0:00:04 > 0:00:07In Britain we have an amazing array of places we call home.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10From thatched cottages and conversions to terraced housing
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and tower blocks. But when it comes to interior design,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16we don't always make the best of the rooms we live in.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23So, we're asking 24 amateur designers who believe
0:00:23 > 0:00:26they've got what it takes to be the next big thing in interiors
0:00:26 > 0:00:28to show us how it should be done.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32We'll travel across the country and through the ages
0:00:32 > 0:00:38to Victorian avenues, Art Deco cul-de-sacs and Regency squares.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Each time, three would-be designers take on similar rooms in three
0:00:44 > 0:00:47neighbouring homes.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49I don't really hate it, but I'm not sure.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Never upholstered a cat bed before.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55It's going really well(!)
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Across eight heats, they'll compete for a place in the quarterfinals.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Judging them are designer and president elect
0:01:02 > 0:01:06of the British Institute of Interior Design, Daniel Hopwood.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Really great designers have a level of flexibility
0:01:09 > 0:01:13and they can work around a client and yet give them a lot of style.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17And interior stylist and magazine journalist Sophie Robinson.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20What I'm looking for in this competition is designers
0:01:20 > 0:01:22who have a high level of creativity.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Now it's their imaginations
0:01:24 > 0:01:27and design skills that will determine who will come out on top.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37This time, our amateur designers are working in an old riverside
0:01:37 > 0:01:39warehouse that's been converted into apartments.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Our amateurs will be working for three clients who
0:01:42 > 0:01:45want their living rooms updated.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50He seems quite brave, so I think he might come round in the end.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52It's very nice, but it's not me.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56But only one of the three can make it to become a quarterfinalist.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59There's absolutely no hidden storage in here.
0:01:59 > 0:02:00Everything's on show, isn't it?
0:02:00 > 0:02:04I still think that he could have got away with another bright colour.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07An absolute hair's breath divides you three,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09but one designer has pulled through.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Construction in the 1860s, the Thames Tunnel Mill
0:02:19 > 0:02:22was built to grind and store tapioca from the West Indies
0:02:22 > 0:02:24and rice and maize from the Americas.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30But by 1969, the shipping trade was using large container vessels
0:02:30 > 0:02:34too big to navigate the shallow and silty waters of the Thames.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37As a result, the Docklands went into steep decline, its warehouses
0:02:37 > 0:02:42were abandoned and left to ruin, and in 1972 the mill closed down.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The Thames Tunnel Mill was one of the first old industrial buildings
0:02:47 > 0:02:49to be converted into homes in the country,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52and unlike so many other warehouse conversions on the Docklands,
0:02:52 > 0:02:54these aren't privately owned,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57but instead are run by a local housing association.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Now, three residents of this old mill are getting their living rooms
0:03:04 > 0:03:06re-designed, courtesy of our amateurs.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14What I love about doing interiors is it gives me
0:03:14 > 0:03:17these buzzes in my brain and my emotions and my heart.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22I've decided it's not really what I do, it's who I am.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I have no formal training.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30I just obsess and obsess and obsess about it.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I'd love to be able to do that as a job, yes.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Very much.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40The way I am as a person,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44I want things around me that tell a story that I can relate to.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It's not just there because it looks nice.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51These are pretty cool little guys. I like these guys.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54My daughter's got a bit of growing before she gets into them,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56but they're pretty cool, aren't they?
0:03:56 > 0:03:58I'd like a pair of them, wouldn't you like a pair of them?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I've owned my own home since I was 18,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08I've had loads of houses and I've always moved in and made them mine.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10I'm a home body.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13I like to go on holiday, I always like to get home.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18One of my favourite hobbies is to renovate old dolls' houses.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21It's just really feeding an addiction which is just
0:04:21 > 0:04:22changing things in houses.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Each of our amateur designers have £1,000
0:04:30 > 0:04:34and 48 hours spread over three days to deliver their first ever
0:04:34 > 0:04:36professional interior design.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43The first client is artist Anna, who moved into this one-bedroomed
0:04:43 > 0:04:46first-floor apartment eight months ago.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51My taste is really eclectic and a real mix-up of furniture,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54different periods, different styles.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57When it comes to style Anna loves all things French
0:04:57 > 0:05:01and it's a touch of France she wants for her living room.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It's a gorgeous room.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07it just needs those final, flourishing touches.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09You know, a bit more comfortable,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12give it the TLC that I haven't given it so far.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Judges Sophie and Daniel want to assess the room's potential
0:05:18 > 0:05:20before the designer gets started.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Oh, wow.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I think this is one of those plaster boxes,
0:05:27 > 0:05:31but OK, there's a glimmer of character in here looking
0:05:31 > 0:05:35at the architecture of that space, as much as we've got French windows.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Now, what in fact they are, are the original windows where
0:05:38 > 0:05:40they would have had a hoist out there
0:05:40 > 0:05:43and they would have chained up the bags of flour and things like that.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Oh, amazing.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49And even what's more amazing, we've got a room with a view.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53I just think this room is just so light and sunny.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58Yes, our saving grace, a room with a view, but a plaster box behind.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- It's looking a bit bland, isn't it? - It's completely characterless.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04In fact she's got no pictures or mirrors or anything on the walls,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08but yet she's got some lovely objects and nice bits of furniture
0:06:08 > 0:06:13Yes. I'm seeing a pair of old Lloyd Loom chairs here,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15which I've always loved, and they're easy to renovate
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and get back to being gorgeous again, so that's simple.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20What this really needs is a focal point,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23so there's somewhere to draw your eye, because at the moment
0:06:23 > 0:06:27there's kind of nothing to, to rest on in here.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30There's one more stage that is required to turn this
0:06:30 > 0:06:32space into a really good home.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39Given the task of bringing a French feel to the room is housewife
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and mother of three Dee from Whitstable.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45All the amateur designers have had just over a week
0:06:45 > 0:06:48working on their client's brief on paper, but this will be
0:06:48 > 0:06:51the first time they've spoken or seen the room for themselves.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- Hello, Anna, I'm Dee. - Hi, nice to meet you.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59During the meeting, the judges will be watching to see how
0:06:59 > 0:07:03the designer presents their ideas, their interpersonal skills
0:07:03 > 0:07:05and how they can adapt to their client's wishes.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I was quite intimidated to meet you
0:07:08 > 0:07:11because I think that you have really nice taste.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13So, I'm very nervous.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16No, no, don't be, I mean, I'm not precious.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- Can I show you my mood board? This is my very bad sketching.- Yes.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23You said your colours were mushroom, blue and greens.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27I haven't put any green in this, so most of the room, the walls et cetera,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- remain white.- Right.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Because your beautiful choices of art are very rich in colour.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35There is colour in the furniture and my pictures.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39I think that's lovely because again, that will be the focal point.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43We'll have the two lamps here around the sofa and then your art above it.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- Yes.- Is that the chair that you use quite a bit?- Yes.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I want to make that really cosy for you, so I've got some feather
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- cushions, I'm going to try and reupholster part of it.- Yes.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57These are the fabrics I've used. Lots of texture backed in cream.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59You've got some florals. Again,
0:07:59 > 0:08:03I try to do it with a French accent, because I saw by your furniture,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06you're not particularly the frilly end of shabby chic. No.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Less shabby and a bit more chic.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11You look very chic.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- Understated elegance, I would like. - Yes.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Dee's planned a provincial French look she thinks Anna wanted.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21But it seems Parisian chic is nearer the mark.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I think your stuff is so nice that I'm going to
0:08:24 > 0:08:27up-cycle that cabinet, put some new curtains on it.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I love those curtains, though.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Do you, well, if you want to keep them...
