0:00:02 > 0:00:04Can you build your dream home for under £100,000?
0:00:04 > 0:00:08Whatever it takes, we'll do it because this is where we want to be.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Architect Piers Taylor will help families facing dilemmas...
0:00:12 > 0:00:16- Why wouldn't you actually just take that wall out?- Erm...
0:00:16 > 0:00:20..while I, Kieran Long, will show them a world of inspiring design.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23It really makes it feel like one, big, generous space.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25I love it. Amazing.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29And there are budget ideas for projects large and small.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34This might not look much but this material is very, very versatile.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36It's tough.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42But some will turn low-cost self builds into fantastic homes.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44This is amazing.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45What a great space.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50This time...
0:00:50 > 0:00:54The build's begun before the design is complete.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I'd quite like some kind of porch.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59- But hang on - you haven't designed that.- No.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Jody and Lori have focused on the wrong things.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05This is the thought that we didn't put in.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07But is there still time to get it right...
0:01:07 > 0:01:09If we were to stop and think a bit more,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12we could have something really nice, couldn't we?
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..before the money runs out?
0:01:14 > 0:01:17It's obviously going to get close to the 100 quite quickly.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32If we come in here about 600 and move that wall back there...
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Jody and his wife Lori were born and bred near Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Jumping.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Jumping, yeah. Do some jumping?
0:01:40 > 0:01:45With family nearby, it's where they want to raise their two children.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48I've lived in this village pretty much all my life.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50It's just a really nice area.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53With the prices going up in London people seem to be moving further and further out.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56It's just getting more and more expensive.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Houses that we've been looking at round here, 450 upwards,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02which, just for us at the moment, is just not doable.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09They're determined not to leave the area but have rapidly outgrown
0:02:09 > 0:02:11their Victorian two up, two down.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13They're desperate for more room.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17This house isn't very practical, is it, for four of us?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- No.- So we need more space.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23We just really want to give them, you know, nice bedrooms.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Family house to grow up in.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Yeah.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31We just want something that's a bit clean, fresh, nice lines, shiny.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Open, futuristic-looking, maybe?
0:02:33 > 0:02:34Not too futuristic.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35No.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Jody bought a long, thin plot of land for £115,000
0:02:41 > 0:02:43from a local farmer.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47That's who I bought the land off of.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48I probably bought that!
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Having raised a further 100,000 for the build,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58they've raced ahead and their new home is emerging rapidly
0:02:58 > 0:02:59from the foundations.
0:02:59 > 0:03:00Wow, they've done loads!
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- I know.- Haven't they? - The sides are up.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Looks really good.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Still doesn't look very big, does it?
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Builders are making good progress on site,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14but the couple's experience is still in its infancy.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Jody's day job is selling insurance for houses,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21not building them.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23This is all quite new to me.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Things that I've done is painting, decorating, a bit of wallpapering,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27But no more than that, really.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31This is Warren, he's a friend of the family.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Warren and Dave, both doing the blockwork,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35going right up to the floor plate, is it, Dave?
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- Is that what you call it? - Wall plate.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38Wall plate. That's the one.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Jody and Lori had help with the basic layout
0:03:44 > 0:03:48but to keep costs down, the remaining decisions fall to them,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and many are yet to be made.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Is the toilet going to have a window?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55The toilet needs to have a window.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Nah, I didn't actually think about that.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01You can't have a toilet with no window, can you?
0:04:01 > 0:04:05I'm concerned they could waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
0:04:05 > 0:04:08and end up with a house that doesn't fit their needs.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12We are risking all the money because obviously we're putting it all
0:04:12 > 0:04:14into this house and once it's gone, it's gone.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22As an architectural expert,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I'm lucky enough to scour the design world for the best innovations
0:04:25 > 0:04:27and ideas for our homes.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Meanwhile, Piers challenges decisions
0:04:30 > 0:04:32the rest of us take for granted.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Can we find a way to give Jody and Lori a unique,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39bespoke home for their budget?
