1. Sunderland: The Former Electricity Sub-Station
Anne and Richard Curtis have found a disused electricity substation in Sunderland. And set about converting it into a large four bedroom family home on a tight budget. Never having been to Morocco, but are taking inspiration from a Moroccan Interiors book. Trying to keep costs down Richard does most of the work himself while trying to hold down a day job as a Policeman.
2. London: The Barbican Flat
Financial Analyst Yuen-Wei Chew commissions Paul Daly, top nightclub designer, (this was his first time doing a domestic interior) to redesign the interior of his fifth floor, 1 bedroom 750sq ft, Barbican flat. As a vision of contemporary living with a fusion of two strong design elements, Zen meets Pop. With an initial budget of around £20,000, but with bespoke elements such as a walk-in wardrobe costing £6,000 and window blinds costing £9,000, things soon go out of control with the total being closer to £115,000
3. London: The Dilapidated Georgian House
Featuring Tony and Sharon Relph, a couple restoring a dilapidated 200 year old Georgian house in London, to its former glory. They have very little money and plan to do most of the work themselves If they manage to restore the grade two listed house in the Georgian style, the council will allow them to live there rent free for a period of their lease. They peel back layers of wallpaper to find a historical scrapbook of finishes which is donated to The English National Heritage. A modern interpretation of a period home with close attention to detail and sensitive repair. This is a true labour of Love
4. Cheltenham: The Half-Timbered Cottage
Kathryn and Charlie Raywood set about renovating a farmhouse cottage. The couple draw inspiration from Sainte Chapelle, Shakespeare’s birthplace and Gwidyr Castle. They start to strip the place back to its medieval roots. But with a meager budget of just £10,000 the basic structural work to the house eats up 80% of the budget, leaving a mere £2,000 for all decoration including a new kitchen, bathroom, lavish fabrics, tapestries and medieval furniture. They resort to enlisting family and friends to get things back on track. They buy Asian antiques which resemble medieval originals at a fraction of the price and up their overdraft in an attempt to get the project completed.
5. Devon & London: Shaker Summer House and Houseboat
Featuring renowned artist Damien Hirst and his wife Maia Norman, a couple who are pursuing the ultimate dream - a personally designed, secluded Shaker style summer house in the grounds of his country home (in Devon), as a retreat from the big bad world. Designer Mike Rundell, whom he worked with to create the Pharmacy restaurant in West London, to help him with his challenge. Maia is getting to work on their new houseboat in Chelsea (overall budget of £300,000 including the purchase of the boat), with the hope of turning it into the perfect London hang-out.
6. Brighton: The Regency Home
Hayley and Pedro Castle have lived in Brighton for 5 years in a small regency style cottage near the seafront. They want to clear out their place and start again. Using the ‘St Martins’ Lane Hotel’ as inspiration, they plan to modernise their home into a light, airy and totally modern space. The planned budget is just £23,000. As the work starts, all does not run smoothly, tensions run high as they fall out with the main contractor, after the property is plagued with structural problems, damp and leaks. Despite all of these nightmares, delays and overspending, the results in the end are very glamorous.
