Marvellous makeover
LOVE YOUR HOME AND GARDEN ITV, Wednsday, 8pm
FOR decades, Alan Titchmarsh has tackled some of the toughest backyards in the country to help people achieve their dream of a perfect garden.
But in that time he has recognised that for many people, a stand-alone garden is not enough. They dream of a stunning outdoor space, that works hand in hand with their home.
For the first time, Alan and his expert team create brand new indoor spaces to compliment the amazing outdoor spaces they have always designed for truly inspirational people. Top architects, builders and gardeners give run-of-the-mill homes a jaw-dropping transformation, for people who truly deserve them.
In tonight’s first episode, Alan and the team travel to Banbury, Oxfordshire to meet an inspirational young family for whom daily life is far from normal. Donna and Lee are raising daughters Claudia 12, and Leoni, nine.
Four years ago, Donna suffered a near fatal heart attack, which left her with severely restricted sight.
As a result, Claudia and Leoni act as carers for their mum like 700,000 other young people in the UK. The family gives Alan a tour of their three bedroomed, terraced house.
Donna’s vision deteriorates in low light, so the dark interior and cramped rooms cause her to regularly trip over on the furniture. The garden could be a fantastic space for Claudia and Leoni but is currently only used for storing rubbish.
Finally, Alan decides to give both of the girls a bedroom makeover, as a thank you for all they do for their mum. The family move out, so the team can get to work transforming their cramped, dark home into a lightfilled and clutter free space.
Builder Kunle Barker knocks out the back wall of the house to make way for bifold doors and funnels light into the dark stairwell, by creating a skylight in the roof.
Architect Helen Sisley uses an ingenious technique for creating extra space in the girls’ bedrooms and turns the ground floor completely open plan, to make it easier for Donna to move around the house.
And in the garden Katie Rushworth builds a summerhouse in the garden for the girls to play in, creates a beautiful decking area for al fresco dining and compliments Helen’s interior jungle theme by planting ferns, lavender and wispy grasses.