0:04:43 > 0:04:46The couple have designed a three-storey, four-bedroom
0:04:46 > 0:04:49family home in the style of the local executive new builds
0:04:49 > 0:04:51they can't afford.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57You enter the front door into a narrow corridor with no natural light.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59A door leads into a traditional living room
0:04:59 > 0:05:01with views out to the front.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The corridor leads you into a large open room.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09The kitchen runs along the left-hand wall
0:05:09 > 0:05:12with space elsewhere for a table and sofa.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Bifold doors lead onto the garden and a large roof lantern
0:05:16 > 0:05:17floods the room with natural light.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23The room narrows as you head back into the corridor
0:05:23 > 0:05:24and then up a dark stairwell.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The first-floor landing leads to two children's bedrooms,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32a small box room and a tight family bathroom tucked over the stairwell.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Another flight of stairs leads to a big and bright master bedroom
0:05:38 > 0:05:39with an en-suite.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42They've certainly packed a lot into their 100K house
0:05:42 > 0:05:46but is it any better than a generic new-build any developer might offer?
0:05:51 > 0:05:53I mean, this is a house that feels quite staid
0:05:53 > 0:05:56but this is a young couple who like bright things.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57I mean, what's going on here?
0:05:57 > 0:06:00It's strange, isn't it? Jody and Lori have the opportunity
0:06:00 > 0:06:04to have anything they like but I'm not sure they know what they want.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06They've been conditioned by what developers do
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and this is what people are building up and down the country.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12And we could criticise it in terms of how it looks, but actually,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16this is a house that is bigger than normal, it's wider than normal.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19But I think there are some big problems.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23I agree. Inside it's chopped up into very conventional little spaces.
0:06:23 > 0:06:24Especially on the ground floor.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27I think that's right. The staircase is in the wrong place.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30The compromise is the kitchen and dining room and this living room,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33that is a conventional front room.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34I just can't see that being used.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38A simple reorganisation of the way the circulation works in this house
0:06:38 > 0:06:41would actually improve all of the spaces.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44I agree. We have to think about how to configure these spaces
0:06:44 > 0:06:46around the reality of family life.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Absolutely. And I think what we can do is make this whole house
0:06:48 > 0:06:50consistently contemporary.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52I think that's our big challenge here.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Piers must get to Essex fast.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02He believes there are a series of key changes
0:07:02 > 0:07:05that could transform this house.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08From the shape of rooms to making the most of natural light.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14We need to ensure Jody and Lori grab the opportunity
0:07:14 > 0:07:17they still have for a unique home.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Tell me what you want to see here in six months' time
0:07:21 > 0:07:22when the house is finished.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26Just to know that we've really not made any errors in the respect of...
0:07:26 > 0:07:28"Wish I'd done that, wish I'd done this.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30"There's more we could have done here."
0:07:30 > 0:07:34I just want to come up here and say, "Yeah, really proud of it."
0:07:34 > 0:07:36We don't want to have any regrets, do we?
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Most of us struggle to visualise building plans.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Walking them through is the best way
0:07:43 > 0:07:45to see if you've thought of everything,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47which is exactly what Piers wants this couple to do.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51So, this is a hallway where you as a family come in
0:07:51 > 0:07:55with all of your stuff, coats, boots, schoolbags.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Where does that go?- I'd quite like some kind of porch.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03- But hang on, you haven't designed that.- No.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Why not?
0:08:05 > 0:08:07This is a classic mistake.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Everyday details need as much thought as the big ones.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16If Jody and Lori don't design a place for family bags and coats now,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19it won't magically appear.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22And where do the stairs go up, then?
0:08:22 > 0:08:24The stairs are going to be where Lori's standing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27And obviously where the stairs go is a really critical thing.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29This is south.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33So do you have any natural light coming into this bit of the hallway?
