User Reviews

Most of the houses are really unique and stunning. But in only 4 episodes of ths series, there were some repetitive things Like the talk about fitting a house into nature, keeping lots of trees on the building site and so on. I don't think the female host is that horrible as people say, but she isn't an architect, engineer, interior designer or antyhing. So her comments are mostly useless. What bothered me was, that only the architects talk about how the house was built. I know there's a limited time for each house, but at least for the cliff house, they should have interviewed the engineers, too. People often think that architects create whole buildings and know how to build them, but the engineers and builders seem unimportant. It would be interesting to know for the cliff house how it is really fixed on that cliff and why did they build it from top to bottom. The architects clearly couldn't explain that. Of course you can't show all the builders and people involved, but anyone else than just the architect would bring in more perspective and make the show more interesting. I hope this show gets another season and tries a little to pick up on those flaws.

Oh gosh, I love architecture. This show takes you to achingly beautiful houses around the globe. Most of them are one of their kind, clever, visionary... But then, with her high pitch screams, hysterical laughter and artificial gasps our host Caroline steps in. She is always the center of attention. Imagine the camera enters a room with a panoramic view. You begin to appre... Caroline gasps like she is drowning in a pool. You discover that the bookshelf is actually a sliding door. Hmm clev... noooo. Caroline screams like she saw a pile of bodies lying in the next room. Actually, the second example is the moment that I was fed up with her nonsense. I will not be among the audience until she is no longer a host. I've never seen her asking a clever question or giving useful information. Goofing around like a spoiled child. I also don't think Piers is fitting well to the other host slot but this is whole another story and it is not that big deal. I don't complain. So, long story short: Wasted potential with horrible host choice. Mute it, maybe you can endure.

Piers is interesting, knowledgable and calm. I've watched a few shows featuring him and always enjoyed them so when I saw this had hit Netflix I went straight for it. Caroline on the other hand must be the most annoying person I've ever seen. I literally cringed in every scene she was in which peaked when she was crushing on a married Norwegian man right before meeting his wife. That aside the show is an enjoyable watch which would be made only better with less/no screen time for Caroline and a different presenter to bounce off Piers' enthusiasm. Nice to see this kind of content on Netflix and would quite enjoy some more.

***Update*** - Just watched an episode of Season 2 and Caroline seems a completely different person! Pleasure to watch...

She is SO ANNOYING and over the top on this show. I used to like her on Whose Line is it Anyway. I like Piers but Carolyn is really overbearing. She really ruins the show....want to mute her parts. It's too bad, I'm not sure what's gotten into her. She was great on Renovation Home.

Saw some critics about the host, especially the lady Caroline. I totally disagree. The architect guy is very calm and knowledgeable, and Caroline adds excitement and vivid life flavor into the show. I think they are a perfect combination and make the show very interesting to see regardless how much architecture knowledge you have.

I started to watch the series, really looking forward to seeing, and hearing about, fantastic houses. However, I couldn't make it 15 minutes into the first episode listening to Caroline Quentin, and I simply could not put up with her screeching, blustering and overly loud commentary on the homes. I ended up watching parts of each episode to get a look at the various houses, but with sound muted, of course.

I love architecture, nature and exotic places and this is a show that combines all of them very well.

The basic theme (visiting the house, talking with the owners and the architect) works well and I especially like the still photos that show the various construction phases. I also like the drawings that Piers does in order to explan the basics of the design.

What I don't like is the lady. She is loud, annoying, always keen to steal screen time, her comments adding nothing of substance. In one particular episode she spent an entire section talking about how handsome the house owner was. Truly pathetic. And always laughing hysterically. Unbearable.

I watched the whole season on Netflix and I enjoyed it. But I wouldn't watch any more episodes with the same cast.

Apart from that, a very good show.

