Last night’s Love it or List it episode featured viewers who condemned a father of two for wanting a bachelor pad after he claimed he was looking for a place where his kids were not ‘out of the way’.
Sophie and Paul were from Aylesbury. They had been together the previous eight years. Their home was split over whether to renovate it or put it on the market.
The couple had allocated £90,000 to transform their house, but also had a £525,000 budget to look at new homes elsewhere.
Following Kirstie’s advice on the show, they spent £80,000 converting their garage into a large living space as well as knocking down their old conservatory to make way for a huge extension.
Many people were not impressed by Paul’s approach after he stated that he loved their playroom and it didn’t bother him.
Watchers of Kirstie’s Love it or List it last evening hailed Paul, from Aylesbury. He said that he wanted a bachelor home and that his children would be able to live there.
Sophie and Paul have lived in the same home for eight years. They were divided on how to sell their home or renovate it.
The couple allocated £90,000 to transform their home and added an enormous extension, as well as converting their garage
One said, “He doesn’t like his inlaws. His kids. Or his house. Imagine him as a single man.
Another said, “The partner was just gross. He keeps talking about how he is no longer a bachelor and how he does not want his kids to bother him.”
“I can only imagine him going out with her on a night without her, and I get the feeling that he likes to still think of himself as a bachelor.
Last night’s program featured Sophie and Paul, who had been married for eight years. They had two children together, Finley, 7 year old, and Georgia, 3 year.
Paul and Sophie admitted to feeling that their family was outgrowing the 13-year-old space they shared.
They followed Kirstie’s instructions and converted their garage to a spacious living area.
Paul purchased their house with three bedrooms 13 years back, but a family home wasn’t the goal.
He stated, “This is my bachelor pad. It’s my team, List It. Sophie and the children deserve something different.
Sophie added, “I am definitely a homebird and love being here.”
Because they were at the bottom, she said that they depended on their parents “a lot.”
Paul stated that the living area was one of his pet peeves as the family was always ‘on top’ of each other.
Although the couple made use of the conservatory as a playroom in the meantime, they admitted it wasn’t suitable for their kids.
Paul stated that he hates the place, and the tiny bedroom upstairs was a small box-room.
“The downstairs playroom isn’t functional, the kitchen is in dire need of renovation and the garage is an eyesore.
“The best thing about a home is the separation between children and adults. This is especially important as my kids get older.”
Sophie said, “We have been stuck in limbo for the past three years and nothing has happened.”
Phil presented the first property to Phil and his wife, a 1930s semi that was located just 1 mile from their present home.
The four-bedroom home was listed under budget at £475,000 with a cosy separate living room, an up to date kitchen diner and a large family garden (pictured, the kitchen diner)
Sophie agreed that the bedrooms are ‘nice’, but Paul claimed the spiral staircase to the master room was “a little tight” when he returned late at night after being drunk.
Kirstie told Phil that she wants to expand their home. Paul responded: “I’ve fallen in love with this property. Here, we’re all in the same boat.
But Sophie admitted she was unwilling to move further than a 15 minute drive from her parent’s home.
Kirstie advised them that they’d have to spend a lot to repair the problems in their home. She suggested that the kitchen diner be extended into the space where there is currently a conservatory.
In the meantime, she suggested they convert the garage into an additional living space and create more room for a hallway.
The second property on the search was in the village of Prestwood and priced at just under £550,000 (pictured)
There were four large bedrooms and ample space for children to move around in.
Paul said he enjoyed the playroom on the property and that it would keep the children away from the path (pictured).
An extension to the upstairs level would allow for space for up to four bedrooms as well as a master bathroom.
Phil also showed Phil the couple a 1930s semi that was only one mile from their home.
The four-bedroom home was listed under budget at £475,000 with a cosy separate living room, an up to date kitchen diner and a large family garden.
Sophie commented on the nice bedrooms, but Paul suggested that the spiral staircase to the master room was “a little tight when you get home drunk at night.”
The final property was a large detached four-bedroom home was on budget for £525,000 (pictured)
The house featured an enormous kitchen dining area (photo) as well as an office space to the front that could be used for a playroom.
But the couple eventually decided that their downstairs living area wasn’t big enough for them.
The second property on the search was in the village of Prestwood and priced at just under £550,000.
Phil had known about the detached house for a while and hoped to make a deal.
There were four large bedrooms and an additional playroom.
Kirstie & Phil were thrilled to return to the property after fifteen months of renovations.
Commenting on the couple’s decision to have a larger playroom for their children, Paul said it meant they ‘wouldn’t come through to bug us’
Paul said: “Good playroom at front…keep them away from the way.” This may one day become my main cave.
Paul stated that the last property found in their search for a home was the charming village of Stoke.
The four-bedroom home was on budget for £525,000, with a large kitchen diner and an office room to the front which could be used as a playroom.
There was an extra-long garage outside that could be used as storage.
Kirstie and Phil discovered that the house had been transformed 15 months after they started renovations.
Many viewers didn’t like Paul’s attitude despite Sophie, Paul and their joy at their conversion and decision to remain in their property.
They were blown away by the extension the couple had added to their home, with even Sophie admitting it was ‘bigger than they expected it to be.’
Paul said, “It’s certainly not a bachelor-pad now.”
And commenting on the decision to build a separate play room, he said: ‘The children can turn right [to the playroom]over coming all of the way through here, bugging us.
Overall the couple spent £80,000 and the property value has increased by £150,0000.
But despite Sophie’s and Paul’s excitement about their newly converted home, as well as their decision to remain in the property for now, viewers didn’t like his approach.
One commented, “I believe this man doesn’t want his children to be in my house.”
One added, “The man on this clearly wants to get away from her parents…he wants somewhere to push the children out of their way…he would like a bachelor pad…just let it be!”