I renovated my entire tired cottage into a boutique space for less than £12k
Stacey Forrester, 34, and her partner Ryan bought their dream home in Cheshire in 2020 after starting a family and quickly outgrowing their first home.
Though the cottage had all the period features she loved, it needed a lot of work. Stacey said: “Although it was very dated... we could see it had so much potential."
“We love period properties and cottage style, and with it being across the road from our kids’ school, we decided to take the plunge and go for it.”
The couple only borrowed £12k for the renovations, knowing it would be tight for the work they wanted to do which included renovating the kitchen, bathroom and layout.
With the help of her dad, an experienced painter and decorator, the amateur DIY enthusiasts set about renovating the home mostly by themselves.
For jobs that required plumbing, the log burner and dealing with mould, they invested in professional help. But without hiring a decorator, tiler or kitchen fitter they stuck within their budget.
The couple upcycled second hand furniture, shopped online for deals and made decorations themselves, finishing the cottage with a discounted green front door from a family member.