Real homes

‘The layout of the house sold it to us,’ says Sam. ‘It was still a building site when we first saw it but we instantly got a feel for the flow of the place and the potential it had’

Home makeover: ‘We’ve given our new-build bags of character’

Kitchen makeover: 'Extending our kitchen has been life-changing!'

Kitchen makeover: ‘Extending our kitchen has been life-changing!’

Living room makeover: 'It's now my favourite room in the house'

Living room makeover: ‘It’s now my favourite room in the house’

‘I painted the plaster effect on the beam using leftover paint from the pink wall in the extension. It’s quite a narrow space so the open wooden shelves from IKEA are perfect for storing essentials without the need for wall cabinets’

Home makeover: ‘The extension was a game changer’

Homeowner Melanie

Home makeover: ‘Our soft Scandi scheme is so calming’

A simpler layout with a tiled bath and compact vanity unit and toilet has provided a fresher feel

Bathroom makeover: ‘Our family bathroom now works for all of us’

Good idea! Use wallpaper as well as paint to upcycle furniture, as Gillian has with the terrazzo print on the inside of her glass cabinet

Home makeover: ‘My new-build helped release my creative potential’

Kitchen makeover: 'We gave our kitchen a retro revamp for under £900'

Kitchen makeover 'We gave our kitchen a retro revamp for under £900'

Home makeover: 'Our summer wedding inspired the colours in our new home'

Home makeover 'Our summer wedding inspired the colours in our new home'

Homeowner Britt in her colourful kitchen

Home makeover: ‘I’m so glad we made bold design choices’

Home makeover: 'Our modern boho home is filled with bargain buys!'

Home makeover: ‘Our modern boho home is filled with bargain buys!’

Living room makeover: 'We were inspired by bright Scandi designs'

Living room makeover: ‘We were inspired by bright Scandi designs’

Home makeover: 'I knew it would be the perfect home'

Home makeover 'I knew it would be the perfect home'

Bedroom makeover: 'I turned my bedroom into a boho hideaway'

Bedroom makeover: ‘I turned my bedroom into a boho hideaway’

Home makeover: 'I've learnt so much from revamping my home'

Home makeover 'I've learnt so much from revamping my home'