Grand Designs fans stunned as influencers finish mad build but brand it ‘Travelodge’ [Video]

Influencer Zara, 31, and Giuliano, 29, just achieved something few people do when building their houses on Grand Designs: they actually did it, under budget and within their time frame – and with no prior experience.

Moving from Reading, the couple raised eyebrows – including presenter Kevin McCloud’s – as they explained bold plans for a malthouse-inspired sprawling home in the Lincolnshire countryside, and Giuliano – a project manager in, er, IT – said he would be overseeing the whole shebang.

They purchased a £135,000 one-acre plot with planning permission – on the condition they reinstated the site’s old malthouse history into their modern home – and got to work.

On top of their land purchase, the couple budgeted £700,000 for their mad build, which, incredibly, came from a mortgage – with a 7% monthly interest, meaning they were spending £3,000 extra a month (and £40,000 over the whole build).

But, deep breaths, people: after their 18 months, they planned to convert to a standard rate …