Written by Michelle McNeill, SAM Marketing Manager

I was 12 years old when I developed a passion for home interiors. It was the antics of Laurence Lewellyn Bowen, Linda Barker and the MDF-loving Handy Andy on Changing Rooms in the nineties that ignited my fondness for home makeovers. As a teenager, I persuaded my Dad to paint the beige laminate cupboards in his kitchen a mint green colour and I remember convincing my flatmate in university to use silver tile stickers to cover the outdated brown patterns in his bathroom. I dreamt about one day building my own house, in fact I still do, although I do have a home renovation under my belt now. It isn’t surprising I ended up working in the construction industry where I can hear first-hand about the innovative products on offer. Since the Changing Rooms days my taste has changed considerably, although I still think MDF is pretty amazing! It goes without saying, the quality of the interior design shows on TV has improved too. Here are my top 15…

Dream Home Makeover - Netflix

Where have Shea and Syd McGee been all my life?  Literally everything they touch turns to magic, which isn’t surprising given their directive is to “Make Life Beautiful” – a motto that is now the title of their book.  The Utah based couple launched an interior design firm, Studio McGee, in 2014 and have since given people across America their dream home makeovers, whether they have a small budget to decorate one room or a multi-million pound budget for a complete house transformation (did anyone see the full-sized home basketball court for the ex-NBA player in Series 2?).  Shea is the interiors expert out of the talented and likeable duo, who sold their home and belongings to invest everything into their business, and shares useful design tips throughout the 2-series show.  You won’t see any maximalist designs here – Shea’s style is timeless, functional and elegant and she creates a peaceful and calming environment for her clients.  Dream Home Makeover on Netflix is definitely a must-watch for any interiors-aficionados.

 

George Clarke’s Old House, New Home – Channel 4

George Clarke can really do no wrong in my opinion. Ugly House to Lovely House, Amazing Spaces, The Restoration Man… all firm favourites of mine, but I was particularly drawn to this TV show. I love historic buildings and period properties and I was obsessed with seeing how a few clever and creative changes could adapt these beautiful houses to our modern lives whilst still retaining the character. From a 16th century listed cottage and a Victorian coach house to a Georgian farmhouse and an Edwardian arts-and-crafts house, George tackles tricky room layouts and dodgy DIY issues to create beautiful spaces for the homeowners. There have been 4 series of this Channel 4 show and you can watch some of them on 4 On Demand.

 

Grand Designs – Channel 4

I’m pretty sure most people have heard of this homebuilding TV show – it has been around since 1999! The format of the program is always the same. Presenter Kevin McCloud meets with some clients who are about to embark on a unique and adventurous project, they visit the site and discuss plans, he pops back occasionally during the build to check on progress (as with many building projects, they are often running over time and budget) and then makes a final visit for the big reveal. Showcasing houses built from unusual products like shipping containers or straw bales, underground homes, transformed water towers and barns and numerous eco homes (check out the Periscope House in Norfolk – S14 E06 – where they used our SAM Trimax product for the fascia), there is something for everyone.

 

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes – BBC Two

The unlikely duo of award-winning architect Piers Taylor and actress Caroline Quentin makes for some good entertainment. They travel the world staying in dream homes built in mountain, forest, coastal and underground locations and showcase some extraordinary residential architecture. If you are interested in innovation, designing for extreme climates and remaining sympathetic to cultural traditions and landscapes then this is the TV show for you. The most memorable episode for me featured a multi-million pound retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains made from the wings of a Boeing 747 jet or who could forget the New Zealand home built in an ancient Pohutukawa forest?!

 

DIY SOS: The Big Build – BBC One

This is a show that tugs on the heartstrings and has been one of my favourites for many years. Nick Knowles and his team call upon local suppliers and tradespeople to transform homes that are in desperate need of repair where usually the homeowners have suffered a devastating life changing experience or financial hardship. DIY SOS came to Northern Ireland for the first time in 2019 to help the McCreight family in Bangor, who were isolated in their own home due to numerous health issues. The banter and camaraderie have always been evident in each episode, but I didn’t fully appreciate just how special it is to be part of the team until I saw it with my own eyes when SAM donated skirting and architrave for the build. Have you ever heard the quote “the secret to happiness is helping others”? I have never felt such an overwhelming sense of pride as I did that day watching so many local people gather together voluntarily to help this family, all with smiles on their faces.

 

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Ok, so I haven’t watched this one in a while, but I always loved a good reveal and there was none more dramatic than the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition “move that bus” moment when they expose a dream mansion in the place of a home that was in desperate need of upgrading or repair. It is a similar concept to DIY SOS where the community rallies together to complete an ambitious building project that will make a huge improvement to the owner’s quality of life. The show has ended now but I think you can still catch the reruns.

 

Interior Design Masters, BBC Two

If you prefer a bit of friendly competition, this show is for you. Hosted by Alan Carr, 10 talented amateur designers compete to win a life changing commercial contract. Each week, the designers are set a challenge that will test their ability to meet various client briefs for both residential and commercial projects. Their work is judged by Michelle Ogundehin alongside a rotating panel of guest judges. There are currently two series to binge watch, with the latter showcasing the work of Northern Ireland’s very own wallpaper-loving Paul Moneypenny.

 

The Great Interior Design Challenge, BBC Two

Another interior design competition that last aired in 2017, although the episodes are still available on catch up. It aimed to find “Britain’s best amateur interior designer” but focused on two designers each week. Contestants are set a room make-over challenge as well as an upcycling task and their work is judged by Kelly Hoppen (who replaced Sophie Robinson from earlier episodes) and Daniel Hopwood. Expect to see contestants push the boundaries of creativity while trying to stick to the client brief (and quite often going off on a tangent!).

 

Property Brothers

Twin brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott help couples and families with a limited budget looking for their forever house by steering them in the direction of a ‘fixer upper’ and then transforming it into their perfect home. It can be a bit cheesy and staged at times, but the reveals are great and it definitely inspires you to do more DIY around the home.

 

Your Home Made Perfect, BBC Two

This is the latest interior design show that I have been watching and I love it! Using virtual reality, two architects compete to win the project of transforming a problematic house into a dream home. Think kitchen extensions, large windows and skylights, and double-height ceilings. What makes it different from the others? Aside from the virtual reality and visual effects, it is packed with creative and innovative ideas, and I love that we get to see how two different architects can interpret the client brief.

 

If, like me, you have already watched all the above (sometimes more than once!), the TV shows listed below can also give you that interior design fix or inspiration you might crave:

 

 

Keep an eye out for the brand new ‘George Clarke’s Remarkable Renovations’ starting on Wednesday, 21st July 2021 at 9pm on Channel 4. I know I’ll be glued to it!