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Well, I like the colour with that wood.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35The last thing I wanted to mention was your table,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37which I think is lovely.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Really, ideally I did want to strip it,
0:08:40 > 0:08:45but I quite fancied the legs painted a blue, sort of similar to my toes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- Yes.- You have, you know, got quite a good idea of me.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54And I do like it, but I'm used to a little bit more colour.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- How would you feel about a dark grey on the blue end of the scale?- Erm...
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- That would go with the chair...- Yes. - How would you feel?
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- Could I show it to you and see what you think?- Yes, sure.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06- And if you don't like it... - I'm open to anything.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Obviously it's your home, you've got to like it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12SOPHIE: The first thing she said in her presentation was,
0:09:12 > 0:09:15"I'm scared of you, because you've got really fantastic taste,"
0:09:15 > 0:09:16and I was like, what are you saying?!
0:09:16 > 0:09:20The concern for Dee is she's got that look in her head
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and she thinks that you have to stick to that look.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26If she goes with the flow, she can make it work.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Don't fight it, play with it,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- go with it and I think we'll get something.- Yeah, I agree, actually.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Thanks, Steve.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37Dee now has three days,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41£1,000 and the help of a builder to make the changes.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45But her client Anna still wants to talk through a few details
0:09:45 > 0:09:47like her favourite chair.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51What I was going to do is cover it with a fabric,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53- with fabric, not in a leather. Does that...?- No.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55OK. I wouldn't touch the originals,
0:09:55 > 0:10:00so if you still wanted to do it later, you could.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06I'll go with you. You can do it. If I don't like it, I'll take it off.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09No, because I won't be touching the original...
0:10:09 > 0:10:12It's a shame though. I just think it'll ruin it, but...
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Go on, do it. Do it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:20It's becoming clear Anna is finding it difficult to give Dee free rein.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25I want to make it lovely for her and it scares me,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28because it's her trust in her home and I hope I get it right.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33The second apartment is on the top floor.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36This living room has the same dimensions as the first,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39but is on the opposite side of the building with cityscape views.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Angela has lived here for 20 years.
0:10:44 > 0:10:45It's a practical room.
0:10:45 > 0:10:51I use it for watching TV, I use it for my computer. I also eat here,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56draw here, I read my books and my cat lives in here as well.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01If this room was better designed, I would definitely entertain more.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Angela's room is cluttered,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07meaning her prized possessions are lost amongst it all.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11Nice proportion.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13We've got a bit of a longer room, which is great.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17I'm getting an African theme going on which could be quite fun
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- to play with. - This floor is a bit of a disaster.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21This is actually a vinyl look.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25It's stuck down. Maybe there are some hot pipes here or something.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Underfloor heating.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30And the glue has been kept warm so it's moving.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- Yes, new flooring is a definite, really.- Absolutely.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- That's going to take a lot of the budget out.- Yes.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38That's the hero though of the room, isn't it? The window right there.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Beautiful, original industrial window.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43You don't see these in domestic buildings, these cantilever windows.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46No. I think the bottom one opens as well, actually.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49So, the idea is for ventilating the old dusty mill.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53You've got that wonderful view, and you need to celebrate this window.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55It's part of the original feature. There's nothing else
0:11:55 > 0:11:58in the room that's original, so let's go
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- from making this look great. - The curtains don't fit the window as
0:12:01 > 0:12:03they are the moment, so when you've got that open,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06it gets in the way of your curtains, so if you were going to dress
0:12:06 > 0:12:08these windows, you'd want something that was up and away,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11a blind mounted above, because I think it would be
0:12:11 > 0:12:13a shame to hide this arch,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- that's such a lovely detail. - Yes, it's a good idea.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23It's the job of shop worker Luke from Oxford to make Angela's
0:12:23 > 0:12:25living room more welcoming.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29And it's his first chance to make use of the interior design diploma
0:12:29 > 0:12:31he was awarded 12 years ago.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35How do you feel about this room?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Not happy with the colour, you know, it's cold to me now.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40OK, you've got lots of lovely natural light,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42you got some curtains there at the moment,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45going to take those away, because they're a bit heavy.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I'm going to keep it nice and colourful for you, how do you feel
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- about that?- Yes, exactly what I want. Exactly what I want.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Well, that green is going to take up that wall here.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55I do like that. I do like that.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59OK, well, that's a relief for me, I can assure you about that.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03- Yes.- OK, so this colour here, that's going to go
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- over the majority of the walls. - Is that silver?
0:13:06 > 0:13:09No, I suppose it's a bit of a, they call it dusk.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14To give a contemporary feel to the room, Luke's keeping
0:13:14 > 0:13:17most of the walls plain as a backdrop for brighter details.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Look at those. What do you think about those fabrics?
0:13:20 > 0:13:22This one is striking.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27Yes. OK. So these are genuine Ghanaian wax print fabrics.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31They're going to give you some really amazing colour in this place,
0:13:31 > 0:13:34all right? You need some storage in here.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I'm going to bring in some lower furniture down here,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40because I don't want it, if I just put a massive old
0:13:40 > 0:13:43bookcase in here, it would cut out the light coming this way.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47And as I say, I want to keep as much light in this place as possible.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The sofa is going to go here,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53so your focal point will be back across the room.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56We've got a floor here that's not looking so clever any more.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59No, the floor's not very happy at all.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02This is the type of flooring I was going to run with.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03Very natural. Yes.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Yes. Is that something, the sort of natural thing?
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- Is that good for you? - Yes.- Yes. Amazing. Great.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14I also have two permanent guests which, as you can see,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16I've got some cat...
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Cat towers.- Yes. - Yes, and it's got to stay, I guess.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21- Yes. - I'm happy with that if you are.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Yes. Thank you very much. - Presentation great.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28I love this sort of batik colours, the Ghanaian colours he was using,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32but the colours on the board that I saw just looked a bit dismal to me.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35It was very clear that she liked warm colours and I think
0:14:35 > 0:14:39he called it dust or something, but yes, essentially that's grey.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45So we've got a clean room so we're going to start with the jobs
0:14:45 > 0:14:49that need doing so, walls need prepping and painting.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52- Yes.- Floors need to come up and the new one down.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55The blind needs to go on and that is about it.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I'm not going to get egotistical and say I'm amazingly confident,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06but I think as long as you can bring people round
0:15:06 > 0:15:09to your way of thinking, then it's all good.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17The third property's been home to Ricardo,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20a Brazilian-born artist, for 20 years.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22It's on the first floor right on the river.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28I don't remember seeing the kitchen, I don't remember seeing the bedroom.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30I just remember telling my friends,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34I got a place with a window to the river.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38I would like a boathouse, to bring the river inside.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Ricardo's brief embraces the industrial feel of the building,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46and calls for a raw, boathouse style.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49My style is the rustic nature.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52I don't like the polished wood, but the rough wood.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57That's the style I'm hoping to get.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06It's delightful space. Can you hear that noise outside?
