cooper reacted the way he did I even think he was being quite calm compared to the mistake that George had made. Maybe it would have been a good idea to discuss it with the Coopers first what to leave out. I definitely think the makers of the programme should pay for it...

    Posted by Betina on 24/07/2009 19:48:47

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32. I have massive sympathy for the Coopers! Please could you respond and put your points forward as we are about to have an extension and we dont want to be in the same posistion as the Coopers. As far as I could see you made the plans and gave the Coopers the option of what they wanted you to do. They gave you ?70k which even you said was a massive amount of money but you were upfront and honest to say if they really wanted the best then they would need to pay ?120k. With much discusion the Coopers said they wanted your best and gave you the money to do so entering into a verbal contract with you to make there dreams come true. I feel that all the extra money that was incurred was as a result of poor planning with regards to the stairs! Personally I feel that as the mistake was yours you should have paid to complete the ensuite! Where would we stand in a situation like that with regards to being told one price would get us what we wanted and then because of an error in planning by a professional we would need to pay more??? I look forward to your reply please let me know if I've got the wrong end of the stick! Many thanks David

    Posted by David Merlin on 24/07/2009 18:47:33

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33. I find the series fascinating BUT - it would be interesting to see what the houses look like when all the extraneous furniture etc etc( I was trying to be polite & not say crap!) is brought back. I can't believe that they are all disciplined enough to say 'scrap it' & carry on living in the beautiful home George has created. Regarding last nights show, if George had made a mistake in calculations then either he or the programme makers should put it right - but that doesn't always make good TV?!

    Posted by sidburygate on 24/07/2009 18:24:48

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34. I am amazed that so many people think Mr Cooper overreacted. He spent 123K, a lot more than he had in mind originally, and we don't know how he funded that. It's all very well for George to airily tell him he can do the en suite and wardrobes at a later date, but Mr Cooper could well be mortgaged to the hilt now and simply be unable to afford those items in the foreseeable future. Plus wardrobes for a loft conversion with sloping ceilings to contend with don't come cheap, and it's so messy having work done at the top of the house (it gets tracked everywhere). In the meantime, where are the poor Coopers supposed to keep their clothes? I would have wept too. Corian costs an arm and a leg, George could and should have saved some money there, as well as on the useless balcony and on the massive fireplaces, in order to finish the essentials of en suite and wardrobes. I must confess, George is known as No En Suite (But The Plumbing Is In Place) George in our house now.

    Posted by Emily on 24/07/2009 17:49:27

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35. George did do a great job but to be fair these plans were George's plans and therefore before offering them up and giving a price for the work he should have ensured that he would not have encountered the problems with the stairs. I thought he had gone up in the roof space to check it !! Also (and I may have missed this bit) did he even mention an en suite on the first floor in his plans ?? Sorry George, usually love everything you do but this was really naughty on your part, I would have been pretty hacked off too !

    Posted by Treees on 24/07/2009 17:14:12

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36. I was very disappointed with George in the Barnet house, I realise that the clients agree that he is in charge of the changes but why didn't he finish the en-suite and leave the patio area (which is after all the garden not the home) I felt so sorry for the poor Dad in this episode. This is the second time he has had to leave something after blowing the budget wide open - where do the people manage to get the extra money!

    Posted by Elaine B on 24/07/2009 16:38:03

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37. George did a good job on the majority of the project however, to leave an empty en-suite for the second week in a row is shocking. A basic bathroom suite would have been possible if the interior designer did not go overboard as usual. Im sure the client would have prefered the upheaval of saving for and purchasing a nice dining table and chairs rather than having the idea of plumbers, joiners and tilers in to work on the en-suite at a later date. It will never get done, it will be used as a store. Another thing, the balcony space will not be used in its present form. Two failed dormer windows in a row. Make it wider and have a couple of side lights = useable space. Come on George, you succeed everywhere apart from loft rooms.

