Amanda Lamb presents new series
Amanda Lamb is presenting a new series on Home, which lets us see inside our neighbours homes - something that most of us would really like to do.
What the Neighbours Did is a 10 part series which let's people see what their neighbours have managed to do with similar floor plans, before they complete renovations in their own properties.
Amanda tells us about the new programme:
Describe What The Neighbours Did to someone who hasn’t heard of the show…
It takes the premise that a lot of us live in houses that look identical from the outside, but are completely different on the inside. So if you take any street in the UK like a row of Edwardian or Victorian houses, they all started off with pretty much the same blueprint but do something different with the insides. We take a couple who want to do a loft conversion, extend their kitchen or convert their basement, and show them three of their neighbours’ houses that have already had a makeover experience to give them ideas and to help them learn what not to do. It’s a bit like that thing in October, when you’re walking down the street and people leave their curtains open and the lights on just when it’s getting dark. Everybody loves to have a little nose inside in that situation. It’s the ultimate property show really – we follow a whole renovation or a build, but we also get to know our neighbours’ houses as well.
So it’s a localised spin on the makeover programme?
Yes, very much so. I can’t think of another programme that’s done this before. It’s such a great idea. Not only are you following the build and you get a lovely reveal at the end each show – from a dark basement to a lovely, light-filled space – you also get to look at houses that have already been made-over, so it’s quite inspirational in that way. And these neighbours that have lived through all the dirt and dust and the spiralling costs can pass on lots of tips.
Once upon a time people would rather move than renovate, but that seems to have changed. Is What The Neighbours Did an illustration that more people want to stay put and improve their homes?
I think we’re seeing more of the whole ‘improve don’t move’ concept, and many of the property shows are now going that way too. Especially when you look at things like stamp duty. I was thinking of moving recently myself, but to get to the next step on the ladder the stamp duty was going to be 60-70 grand. You can spend less than that doing the house up. What is also happening is that families are expanding and they’re getting to that point where something’s got to give – they have the space but they don’t know in what ways they can do something. Take loft extensions. We’ve seen loads of people with lofts and basements and junk rooms that they’re not doing anything with. But they can create these incredible, big, open-plan family spaces. Lots of people are starting to think that instead of spending so many thousands on stamp duty and fees that they can stay put and do these things.
Are you finding people who want to stay and makeover their house more creative?
Absolutely. And much more informed too. If you think back at all the property shows recently… Grand Designs really kicked this whole trend off. If you watch that show it can be so aspirational. Most people, though, don’t have the money or the inclination to create some of those kinds of homes from scratch. But the more people see property programmes and property pages in the newspapers, I do think people get a bit braver and they can learn a lot. That’s the beauty of this programme – we’ve done all kinds of things from total house renovations to loft conversion to knocking out the whole back of the house to put up glass extensions. Across the series, you’re not just looking at ten houses; you’re looking at 40, because you’re looking at all the neighbours’ houses as well.
Are there memorable makeover stories from the series that stick in the mind?
Oh my, there are so many! There was a fantastic couple in Rainham in Kent that lived in a bog-standard semi with their three kids. She readily admitted she had no interior design or design knowledge at all. When I visited it was very much magnolia walls, but they created an en suite loft extension for her and her husband and they totally revamped their living room, which included painting the walls bright pink and putting in a feature fireplace. It’s really changed the way that they lived, and I saw how much they grew in confidence during the process. They took a lot of things from their neighbours and what they did, and they were so happy with the outcome. A couple in Edinburgh did a fantastic basement conversion – they changed their dinky kitchen into a study and made their basement into a brilliant, massive open-plan living space.
There has always been a ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ mentality in Britain. Did that concept cause problems in the series?
We all think that our homes are our castles and you’re not allowed to come in, but actually one of the pieces of advice I’d give to anyone planning a home renovation is to talk to people who have already done it. You’ll find that more often than not people will be happy to talk about what they’ve had done, what builders they used and who they recommend. I read somewhere that most Londoners only know three people in their street. I’m a bit different – all my neighbours are lovely and we’ve become quite good friends over the years. You can learn a lot from your neighbours, and save a lot of money and heartache too. I also think a lot of us are bad visualising things, so it’s good to see someone’s house to have a look. It’s like having a showroom on your own street.
You’ve said you’re friends with your neighbours… have you ever used them for inspiration?