0:08:33 > 0:08:37No. No, we don't, actually.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40You need to make this as special as everything else, I think.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41But let's carry on in.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Presumably, we come out of the hallway into a room
0:08:44 > 0:08:46that has a great view and everything else,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and this bit is easy, in a way.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52I mean, making this full of light, full of space - it already is.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54What I think we need to do is sit down with your plans
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and just look at the spaces and just probe a little bit
0:08:57 > 0:09:00to see whether they can give you a little bit more.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I would just, you know... Door downstairs.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Piers believes that changing the staircase is the first step
0:09:12 > 0:09:13to transforming this home.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17So for no more money, if you brought the stairs down,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20you would immediately gain from that high south window,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23getting light down into this space here.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Have a better entrance that was more spacious.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Psychologically, if your stairs are down here and you have
0:09:29 > 0:09:32the borrowed space of the stairwell, that will make all that seem bigger.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Moving the stairs makes this standard hallway feel larger,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41without stealing space from elsewhere.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43There's room for storage and light will flood in
0:09:43 > 0:09:45from the existing first floor window.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Upstairs, the small family bathroom moves to the back of the house,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55where it can be larger and has views out across the fields.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57This is the thought that we didn't put in,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00talking about things like light, anything like that's just something
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- we really didn't consider enough, did we?- No.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04The stairs were sort of blocked in before.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- Totally.- Now they can become part of the house.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08And a nice stairwell.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Yes. I think this is really exciting,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13feeling a lot more confident with this.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16We sort of moved away from that generic idea
0:10:16 > 0:10:17that we had in the first place.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18It was modern before,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21but now it's really taken it into something a little bit different.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25There's a lot more thought gone into this, I suppose.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27It's so engrained in people,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30this sense of what a house should be like,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34and there's still a lot of barriers that need to be broken down
0:10:34 > 0:10:38with Jody and Lori to get them to go beyond what they know
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and to really embrace the new.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49I think a modern home is one perfectly tuned
0:10:49 > 0:10:50to its owner's needs.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I want Jody and Lori to take every opportunity
0:10:53 > 0:10:55to make their home fit for their family.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59I've brought them to see a home that's been renovated
0:10:59 > 0:11:02to fit the needs of its 21st-century owners.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05So...so far, so modern. Wow.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08This looks like something off the Enterprise.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13It all begins with a spacious and cleverly lit hallway.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16The only thing, I think, that gives you a clue to the main event is
0:11:16 > 0:11:19this light which clearly continues beyond this partition here.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Amazing! I love it!
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It's so unexpected that suddenly you're in this
0:11:33 > 0:11:35totally uncompromisingly modern environment.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38And these pivoting doors really connect the space well.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I mean, the brilliance is really just in the thinking,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43not in the expense of it.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46The architects Lipton Plant used oversized doors
0:11:46 > 0:11:50to allow the ground floor rooms to be connected or separated,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52to suit different occasions.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54The channels of lighting cut into the plaster work,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56subtly mark out and connect spaces.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02The space works for party nights and cosy family time.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Underfoot is one hard-wearing, quality parquet floor,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12but not every idea here is expensive to reproduce.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I think there's something quite clever going on here too
0:12:16 > 0:12:19with this corner sofa because it creates a little zone here.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21A kind of room within a room. It's moveable.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It's not done with architecture, it's done with furniture,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27and furniture plays a really important role in open-plan rooms.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Shall we take a look at the kitchen?
0:12:32 > 0:12:34I love the splashbacks.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37They're quite similar to what I was thinking for ours.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40It's lovely to be in a kitchen that's so custom-designed.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Most architects working to a budget would be working with standard
0:12:43 > 0:12:45carcasses from high street brands,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48so that what the eye doesn't see is as cheap and robust as it can be
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and what you do see is full of this kind of glamour,
0:12:51 > 0:12:52and it is achievable.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56I guess at night too, when all of these beautiful sky lights are dark,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58this takes on a quite glamorous quality,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00and, in the day time,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02with that natural light coming in from the roof.
0:13:05 > 0:13:06As well as the sky lights,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09artificial light brightens up dark corners.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And the theme is taken up through the house.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Critically, in this home, good ideas do not stop
0:13:18 > 0:13:19in the main living areas.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Oh, wow!