    Posted by Marc on 24/07/2009 16:03:02

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38. The show unfortunately confirms architects lack of connection and sympathy to clients. The clients have to pay and suffer from architect making a basic and very stupid mistake of not checking the head hight for the staircase. By agreeing to the higher budget of 123 K the clients were rightfully expecting a finished home and are now left with losing one bedroom and unfinished loft conversion. The disappointment is understandable. I can’t believe some of the comments describe the husbands reaction as rude and ungrateful. I think anyone would be very disappointed in his place. I am afraid this will only enforce the perceptions of architects as expensive and out of touch.

    Posted by dean on 24/07/2009 15:00:48

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39. George did an amazing job and if my house looked like that i would be so happy. Don't listen to them George your the best.

    Posted by Becky on 24/07/2009 13:06:10

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40. Mr. Cooper overreacted in my opinion. The whole of the project was a fantastic achievement, especially considering the condition of the house beforehand. You can see that George is quite passionate about his work, is a professional of the highest standard and gets emotionally involved in order to connect on a further level with his clients to ensure that the delivered product is tailor made - which it was. Then after all that for Mr. Cooper to storm off like an angry child without a word and to have to be coaxed back by his wife to return to the home ... it seems to have tainted the whole amazing achievement of the project. Whilst I understand that the Coopers could and should express slight disappointment, Mr. Cooper perhaps could have stayed to listen to the facts and study the overall figures spent before running downstairs and making George undoubtedbly feel uncomfortable and sever their relationship and put a damper on the whole transformation. I don't actually watch a lot of television and I have never written a comment about a programme in my life - so why has this bothered me so much?!?!

    Posted by Kristina on 24/07/2009 10:52:43

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41. I understand perfectly why Mr. Cooper was so upset. The ensuite could easily have been done for under ?1000, and if I had just spent over ?120K I would be furious at the job not being completed. George Clarke could have foregone the flatsceen TV and games console for the master ensuite, if money was really that tight - which I don't believe it was. There is always room for negotiation!. Or, as said previously, the boy's ensuite. If it was my project (and two years ago I spent ?70K completely renovating our new house - rewire, plumbing, two bathrooms, bespoke kitchen, new central heating, decoration, carpets throughout and some furniture ?10K on garden) then I would not have paid the bill until the ensuite was done.

    Posted by SJD on 24/07/2009 10:46:12

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42. I think the transformation was incredible, and the standard of finish etc was perfectly acceptable. I agree that he should have done the parents en-suite instead of the boys, and the balcony was probably a little unnecessary, but what he gave them was a vast improvement on their own efforts, and the reaction of the husband was extraordinary. Rude and ungrateful. Great telly!

    Posted by sarah on 24/07/2009 10:37:20

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43. Concerning the stair and the lack of subsequent management / consultation with the client on budget. His subsequent lack of humilityand acceptance of responsibility (blame the time and budget constraints) can only enforce perceptions of architects as expensive egotists lacking practical sensibilities. Perhaps George would like to respond to this and other comments below.

    Posted by scot on 24/07/2009 10:20:52

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44. the dog that the cooper family have is a Spanish Water Dog or a swd either one! they are a non smelling, non shedding bread. i have one myself, and have a son who is asmatic he loves her and hasn't had one problem with her at all.they are great in all surrounding and cope in any life style. they sleep and r very relaxed but r always ready to play! i hope this helps, a great place to find a spanish water dog is at: http://www.champdogs.co.uk/guided/all_spanish-water-dog_puppies.html

    Posted by hi on 24/07/2009 10:12:41

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45. Totally agree with other comments. I personally cant believe that a price was given to turn a 4 bed into what is still a 4 bedroom house. They could of at least done away with the useless loft balcony that looks over others gardens & will be used very little through out the year & just filled another velux roof window. This would of left more than enough money to at least finish the loft bathroom. Nice house! But I don't blame the owners for not looking happy.

    Posted by chris on 24/07/2009 09:50:15

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46. I think last night's show was awful. That poor family almost doubled their budget and George promised them the world and then can't even economise on a few small things to put in a basic en suite? Dont tell me he couldn't have done it using his contacts and the show to get a good deal on even a basic suite to finish it off. He should have put his own hand in his pocket to finish the job. No wonder they were distraught. Shame on George and shame on Channel 4 for allowing that to happen.

