Ep 6. North Devon

In Grand Designs season 20 episode 6, we see Kevin McCloud travel to North Devon to meet a couple who are undertaking a huge challenge of building their very own treehouse home. The couple, Sarah and Dean Berry, had always dreamed of living in a treehouse and they decided to make this dream a reality by creating a unique and sustainable house that's built around a tree.

The episode starts off with Kevin meeting the couple and seeing their previous home, which they built themselves using eco-friendly materials and methods. They then walk through the dense woodland, over a stream, and up a steep slope to get to the site where they plan to build their new home. It's a beautiful location with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

The couple plans to build a two-story, two-bedroom treehouse using traditional carpentry techniques and locally sourced materials. The design features a large open plan living and kitchen area with floor to ceiling windows that look out onto the surrounding woodland. To help keep the home warm in the colder months, they plan to install a wood-burning stove and underfloor heating, powered by solar panels.

The build begins with the installation of a unique foundation system that supports a platform around the living tree on which the treehouse will be built. The platform extends out to a large cantilevered balcony, giving the home a real sense of space and openness. To help blend the treehouse into the environment, the couple decides to use locally sourced larch cladding on the exterior and finishes the interior with warm natural materials.

As the build progresses, the couple runs into various challenges such as heavy rain and high winds, which make it difficult to work on the site. They also face struggles with budget and time management, causing some delays in the construction process. However, with a lot of hard work and dedication, the couple is determined to overcome these obstacles and complete the treehouse.

Throughout the episode, we see the couple's passion for sustainability and their desire to create a unique home that's in harmony with nature. They make a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint by using local and natural materials and incorporating energy-efficient systems into their design.

As the construction nears completion, Kevin returns to the site to see the finished treehouse home. It's a stunning structure that's both practical and beautiful, perfectly blending into the surrounding landscape. The couple is thrilled with the result, and their dream of living in a treehouse has finally come true.

Overall, Grand Designs season 20 episode 6 is an inspiring and heartwarming story of a couple who undertook a challenging project to create an eco-friendly and sustainable home that's in harmony with nature. It showcases the power of determination and creativity and highlights the importance of living in a way that respects the environment.