0:16:06 > 0:16:08- It's like being on a ship, isn't it? - Yes.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10That's what I feel like in here.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12I rather like the bare brick wall we've got here.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Well, it's painted brick, but it's part of the original building.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18I know the shell of the building is listed
0:16:18 > 0:16:22so I know that that is original brick work and it looks fantastic.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It's very nice painted but it would be quite fun
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- to see it stripped down. - I mean, that would be amazing
0:16:27 > 0:16:30and I'm sure Ricardo would love it as well, because he clearly
0:16:30 > 0:16:33loves the rustic design, look at the old trunk he's got.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35But to strip that back, that's a big job, isn't it?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37I doubt our designers could achieve that.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Not only has it got fantastic original brickwork,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43but we have an original window as well.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47And though we say it's rather nice having this lovely view,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51in reality, when this building was originally a warehouse
0:16:51 > 0:16:55and a mill, this sill level would have been above shoulder level,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59if not above head height level as the floor was lower.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04Because, this wasn't about having fun in, it was about working.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Looking around, decoratively it's in quite good order
0:17:06 > 0:17:08so it's actually a bit of a gift for our designer.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Yes, but I think it's a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14because when you've got a client like Ricardo who's clearly
0:17:14 > 0:17:17got bags of style, how are you going to change it?
0:17:19 > 0:17:24Taking on the challenge is mother of three boys Emma from Manchester.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27This is my mood board. Just some ideas.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30And a floor plan.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35From your brief, I focused quite a lot on the fact that
0:17:35 > 0:17:37you like the industrial look,
0:17:37 > 0:17:44but with a lot of boat-themed items as well, like some oars
0:17:44 > 0:17:47and the ladder that you mentioned you were interested in.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50The ladders would be going lengthways across the wall,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53you'd be able to display your art work across the top.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And your boats across here, whichever way you wanted it to be.
0:17:56 > 0:18:02- The shelves, I was going to create using scaffold boards.- Perfect.
0:18:02 > 0:18:08Well, one of the main changes I would like in this room is to
0:18:08 > 0:18:10remove that monstrosity.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13OK, well, I will get my man on to that!
0:18:13 > 0:18:17But I think I would like to make that into a desk area.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20- Perfect.- Obviously, you've got the original brick wall there,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24but you would like to see the actual red of the brick.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28I know how difficult it is to sandblast and all this,
0:18:28 > 0:18:33but if we take a little bit off the plastic looking, you wouldn't
0:18:33 > 0:18:38have to take off all the white but just come through, some of the brick.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Emma has decided not to spend time and money on exposing
0:18:42 > 0:18:45the brickwork, but she has come up with an alternative idea.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50I did really like that look, but what I have chosen is a really,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53really good quality brick wall paper.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Maybe it needs some sort of depth to the room.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59I don't know whether you could trust me to go for that
0:18:59 > 0:19:00and that you think it would be OK.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03It would be broken up by either the shelves or the ladder
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- so it wouldn't be just a complete... - Wall.- Mmm.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09It's whether you're brave enough. I think it will work.
0:19:09 > 0:19:10- I'm a brave person.- Yes.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16We have Ricardo, a very stylish man with a room that feels really good.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19And it needs to be tweaked and turned to make it even more special.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22He definitely wasn't convinced by the wallpaper.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I think he's being very generous by going with it,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27but I think he was genuinely horrified.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30And sure enough, doubts re-surface.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Where I have a major problem is the wallpaper.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36I have a wall which has the brick painted.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Yes, yes.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Having a artificial brick.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I've got so much faith in this particular wallpaper.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46But I think it best we look at it first
0:19:46 > 0:19:48and make sure you're happy with it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51We will change if I'm convincing.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54OK, I'll have to try and convince you, then!
0:19:56 > 0:19:58The wallpaper won't arrive until tomorrow,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02leaving it late to make a change.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05I'm a little bit concerned about bringing Ricardo round on the
0:20:05 > 0:20:09wallpaper, but he seems quite brave in his taste and he's artistic,
0:20:09 > 0:20:14so I think that he might come round in the end.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Key to the success of the scheme will be the join where
0:20:18 > 0:20:21wallpaper meets original brick.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And it's working with the bones of this industrial building that would
0:20:24 > 0:20:28have been the biggest challenge during the pioneering conversion.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31In 1981, the Thatcher Government set up the London Docklands Development
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Corporation to restore just a little of the area's former glory.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39The Thames Tunnel Mill was designed to show private developers
0:20:39 > 0:20:41that this area was worthy of provide investment.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46It worked. Between 1981 and 1998, 24,000 homes were built here
0:20:46 > 0:20:49as part of Europe's largest regeneration project.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51This old mill was transformed from a cavernous space
0:20:51 > 0:20:54into 70 apartments across six floors.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57Photos show just how much work was involved.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Just the facade and the iron windows
0:20:59 > 0:21:02of the Grade II listed building were retained.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The inside was completely gutted, though you can see here,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08they used the old iron columns and the oak beams in its interior
0:21:08 > 0:21:12atrium with the open corridors.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14The success of this conversion led to
0:21:14 > 0:21:16the regeneration of the whole area.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19But rejuvenating one of the sitting rooms today is proving
0:21:19 > 0:21:21a challenge for designer Dee,
0:21:21 > 0:21:25who's having difficulty pinning down her client on a colour scheme.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27That's far too beige.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30It's because of the shabby chic which is all creams
0:21:30 > 0:21:31and beiges so that's where...
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Hmm, yes. - So that's where it's come from.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37So we don't like the colours and we don't like the design,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41so we're back to square one and I've got to start again, really.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45- It's very nice, but it's not me! - Right. OK.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Client Anna has very definite ideas about what she does
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- and doesn't like.- Hello!
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I can hear design stories going on.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58I just wanted to jump in and see what's happening
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- and how you're feeling? - I think the difficulty for me
0:22:00 > 0:22:04is that I was told French shabby chic which I took the classic French
0:22:04 > 0:22:07shabby chic with lots of creams, I got the word muted, neutral.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11I think I would have gone far more punchy
0:22:11 > 0:22:13and individual, I think, had I known...
0:22:13 > 0:22:16- But I don't think it's too late. - This is what it's all about.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20You have the personality to turn something round.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Gosh, talk about gear changing from shabby chic
0:22:23 > 0:22:25into really cool fabulousness.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30I'm going to hand... I'm going to be more trusting. OK?
