Love It Or List It Viewers have slammed the programme’s ‘ugly box’ transformation of a stunning period property – saying the results have been ‘burned on to their retina’.
On last night’s episode of the Channel 4 renovation programme, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer visited Katy and Carl in Chester, who were looking to upgrade their family home.
After having two children, four-year-old Iona and newborn Wilfred, the couple had realised their £330,000 three-bedroom Edwardian semi-detached home was no longer working for them.
Though the house was stunning with its exposed brickwork and period features, it lacked insulation and family space, while Carl said his at-home office was ‘freezing’.
Phil began the search for a new property for the couple, while Kirstie came up with a ‘roof lifting loft conversion’ to expand the space, costing £75,000.
Her plans added a new floor to the property, with an added bedroom and bathroom, while storage facilities were much improved.
But viewers were less than convinced by the appearance of the extension, saying it looked like an ‘ugly carbuncle’ and comparing it to a ‘shed on a roof’.
They wrote on social media: ‘Still think a downstairs loo is so useful with young children (& older relatives!) I would have put one under the stair. Ugly loft conversion’;
Love It Or List It Viewers have slammed the programme’s ‘ugly box’ transformation of a stunning period property – saying the results have been ‘burned onto their retina’. Pictured after transformation
Viewers did not hold back, with one even saying the loft conversion looked like a ‘massive carbuncle’ on the roof
‘Woman who loves the ‘character’ of her house trashes it so much that no-one can bear to look at it from the outside any more’;
‘Hope someone got sacked at the planning department for this. it’s insane’;
‘I always want to love the house on this program, but on this occasion I’m afraid the ugly box on top of that lovely house is burned onto my retina’;
‘Looks like a massive carbuncle on the roof’;
‘I’m going to put a shed on the roof of my house to raise its value’;
‘The inside is fab, but don’t like the outside tbh’;
‘My eyes, my eyes.’
Previously Carl and Katy’s loft had been cold and drafty without any insulation (pictured before conversion)
However by expanding the space they had a new double bedroom and family bathroom. Pictured: The added bedroom
Carl and Katy (pictured) had bought their home in Chester seven years ago and were deciding whether to love it (keep it) or list it (sell it)
Viewers were less than convinced by the appearance of the extension, saying it looked like an ‘ugly carbuncle’ and comparing it to a ‘shed on a roof’
Katy, a psychologist, had clearly been determined to stay in the property – or ‘love it’ – from the start of the programme.
She said: ‘I love this house, I love the red brick, it feels light it feels spacious. It’s our first family home and we definitely have an emotional attachment’ – and admitted she’d put in an offer before Carl had even viewed it.
However, Carl was keen to move on and ‘list’ the property on the market, wanting more space for the children and a warmer office to work from home.
Phil showed them three properties in the Westminster Park, Wervin and Huntington areas of Chester.
The final property in particular caught the couple’s eye with its spacious garden boasting panoramic views of the city and the cathedral.
At £550,000, it was £50,000 over budget, but it was in immaculate condition and ready to move in, with a large open plan kitchen and dining area, and a garden 20 times bigger than their current one.
Despite Carl’s clear preference for the home, the couple ultimately decided to ‘love’ their current house after the loft conversion.
They spent £75,000 on the renovations, saving money by re-decorating the rooms themselves.
The property had original Edwardian features but lacked space for Katy and Carl’s growing family. Pictured before the new loft was added
The renovations saw the family create a bedroom for four-year-old Iona. Pictured left, before, and right, after
The living room before was cramped with no room for storage (pictured)
The couple added a new storage solution under the stairs, with space for coats and shoes
The kitchen before had a breakfast bar, which took up a lot of space (pictured before)
By removing the breakfast bar, Kirstie added space for a family dining table (pictured after)
The new master bedroom in the lift had built-in skylights, meaning Katy and Carl would be able to stargaze at night
And Carl finally got the home office of his dreams in the loft conversion, with a nice and toasty temperature
Phil was trying to find the couple a new home, but winner Kirstie was determined to transform their current space
The home had a valuation of £335,000 before the loft was added, and was worth £463,000 after work had been completed, meaning the value gained was £50,000.
But the appearance of it clearly wasn’t for everyone – though viewers were in agreement that the interior looked much better.
During the series that aired last year, Love it or List it viewers branded the show ‘pointless’.
Carol and Andrew Pogson, who live in the ‘posh’ spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire first appeared on the show in 2017, when they were deadlocked over the fate of their detached three-bedroom property.
Carol wanted to ‘list it’ – meaning putting it for sale – while Andrew demanded the family-of-four stay put.
The family decided to renovate the property and sell it, but, visiting the couple seven Phil Spencer discovered the couple were still living there.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, after the show, viewers were left confused.
‘This programme is just pointless. They wanted to list it in 2017. “Let’s revisit again in 2024 to see their new house”…..Oh,still there, changed ya mind. What’s the point?’ one wrote.
The new series of Kirstie and Phil’s Love It Or List it airs on Wednesdays at 8pm on Channel 4. The first episode of the new series is available to stream now.