Firm’s makeover gift to flood couple

AN interior design firm gave a special Christmas home makeover to a couple whose house was severely damaged in the 2015 Boxing Day floods.

A year ago water poured into Keith and Heather Dodd’s family home in The Park, Chatterton, completely destroying their living and dining rooms.

Keith said: “It was horrendous, and it came so fast but what did it for us, what caused us to be flooded was when the bridge went, it caused a dam and built up and swiftly moved in.”

Heather spotted a competition being run by Waterfoot-based design company Arthouse, for a room makeover and the couple decided to give it a whirl - and were thrilled to be named the winners.

The couple were invited in for a one-on-one consultation, where they drew up plans and chose fabrics and prints with a team of interior designers from Arthouse.

The design company then coordinated an expert team of tradesmen to come into the Dodd’s home to transform their living and dining space from its dark and damaged state to a cosy home.

Wendy Cooke, studio manager at Arthouse, said: “We really wanted to help the people who were hit by last year’s floods. ●● Keith and Heather Dodd in their re-decorated living room

“There was a lot of people in the local area massively affected, we wanted to give something back. We wanted to launch the competition in time for Christmas to give people a chance to have a happy Christmas in a brand new room, especially because the floods happened during the Christmas period last year.”

Keith said: “We picked out something that we though would suit us.

“The whole process has been a dream come true, we’re so thankful to Arthouse for transforming our damaged house back into a home. We’re overjoyed and can’t wait to show it off to the whole family over Christmas.”

Heather added: “It seems a long time since the floods in the house, everything coming together at last again. We’re thrilled to bits.”

Arthouse also awarded five runners-up with a £100 voucher to spend on a accessories from their new ‘Lochs and Lagoons’ collection.

More than 300 properties were flooded across the Valley in the disastrous flooding of Christmas 2015.