Ideal Homes
From chocolate box cottages in the Cotswolds to super-sleek modern homes in the capital, we go behind the front door of houses up and down the country, and find out how the owners and renters created their dream homes, whatever their style and budget
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Homes
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Cheat your way to a new bathroom look – this mum's makeover cost just £33.50!
Quoted £7,500 for a new bathroom, she did the work herself and saved a whopping £7,466.50 in the process
By Laurie Davidson
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‘We had three walls and no ceiling – people on the bus could see into our house from the top deck!’
An ambitious double-height extension has trebled the size of this small bungalow, turning it into the perfect family space and a forever home
By Karen Wilson
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‘I used high-end kitchen brochures for inspiration, then put my kitchen together for under £3000'
Creating a dream home and kitchen on a budget involved savvy design tricks and shopping around for this happy homeowner
By Karen Wilson
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See how these celebrity interior designers renovated an iconic townhouse apartment
You won't believe it's the same place!
By Laurie Davidson
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'Creating the right feel in your home is so important to your sense of calm and wellbeing'
Interior designer Belinda Benton's coastal home is a lesson in how to create welcoming and relaxing interiors
By Rachel Crow
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'We wanted colour and were prepared to be pushed – and that’s what our interior designer did'
These homeowners called in a design expert to give their open-plan kitchen and living area a 'grown up' makeover, and the results are bold and bright
By Rebecca Shepherd
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'Extending into the side return has transformed this tired Victorian terrace'
We asked an architect how extending into the side return has revamped this cramped home to create a spacious new kitchen diner
By Ginevra Benedetti
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‘We turn our summerhouse into a mini cinema at the weekends!’ - this stylish garden makeover is truly inspiring
Wanting extra space during lockdown, this savvy homeowner transformed a grotty garden shed into an entertainment hub and stylish working-from-home space
By Lisa Fazzani
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‘It actually pains me to buy things new’ - this home was completely transformed with secondhand buys
Eco-friendly home-made furnishings, second-hand fabrics and recycled furniture bring colour and character to this home
By Lisa Fazzani
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Inside Rebekah and Jamie Vardy’s former Leicester mansion
The couple called the Leicester mansion home for two years before selling
By Katie Garrett
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A flat packed Chesterfield sofa? Yes, really
The latest innovation means that even tiny homes can enjoy this classic piece of furniture
By Amy Hunt
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This couple built their dream home – in their parents’ garden
This couple built their own maximalist cottage in their parents’ garden!
By Laurie Davidson
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Clever storage solutions turned this retro hallway into a maximalist’s delight
It’s a room-come-treasure trove!
By Laurie Davidson
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'It’s a beach hut with a difference’ - space-saving touches gave the owners a new seafront hangout
Set on the Folkestone seafront, this fun beach hut transformation has packed plenty into a small space
By Heather Young
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‘The pink sofa was my starting point!’ says this first time buyer about her super-pretty new-build home
Adding pops of colour to a fresh white backdrop was the key to transforming this characterless new-build into a cosy colour-studded home
By Lisa Fazzani
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DIYer saved £1000s giving a dated kitchen a slick ultra-modern transformation
Removing four layers of lino flooring along with PVC wall cladding was just part of this budget renovation project
By Laurie Davidson
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'I loved renovating our period flat so much I've started a new career as an interior designer'
This DIY transformation is the perfect showcase for the owners' new businesses: interior design and selling stylish concrete sinks
By Alison Jones
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'I'm a school teacher and I designed and built my own home – it gives me an income, too'
This gorgeous coastal house has amazing views and with a guest cabin in the garden, it makes an income for its owner, too
By Jane Crittenden
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This renter discovered a genius hack to give her home a bold, but reversible makeover
Tired of bland walls and boring fittings, this tenant got creative with colourful, easily reversible makeovers
By Karen Darlow
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This living room had a surprise in store for its owners – and yours could have the same
It saved the couple a lot of money when it came time to make it over
By Laurie Davidson
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'I love mixing period features with modern elements,' says the owner of this Victorian apartment
A clever layout redesign means this two-bedroom apartment now maximises light and space to create a bright and modern home
By Ruth Corbett
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You wouldn't know this chic bedroom wall panelling makeover cost less than £100
Take your room from bland to grand with this simple cost-saving DIY project
By Laurie Davidson
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'This rustic farmhouse felt like home the minute we stepped through the front door'
This mum of three restored a dated farmhouse and created a better life for her family in the process
By Laura Ewart
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You can actually stay in this stunning Cornwall cottage designed by The White Company
Live inside a real-life White Company store – if only for a few days…
By Amy Hunt
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This stunning DIY hallway transformation is full of Victorian charm
Annika and Rach Overton-Hope transformed their fusty carpeted hallway into a Victorian dream, befitting their elegant home
By Holly Reaney
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A budget-savvy upcycling trick transformed this dated kitchen into a luxury space
With quality wood units hidden under layers of black vinyl, the homeowners cleverly saved money by giving them a fresh new look
By Karen Wilson
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‘We’ve found our forever home’ says the lucky homeowner about this Grade II-listed farmhouse
Inviting family and friends to stay at her 15th-century country retreat is a rural dream come true for this happy homeowner
By Lisa Fazzani