As a concept, I like the idea for this series. But with these hosts ( Caroline Quentin and Piers Taylor), I don't think I'll be watching it in the future. She is especially annoying, as she adds nothing to the concept but is always trying to steal the camera's attention (to no good purpose). Her laugh is also irritating. Poor Piers just goes along, forever embarrassed by his partner. Which is all unfortunate, indeed, because the houses are interesting. But in the end, this show doesn't have the appeal of some other "housing" shows like "Grand Design" and "Escape to the Country".like

Circle jerk modernist orgy. sad because even though I like a little of the glass and concrete style, a little goes a long way. The sterile interiors also left a lot to be desired. The less said about the blathering shrieky hosts' dialogue the better... Had to keep the volume wayyyy down.

The homes themselves are interesting, however, there's a lot of useless blather from the hosts. I, for one, didn't find the female host unbearable as some others put it, but there was simply TOO MUCH talk from both of them that didn't really contribute to the viewer's experience. I found the guy a bit pretentious also and the show tended to repeat info a lot. Seems like the episodes were fluffed up to fit a TV hour. My husband and I quickly lost interest and stopped watching.

Would be a good show if only this annoying lady kept her mouth shut. I stopped watching this, couldn't hear any more S O S O E X T R A O R D I N A R Y.

You know when a potentially boring show is great when you find yourself putting it on Infront of others despite how it may at first appear.

You know when the show has an annoying and embarrassing host when you then find yourself digging your finger nails into the sofa when said presenter starts talking.

The language she uses, the way she talks and the way she acts dominates the show, detracts from the incredible footage and steamrolls over what anybody else is saying.

Piers can be a bit over the top and does tend to repeat himself a lot...but you have to remember that these guys are seeing these houses sometimes weeks apart and so he can be excused for using the same language and enthusiasm in every episode. And after a while it becomes quite charming.

It's an informative, yet light-hearted, series about how some very wealthy people (for the most part) had some incredibly unique homes designed and built for them. Piers Taylor is a renowned British architect who is informative, yet somewhat dry, and Caroline Quentin is an accomplished British actress who flips houses on the side and adds levity to the viewings; the two play off each other because one is seeing it from an engineering standpoint and one is seeing it from a prospective owner viewpoint. Regarding the architecture, I found them to be innovative and in some instances, astounding, however, I, also, paid attention to why the houses were built the way they were - if you're not interested in this aspect, there are plenty of visually stunning perspectives to look at and you can ignore the technical information. I will advise the prospective viewer that if you only prefer certain types of architecture, like Craftsman, Tudor, or Cape Cod for examples, then you won't really like this show because, as most of these buildings are relatively new (within the past decade or so), the compositions displayed are, chiefly, comprised of concrete, glass, water, and wood in non-conformist ways with an appreciation for nature a resounding theme. There is one piece of information lacking for the entire series and that is how much each property cost - there are hints at how exorbitant some became, but, they never let you in on the overall price-tags - you have to use your imagination!

The homes are quite amazing but the one element that ruins the show is the woman host. She seems so camera hungry it's annoying. She cuts Piers off a lot and her authoring just makes me cringe. They overdue it on the music too, it's like being in a freaking cracker barrel or in an elevator. If they got a different host it would be 100 times better.

Many of the reviews disliking Caroline as the host fail to take the whole show as it's intended, in a spirit of fun. Both are proper English upper crusty culturally precious cariacatures. In fairness, Piers is as over the top as Caroline. No harm done. There is some repetition on the design themes, but show me any series like this that isn't repetitive. It's beautifully shot, too, by the way. I found both hosts upbeat and, at times, hilarious. And the homes were, true to the show's title, extraordinary. I was looking for a follow-up version. Hope there is one.

My wife and myself are absolutely enjoying the show. Hosts are amazing and the homes they are showing casing are mind-blowing. Very nice show to watch in the evening with your family and completely relax from every day activities.

Screech, screech, Ms. Caroline!! Why her, she adds nothing and disturbs the tranquility of some of the breathtaking views! Why, why?

