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15 Episodes 2016 - 2016
Episode 1
59 mins
The amateur designers must transform a bedroom in a modernist former leisure centre in London, which happens to be one of presenter Tom Dyckhoff's favorite buildings in the UK.
Episode 2
59 mins
The remaining designers are out to impress, working in Kentish weatherboard cottages.
Episode 3
59 mins
In the third and final round of this heat two designers have proved their talent, but now only one can win a place in the quarter final. The backdrop for this design showdown is an 18th century Scottish Castle, now converted into apartments. Once again they'll have just £1000, three days and a small team to make their transformations. Our two designers are following very different briefs in two different reception rooms. One designer has been asked for an elegant lounge and dining room, and has some brilliant ideas for creating sumptuous details on a budget... but with major concerns over their choice of mirrored wall panels, the overall look may fail. Meanwhile, the other designer wrangles to give their high ceilinged, plain sitting room a steam punk influence. However, running out of wallpaper and struggling with intricate details could threaten the entire project. Presenter and architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff discovers more about the history of this mysterious castle, built as a fortress-like folly where things aren't quite what they seem. However it'll be down to the judges to decide which designer has displayed enough skill and talent to go through to the quarter final.
Episode 4
59 mins
The second heat begins. Another group of amateur designers will compete across three knock-out rounds for one place in the quarter final. They are engineering manager Rob, DIY store worker Angelica, ex-visual merchandiser Sarah and textiles lecturer Lucy. They're in the beautiful thatched village of Briantspuddle in Dorset - an unusual Edwardian experiment that presenter and architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff takes a closer look at. The designers must transform a bedroom each in just three days with £1000 and the help of a small team. Rob has a monumental battle, producing all the repurposed furniture and light fittings he's designed in the timeframe. Angelica shows off some brilliant ideas for banishing tatty woodchip walls in her room, but her sleek, hotel chic design must make an impact if she's to impress the judges. Sarah faces an uphill battle persuading her clients to trust her bold choice of floral wallpaper on all four walls of her country scheme. Meanwhile Lucy is taking a big risk bringing her modern design for a teenaged boy to this very traditional cottage. It'll be down to Sophie and Daniel to judge which three designers show the most potential, and which one hasn't done enough to stay in the competition.
Episode 5
59 mins
The three remaining designers work on a smart Georgian terrace in Bath.
Episode 6
59 mins
The remaining two designers transform tiny bedrooms in medieval timber-framed houses.
Episode 7
59 mins
It's the penultimate of the 8 heats as 3 more designers fight it out for one of the last places in the quarter finals. This time the programme has travelled to Berrylands in the heart of London's Suburbia. The owners of these classic semi-detached 1930's homes are hoping our 3 amateur designers will bring new life and vigour to their front sitting rooms. Architectural Historian Tom Dyckhoff discovers the history of the homes and the circumstances that led to their build. Judges Sophie Robinson and Daniel Hopwood will be looking to see who as the potential to go through to the next round. Pub landlady, 43 year old Paula from Herefordshire , is more used to doing up the interiors in the pubs she and her husband have lived in over the years. Creating an interior for someone else proves a real test of her confidence as she has to make the decisions on colour, fabric and built in storage for the homeowner, and hope she is getting it right. 40 year old Textile designer Helen from Devon finds she has to confer with her owner nearly every step of the way before finally being allowed to create her South African themed scheme. The third contestant is 44 year old painter and decorator Johnny, he's used to doing the work on other peoples design ideas and now he's got to create and pitch his own; but keen to prove he is more than just a decorator his complicated shelving scheme might be over ambitious. But only one can go through to the quarter finals and this time Sophie and Daniel are finding it particularly hard to choose.
Episode 8
59 mins
In the second round of this heat, the three remaining designers take on one of the most demanding rooms to redesign on a tight budget - the kitchen. They're each working in a Victorian Half-House, in Walthamstow, North East London, where architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff looks at the story behind these early apartments, and the family who built them. Despite the bigger challenge of transforming a kitchen, our designers still have just £1000 and a small team across just three days. One designer faces disaster when their kitchen units fall apart - putting them behind schedule and giving them and their team a huge amount of work to do. The second designer struggles after what should have been a simple job of fitting a new floor suffers a massive hold up... they must keep focussed in order to complete their scheme in time. Meanwhile the final designer is almost overwhelmed with spatial planning issues, after being asked to incorporate a lounge area to one end of the kitchen. With such a difficult task comes a difficult decision for the judges, who must decide which two designers have the talent to go through to the next round, and which one will leave the competition.
Episode 9
58 mins
In the last round of this heat, just two designers are left competing for one coveted spot in the quarter final. They must transform an awkward attic bedroom each, in two desirable 1960s riverside homes in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. They'll have to be more creative than ever in these high end properties, as they still have just £1000, three days and a small team to help them transform their rooms. Both designers are being stretched with very different schemes. One must deliver a modern bachelor-pad style room for the homeowners' twenty-something son, but while their ideas for geometric shapes and angular design goes down well, their bright yellow and putty colour scheme raises many concerns. Meanwhile, the second designer has been asked for a hippy yet chic bedroom inspired by the colours of an Indian sari. Deciding to go for a multi-coloured scheme though, and choosing to create bulky pieces of bespoke furniture, casts doubt on their ability - can they turn it around? Presenter and architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff looks back at the origins of this 20th century housing development, and how it has roots firmly in the past of this industrious town. However, it's down to the judges to decide which designer has shown the potential talent to make it to the quarter final, and which one will leave the competition.
