A Design for Life… The Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about recovering from the inevitable setbacks that emerge when we renovate our homes.

I want to talk about a topic that isn’t often discussed with a smile - the hiccups, hurdles, and headaches that invariably come with renovating our beloved homes.

Now, I know most people don’t take comfort from dwelling on the negatives, yet in so many renovations I have covered through the hundreds of projects on Grand Designs, in the vast majority of cases, a setback has inadvertently led to an opportunity for something extraordinary to emerge.

First off, let’s be rational - in any significant undertaking, things will go wrong. It’s virtually an unwritten rule of renovation. Yet the trick is not to view these as failures or disasters, rather as an essential part of the process. Perhaps you’re midway through a project and the builders discover a supporting wall can’t be removed as easily as planned, sending your openplan kitchen dreams up in smoke. Or maybe the gorgeous vintage tiles you ordered for your bathroom renovation arrive in pieces, leaving you with a half-finished room and a sinking heart.

It’s easy to feel disheartened in these moments… to question why you embarked on this project in the first place. Yet instead of a smooth, predictable path, we’re nudged into the realm of the innovative and the inventive, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. So while our original vision may have been derailed, in its place we find opportunities to create something truly unique, often far better than we’d imagined.

So that supporting wall that thwarted your open-plan dreams? It could become a striking design feature - a mural, perhaps, or a beautiful bookcase. And those broken tiles might inspire you to create a one-of-a-kind mosaic for your bathroom wall.

Renovating a home isn’t just about creating a perfect space - it’s about the journey of discovery along the way. A property becomes more than bricks and mortar; it reflects your resilience, your creativity, your adaptability. You’re crafting a story, a history filled with trials, triumphs, and tenacity.

During those challenging moments, remember to be patient with yourself, your home, and the process. Take a step back. Breathe. Reflect. Then dive back in with renewed energy and a different perspective. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you can achieve with a bit of grit and imagination!