I like it when it focuses on houses and their construction process and architecture (which is maybe 5% of the time)... It reminds me of Grand Designs which I really like.

But dear god that female host is OBNOXIOUS.

In this year of 2018 if male host were to even jokingly act like she did in episode 3 his career would be over. I wonder if that norwegian houseowner family knew about it or if they found out after this trash aired.

When she is not being louder than american in walmart during black friday, she flirts with anyone including the cohost. She contributes nothing to the show.

Its like she wants some trash mags to write about her. Its as if she competes for screen time with actual houses... In a show about houses!

I think season 1 is enough for me especially if she is in s2.

If she's not on this great tv show, I would give it 9 or 10 but she ruin this amazing show about breathtaking beautiful houses. I wanted someone who is intellectual, calm and polite to be the host. They absolutely should get rid of her when they make the next season.

It is impossible to enjoy the houses that are presented in this show, as all you can hear and see (too much of) are the hosts. I tried to be understanding of the fact that they were probably on the show to bring in the commentary and some excitement, but they just didn't work. The hosts who talk about the houses have little to no respect to the spaces they enter. that is just unacceptable. They enter people's hoes and don't even bother to take off their dirty shoes. they even jump into owner's made beds. that is just unacceptable on so many levels. and simply gross. the shriek's of that woman will haunt me forever. the owners would tell her how much they love and cherish their homes to which she would dare to respond to that something is hideous. this is just her opinion of a person that clearly has little respect to people's hard work and also.. someone who probably does not understand a thing about architecture. the man is no better with his constant undressing.

What otherwise would have been a great accomplishment of cinematography bringing together architecture and the people who have the blessing of living in these incredulous homes, is ruined by a very annoying woman. She is disingenuous at best and histrionic at worst. Very poor use of vocabulary by a so called actress, overusing the same adjectives such as "glamorous". Every word she uttered was pain inducing for myself and my companions.

Having an architect on the show gave it a very interesting insight as he would casually explain how the design worked to appeal to the eye. I also enjoyed the selection of houses as well as the conversations with both architect (of the house) and its owners, although they were once again cut short when the woman would throw in inappropriate comment.

Clearly not in the targeted demographic so perhaps it is my fault.

The idea of the world's most extraordinary houses is interesting, and I've enjoyed seeing the houses. I cannot, however, stand to listen to Caroline Quentin. She's loud, obnoxious, annoying, and adds nothing to the show. In fact, she makes me want to turn it off. It would be more interesting if you paired a builder or engineer, or someone with actual house building knowledge with Pierce to go more in-depth about the structures of the houses. Why the creators would think that woman adds any interest to a show for someone wanting to learn about houses is beyond me. I've only watched a couple episodes, and I just don't know how much more of her I can stand.

Great show, incredible homes, but what is even better is how the hosts give you two completely different perspectives, one from an architect and one from a regular person that loves art and architecture. Caroline is so funny, just the right addition to the show.

I happened across this show when I was sick and loved the stunning homes they visited all over the world. I have never considered myself to be a lover of architecture, so I was surprised when I ended up loving Piers Taylor's descriptions and remarks about the architecture.

However, the show is absolutely intolerable because of Caroline Quentin. She is loud, obnoxious and unbearable to watch! I absolutely hated watching the show because of her. Hopefully TV execs come to their senses and fire her from the show because of how terrible she is. She has little to no knowledge of the actual architecture and there is far too much camera time spent on her. I would love to watch the show if she was not a part of it.

The show is amazing, but I suggest that one should either watch it on mute with subtitles or fast forward frequently during the episodes. I loved the show, but Caroline Quentin really ruined it for me. The architecture is truly stunning and it definitely deserves to be seen. I was shocked many episodes at how beautiful and sophisticated some of the houses were. Definitely watch the show to look upon the beauty of the houses!!!