Oh God yes! I was the original What The Neighbours Did, because when we bought our house Barbara’s place – two doors down – was also on the market. Her house was really beautiful, and ours was a dump. But ours was 100 grand less than hers. Since then I’ve copied Barbara’s floorboards, kitchen… the lot!
What’s your personal style?
I would say minimalistic/eclectic. We have a three-story Victorian house and we’ve painted it white from top-to-bottom, apart from our grown-up living room where my daughter Willow doesn’t really go into. We’ve painted it Charleston Grey, so that’s the one room that isn’t white. We’ve got lots of old antique bits of furniture mixed in with lots of modern pieces and I can’t bear clutter, so everything has its place. We haven’t got round to doing the bathroom yet, and I hate it with a passion so that’s next on the list.
What kind of lessons did you learn during the series?
Take your time. A lot of the people we spoke to on the series had researched things for over a year. Another thing is to think about the final details, especially if you’re doing a kitchen or something like that. You’ve got to think about lighting, where the plug sockets are going to go, what sort of taps you want, whether you want granite or wood worktops… Once you’ve decided get quotes; lots of them. Most people only get one or two quotes, but it’s best to get three or four. Ask your neighbours about the mistakes they’ve made, and in the end go with your gut feeling. Another thing I learned, linked to taking your time, is live with the space for a while; paint it white and live with it. Don’t start putting up loads of wallpaper and god-knows-what… you might want to change it in six months time. Live with neutral space, get used to it and ideas about colour and what you want to use that space for will soon come.
What the Neighbours Did is new and exclusive to Home, weeknights at 10pm from Monday 18 July (Sky 246, Virgin 265)
Amanda Lamb is presenting a new series on Home, which lets us see inside our neighbours homes - something that most of us would really like to do.
What the Neighbours Did is a 10 part series which let's people see what their neighbours have managed to do with similar floor plans, before they complete renovations in their own properties.
Amanda tells us about the new programme:
Describe What The Neighbours Did to someone who hasn’t heard of the show…
It takes the premise that a lot of us live in houses that look identical from the outside, but are completely different on the inside. So if you take any street in the UK like a row of Edwardian or Victorian houses, they all started off with pretty much the same blueprint but do something different with the insides. We take a couple who want to do a loft conversion, extend their kitchen or convert their basement, and show them three of their neighbours’ houses that have already had a makeover experience to give them ideas and to help them learn what not to do. It’s a bit like that thing in October, when you’re walking down the street and people leave their curtains open and the lights on just when it’s getting dark. Everybody loves to have a little nose inside in that situation. It’s the ultimate property show really – we follow a whole renovation or a build, but we also get to know our neighbours’ houses as well.
So it’s a localised spin on the makeover programme?
Yes, very much so. I can’t think of another programme that’s done this before. It’s such a great idea. Not only are you following the build and you get a lovely reveal at the end each show – from a dark basement to a lovely, light-filled space – you also get to look at houses that have already been made-over, so it’s quite inspirational in that way. And these neighbours that have lived through all the dirt and dust and the spiralling costs can pass on lots of tips.
Once upon a time people would rather move than renovate, but that seems to have changed. Is What The Neighbours Did an illustration that more people want to stay put and improve their homes?
I think we’re seeing more of the whole ‘improve don’t move’ concept, and many of the property shows are now going that way too. Especially when you look at things like stamp duty. I was thinking of moving recently myself, but to get to the next step on the ladder the stamp duty was going to be 60-70 grand. You can spend less than that doing the house up. What is also happening is that families are expanding and they’re getting to that point where something’s got to give – they have the space but they don’t know in what ways they can do something. Take loft extensions. We’ve seen loads of people with lofts and basements and junk rooms that they’re not doing anything with. But they can create these incredible, big, open-plan family spaces. Lots of people are starting to think that instead of spending so many thousands on stamp duty and fees that they can stay put and do these things.
Are you finding people who want to stay and makeover their house more creative?
Absolutely. And much more informed too. If you think back at all the property shows recently… Grand Designs really kicked this whole trend off. If you watch that show it can be so aspirational. Most people, though, don’t have the money or the inclination to create some of those kinds of homes from scratch. But the more people see property programmes and property pages in the newspapers, I do think people get a bit braver and they can learn a lot. That’s the beauty of this programme – we’ve done all kinds of things from total house renovations to loft conversion to knocking out the whole back of the house to put up glass extensions. Across the series, you’re not just looking at ten houses; you’re looking at 40, because you’re looking at all the neighbours’ houses as well.
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