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Dealing with changing briefs is often the reality of being
0:22:34 > 0:22:37an interior designer and working with clients.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I thought I'd swan in, say, "Look, here's a design,"
0:22:41 > 0:22:45and she'd go, "Oh, I love it, Dee, my saviour!" No.
0:22:45 > 0:22:51'This is the first time that I've had someone say no, you know,'
0:22:51 > 0:22:54but then this'll be my first ever real client,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56so it's understandable.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Upstairs, Luke has started painting his contemporary colour scheme,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06livening up one wall for just £19.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09- What do you think, then? - Yes, I like the colour.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10- Yes.- I do.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Good. And then we have this other colour coming through here.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It does look more grey, doesn't it?
0:23:15 > 0:23:18It does look grey, but I'm confident that once the other bits
0:23:18 > 0:23:22come in, you're going to, it's going to look good for you.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- I can see you're not entirely convinced.- No, no, no.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28But trust me. It's going to look good.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I do trust you, Luke.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Excellent. Well, that's all I can ask for, isn't it, really?
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Luke lives in a converted barn in Oxford with his wife
0:23:38 > 0:23:41and 18-month-old daughter Pearle.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46Nearly everything you see around me has been acquired,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49not new, shall we say.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I like beg, stealing and borrowing things. I'm not tight.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Don't get me wrong.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I'll spend my money if I want to, but I think it's more satisfying
0:23:57 > 0:24:01if you've got something you love and you didn't pay money for it.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05This chair is probably one of my favourite possessions.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I found it half buried in snow, covered in some
0:24:08 > 0:24:13sort of horrible '70s brown fabric and got it redone.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Repurposing things, I've always enjoyed doing that.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21It's all part of the fun. Bring things back to life.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24You can usually make things work, if you try hard enough
0:24:30 > 0:24:33The way I read the brief, and everything that Angela was saying,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36she liked very warm colours and she was kind of inspired
0:24:36 > 0:24:39by these African colours and that's a very concrete grey.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44It is concrete, I grant you that, but the furnishings that are coming
0:24:44 > 0:24:46in here, also the wood floor, they're going
0:24:46 > 0:24:48to give the warmth to the room.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51What I didn't want is too many warm colours.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Oh, right, so you've chosen that purposely to try and cool it down.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Because I don't think having another warm wall was going to work.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02It's not just the colour scheme that's raising questions.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04It is a beautiful window, isn't it?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07And it was a shame to hide it behind a curtain like it was before.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10We're just going to go with a roller blind above.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12The brickwork arch is quite nice
0:25:12 > 0:25:15and it would be a shame to see that cut across by a roller blind.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Mmm. What I might do then is site it where the timber was.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Mmm. Go further. If you go right up then it's gone.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24It just blends away.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Ricardo really wants these cupboards removing to open up the space
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- and give him a bit of extra couple of foot.- Yes. Sure.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Taking out these cupboards may not have been part of Emma's plan,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45but storage is something she's keen on back at the home
0:25:45 > 0:25:48she shares with her husband and three sons.
0:25:48 > 0:25:49I've got so many collections of things
0:25:49 > 0:25:52and so many bits of pottery and tins and stuff that
0:25:52 > 0:25:56I love to look at, that I would much rather have little shelves so I can
0:25:56 > 0:25:59see them, because that's the sort of thing that makes me really happy.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Many of the retro treasures Emma displays are her own handiwork,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06which she also sells.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08And out here is my little work room.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12It's actually in the form of a caravan and his name is Maurice.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16He's the love of my life, really.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20This was a gift, this caravan, from my other half.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23I've really gone for it with the '60s wallpaper
0:26:23 > 0:26:26and you'll notice quite a lot of orange,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29which is my favourite colour.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Tried to set a couple of hours that I'll come out
0:26:31 > 0:26:34and just get on with my work. I love it in here.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It's great with the cupboards coming out, you can
0:26:40 > 0:26:42already see how much it's opened the room up
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and I can already picture that it's going to make a great office space.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Emma's bought a £40 desk from an online auction to make the most
0:26:53 > 0:26:56of this newly exposed part of the room.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It was really good, useful storage space, this.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01How are you going to replace that?
0:27:01 > 0:27:05It's going to have these quite substantial shelves going all the
0:27:05 > 0:27:08way round, so I'm hoping that will take care of all his storage needs
0:27:08 > 0:27:11The wallpaper seemed a bit of a hot potato.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- Is it still a bit of a hot potato? - No, because he's quite brave.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18I know that they're very on trend at the moment, these wallpapers
0:27:18 > 0:27:21that give you the sort of salvage rustic warehouse look.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Our only query was because you've already got the real thing there,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- will it work, the fake next to the real?- I just want to be brave.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31Emma wasn't selling this fake brick wallpaper thing to me,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35but, you know, in her defence, Ricardo said he wants to go with it
0:27:35 > 0:27:38and I know that Ricardo is just so chuffed about getting
0:27:38 > 0:27:40rid of those cupboards, he'll go for anything.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42- Do you think she got him on a bit of a high?- Yes.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Designer Dee has had to work hard to convince her client to trust her,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53so it's 5pm before she can begin work in earnest.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56I think we're going to do the table and the cupboard.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58You want to take this back to wood, yeah?
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Yes. And I'll start sanding that cupboard ready for painting.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Dee is a mum to three children.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08Now they're growing up she's decided
0:28:08 > 0:28:10to pursue her love of interior design.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13I'm 55.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16I don't do anything other than being a mum
0:28:16 > 0:28:21and this truthfully is an utterly selfish thing.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24It's all about possibilities with interiors.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27It's that dreaming about what will be.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30I've used the books effectively as colour to decorate with,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33because there's so much white and they just add some texture
0:28:33 > 0:28:35and some colour to the room as well.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40All of this design doesn't mean anything, if it's not a home to your
0:28:40 > 0:28:44family and at the end of the day, home is everything to most people.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49This is for me to just do something I adore and have fun
0:28:49 > 0:28:50and that's why I entered it.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56So what, what can we do, what can't we do?
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Well, unfortunately, virtually everything that
0:28:59 > 0:29:02I suggested has not gone to plan.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05I'm doing the table as Anna wished.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09I was going to distress and up-cycle this as per the brief, but she's
0:29:09 > 0:29:14decided that she would prefer me not to do that, but she has said
0:29:14 > 0:29:15I can paint this,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18but other than that I can put the furniture as I wish.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24With day one drawing to a close,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27all three designers are keen to finish painting the walls.
