Couple bust budget by over £100k doing up this house... but it was worth it
Raj and pav spent three years perfecting their family home
A DERBYSHIRE couple have spent double their budget renovating their five-bedroom Victorian home, but say they can’t put a price on their kids’ happiness.
The couple bought the property at auction on February 13, 2019, for £512,000, and in the last three years have spent an added £103,547.21 on renovations.
But they feel the spend has been “reasonable” and worth the investment.
When the pair first bought the one-acre property in Stenson Fields it was rundown and in need of a fullscale makeover. However, the almost 200-year-old home was brimming with charm and character, and the couple were keen to keep many original features.
Speaking to the Homes Under the Hammer team back in 2019, Raj, with a budget between £40,000 and £50,000, said: “It’s going to be a new family home for us. The garden is going to be for the girls to run around and play in, it should be really nice.
“It’s just going to be a full-on renovation really. I’m an electrical engineer so obviously quite hands-on, so a lot of the work will be tackled by myself and my team.”
Raj’s parents also played a key role in the renovation, as project managers overseeing the day-today work.
The couple transformed the traditional property into a home fit for modern family living. The hallway was fitted with a double door entrance, and shoe storage was added.
The two groundfloor reception rooms have been given a new lease of life, with the fireplace restored to its former glory. The dining room has been transformed into a living-dining area, creating a modern open plan feel to the traditional home. The new kitchen is now a blend of conventional and contemporary styles. The couple opted to keep the original floor tiles, but added modern and luxury appliances.
An en-suite bathroom has been added to the master bedroom on the first floor, while the traditional beamed ceilings were sandblasted to keep the rustic charm of the home. The family also decided to add a loft conversion, which contains three small bedrooms, currently used by their daughters as dens.
Speaking about the children, mum Pav said: “[I want them] to have lots of happy memories [here] and then to come back with their families in the future.”
I want the children to have lots of happy memories here and then come back with their families in the future.