0:13:21 > 0:13:23One little detail I wanted to show you
0:13:23 > 0:13:25was this very practical storage wall.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28It actually has a little secret passage into the sister's room.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It's like a little make believe world.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34It's quite charming.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Every idea suits this family's story,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40and off the landing is another clever idea that is rarely done.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44A utility room with washing machine, at this level,
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- which is, kind of, really smart. - Yeah.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50If you have space, this can be done for less than you think
0:13:50 > 0:13:53by tapping into the bathroom plumbing next door.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Every single idea has been tailor-made for this family.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Downstairs, high-end sliding doors create a fantastic link
0:14:04 > 0:14:05with the garden.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10Ones like this can cost anything between £15,000-£20,000.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15So, this is the view from the garden.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17It's really nice and open, isn't it?
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Loving these doors, they're brilliant.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22It's just a beautiful, big, simple opening there,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24like a huge letterbox.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26I love it. Love it.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29There's something I want to show you for the kids. Shall we have a look?
0:14:29 > 0:14:32This looks like a simple decking - in many ways it is.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Beautiful recess lighting, but there's a particular surprise.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Grab one of these.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40This is a home which creates areas for adults,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44but the scheme never forgets that it's also a place for children to enjoy, too.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46It's just a bit of, like, enjoyment and love and fun.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Or a jacuzzi!
0:14:48 > 0:14:51That's very selfish! Come on!
0:14:51 > 0:14:52It's got to be done!
0:14:54 > 0:14:58This home shows what you can pull off if you consider every detail.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Jody and Lori's house could still stand apart
0:15:01 > 0:15:04from a generic new build if they give it the same thought.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09But have they underestimated the task ahead?
0:15:09 > 0:15:11This house is just amazing, isn't it?
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Yeah. Plenty of different ideas that we can use.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18So many. It makes you realise it's quite a big job, doesn't it?
0:15:18 > 0:15:19Yeah.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Are we going to go inside the house? Look.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38You can only fit, like, one, two...
0:15:38 > 0:15:42It's eight weeks into the build. Jody and Lori are juggling work,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45family and now are keen to improve their home.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46I don't know!
0:15:46 > 0:15:48A lot of important decisions.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52It was a bit more straightforward before, which made it easier,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54but now there's more questions and things to solve.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57We had things planned and now we've got to change them.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58So you've got to get used to the ideas
0:15:58 > 0:16:00and make things fit a bit more.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05They like Piers's idea of improving their narrow, dark hallway.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10But in a three-storey house it's a big change.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Your staircase is 950.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16We've gone a metre and 70 in line with that.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17OK, mate.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Changing the stairs has made quite a big difference to the house.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It's not been quite as simple as I maybe hoped.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- The window there.- OK...
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Jody is beginning to doubt if all the effort is worth it.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33It's difficult. The repercussions of moving the stairs
0:16:33 > 0:16:35has gone all the way through all the floors.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37It's been a bit of a nightmare.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Piers has asked them to meet him at an ex-local authority house
0:16:44 > 0:16:45in North London.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49He wants to show how fundamentally re-thinking a design
0:16:49 > 0:16:51can improve any space.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Tell me what you think looking at it.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55It's thin, isn't it?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- Very thin.- It's very thin.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Inside, they really played with the stairwell and brought light down
0:17:01 > 0:17:05through it into each of the rooms adjacent.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07If they break with convention,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10they could end up with an entrance hall that feels spacious and light
0:17:10 > 0:17:12rather than narrow and dark.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14What's brilliant about this staircase
0:17:14 > 0:17:19is it's part of the architecture of the house. During the refurb,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22the architect Margaret Bursar removed the original staircase
0:17:22 > 0:17:26and replaced it with one that doesn't dominate the entrance hall.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30And it brings light down into the house.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34But this house is full of other ideas Jody and Lori could take on.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38You can disguise a kitchen in any living area
0:17:38 > 0:17:39with a simple set of tricks.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44The first is painting walls the same colour as the units.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47One of the things I really like is the way the top cupboards
0:17:47 > 0:17:49are the same depth as the bottom cupboards,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52so you don't read it as a kitchen, you read it as a bit of furniture,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and then the kitchen cupboards continue into the living space
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and they sort of disappear in the room.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01It's almost like it's part of the wall, in fact, isn't it?
