When we entered the old house we bought a few years ago, the tenants had just moved out, the property was vacant for the first time and it looked like it needed some serious updating before it could be placed back on the rental market. As we walked through it, from room to room we enjoyed its good vibes, the great amount of natural light and the fresh breeze that bless every part of it. It felt homely.
Instead of just refreshing it we decided to give the place a good make-over and keep it for ourselves, the beach retreat we had been wanting for a while.
But just a coat of paint was not going to be enough... The kitchen was not only ugly but falling to pieces and the only bathroom was a sore to the eye and truly impractical. At some point the 1970 original house has been strangely extended, the original entry door now opened into the laundry (??) while the back of the house had become the front. The red brick walls were solid but unappealing, while the old window frames were worn and struggling... I called this a renovator's delight and while Sandro got overwhelmed, "where do we begin," he said, I got a big smile on my face, excited.
And so we started planning...
Of course, we knew we would be showing photos of the renovation, before and after shots, the opening of walls, the new furniture... so we thought, why not filming it too, from beginning to end and make of it a free online series. I wanted to show everyone who's interested how I approach a renovation and the solutions and products I prefer for my own home... it's called James Bought a House and will broadcast free on YouTube, but to have this renovation also chosen for one episode on a new TV series was quite unexpected. Beyond The Build will broadcast on Ch9 in the second half of 2023.
Besides documenting the renovation we will also create web pages to share in detail all of the products used and where to find them, with extra videos to show the way I select items and plenty of practical Interior Design tips.
Now, as the renovation proceeds and the house reveals its potential, we are truly struggling not to show too much of it just yet on social media channels... We both think this transformation to be so dramatic that it deserves waiting for a proper reveal.
So, do you want to know what it takes to turn our 'ugly duckling' into a beautiful family home? Check my social media channels to see the small bites we have started showing and subscribe to my YouTube channels to be among the very first to see this series from the very beginning.
James Bought A House will broadcast from mid year and streaming for free.
James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information. More of James' knowledge is now accessible via Practical Design Online Course.
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