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By 1996 the Big Breakfast house was starting to look stale. The sets had had a few minor redressings - new background props etc a few licks of paint but no major overhauls. In September 1996 the annual tradition of the 'September re-launch' started when the house received a complete makeover. Gone were the bright clashing primary colours and breakfasty items. Gone were the external bricks and standard windows. The house received a complete multi-million pound makeover in a 1920s art deco style.
Externally two balconies were added. One at the front, one at the rear. The old front doors were bricked in and a two large french windows added to the front of the house. The windows were tinted black adding a striking contrast to the creamy coloured walls and aiding show production by reducing the harsh glare of sunlight within the house.
For the first time a permanent swimming pool was installed in the back garden meaning hire of a temporary pool was no longer needed for competitions. A large wall was also added at the back between the house and the Planet 24 compound with a large pink 'The Big Breakfast' logo painted on it.
Internally the house saw drastic changes.
The upstairs rooms were knocked out to create just three open plan rooms.
The top of the main stairway became Zig & Zag's new base with a large circular window and circular photos plastering the rear side wall. The middle room's floor was knocked through to the living room below creating a balcony overlooking the sunken presenters area which was never fully utilised except perhaps the 1996 Xmas Day special which saw a gay Welsh male voice choir singing from above.
The third room (later to become the competition room) became the base for Vanessa Feltz's last half hour with two Chaise Lounge, white rugs and drapes and a large sideboard.
Downstairs also saw big changes.
The living room floor was lowered to create a sunken sofa area. For the first time the two presenters chairs were abandoned replaced by a bright orange U shaped sofa with a matching orange TV behind and table in the middle. The bright colours were gone from the walls - replaced with a pastel blue wave effect and contrasted by a rich blue carpet.
The kitchen and hallway were knocked through into one with the stairs going up behind the kitchen table.
The window in the rear wall of the kitchen was gone and replaced by a design looking like oven hobs on the wall. Again orange & blue were the main colours. On the other side of the house the 'back stairs' were decorated in a checkerboard effect again with orange, cream and blue.
This radical new look didn't last long. The sterile studio like environment created by the art deco stylings reflected negatively on television. Fans that tuned in found that the warm, cosy lively atmosphere was gone. The house seemed cold and the presenters didn't have the strong personalities to cover that. Slowly from January 1997 onwards the styling started to shift.
The living room was soon changed with the sunken pit removed and the walls surrounding the French windows painted green. Red gingham curtains were added and the two presenters chairs returned. The rich blue carpet was removed and replaced by adull grey carpet which was contrasted with bright coloured rugs.
Outside also had issues. The cream-coloured paint was beginning to stain. The house already looking tatty. In 1997 The Big Breakfast decided they needed a new presenter, and also perhaps a new look. So they began a new paintjob...
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