A couple who bought the ‘worst house on the best street’ have revealed how they transformed the run-down property into a stunning five-bedroom family home.
Jen and Miles Rothbury, both 36, bought the four-bedroom house in Bramhall, Cheshire, for £580,000 despite the need for extensive work because it allowed them to live in an upscale neighbourhood close to good schools for sons Leo, seven, and Magnus, five.
The couple began their renovations in September 2015, three months after moving in, and have since spent £140,000 transforming the space with a loft extension, open-plan living area and modern patios in the garden.
Jen and Miles Rothbury, both 36, bought the four-bedroom house in Bramhall, Cheshire, for £580,000 despite the need for extensive work because it allowed them to live in an upmarket neighbourhood close to good schools for sons Leo, seven, and Magnus, five. Pictured, the stunning open plan kitchen-living-dining room following the £140,000 renovation
The couple spent months knocking down walls, building into the loft and extending in order to create more space. Pictured, the house during the extensive renovations
The bright and airy living area at the front of the home is perfect for family time together
The communal areas of the property were dark and cramped before the renovations
A stunning modern family bathroom is one of Jen’s favourite additions to the property
The dark utility room in the property before the extensive renovations
Jen and Miles (left) carried out the renovations with the help of a trusted builder
The couple added this spacious patio at the rear of the property that’s perfect for entertaining
They have also added another bedroom, giving the family plenty of space to host guests overnight.
Jen said: ‘We are pleased with the outcome. The added bedrooms have meant that having guests is easy, the loft space feels like a third floor as we had the staircase widened to feel less like loft stairs, so when guests come to stay it feels as though they have their floor of the house.
‘The works to the first floor has given us a lovely sized family bathroom with double sink units and separate bath and shower and the extension which provided us with a good-sized open-plan space perfect for family living.’
Jen and Miles chose timeless shades of grey, blue and pink for the spacious living area
The extension renovation work helped the couple add an extra bedroom to the property
A clever in-built ice bucket makes this large dining table ideal for socialising
The dining room before was cramped and offered less space for the family-of-four
The spacious family bathroom features a double sink, pictured, separate shower and bath
The bathroom before was much more cramped and was given a new lease of life
Over the last few years, the couple have shifted their focus to finishing the space with personal touches and accessories but have saved money by searching for hand-me-downs and second-hand bargains.
Jen said: ‘We shopped for all of the decor and soft furnishings gradually after the renovation.
‘We spent pretty much all of the budget on the building work so decided to paint everything white and live with ‘hand me down’ furniture for a while until we got used to the space and what would work.
One of the amazing bedrooms in the five-bedroom family home in Bramhall, Cheshire
This nook is perfect for a work-from-home set-up in the large Cheshire family home
The living room is spacious yet practical and perfect for a family with two children
Attention has even been paid to the landing, which has high ceilings and is flooded with light
A trendy bedroom in the Edwardian property features soothing shades of green, pink and blue
Even the garden is perfect for entertaining, with a large corner sofa and fire pit
The french doors in the living room pull back to create an indoor-outdoor entertaining space
The boys have this bright and colourful space for homework, complete with statement wall
‘So we’ve been decorating and ‘finishing’ the house for the last few years, saving up for a new room and then giving it an overhaul so we could save for the next!’
She continued: ‘Spending the last few years adding more character and personal touches has made it feel less like a house and more like a home and it really feels like a special place to spend time together.’
Jen and Miles carried out the renovations with the help of a builder and highlighted the importance of finding the right person for the job.
She added: ‘Advice for anyone looking to renovate. Research your builder well as the cheapest is not always the best option!
Cosy and calm are words that describe the living room with its log fire and candles
Soft furnishings and rugs create a homey feel in this beautiful living space
A large breakfast bar gives the family extra space for eating and preparing food
This large entrance hall with statement tiles greets visitors as they walk into the house
‘Our builder didn’t come in with the cheapest quote but having worked with him before and knowing his local reputation meant we had no doubts about going with him.
‘I’ve heard so many horror stories about rogue builders that I was willing to pay a bit more for reliable and top-class quality!
‘Another bit of advice is to make sure you budget for all the finishing touches.
‘The build quote won’t cover the finer details such as if you want chrome or brass sockets rather than plastic or lots of spotlights etc. and these numbers quickly add up!’
Jen and Miles decided to keep this large open fires during their renovations