When it comes to stories, you can\u2019t beat a big plot twist, and few come bigger than a Grand Designs couple coming in under budget and ahead of schedule too! Recently Zara & Giuliano\u2019s 400-square metre malthouse-inspired home in the Lincolnshire Wolds proved that perfect planning and hard graft is the secret of realising your ambition of\u00a0\u00a0self-building your dream home…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInitially we said no!\u201d says Zara Findlay. We reckon that might be unusual as most people would probably jump at the chance to be featured on Channel Four\u2019s Grand Designs. Equally unusual is that the producers of the series approach Zara Findlay & Giuliano Rapoz, rather than the other way around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grand Designs first aired 25 years ago and since then there have been 22 series, over 160 episodes, a Bafta award, and around three million viewers regularly tuning in. There have also been countless construction calamities, bickering and budget-breaking, not to mention projects that have run hopelessly over schedule, resulting in a beleaguered and broken couple pursuing their dream of building their own home, only to find themselves standing on a muddy construction site with a hard hat full of broken dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there have also been triumphs, amazing examples of inspiring architecture and countless square metres of big windows and polished concrete. Finally, a new build comes to fruition and the front door is opened up to Kevin McCloud and the team for the big reveal at the end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been big fans for a number of years, but we were never in it for the drama or the schadenfreude, only for the ideas,\u201d say Zara & Giuliano. The couple featured their malthouse-inspired property in the Wolds in November, and at the time of speaking to the couple, they were looking forward to their first Christmas in their new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zara is originally from Singapore and works as a professional global makeup artist, whilst Giuliano works as a tech consultant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The couple met and settled in Reading but say that Covid was a moment of reckoning among their friendship group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome of our friends were really bothered by the fact they couldn\u2019t go out to bars, the cinema or to coffee shops. To be honest it didn\u2019t bother us as much because we really love being at home together, enjoying each other\u2019s company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the subject of moving to the country to somewhere a little more isolated was first mooted, the couple really didn\u2019t think it would be too bad… and they\u2019ve no regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLincolnshire is lovely, we\u2019ve really enjoyed moving here and we\u2019re now part of a very nice community surrounded by some equally lovely people,\u201d says Zara. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just that our neighbours have been really patient and tolerant during the build, but they\u2019ve also actively encouraged us and supported us, even bringing us hot meals when they\u2019ve seen us working on site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were really touched by that and we\u2019ll remember that as we live around each other over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The couple purchased the plot in December 2020 but it would be another three years until construction would begin. That time certainly wasn\u2019t wasted though, it fact it was one of the reasons that the project came in both under budget and ahead of schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe obtained planning permission but we still didn\u2019t want to begin until we had everything booked in, which we did before breaking ground and with fixed-price contracts where we could,\u201d says Giuliano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re both tech-savvy, and started an Instagram account just to document the project. The idea was to get ideas in the self-build community and to exchange advice, as well as to record the journey for our sake too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne day we received a direct message from the producers of Grand Designs saying they\u2019d like to document the build. We said no as we never set out to do it publicly, but as the project inspired us more and more we figured that it\u2019d be nice to share our journey in the same way that we\u2019ve benefitted from seeing other couples\u2019 projects too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Grand Designs experience was lovely,\u201d says Zara. \u201cThey\u2019re an amazing team and right from the outset they said they weren\u2019t interested in catching us out or making us look bad, only in documenting the process accurately \u2013 the highs and lows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were true to their word and Kevin was amazing, a really lovely guy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe wanted to create a lovely country house that was faithful to its setting without it becoming pastiche. There was a malthouse on the site years before, but this build wouldn\u2019t try to replicate it. Rather we wanted to create something that was sympathetic to the setting with high ceilings, lots of glass and natural light. More practically we wanted to create a home that was large enough for us now and in the future when we start a family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve experience of project management,\u201d says Giuliano, \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think I\u2008underestimated the learning curve, but I had hoped that being organised would be a good asset. Even so, the technical side of the build and coordinating the different trades was really complex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe created a WhatsApp group which proved to be a really good idea because all of the trades were able to speak with each other and coordinate their work. It also meant there was a trail of messages so everyone knew what to expect of each other as well as their own part in the build.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just 5mm of discrepancy was enough to present a head-scratcher when the timber panels arrived and were due to be installed. And the couple also had to be inventive, for instance, lugging roof slates up ladders in backpacks to expedite the roofing contractor\u2019s work, but Zara & Giuliano were not without allies during the project, no least was local builder Jim who was a real friend to the couple, who helped them solve problems, and provided building expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even so, the couple had to sacrifice every weekend for 18 months, whilst keeping pace with their respective careers. Zara says that Giuliano was especially dedicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt first I was living in Reading but I moved to live Giuliano in the studio that we were renting during the build.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore work Giuliano would be on site, then we\u2019d work late into the night, usually until six or seven at night but on occasion until 10pm, even working on until midnight when the amount of natural light permitted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe expected to be hands-on but we didn\u2019t expect to be quite as hands-on as we were! It was an exhausting 18 months and there were undoubtedly challenging moments, but it was worth it, as our DNA is right through the house, we know it in a really intimate way \u2013 what\u2019s behind every wall and how each part of the build came together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been the biggest challenge of our lives but we\u2019ve loved it. There\u2019s very little that we would change, perhaps the odd placement of light fittings and plug sockets.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt took a lot of time to make those decisions and to plan who we worked with but it was time well-invested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for how the couple managed to remain on track and bring the build in under budget, the first is fairly simple; lots and lots of <\/p>\n\n\n\n
hard work. \u201cI started off with basic DIY\u2008skills, but I\u2019ve learned so much,\u201d says Giuliano. \u201cYou re-live it every time you walk around the house, looking at the bathroom cabinetry that you put together or the walls you painted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn terms of budget, I\u2019d love to say we\u2019re multi-millionaires but it simply isn\u2019t the case. We had a self-build mortgage and as interest rates kept creeping up, we were acutely aware that the more we did, the more we\u2019d save. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We didn\u2019t draw down the last payment as we realised that we could save \u00a31,000 in labour costs for every weekend that we worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s our home, and we love it. We\u2019ve a place where we can enjoy being together, and a community that we love being part of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re really happy here and really grateful to everyone who has helped us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zara & Giuliano\u2019s Building Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lincs Design Consultancy<\/strong> provided the general design for the planning approval, the detailed drawings at building regulations stage, and on site assistance to Giuliano as part of him project managing the self build as and when required, 01507 611155, www.lincsdesignconsultancy.co.uk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imperial Bricks<\/strong> supplied the buff bricks used to create the exterior brickwork, which were tumbled to create an aged effect. 01746 330994, www.imperialbricks.co.uk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Timber Frame<\/strong> was constructed by Hull-based Turner Timber,\u00a0\u00a001482 218945, www.turnertimber.co.uk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glazing<\/strong> for the property was supplied by Lincoln\u2019s Park Farm Design, 01522 869679, www.parkfarmdesign.co.uk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corten Steel Cladding<\/strong> around the entrance vestibule was supplied by A J Marshall… and fitted by Giuliano, Zara, and Jim! 01423 359111, www.ajmarshall.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n