0:29:27 > 0:29:33I've not gone for a brilliant white.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36I've gone for one with a slight tinge of grey, just because I think
0:29:36 > 0:29:41it's quite in keeping with the whole theme of kind of industrial.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44Also, I think it will be a nice contrast to the wallpaper
0:29:44 > 0:29:46that I've chosen as well.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53- OK, Steve, that's it for me.- OK.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57- I'll clean that up for you.- Thank you!- Don't worry, don't worry.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12After a busy first day
0:30:12 > 0:30:15and a delayed start for Dee, all the rooms are prepped.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Luke is well under way,
0:30:17 > 0:30:20but Emma has arrived to find her room is not quite as it should be.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28We applied the first layer of emulsion last night
0:30:28 > 0:30:32and almost immediately we noticed that it started to bubble up
0:30:32 > 0:30:35all across the wall. So we left last night
0:30:35 > 0:30:37and fingers crossed we thought we'd come in this morning
0:30:37 > 0:30:41and some sort of miracle would have happened but unfortunately it's not.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43We're just removing all the bubbles
0:30:43 > 0:30:47and then we're going to start filling and then fingers crossed
0:30:47 > 0:30:50again, we're going to put a second coat on and it should be prefect.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54To fit her industrial boathouse theme,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Emma's chosen a stripped wood-effect laminate.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00Costing around £220, it's almost a quarter of her budget.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Halfway installed, I'm just really, really pleased with how it
0:31:05 > 0:31:09looks, so it's actually nicer than I thought so really I'm pleased.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- It looks great. - Thank you, really pleased with it.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15The scale works really nicely as well,
0:31:15 > 0:31:17because it's sort of small strips. It works with the size
0:31:17 > 0:31:20- of the room too.- Great. - I'm pleased with it.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22I just felt that with Emma that she's just be in total control,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25knows what needs doing, it's going to be done on time.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28It could go the other way and by the end of it, just be so calm
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- and say, oh, no! - How did that happen?!
0:31:30 > 0:31:35But she's still waiting for her sample of brick wallpaper
0:31:35 > 0:31:37for client Ricardo to approve.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Upstairs, Luke is also having paint problems.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48This has got too much pigment in it and this hasn't got enough
0:31:48 > 0:31:50pigment in it, because it wasn't mixed properly.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53So we've got two tones of the same colour,
0:31:53 > 0:31:57so having to get more paint, but this time we're going to have to mix
0:31:57 > 0:32:01it up good and proper and then hopefully it will all colour match.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04It says give it a good shake, but I would actually physically
0:32:04 > 0:32:07get in the tin and give it a proper stir round.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13This is the new paint, so it's going on really well
0:32:13 > 0:32:19and I'm very hopeful that this time we've mixed it good and proper.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- Not sure about those colours, though.- I know.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25I was worried about them yesterday when they were in the tin.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27- On the wall.- Still don't really like them on the wall.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I just feel that it's a very cold, slightly modern
0:32:30 > 0:32:31and masculine colour scheme.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35- And I see Angela's being a lot of a softer personality...- Yes.- ..to me.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40After delayed painting, other jobs are stacking up.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Floor is here and going down.
0:32:42 > 0:32:47Unfortunately I'm still painting so it's going to be a busy afternoon.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52The dark wood flooring to fit his African theme is Luke's big
0:32:52 > 0:32:56investment, costing just over £260.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Downstairs, Dee is reflecting on her difficult first day
0:33:02 > 0:33:05pinning down a Parisian-inspired look.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Last night, I felt low and I thought I wasn't sure
0:33:08 > 0:33:11if I was up to it, because the entire brief has changed.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15However, I've decided that it's part of the challenge.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18That's what being a designer is. You've got to turn on a sixpence.
0:33:18 > 0:33:19So I'm going to do that.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25The dining table is getting the French farmhouse treatment.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Anna's asked me to paint the table a particularly strong teal colour,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33so I'm going to be doing that and then distressing it.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37I'm keying in this leg which basically means sandpapering it
0:33:37 > 0:33:41to make it rough because I'm going to put some undercoat on
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and then some paint, buff it up and it will look old and lovely.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- So what finish is going to go on here?- So take it back
0:33:47 > 0:33:49and we'll put some wax on.
0:33:49 > 0:33:53Rejuvenating a piece like this takes time. First remove the paint
0:33:53 > 0:33:58with a heat gun. Then sand the surface back to the grain.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01And finally rub with wax to form a protective layer.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Well, I didn't choose this colour.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07It doesn't necessarily go with my original design in any way,
0:34:07 > 0:34:13but as the client wants it, of course we have to go with that.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Poor Dee has had a complete stalemate situation.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21This is what the life of an interior designer is all about.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Your client will chop and change and change their decisions
0:34:24 > 0:34:26and they'll do it on site all the time.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28If she can make this look good, she could win.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37Dee is working on the mill's shared terrace, where just a few
0:34:37 > 0:34:40feet beneath her is the inspiration for the building's name.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44The Thames Tunnel Mill is named after a pioneering tunnel
0:34:44 > 0:34:48that runs almost directly underneath this building.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Connecting the north and south sides of the River Thames, it took
0:34:52 > 0:34:5718 years to complete and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1843.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01It housed a permanent subterranean funfair, but the fun didn't last
0:35:01 > 0:35:04as later it became part of the London train network.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Back above ground, Emma's brick effect wallpaper has
0:35:10 > 0:35:13arrived for client Ricardo to approve.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17I think it looks nicer against the bricks that are already painted.
0:35:17 > 0:35:23- It looks like you...just... - Yes, I can see that.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25And also, it's lighter and brighter,
0:35:25 > 0:35:29- because you wanted the room to look brighter, didn't you?- Yes.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Yes. It's a lovely paper, isn't it?
0:35:31 > 0:35:36- Yes, it does. It looks nice, yes. - Yay! I'm so happy!
0:35:36 > 0:35:41So the basis of her industrial boathouse theme can finally
0:35:41 > 0:35:44go on the wall, while Emma gets crafty.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I've not been able to do much sewing on this room design,
0:35:47 > 0:35:48which is a bit disappointing,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51because it's a real passion of mine so I was just really keen to
0:35:51 > 0:35:55have at least one thing that's really individual to me and
0:35:55 > 0:36:00also like a bit of a gift to Ricardo as well, it's one of my makes.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03It's in really nice sort of rustic tweed
0:36:03 > 0:36:06and it's very simple ship design,
0:36:06 > 0:36:11because it's a masculine apartment and also he wants minimalist,
0:36:11 > 0:36:15so I didn't want to do anything too fancy and yes, I'm pleased with it.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17It's nice and simple.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Working for different clients means each designer
0:36:23 > 0:36:24has different challenges.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27So the judges want to gauge their creativity by giving them
0:36:27 > 0:36:31the same thing to customise to fit their scheme.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34In this case, two identical apple crates.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Stand back a bit, admire my handiwork.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44I wanted to do some sort of vertical stacking arrangement.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46It's going to actually be fixed together,
0:36:46 > 0:36:48so I've just got to find...
0:36:48 > 0:36:50I'm doing my best to balance it out at the moment.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57That's genuine Ghanaian dust coming off there.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00These are the additional colours that are being
0:37:00 > 0:37:04brought into the room for the, to give it the oomph, really.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08Luke's had his colourful cushions made for a total of £90.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13I think I've got to actually see them in situ with the floor down.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17What we might do with these boxes that we've made is
0:37:17 > 0:37:22I might colour them, but I haven't quite made my mind up yet.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26He's the only designer to make a start on his up-cycling project,
0:37:26 > 0:37:29and inventive Luke isn't stopping there.