0:18:01 > 0:18:02The kitchen's sort of in the wall.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Exactly. And it's nicer, in my mind,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07than a room with a kitchen within it,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09because it makes the kitchen just become part of the room
0:18:09 > 0:18:11rather than dominate the room.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Open-plan spaces are very popular nowadays,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19but you should still mark out or zone different areas.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Here, simple green gloss paint defines the stairs
0:18:22 > 0:18:24right the way through the house,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27while an acid-yellow sofa is a place to relax.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31It all helps any home feel bigger.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35And I think if you told people this was a 3.8-metre wide
0:18:35 > 0:18:37bit of the house, with a sofa in it, they'd say,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39well that's like sitting in a corridor,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41but this isn't like sitting in a corridor,
0:18:41 > 0:18:43it's like sitting in a room.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45It's defined by a bit of structure there and the staircase there.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Another brilliant trick you can use
0:18:50 > 0:18:52is creating views within a small home.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56It's very nice here, looking into the living room through that,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59into the bedroom there and then back down
0:18:59 > 0:19:01into the kitchen here.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Yes, it's lovely, isn't it?
0:19:03 > 0:19:04This is the original stair.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08And all they've done is strip it and then paint it the same colour
0:19:08 > 0:19:10as the steel stair down below.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Paint is cheap, but the architect also invested in other elements
0:19:15 > 0:19:17that make a big difference.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22What's great about the rooms is that they're not huge
0:19:22 > 0:19:24but the light is fantastic.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26They're lovely, aren't they? Really lovely windows.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30They are. Windows are a really good place to invest money.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32They add such a lot.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36With some windows, cheaper systems, you lose about 20% of the light.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38But here it's about 5%.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40It's brilliant. Making the most of the wall.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Why have wall when you can have windows there?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48The architect has also added unique features
0:19:48 > 0:19:50such as a bespoke ply staircase.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Costing around £6,000, the idea helps make this house unique,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58but not every idea has to be expensive.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59That is amazing, isn't it?
0:19:59 > 0:20:01That is impressive.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05It's really beautiful. CNC plywood that was put together in a day,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08actually, from a kit of parts that were beautifully engineered.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Then of course you've got the roof lights from above
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- bringing that light all the way down.- Yeah, it's lovely.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17This staircase, which is a bespoke thing, with 100 parts,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19really adds something, doesn't it, to this bit of the house?
0:20:19 > 0:20:22It's like another piece of furniture, isn't it?
0:20:22 > 0:20:23- It is. Yeah.- It's great.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I think what's great about this house is that it was
0:20:29 > 0:20:32a very ordinary house, but this architect has taken it
0:20:32 > 0:20:34and completely transformed it
0:20:34 > 0:20:38through a whole series of interventions that, together,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42the cumulative effect is to make this house something really exceptional.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Back near Southend, Jody has given the go-ahead
0:20:56 > 0:20:57for moving the staircase.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The benefit is already clear.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02So all that light that he was talking about,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04we're going to get a lot of it from here, obviously.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07We're going to throw it down to the landing and the hallway, which,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09because we haven't got any side windows, is going to be
0:21:09 > 0:21:12our main source of light. It won't be dark and dingy,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14you will still have some nice natural light flowing
0:21:14 > 0:21:16into the entrance hall, which is something obviously
0:21:16 > 0:21:18I didn't think about originally.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20But I'm pleased we've made that change.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Upstairs, they've gained a large landing and a much larger bathroom.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30The best view is saved for Jody and Lori's bedroom,
0:21:30 > 0:21:32which is taking shape on the top floor.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35One of the good things about this plot of land is the outlook it's got
0:21:35 > 0:21:36over the fields.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's just a really, really lovely view.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Obviously we're not being overlooked or anything
0:21:41 > 0:21:42and you can see for a real long way.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44Really nice.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Buying a three-storey house with four bedrooms was not affordable,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52but so far, at least, building one is.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53With the budget, it's going well.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56I've spent 50,000.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57Maybe 51.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00But there are some big things that have got to be ordered.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03I haven't paid for the windows yet. Obviously the roof's going on soon
0:22:03 > 0:22:04and that's going to be an expense.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Then you've got bathrooms and kitchens,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08so there's some expensive things to be paid for yet.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Obviously I'm trying to do it on a budget
0:22:10 > 0:22:13but I don't really want to compromise on much, to be honest with you.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18With the budget going so well,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21the couple are now keen to find ways to make their home unique.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- That one?- Yeah, that one.