    Posted by jojo on 24/07/2009 09:15:55

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47. Architects have a responsibility to ensure the schemes they draw up can be successfully implemented. The issue with the stairs wasn't an unforeseeable circumstance like a wall that has insufficient foundations or problems with plumbing/electrics that only turn up when you get on site and start work. The head height for a staircase into a loft conversion is a BASIC CALCULATION, that any architect worth his money should be doing before the job starts on site. The fact that the rest of the house is well done is not a reason that the Cooper's should just accept an incomplete build. George dropped the ball on this one and he should've had the honesty to admit it.

    Posted by Dan Smith on 24/07/2009 02:26:38

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48. I watched the programme tonight and feel that it must be terrible to come back to a house that was originally 4 bedrooms and is now only three with a loft conversion. Come on George you should put it right rather than making a family unhappy. I don't know what 'roofless' is talking about, they spent 123,000 (that is 20% more). george is there to control costs and manage the build so how can builders charge what they like? Hey KT - don't think they are so worried about the lack of wardrobes as the lack of a bedroom - do you?

    Posted by Dick on 24/07/2009 00:17:42

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49. All I want to know is what kind of dog the family had it was gorgeous and need to get one. Anyone any ideas? House was lovely too...

    Posted by Anne on 24/07/2009 00:07:49

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50. What a greedy man , the chap from Barnet.

    Posted by E Andrews on 23/07/2009 23:54:37

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51. 100k and no wardrobes or ensuite!. not to mention turning a room into corridor. rubbish job. gutted for them as they didn't seem able really to afford it, let alone still have a bathroom to pay for etc. also have you noticed? george seems to do the same each time with the folding doors. come up with some new ideas for once!!

    Posted by jeanpoole on 23/07/2009 23:37:03

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52. A massive project, I can understand the coopers disappointment after using all that money. There should have been other compromises- why insist on such unnecessary expenditure on furniture and fittings especially if not to their taste, if the overspend was a miscalculation of the show well the show should compensate!!Did the boys room need an ensuite-surely the parents deserved it? Overall what a transformation and just highlights all the hidden costs and even the experts cannot foresee them. I am sure the owners are proud that their house is nearly complete, well done to George

    Posted by John M on 23/07/2009 23:11:41

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53. I agree with Jo. I'm sure George could have found some other items to cut back on to ensure that the ensuite and wardrobes were finished (I certainly can think of several cost savings). I know I would have been very disappointed to find such a messy and expensive job still to do. I think George needs to start consulting the client if he has to make these sort of compromises in the future. Still what he did do was lovely and it is only tv!

    Posted by Claire on 23/07/2009 22:29:39

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54. Having lived a few streets down from the Coopers and having also look into the possibility of converting roofspace etc. I can fully appreciate how easy it is to underestimate on costs. London rates are mental as demand far outstrips supply so builders can charge what they like-even the wiley fox George can outsmart Bob on this one! But, when all said and done, he did a grand (or 100 grand) job on it to be precise, so hats off to the young lad! Go George!

    Posted by Roofless on 23/07/2009 22:05:12

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55. Can't believe he didn't finish it, there are alot of things that could have been cheaper. I wouldn't be happy to come home to that after spending all that money!

    Posted by jo on 23/07/2009 22:03:31

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56. I am a professional Project Manager that is employed just like George based on expertise in our relevant fields. If I had miscalculated something as simple as allowing headroom on a staircase I would have apologised profusely and swallowed the cost. I was also infuriated by his glib responses about how 'Building projects always have something unforseen that makes them overrun' and ' The money man said there was no more money so we had to stop' It wasnt that they found previously undiscovered structural problems - he screwed up.... I am hoping Channel 4 are employing proper Project Managers who would have been able to predict from day one the 'Cost to Complete' the job and not at the 11th hour. I really felt for the husband of the family - to be sold a dream like that and to put yourself seriously into debt to achive it and then to be palmed off like that must have been gutting. ( Also - who makes a bedroom with no storage??) Up until this point I have been an avid fan but the last 2 episodes have seen him attempt to blow the original budget out of the water and refuse to compromise on 'His' vision. Not sure I will be tuning in again - I get enough stress at work with other people mismanaging projects and expectations without watching it of an evening too! :)

    Posted by ROZZiE on 23/07/2009 22:02:53

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57. These people need to get some perspective - if all they have to worry about is the fact that they do not have an ensuite or wardrobes then they are incredibly lucky. The house is beautiful and they would never have it if they hadn't been on the programme.

