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Home renovations

All the latest stories on home renovations and celebrity DIY projects. Here you'll find exclusive before-and-after pictures of amazing transformations, the best expert tips to revamp your house or garden on a budget, and a peek into the homes of your favourite stars.

MORE STORIES: Page 5

Render of Modern Home Interior

Colour therapist reveals the shades to avoid when decorating your home

Channel: Property Property January 23, 2023 By Ella Glover

These Amazon bedroom buys look way more expensive than they are

Channel: Property Property January 21, 2023 By Jessica Lindsay

My First Home with Raphael Meade: ‘I installed radiators that drove the missus crazy’

Channel: Property Property January 18, 2023 By Oliver Stallwood
Max McMurdo - My Eco Home. From max@reestore.com

What it's really like living in a shipping container - and we're a bit jealous

Channel: Property Property January 17, 2023 By Oliver Stallwood

Furniture bargains for new homeowners: From sofas to storage

Channel: Property Property January 18, 2023 By Oliver Stallwood

What I Rent: Artist and homeware designer Anna Jacobs

Channel: Property Property January 17, 2023 By Oliver Stallwood

The Hot List: Add some colour and fun to your home for a joyful New Year

Channel: Property Property January 13, 2023 By Lara Sargent

Couple add £352,000 to Georgian-style home's value with modern DIY makeover

Channel: Property Property January 7, 2023 By Jessica Lindsay

'River of raw sewage' forces people in new block of flats to flee their homes

Channel: UK UK January 6, 2023 By Liam Coleman
Marie's bedroom

Woman transforms rented home into maximalist paradise for just £510

Channel: Property Property December 24, 2022 By Aidan Milan

How Katie Piper decorated her newly renovated 'dream forever home' for Christmas

Channel: Property Property December 20, 2022 By Oliver Stallwood

DIY Christmas: How to make a budget-friendly festive wreath - a step-by-step guide

Channel: Property Property December 14, 2022 By Clare Morrisroe

‘This is my home and no one can tell me off,’ says former Lover Islander Joanna Chimonides

Channel: Property Property December 13, 2022 By Oliver Stallwood

Mum spends £30,000 on rainbow house makeover, adding £200,000 to its value

Channel: Property Property December 10, 2022 By Zesha Saleem
Lana in the van. Devon, UK. THIS PROFESSIONAL couple bought a 1998 Volkswagen Transporter (T4) for ?4,200 to live in full time because the cost of living crisis meant they could not afford a ?1,200pm bricks and mortar home. So far this intrepid couple have turned this to their benefit, having clocked up over 5,000 miles travelling around Cornwall, North Devon, and Bouremouth. Holistic therapist Lana Rose and her media production manager partner Tomm Dale, both from South Devon, met in 2021 during the pandemic after lockdown restrictions had been lifted. The couple initially met online, talking for a long time until they could finally meet in person. They both had a background in travel and decided to make it a priority in their relationship. However, they soon realised that COVID travel restrictions could last much longer than they had originally anticipated so they decided to look into refurbishing an old van so that they could travel within the UK. The pair found a Volkswagen T4 for sale?nicknamed 'Storky' by its previous owners?and spent the next few months rebuilding the interior. At the same time, Lana and Tomm were struggling to find somewhere to live due to an increase in rental costs and difficulty securing a mortgage. They were being quoted ?1200 rent a month for small one bedroom properties. After spending around 8 months trying to find accommodation, they decided to spend all of their free time in the van, staying at their parents' homes when necessary. "We met during the pandemic when the lockdown had been lifted towards the beginning of the summer," Lana and Tomm said. "We both had a background in travel and decided that as soon as it was possible we would try to prioritise it once again, ideally making up for lost time due to travel restrictions. "As time went on we realised, as many people did, that these restrictions may last much longer than we had originally thought. "We decided to look into the prospect of buying, modifying and utilising a van so that we could at least explore within the limits of what was legally possible."We were fortunate enough to find a Volkswagen T4 for sale right down."Over the next couple of months, we slowly rebuilt the interior and began venturing out to areas along the British coast and throughout the countryside whenever we could." Lana and Tomm did not originally plan to stay in the van full-time, but their circumstances meant they had little choice. "We were having trouble trying to find somewhere to live together due to the increase in rental costs and the difficulty of securing a mortgage," they said. "We spent months trying to find accommodation but nothing ever worked out. We would be reloading property websites, calling as soon as something new came up, only to be told that the limit for viewings had already been reached."We had spent years qualifying for and working in careers that we believed would eventually lead to a home that we could share. But due to the unforeseen circumstances which everyone has had to endure in their own way, and the current cost of living, we were forced to think outside of the box."Eventually we decided to just see what would happen if we spent all of our free time in the van. "We got quite good at finding decent campsites and beautiful spots to stay while maintaining our livelihoods throughout the rest of the week by staying at our parents' homes when necessary. "Eventually we were able to find ourselves an apartment which gives us a great base between van trips." The couple love their van lifestyle. "One of the greatest benefits is having the freedom to go almost anywhere whenever the need arises," Lana and Tomm said. "To be able to be close to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life can really help to put life into perspective when things seem to be too hectic and out of your control. "Without sounding too cliche there really is something beautiful and freeing about watching a sunset, then a clear night sky and falling asleep beneath it only to wake up to a beautiful sea view and know that it is just the beginning of the day.? However, the pair admit that there are certain challenges that come with spending so much time in a van. "The colder seasons can get a bit tricky," they said. "And there are challenges with maintenance, engine repair and the general cost of owning a van. "We once broke down on Dartmoor after a wedding in the middle of nowhere." But these challenges have not put the couple off venturing further afield. "We are planning a trip around Europe in the new year," Lana and Tomm said. "Once we can be sure the engine isn't going to fall out again we will head off." They also offered some advice to others thinking about van life. "If you think that this is something you would like to do then our advice would be to make it happen as soon as possible," they said. mediadrumimages/@storky_adventures