0:22:23 > 0:22:24Yeah, it's nice.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28They want to buy a top-of-the-range tunnel fireplace.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30We really like it, don't we? We really want to do it.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33And it might be worth cutting back somewhere else, mightn't it?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36We really think this would be a main feature of the house.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39It would go between the front room and the lounge,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41creating a connection between the two.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44But it comes at a price.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47I think we're looking again at about £5,000 or more.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55Piers wants them to consider whether the fireplace is a good investment.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57You can't just throw money at stuff.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58You've got to really think about it.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01It's fine to spend money on things if that's what you want to do,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03but only if you've thought through
0:23:03 > 0:23:05the consequences of what you're doing.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Fireplace could be sort of round here.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11That's basically the size of it.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15They're hoping the fireplace will be the focal point
0:23:15 > 0:23:18that ties the two rooms together.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20But is there another, cheaper way?
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Hi, Jody, hi, Lori.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- How you doing?- Good, thanks.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27This looks like a house.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29It's getting there. Yeah. It feels huge!
0:23:30 > 0:23:34What's the black, ominous-looking strip on the floor?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37That's basically fireplace, like a tunnel fireplace,
0:23:37 > 0:23:38which will go through here.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40What does the fireplace do?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Well, we don't need any more heat really.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- Because it's so well insulated. - Because it's so well insulated.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47But it may well be needed in the winter.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49You know, it does get quite cold, obviously.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51It's more the look, really.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53A fireplace sounds great in principle, but how much is it?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56A lot. About £5,500.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- That is a lot.- Yeah.- I mean, you need to do what works for you.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I'm just trying to allow you to visualise the consequences of all this.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05If you plan that room beautifully and you spend six grand on a fire,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I get it. If you spend six grand on a fire thinking it'll be
0:24:08 > 0:24:11the focal point that will get you out of a pickle
0:24:11 > 0:24:14because the furniture isn't quite working, then I don't get it.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16If what they want is a focal point,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Piers believes they've already got it.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- This is incredible.- I mean, the scale of this roof light, it's brilliant.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Focal points are really interesting because historically
0:24:26 > 0:24:27we gathered around a fire.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29And then we had TV - everyone sat around a TV.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Now we don't necessarily need focal points.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Yet culturally we're still somehow geared to thinking
0:24:35 > 0:24:37that we all need to look around something.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40But here, you've got such a great, robust space.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43It strikes me that this is the focal point.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46This is where you want to live, really.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48There needs to be a reason to go to that room.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- Yeah.- And if this is too...
0:24:51 > 0:24:53- Comfy.- If it's too comfy and really nice here,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55then you're just not going to use that room.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- Don't want to make that a poor relation to this room.- Sure.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Jody and Lori are right.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Linking the cosy front room to the living area is key.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05But is there a cheaper way to do it?
0:25:07 > 0:25:10So this wall then still needs resolving.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14If you have a piece of glass there, you know, actually standing there,
0:25:14 > 0:25:17and looking all the way through the house, could be amazing.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22A simple piece of glass could be the answer.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25To be able to see outside when you're in this room here
0:25:25 > 0:25:28- I think would be very nice. - Yeah. It would be lovely.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30- Really nice.- What I think you probably shouldn't do is make that
0:25:30 > 0:25:32completely solid.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Piers's inexpensive solution is a floor-ceiling slot window
0:25:36 > 0:25:40that allows them to keep an eye on the kids and create views
0:25:40 > 0:25:43from the front of the house to the garden at the rear.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49And what a fantastic view out into the field.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Making the most of that view is the next thing Piers wants to tackle.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57They have been quoted as much as £12,000 for eight bi-fold doors.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01They are in fashion, but is there a cheaper and better option?