0:37:29 > 0:37:35- How do you feel about this chair? - I love the chair.- OK.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Would you like it more if I turned it into something else for you?
0:37:39 > 0:37:41What would you like to turn it into?
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Turn it into a coffee table for you.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48With built-in cat-scratching element.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Go for it, go for it, yeah.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53- Yeah.- Go for it, yes. I want to see how that turns out.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00Dee has created a restrained blank canvass of white walls,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03relying on key pieces of furniture to add the Parisian chic.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06I'm coming to the end of this part
0:38:06 > 0:38:10and then I'm going to paint the back a different colour,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13because Anna would like to have the chair two-tone.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19The future of these particular pieces are in the perfection
0:38:19 > 0:38:22of their design and the structure of what they're made of,
0:38:22 > 0:38:24so I probably would have painted this a very simple
0:38:24 > 0:38:27white with a very simple cover.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31The chair is an original Lloyd Loom,
0:38:31 > 0:38:35a popular American brand that came to Britain in the 1920s.
0:38:35 > 0:38:40The woven body is made from wire covered in twisted paper.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43See, you've added some colour to her Lloyd Loom chairs.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Yes. I have to say I'm distinctly against this.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48What I like about this, though, Dee, is the two-tone, the white on the
0:38:48 > 0:38:51inside, the blue on the outside is exaggerating
0:38:51 > 0:38:53- the curve really nicely.- Yes, yes.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55So Dee, have you got any plans for today to get you back on track
0:38:55 > 0:38:59- time-wise?- Yes, I'm going to work my socks off.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02After that, I'm going to do some mud larking.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05Mud larking was prevalent in the late 1800s
0:39:05 > 0:39:07when scavengers would scour the shores of the Thames
0:39:07 > 0:39:11for valuable items to be sold. Dee has different intentions.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16The one thing I didn't have time to do when putting together this
0:39:16 > 0:39:20design was to find something from London from the river
0:39:20 > 0:39:24and I thought if I could go and find something to connect that
0:39:24 > 0:39:30flat to its home here at the Thames, it would make the connection for me.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41Rotherhithe is right at the heart of London's maritime past.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44As early as the 14th century, ships were being built right here
0:39:44 > 0:39:46for raids in to northern France
0:39:46 > 0:39:51by the Black Prince Edward and his younger brother John of Gaunt.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54As well as being a centre for shipbuilding,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Rotherhithe was also a graveyard for former working ships.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Turner's 1838 painting The Fighting Temeraire shows
0:40:00 > 0:40:04one of the famous gun ships from the battle of Trafalgar being
0:40:04 > 0:40:07towed in this stretch of water en route to her last berth.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12With the sun setting on day two,
0:40:12 > 0:40:15time is running out for the designers.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Work in Luke's room is coming together, with walls painted and
0:40:19 > 0:40:23floor laid, so he's concentrating on his up-cycling project.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27So this is some hessian sacking that I'm going to
0:40:27 > 0:40:28cover some of my boxes with.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Stylistically, it's going to give me two things.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34One is some extra texture and also somewhere
0:40:34 > 0:40:37for Angela's cats to scratch.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Emma's problem paintwork is still causing concern.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47I just hope that those bubbles that came up on the first coat don't
0:40:47 > 0:40:50reappear on the second, so we'll just see how it goes, really.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Fingers crossed.
0:40:52 > 0:40:56And her eye-catching brick wallpaper is finally going up, having
0:40:56 > 0:40:59cost just £20 for the roll.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01It's a bit of a pain finding a pattern on this.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Obviously if it's something different, it's obvious
0:41:03 > 0:41:06where it is, do you know what I mean? But because it's
0:41:06 > 0:41:08so repetitive, it's quite hard to see.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Ah, there we go. Got it.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15And Dee's making good client Anna's French chair.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18It really needs re-upholstering
0:41:18 > 0:41:22but this is a good temporary measure to make it look beautiful.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24We've added some padding and a new cover
0:41:24 > 0:41:29and as and when Anna wants to get it recovered, this looks fantastic.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32No-one will know it's not been reupholstered properly.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I think it looks much nicer now, hopefully she'll think so too.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51It's the morning of the final day, and in just a few hours, our
0:41:51 > 0:41:54amateur designers will know who is going through to the quarterfinals.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Let's pick up where we left off.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Looks better than it did last night. Yeah, but no bubbles.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04I was going to say, it's not come back, has it? Which is good.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Yes.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Obviously we've just got straight on with the little last
0:42:09 > 0:42:12bits of decorating that need doing.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15The only thing I'm concerned with is just time,
0:42:15 > 0:42:18because I'm just aware that it's the final stint.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Dee's started to furnish her French-inspired room.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Frankly with the changes that the client brought,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31we have much less to do than perhaps we would have had to do,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35so I think we'll hit the schedule OK.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38These are the exact same as your pillowcase at home.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Oh, yes.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41- The cushions I happen to be doing are oblong.- Yeah.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45So you just tuck the cushion in so there's no zips, no fuss.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48No buttons, no nothing.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51I've got a little bit of extra fabric,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54because I felt we needed a little bit more definition in colour,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57so I'm just doing a few tricks with a more intense blue.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02God, my eyes are good!
0:43:02 > 0:43:06Luke's followed the judges' advice, having the new blind hung high,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09so as not to hide the curved window,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11while he works on catty accessories.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Angela's sot some four-legged friends
0:43:14 > 0:43:19so I'm repurposing some more of Angela's stuff.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23- Coffee table time.- Yes. - So I've drawn it out.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26So you imagine this is the bottom, obviously.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28So this is the legs for said table.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32So you've got the cut out there.
0:43:32 > 0:43:34If you imagine this going on the bottom.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38Using client Angela's collection of cat toys from around the flat,
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Luke has only spent £8 for the MDF.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43No, I haven't upholstered cat beds before.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47If you pardon the pun, I don't want it to look like a dog's dinner.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49I'm going to be known as the cat man. Oh, great!
0:43:51 > 0:43:52Luke's inventions include
0:43:52 > 0:43:55his apple crate project which he's finishing off.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58But the other designers are only just starting theirs.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00I'm making a TV stand out of it.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03He's got quite a lot of DVDs and obviously,
0:44:03 > 0:44:06- other electronic equipment that can go in here.- Perfect.
0:44:06 > 0:44:07You've got the storage there.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10There's slots ready for the wires to go through.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15My up-cycling project is the crate and we're going to try and see
0:44:15 > 0:44:19if we can make that part of the plant box.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26The amateur designers are now busily apply the final touches to their
0:44:26 > 0:44:31projects that are almost ready to show their designs to the residents.
0:44:31 > 0:44:35After three intense days of work, walls and floors are done.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38Now they must furnish their rooms. For one of them,
0:44:38 > 0:44:42the results of their hard work could change their future for ever.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45Stressed. A bit close to the wire now.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49See, that's given us our focal point for the room now.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52It's the scary bit, because I never,
0:44:52 > 0:44:54ever believe that it's going to work.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57I'm utterly convinced that it's going to be horrid.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01And most of the time it works and I love that feeling
0:45:01 > 0:45:03because it's like, "Oh, you can do it!"