Couple save thousands in rent by living in £4,200 van and travelling the country

Channel: Travel Travel December 3, 2022 By Sian Bradley
Pictured Eleanor Sinclair-Murray. A couple who converted their camper van to rent out to tourists as a side hustle are beating the cost of living crisis by earning a whopping ?60,000 in profit this year. See SWNS story SWMRcampervan. Eleanor Sinclair-Murray and hubby Andy Murray started their business in 2019 when they decided to buy and convert a second-hand van into a camper van. After converting the van for five months, they listed it online so holidaymakers could rent it out. Now after just three years, the couple are expected to turn over ?60,000 in profit this year and have just purchased their third van that's available to hire. Eleanor, of Blackburn, Lancs., said: ?We?re pleased to be investing on a new upgraded van to add to our fleet for 2023 - our target turnover will be around ?90,000.

Couple beat cost of living crisis by renting out converted campervan

Channel: Money Money November 23, 2022 By Tanyel Mustafa
Andrea Pearman and Richard Coleman converted the train carriage which is available for overnight stays - A couple from Ely has converted a previous railway carriage into a hidden getaway for guests for a unique experience and stay. Andrea Pearman and her partner Richard Coleman have created one of the most unusual yet incredible places to offer guests for an overnight stay and to take advantage of the area they live in. The pair moved to Little Downham, near Ely to retire with a plan to provide holiday accommodation on their property as they live in "such a beautiful and peaceful spot" shares Andrea. At first, they were looking to convert a boat as they have a big pond, but due to water levels not being consistent enough it wasn't an option at the time. However, instead, they stumbled across the idea of converting an old railway carriage through a friend's suggestion. Before this idea, Andrea said: "A train was never on my list to convert".

Couple convert train carriage into quirky getaway for two

Channel: Property Property November 18, 2022 By Sian Bradley

How to avoid getting mould when your heating is off as energy bills soar

Channel: Lifestyle Lifestyle November 16, 2022 By Memuna Konteh
Melanie Hutton's DIY SOS - Upcycling cabinets

The DIY Masterclass: Your step-by-step guide to upcycling a cabinet

Channel: Property Property November 15, 2022 By Oliver Stallwood

Dilapidated Scottish mill transformed into futuristic £750,000 eco-home

Channel: Property Property November 16, 2022 By Emma Wells

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