0:26:01 > 0:26:05What you don't want is lots of frame.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09And if you have standard bi-fold, 50% of that would be frame.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12The choice, then, is having frameless bi-folds, or sliders.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17I know. I must admit, I did really like the sliders we saw before.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20And because you get so much glass, it always feels open.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- Exactly.- And they might be a little bit cheaper.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24They're a lot cheaper.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Changing from bi-folds to glass sliders
0:26:29 > 0:26:31would mean more window and less frame,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34allowing for an uninterrupted view of the garden.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Larger glass panels would slide into the middle, not stack at the ends.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43The connection between the garden and the living room
0:26:43 > 0:26:45would be greatly improved.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Both ideas will potentially save a lot of money.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54But as the build moves on, the next set of design decisions are looming.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00I think it's worth us having a think about the rest of it tonight.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01Yeah. Definitely.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- I feel like my head's spinning, to be honest.- A little bit.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Each year, less than 10% of new homes in the UK
0:27:15 > 0:27:17are built by self-builders.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Balancing the bills with work and family life is incredibly hard,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25as Jody and Lori are discovering.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Here we go!- It is quite hard juggling everything, isn't it?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Yeah. Well, I mean, obviously you're looking after the kids all day.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I'm still doing my job.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36And now they must start deciding on the final look of their home.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38That looks lovely, doesn't it?
0:27:40 > 0:27:45Can you stop slamming the door, please?
0:27:45 > 0:27:46See!
0:27:46 > 0:27:47Stress!
0:27:47 > 0:27:52The only decision they have made so far is a slate-grey kitchen.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56So, if we're going to have the dark kitchen,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59I'm worried it's going to look too bland, isn't it?
0:27:59 > 0:28:01White and grey, because that's all we've got at the moment.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Yes, but it is the modern look we want to go with.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08I mean, I'm not saying we shouldn't have any colour,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11but you've got to think what colour you want in there.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13I don't know what colour.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17I don't know. I really don't know what to think.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21I must admit, I'm quite happy with you to sort of decide on this one, really.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Put it all on my shoulders!
0:28:28 > 0:28:30It's quite overwhelming to think on such a big scale.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Like, normally, at home,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35you might do up one room and that's all you've got to concentrate on.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38When you've got to do every single room in a house,
0:28:38 > 0:28:43everything starts to become, oh, my goodness, like, where do I even start?
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- What you thinking, then?- So I am finding that quite hard going,
0:28:48 > 0:28:52because I'm not the most creative person, so...
0:28:52 > 0:28:54And decisions have to be made quickly.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58I'm quite impulsive, so I have a tendency just to go, oh, yeah, yeah,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00we'll do it like that, we'll do it like that, just to get it done.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Whereas I need to think a little bit more
0:29:03 > 0:29:06about what I'm doing before I agree to it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11I really want to help Jody and especially Lori
0:29:11 > 0:29:15gain confidence to reflect their identity in their new home.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Like any of us would,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Jody and Lori are feeling the stress of all the decisions they have
0:29:23 > 0:29:26to make to decorate the interior of their house.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29It's really difficult when there are so many conventions
0:29:29 > 0:29:31and also so many sort of style magazines telling you
0:29:31 > 0:29:33what's fashionable and what's not.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Today, I want them to take a step back and really think about
0:29:36 > 0:29:38how they want their interior to feel,
0:29:38 > 0:29:41and most importantly, how they can stamp their own personality on it.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44- Hi, guys.- Hi.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46- Nice to see you again.- Hiya.
0:29:46 > 0:29:47Welcome to South London.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50There's big decisions still to make about the interior.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Lots. My brain can't cope.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57Do you find it easy to sort of translate your tastes into reality?
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Sometimes you feel a bit rushed, if you know what I mean.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Rushed into making decisions.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04You feel the pressure to keep it fashionable as well
0:30:04 > 0:30:05and with the time, don't you?
