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magic makeover

From the outside it looks like any other family home, but you won’t believe what’s in the dining room…

Charlotte Kyriakou and her family have spent over £13,000 transforming the dining room of their home

Charlotte Kyriakou Harry Potter

TAKE a look at the outside of this house - looks like other doesn't it?

But it's actually hiding a pretty spellbinding secret, although you need to get right inside before you'll see any clues.

 What secret do you think is lurking in here?
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What secret do you think is lurking in here?Credit: Caters News Agency

Charlotte Kyriakou, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, decided to transform her dining room in honour of her favourite movie franchise... can you guess what it is?

Perhaps the sorting hat gave the game away, or maybe the giant table was what tipped you off? That's right, this room is based on Hogwarts from the famous Harry Potter films.

 The dining room has been remodelled in honour of Harry Potter
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The dining room has been remodelled in honour of Harry PotterCredit: Caters News Agency
 The family have spent a whopping £13k on this redesign
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The family have spent a whopping £13k on this redesignCredit: Caters News Agency

Charlotte, 31, her husband Andrew, 39, and kids Eleni, three, Max, four and Kiri, six, are all massive fans of the magical movies.

After visiting Warner Bros. Studios: The Making of Harry Potter, the family decided to splash out on some renovations to their home.

It wasn't a quick turnaround though - the family spent 18 months perfecting the room, which now boasts a sorting hat, props from the films, wooden panelling and a large table.

 There's even a Dobby the House Elf
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There's even a Dobby the House ElfCredit: Caters News Agency

"My husband did the wooden panels himself, and then ever since we decided we wanted to do it we have been collecting odd bits and bobs from antique shops," Charlotte explained.

"We have a lot of replica props and two original props from the films.

"We have one of the letters thrown through the fire place which we bought from a dealer, which cost us about £200.

 There are original props, as well as pieces picked up from antique shops
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There are original props, as well as pieces picked up from antique shopsCredit: Caters News Agency

"We also have a witch in a jar which was from Professor Lupin's office in the third film. That cost £350."

One of the most exciting items are the 'moving pictures' - which show the kids riding broomsticks and were cunningly created using an iPad.

In all, the Harry Potter dining room has cost the family a whopping £13,004.72.

"Blood, sweat and tears have gone into this room," Charlotte said.

"I did suggest to Andrew that we could do with an extra bedroom, but we can't move and leave that room. I don't know what we'd do."

The most exciting bit of the room was the limestone floor, which came in at £4,000.

Fake stone walls set the family back £3,500, while the table and chairs were £2,000.

 The kids love dressing up as the magical wizards
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The kids love dressing up as the magical wizardsCredit: Caters News Agency

Moving the fireplace and putting a log burner in its place cost another £2,000, plus there were smaller items like wands and costumes for the kids who love dressing like Harry, Ron and Hermione. There's even a toy version of Dobby the House Elf.

"When it's book week at school the kids always dress up as the Harry Potter characters," Charlotte explained.

"Kiri is usually Harry as he's the oldest, but sometimes him and Max swap between Harry and Ron.

"Eleni is always Hermione.

 Charlotte and her kids enjoying a break from spell casting
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Charlotte and her kids enjoying a break from spell castingCredit: Caters News Agency

"They'll bring their friends over for dinner and they absolutely love it.

"We hosted a Halloween party here last year and I tried to make it look like a banquet.

"I made a chocolate frog cheesecake with the Hogwarts crest in the middle.

"We had a Christmas dinner in here and managed to get 22 people in with the extra table from the kitchen.

"We love it. It is definitely worth the money for us."

Cost of the Harry Potter dining room

Limestone floor - £4,000
Fake stone walls - £3,500
Table and chairs - £2,000
Log burner - £2,000
Witch in dome prop - £350
Letter prop - £200
Suit of arms - £200
iPad - £219
Trunks - £200
Flags - £60
Crest above log burner - £50
Robes from Sainsbury's - £41.97
Sorting hat - £26.95
Hedwig - £25.95
Wands - £80.85
Dobby - £50
Total - 13,004.72

 

 

 

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