    Posted by KT on 23/07/2009 22:00:56

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58. I was really dissapointed with the show this evening. The coopers seemed to stretch their budgets to the limit as they thought it was worth that extra mile to have a completed house. Although everything else was really nicely done i can understand their dissapointment and feel that they should not have had to lose out on ensuite and wardrobes due to planning errors. Go on, put your hand in your pocket and finish the job.

    Posted by Dianne on 23/07/2009 21:53:51

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59. Hi...after watching the show this evening me & my partner have spent the last 45 mins going over the end result of the Cooper's home. George has made a huge miscalculation in leaving the bread winners/parent's who have spent the last few years putting their children before them, to end up with an attic space room with no storage or worse still, having to go down stairs & share the bathroom with your teenage children!! Sorry George but no wonder Mr Cooper walked out of the "grand" unveiling of their new home!!

    Posted by James Robertson on 23/07/2009 21:50:11

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60. I hope that the Barnet's can get over their disappointment about the master bedroom en-suite. Whilst their budget was large, nothing ever goes completely according to plan and they have benefited from a beautiful house throughout. It would be a real shame to let it spoil what was, when all is said and done, a fantastic, high quality conversion.

    Posted by Dee on 23/07/2009 21:39:30

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61. I think I understand why Paul was so annoyed at the project not being completed. The only way George could justify it was that " they ran out of money" .. but nothing had changed from his initial survey ; and he presented them with the cost to undertake his proposals . So basically he was saying that he made a misatake in measuring the roof line . For it to be realized well into the project that there was not enough room for the proposed stairs is basically very unproffesional . Nothing had changed to create an unforseeable problem . Contracts can include conditions that there may issues that come up during the build that are not able to be assessed before the build starts , that may influence cost or feasability of the build . that was not the situation here . Stair design with computer modelling is now routine at the design stage . So George ... a bit of a slip up this time i feel that I feel the client would have every right to contest the task not being completed as per contract . How do othere percieve this situation ?

    Posted by Brian Cullen on 23/07/2009 21:34:55

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62. I have just watched this show and cannot believe how ungrateful these homeowners are. This house was completed to a high standard with what I beleive to be a small budget. I have lived in my house now for five years and lived through buiding work and renovations to get a similar finish, infact we are not finished. This couple moved out, didn't even need to pack up their clutter, spent less money and got a house designed well beyond their own abilities. I have never emailed a show before but I was incensed buy their reacion!

    Posted by Denise Giddy on 23/07/2009 21:27:52

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63. I thought this was an incredible transformation of the Cooper's home even with the unfinished master bedroom. It would be a great shame for the Cooper's to let the incompleted storage and en-suite in the master bedroom tarnish what they feel about the rest of their now beautiful home. I aspire to have such a wonderful home for my family. Another good job George!

    Posted by Ali on 23/07/2009 21:12:42

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64. I cannot believe such a blunder was made in tonights episode. An architect and builder of any caliber would not have estimated so incorrectly the placing of the staircase to the attic conversion. I feel sure simple cross sections would have made the error very apparent. My heart went out to the couple for shattering their dreams. I have enjoyed so much previous episodes but feel I cannot watch any more for fear of having to watch others similarly hurt and upset.

    Posted by Keith Palmer on 23/07/2009 21:09:26

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65. having watched the show this evening. I got the impression that George miscalculated on the stairs. I don't see why the Coopers should have ended up having to lose out because of this. If the plans had been done correctly in the first place this should never have happened.

    Posted by Vicky on 23/07/2009 21:05:34

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