0:45:09 > 0:45:12It's stressful towards the end,
0:45:12 > 0:45:14but I'm pleased with how that room looks.
0:45:15 > 0:45:16This is the best bit I love,
0:45:16 > 0:45:20when you start dressing the room and everything starts coming together.
0:45:20 > 0:45:21So I'm really enjoying this bit.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23I've found my mud larking piece a spot,
0:45:23 > 0:45:27and although this isn't a very chic item, it does
0:45:27 > 0:45:29connect this flat to that river.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34The amateur designers have had £1,000 to transform
0:45:34 > 0:45:37these very different living rooms.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Luke sought inspiration from Africa...
0:45:40 > 0:45:44Dee from across the Channel...
0:45:44 > 0:45:46and Emma from the river outside.
0:45:55 > 0:46:00The judges will now decide which designer shows the most talent.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03First up for inspection is Dee.
0:46:03 > 0:46:08Dee's aim was to create a slice of provincial France.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Just three days ago, this room lacked character,
0:46:12 > 0:46:15with blank, white walls and an awkward room layout.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30Now, Dee has given it a French feel
0:46:30 > 0:46:33with rustic furniture,
0:46:33 > 0:46:36colourful artwork
0:46:36 > 0:46:38and handmade cushions.
0:46:38 > 0:46:42Along the way, client Anna's brief swung towards a Parisian feel,
0:46:42 > 0:46:44and she had clear ideas of colour,
0:46:44 > 0:46:47which Dee used renovating the table.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52And they compromised when it came to semi-permanent changes,
0:46:52 > 0:46:54like re-upholstering the armchair.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59Ooh, what a look.
0:46:59 > 0:47:04Just an instant hit of this is rather nice.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07Well, it is a look, isn't it where there was not one before.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10It's a look, yes. Anna wanted Parisian chic.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- Yes. - Now, are you getting Parisian chic?
0:47:13 > 0:47:15No, I'm still very much in the south of France.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17But it is still beautiful, it is really nice,
0:47:17 > 0:47:19but it is still much closer to what Dee...
0:47:19 > 0:47:24Wanted. I'm just looking at these pictures.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27I like this sort of linen background being put in.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30It picks up the blue in the painting, and it sort of then
0:47:30 > 0:47:33joins in with what's going on on the sofa.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35I think that's a nice visual reference.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38I just spotted the up-cycle project.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41Here was an opportunity to show off your design skills, and to
0:47:41 > 0:47:44use it as window box cladding has left me very disappointed.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46Well, I like a bit of deconstruction
0:47:46 > 0:47:49but I never thought of turning it into a flowerpot.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52The table looks brilliant. This was originally going to be grey!
0:47:52 > 0:47:55- Yes.- And distressed, I think.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58- That's the right direction for me, a little bit more colour.- Yeah.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01The question is, what's Anna going to think?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05The judges want to see how each client
0:48:05 > 0:48:07feels about their re-designed room.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10Anna hasn't yet seen her room complete.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17- It's very pleasant! - It is, isn't it?
0:48:17 > 0:48:19What do you think about the colours?
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Has she managed to capture your sense of colour?
0:48:22 > 0:48:26It's very nice and calming, because the room does have that feel,
0:48:26 > 0:48:30but I think personally I would like to see a bit more colour.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34You know, the constraints Dee had, I wouldn't want to work for me,
0:48:34 > 0:48:37- so...- Neither would I!
0:48:37 > 0:48:39THEY LAUGH
0:48:39 > 0:48:42So, I think she's done really well!
0:48:44 > 0:48:47Next, Luke's plan for a contemporary African-themed room.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52Three days ago, this living room was cluttered,
0:48:52 > 0:48:54and lacking a defined style.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Now, it's warm and welcoming, with a modern colour scheme
0:49:04 > 0:49:06and bespoke pieces of furniture.
0:49:09 > 0:49:12Subtle African touches have been added with authentic Ghanaian
0:49:12 > 0:49:16fabric, and natural textures.
0:49:16 > 0:49:20He's been respectful of the room's main architectural feature
0:49:20 > 0:49:22and laid a smart new floor.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26And Luke's not forgotten the flat's four-legged residents,
0:49:26 > 0:49:28with some clever engineering.
0:49:35 > 0:49:36It looks great.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39It does! I LOVE these fabrics.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41- Yes, they're great.- And I love them,
0:49:41 > 0:49:44- because it's not the typical, African themed thing.- No.
0:49:44 > 0:49:48There's no zebra-print rug and, you know, leopard-print.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51And I like the colours.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54It's lifting the green. It's looking good.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56I think it could go so theme-y and he hasn't done that.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59He's got this really nice dark wood, which she
0:49:59 > 0:50:02specified she likes dark wood. The sideboard...
0:50:02 > 0:50:03Yes. I love a table-scape.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06Making a story on a table with all the bits you have
0:50:06 > 0:50:08and the story of your life.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11Well, he's taken Angela's pieces that were lost here
0:50:11 > 0:50:14and he's brought them together and displayed them for her
0:50:14 > 0:50:16and they're now like a nice centrepiece there.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19- Yes. Nice centrepiece.- He's really won me round on the grey.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22I don't know how he's done it, because I was so cynical about it.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25I still think that he could have got away with another bright colour
0:50:25 > 0:50:27because, do you think this room's a bit blokey?
0:50:27 > 0:50:29Possibly! But it's feeling quite restful in here.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32- What do you think to the up-cycle? - It's looking really nice.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35I like the fact that he's had these made especially,
0:50:35 > 0:50:38but he's let these jut out. It's quite architectural.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41It's almost like a little sort of Mondrian painting
0:50:41 > 0:50:44that we've got here. But in a more natural feel.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Oh, he's used the cat thing here, so he's made the table and a bit
0:50:47 > 0:50:50of a play thing for the cat. Luke considers everything.
0:50:54 > 0:50:59- Hello, Angela! - Oh, my God! Wow!
0:50:59 > 0:51:03That's what I wanted, because it was a bit plain before and so...
0:51:03 > 0:51:04Are you going to have guests?
0:51:04 > 0:51:07- Are you going to have people over? - Definitely. Plenty of room now!
0:51:07 > 0:51:10Cos before, they didn't have anywhere to sit!
0:51:10 > 0:51:14And this is perfect. I thought about it and dreamt it,
0:51:14 > 0:51:16and he's actually put my dream together.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22Finally, Emma planned to give Ricardo an industrial look,
0:51:22 > 0:51:24in keeping with his riverside location.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30Three days ago, the room had some character and style
0:51:30 > 0:51:31but lacked a cohesive theme.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42Now, the cupboards have been removed to give a more open feel
0:51:42 > 0:51:43with more floor space.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48The controversial brick effect wallpaper covers one wall
0:51:48 > 0:51:51and gives a nod to the building's industrial past.
0:51:51 > 0:51:57Details like an old £15 wooden ladder and scaffold plank shelving
0:51:57 > 0:51:59continue the theme.
