After more than 19 years of inspiring the nation’s renovators, self-builders and design enthusiasts, the all-new Grand Designs Live – sponsored by Smeg –, the UK’s leading home design and innovation exhibition, opened its doors at the NEC Birmingham on 3rd October, running until 5th October.
To kick things off, Kevin McCloud launched the ‘McCalming Renovation Hotline’, a first-of-its-kind initiative led by the man himself, following research that revealed 94% of Brits find home renovations stressful.
Ahead of the show’s opening, callers were able to dial 0333 051 0044 to hear Kevin offering practical tips and soothing words of reassurance – with rumours even circulating of a tune or two to calm the nerves of stressed-out renovators. Visitors to the show also stepped into a dedicated pink phone booth on-site to try the hotline for themselves.
Designed to help homeowners cope with the challenges of self-builds, budget overruns and partner disagreements, the hotline reflected the show’s mission to support every stage of the renovation journey – in a way that only Kevin could.
As the doors opened at the NEC, visitors immersed themselves in three days of design, innovation and inspiration. Whether starting from scratch, modernising a single room or simply seeking new ideas, the event proved to be the essential home and lifestyle showcase for renovators across the UK.
For the first time, Grand Designs Live Birmingham featured five tailored hubs, each focused on a key area of home design and renovation:
- The Home & Garden Hub – sponsored by Quiet Mark, in partnership with the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers (SGLD), offering planting plans, garden layouts and expert landscaping ideas.
- The Build & Renovation Hub – offering structural planning, project management and construction advice.
- The Sustainability Hub – sponsored by Vaillant, showcasing practical, affordable eco-solutions for every household.
- The Kitchen Hub – sponsored by Howdens, highlighting the latest trends and layout tips for the heart of the home.
- The Architecture Advice Centre – in partnership with RIBA, providing free one-to-one consultations with accredited architects.
The Grand House returned as the centrepiece of the exhibition – a stunning, full-scale home built right inside the NEC, designed to demonstrate real-world solutions to modern living. Every room was fully styled and fitted with products that visitors could buy directly at the show.
This year’s contributors included:
- Birkdale Kitchens, presenting a stunning Leicht kitchen
- Smeg, supplying a suite of stylish kitchen appliances
- BLANCO, showcasing a state-of-the-art water conditioning system
- Uplifts from Stannah, demonstrating an elegant, fully integrated home lift
- UK Flooring Direct, supplying flooring throughout the home
- teratherm Energy, debuting a groundbreaking resin-bound energy system enabling sustainable heating via surface-integrated technology
- Feather & Black, presenting their timeless Sienna range of furnishings
- Sunny Bedrooms & Kitchens, with a bespoke media wall display
- PERGOLUX, supplying a robust and stylish outdoor pergola
At the heart of Grand Designs Live was sustainability. Visitors discovered the latest in eco-conscious building, low-impact materials, renewable energy solutions and practical lifestyle changes – all designed to make green living achievable for everyone.
Across the weekend, Kevin McCloud was joined by expert voices including Ayisha Onuorah, Max McMurdo, Briony Ace, Kate Sandhu and Kunle Barker, who shared their expertise through panels, live talks and Q&As.
Topics included:
- The housing challenge and developer solutions – exploring how collaboration, innovation and new training models are breaking down industry barriers, and how purpose-led development can help tackle the UK’s ongoing housing crisis.
- Where style and space collide – examining how fashion meets interior design, and how colour, layering and materials can transform a room.
- Curating a calm bedroom sanctuary – advice on creating a peaceful, personal oasis away from daily life.
- Designing kitchens that work – exploring the balance between style, function and innovation.
- Sustainable solutions that won’t break the bank – affordable ways to make builds greener through materials, insulation and heating upgrades.
- Meet the Grand Designers – behind-the-scenes insights from contributors to the latest TV series, sharing the highs, lows and unforgettable moments of their ambitious projects.
Also debuting this year was the Emerging Brands area, dedicated to showcasing early-stage companies and innovative new products. This vibrant platform gave bold new talent the opportunity to connect with design enthusiasts, demonstrate creativity and make their mark on the future of home design.
Richard Morey, Show Director for Grand Designs Live, said:
“Opening the doors to Grand Designs Live at the NEC is always a special moment, as it brings together thousands of people who share a passion for building, renovating and reimagining their homes.
This year saw an all-new, reimagined Grand Designs Live, with five dedicated hubs, more free advice, and a completely new layout. Plus, we wanted to offer something extra to support homeowners through the unique challenges of renovation, and Kevin McCloud’s ‘McCalming Renovation Hotline’ did exactly that. It was a first for the show and a perfect example of how Grand Designs Live continues to inspire, inform and reassure visitors as they take on their own projects – however big or small.”