Episode 10
59 mins
It's the second quarter final and 4 more the winners from the previous 8 heats are now ready to paint, sew and build their way to a win the last 2 places in the semi-final of the The Great Interior Design Challenge. This time the amateurs are being challenged to re-design 4 compact bedrooms in a 1950's brutalist tower block in Bethnal Green, East London. The spaces are smaller, but it makes the challenge tougher as all 4 want to play to their best strengths. Designed by the architect Denis Lasdon who also designed The South Bank, Architectural Historian Tom Dyckhoff will be looking at the history of the block and how it was rescued from demolition to become one of the more desirable places to live in East London. While Judges Sophie Robinson and Daniel Hopwood will be casting their eyes over the various designs to see who is most deserving to go through to the Semi-final. Our quarter finalists this time are: 33 year old Sales Assistant Luke from Oxford who hopes to add the wow factor with his industrial warehouse scheme; 24 year old student and mum Kimberly from Bicester with her concrete and copper inspired bedroom for the whole family; 65 year old housewife Susan from Maidstone in Kent who hopes to go through with her cool batchelor pad design; and 42 year old Neil from Brighton, who's looking for a win with his bold monochrome room. But only 2 designers will get to go through to the coveted Semi-Final.
Episode 11
59 mins
In the second round of this heat, the three remaining designers take on the challenge of a reception room in the historic model village of Bournville, in Birmingham. Architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff explores the story behind the buildings; a Victorian reimagining of a traditional village. For the designers, the challenge of these larger rooms - with a £1000 budget, over three days - is a stretch. One shows skill with a clever technique to rejuvenate an old armchair, but proving they can bring together an eclectic, bohemian look is seemingly impossible. The second designer impresses with an outstanding window treatment, but could ruin their chances by drawing on the arts and crafts period of the property rather than sticking to the more modern brief requested. Meanwhile the last designer works hard to create glamour on the tight budget, but ideas like using an ornate frame around the television and replacing a perfectly good carpet could jeopardise their chances. With two places on offer in the next round, it's down to Sophie and Daniel to decide who displays enough talent to remain in the competition.
Episode 12
59 mins
In the last round of the heats, two designers must each transform a farmhouse kitchen.
Episode 13
58 mins
It's the quarter final, and the last four designers in the competition are in the village of Beer in Devon, taking on a cosy sitting room each in a row of coastal cottages. It'll be down to Sophie and Daniel - and guest judge interior and architectural designer Oliver Heath - to decide who has what it takes to go through to the final three. In their bid to become a semi-finalist, one designer shows skill with a hand painted mural, but has a disaster hanging wallpaper upside down on the opposite wall. Our second quarter finalist has a terrible start when they discover damaged, damp walls in their room, and things don't improve when the judges have grave concerns over the whole look of their New England scheme. The third designer attempts a modern look, but their design knowledge is called into question when they use wood effect wallpaper and cherubs alongside contemporary furniture. Meanwhile the last quarter finalist goes dramatically off-brief with dark navy walls and charcoal coloured furniture. Have they pushed their homeowner too far? As well as their schemes, they'll all take on a surprise challenge. They'll be asked to join forces with one of their competitors to test their teamwork skills. Each pair gets a trunk to upcycle, but working together with one of their rivals brings some strong differences of opinion. Architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff explores the coastal village, once known as a haven for smugglers, and uncovers its far reaching architectural influence. For the designers they have £1000, three days and the help of a small team to deliver a knockout scheme, and prove they deserve one of three places in the semi-final.
Episode 14
59 mins
Three designers take on a sitting room each in a medieval terrace in Wells.
Episode 15
59 mins
It's the grand final. Two of our best designers have battled their way to get here. Now just one can be crowned champion. Standing between them and the title, the challenge is to transform three rooms each in an apartment in a grand Stately Home in Sussex. Judging this epic battle, Sophie and Daniel will be joined by iconic interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who will be bringing her elite eye to all the final schemes. Nothing will escape all three judges' attention, so the battle will be fierce. In this high stakes challenge, one designer has a disastrous start, with their homeowner disliking all three schemes, and asking for a complete rethink. After all the prep that has gone into the designs, it will be an almost impossible task to turn things around. The other designer displays some clever ideas - like a silver leaf wall, and deconstructed furniture - but there are doubts from the judges that the schemes are bordering on safe, and elements of their designs are dubbed amateurish by their client, so the race for the title is far from over. Architectural historian Tom Dyckhoff will be exploring the estate, and explaining the wider significance Stately Homes have had on the British countryside. However, all eyes will be on the finalists, as they attempt to prove they are the best amateur designer in the country and deserve to be crowned winner of The Great Interior Design Challenge.