0:51:59 > 0:52:04While nautical touches deliver a riverside feel inside the room.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08What a nice feeling in this room.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11Slightly more boathouse feel to it, I would say, which is according
0:52:11 > 0:52:14- to brief. - Yes, absolutely spot-on, isn't it?
0:52:14 > 0:52:16The ladder idea is ingenious.
0:52:16 > 0:52:20It's really clever and she's managed to use it as a display piece
0:52:20 > 0:52:22without having to buy any shelving.
0:52:22 > 0:52:26- It's really neat.- I don't think I've even seen anything like that.
0:52:26 > 0:52:27It looks quite original.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30What I'm liking about this wallpaper, it's not just
0:52:30 > 0:52:33photo montage, it actually has got a level of texture to it.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35Are you loving the faux brick wallpaper?
0:52:35 > 0:52:38- No, I didn't say that. - Almost, though!
0:52:38 > 0:52:42Because it works, doesn't it, in this design theme?
0:52:42 > 0:52:45It isn't just kind of a childish gimmick.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48He wanted rid of these cupboards so he got what he wanted.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51- There's absolutely no hidden storage in here.- No.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53Everything's on show, isn't it? Apart from his trunks,
0:52:53 > 0:52:58- he can't actually hide any ugly paperwork or bills or anything.- No.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00And actually this is styled so beautifully,
0:53:00 > 0:53:04it's like for a photo shoot, but is that really practical?
0:53:04 > 0:53:06What do you think to that?
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Yes, that's very clever, her apple crate up-cycle,
0:53:09 > 0:53:13absolutely does the job for me. She's made it into something useful.
0:53:13 > 0:53:14- What a good idea. - It IS a good idea.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23Oh, look at this, look at this. Oh, my God.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Ah, beautiful, beautiful.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Exactly what I wanted here.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36Look at the beauty now. Look, a working place. She got the
0:53:36 > 0:53:41- industrial look in. She brought the river in.- Yes.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43Amazing. Look at this.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45I can't stop staring
0:53:45 > 0:53:47and I tell you the wallpaper which in the beginning,
0:53:47 > 0:53:53I was really, urgh... She did well. Extremely happy.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02The designers can now only wait.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05I'm confident in my own design,
0:54:05 > 0:54:09but without knowing what the other two are like, it's difficult.
0:54:09 > 0:54:14I just want to carry the process on, because I've enjoyed myself so much.
0:54:14 > 0:54:18I'm a housewife and I have my little world and I've come up to
0:54:18 > 0:54:23London among exciting, important people and it's scary.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26And I wanted to run home so many times,
0:54:26 > 0:54:29but I'm extremely pleased that I stayed.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32I've done a good job, I've done it to the best that I can with
0:54:32 > 0:54:38what was given to me so I want to win it,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41but it's not up to me now.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47- So, judges, let's start off with Dee.- Poor Dee.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50She came with some great ideas, she was ready,
0:54:50 > 0:54:54she was prepared and then all of a sudden the whole story changed,
0:54:54 > 0:54:56because Anna was slightly inconsistent.
0:54:56 > 0:55:02Dee has a very strong style and it's coastal and it's linen.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06I'm not sure whether she felt able to move out of her comfort zone.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09But for me, that room was very elegant.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11I felt like I wanted to sit down and relax and watch the TV.
0:55:11 > 0:55:13It was a beautiful space.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15Did Emma have an easier ride with Ricardo?
0:55:15 > 0:55:19It was very clear the Ricardo has got extremely good taste,
0:55:19 > 0:55:21he's a very creative man.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24And did you and did he like the result?
0:55:24 > 0:55:26I loved Ricardo's reaction. The guy was moved to tears.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29It was genuine and it was heartfelt.
0:55:29 > 0:55:33And things like the wallpaper, which I have serious doubts about.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36But actually, it was rather good.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Luke seemed to achieve an awful lot for £1,000.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41Well, we were very impressed with Luke's overall scheme
0:55:41 > 0:55:43and, like you say, considering the budget,
0:55:43 > 0:55:45wow, he made his money work.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48Part of the brief was to create an African feel.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52She talked about having a nice and warm, sunny feel in there.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54- And not warm. - He went for concrete grey.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57But the other side, I quite like the fact that it wasn't quite what
0:55:57 > 0:56:00- I was expecting.- Well, you two have got to make your mind up,
0:56:00 > 0:56:02and you've got to make it up pretty fast!
0:56:09 > 0:56:11Hi, guys!
0:56:12 > 0:56:16So, designers. This week you have worked miracles.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19- These two are dead impressed. - Right, let's start with you, Luke.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23We were particularly impressed with your general thoroughness, from your
0:56:23 > 0:56:27presentation all the way through to the final finishing details.
0:56:27 > 0:56:32Dee, you have such an elegant style. I loved that room.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35Surprisingly consistent, considering that you had a moving brief
0:56:35 > 0:56:38- there, that wasn't easy. - OK, Emma.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40I absolutely loved the theme you put together,
0:56:40 > 0:56:42I think you're a true stylist.
0:56:42 > 0:56:45It was very cohesive and very strong.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48So designers, an absolute hair's breadth divided you three,
0:56:48 > 0:56:51but one designer has pulled through.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55And that designer is Luke.
0:56:58 > 0:57:02I think it's a well-deserved result.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04I think Luke is a true artist and I think he'll go on to wonderful
0:57:04 > 0:57:06and great things.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09I'm a bit disappointed. Obviously it would have been nice to win but
0:57:09 > 0:57:13I'm so proud of my design and I'm just glad that I've not let myself
0:57:13 > 0:57:15down or anything or let Ricardo down.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18So, yes, I'm completely satisfied with it.
0:57:18 > 0:57:19Well done!
0:57:19 > 0:57:23LUKE: I was confident I delivered my room and it's great to be through.
0:57:23 > 0:57:24Really great.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27- It's beautiful.- You think so?
0:57:27 > 0:57:29It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:57:29 > 0:57:31I think Luke is an excellent winner today.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34We've seen some really true design skills in him.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37He's somebody who really understands the design rules
0:57:37 > 0:57:41and yet he can also break out and do things that I hadn't seen before.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43Thank you!
0:57:43 > 0:57:46He was very steady all the way through. He was unflustered.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49I'm quite excited about him getting an entirely different brief
0:57:49 > 0:57:52and seeing if he can follow it through.
0:57:52 > 0:57:55The competition was very, very exciting this week.
0:57:55 > 0:57:59Not only did we have three really, really talented designers,
0:57:59 > 0:58:01but also we had a bit of drama.
0:58:02 > 0:58:04- Thank you. - You're very welcome.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07- I hope I didn't drive you too mad! - No, no, no.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09They're all very competent, they know what they're doing
0:58:09 > 0:58:11and they've got a lot to offer.
0:58:14 > 0:58:18Next time, 1960s span houses.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20This is the early days of open-plan living.
0:58:20 > 0:58:24But re-doing a kitchen is a massive challenge.
0:58:24 > 0:58:26I could cry! I seriously...!