0:30:05 > 0:30:07So it's trying to get that balance, I think.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10A lot of the ideas we wouldn't maybe get is just walking around
0:30:10 > 0:30:12high street shops and stuff like that,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16so we don't necessarily get to see anything that's unusual, so...
0:30:16 > 0:30:18That's really interesting. I mean, last time we looked
0:30:18 > 0:30:21at a building that was very much architect style,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23sort of lots of white, beautiful interiors
0:30:23 > 0:30:25but very stripped back, very pared back.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28I think we can look at something now which is actually maybe somewhere
0:30:28 > 0:30:30in between that high street sort of thing
0:30:30 > 0:30:31and what an architect would do.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33Lots of colour, lots of texture.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Lots of cheap, good ideas.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Here we are. Compact flat.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47German designers Studio Alexander Fehre
0:30:47 > 0:30:52crammed a wealth of ideas into a tiny 45-square-metre flat.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55It's packed full of ideas
0:30:55 > 0:30:58that shun many popular trends and design rules.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02What do you notice when you come in here?
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- The lights.- It's a beautiful centrepiece, beautiful colour.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08It clearly is picked up in some of the furniture.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10I love that it reflects the space.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13And it provides a really great centrepiece.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Most people wouldn't put a large low-hanging light fitting
0:31:16 > 0:31:19in a small room, but with the bold sofa,
0:31:19 > 0:31:23it helps define the primary use of the room - lounging.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26The colour comes from the furniture and not from stuff
0:31:26 > 0:31:28that's too permanent, because it allows you to change it
0:31:28 > 0:31:31and it allows it to grow with you over time.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34What we see on the walls here is fairly muted.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Very dark colours work really well in homes but are rarely used.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42Here there is a black parquet on the floor,
0:31:42 > 0:31:45but you could create a similar effect with inexpensive laminate
0:31:45 > 0:31:48for as little as £15 per square metre.
0:31:50 > 0:31:51On the far wall,
0:31:51 > 0:31:55plasterboard sheets have been disguised under more dark paint
0:31:55 > 0:31:58to display objects the owner likes.
0:31:58 > 0:31:59Three simple shelves.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01The same colour as the wall, nice and thick.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03It becomes a kind of display case.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05I don't know if we'd choose gin!
0:32:05 > 0:32:09- I don't think cans of fear would be the same.- No.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12I think all of these things and this in particular just start to make
0:32:12 > 0:32:13the home feel a bit individual.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20I want Jody and Lori to find ways they can express their individuality,
0:32:20 > 0:32:24just like the owner of this house has in a tiny galley kitchen-diner.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27It's a useful compact kitchen,
0:32:27 > 0:32:30but this end is really quite spectacular, really, isn't it?
0:32:30 > 0:32:31Amazing. Really is.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38I mean, it's definitely functionally good, but there's also personality,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41- isn't there?- Yeah. Exactly. - It's like a bit of wildness,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43the brakes are off. I sort of feel like you're stuck
0:32:43 > 0:32:45in your white-wall world, and you see this
0:32:45 > 0:32:48- and it's something a bit more playful.- Exactly.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52You might see this in a shop and think, oh, it's a bit too much,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55but when it's on the wall, it looks great.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59You might not choose a wallpaper like this for a whole room,
0:32:59 > 0:33:04but this designer wallpaper, at £60 a roll, defines this small area.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08The bespoke booth cost around £600 to build from MDF.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Sprayed in pillar-box red.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Both items make it instantly individual.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18Even though we haven't met the people that own this place,
0:33:18 > 0:33:20you feel like you know their personality.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21- Yeah.- Absolutely.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24How would you...? What do you think this is saying?
0:33:24 > 0:33:26It's obviously going to be someone quite flamboyant.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- A bit quirky. Yeah. - Maybe a little bit. Fun.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31If we were to stop and think a bit more, we could have something
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- really nice, couldn't we?- Yeah.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36Jody and Lori, I just felt like they started to loosen up
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and they started to feel like, yeah, we can do this,
0:33:39 > 0:33:42this isn't that hard. And that's the best thing in the world for me
0:33:42 > 0:33:45when some really beautiful and economical piece of design
0:33:45 > 0:33:48speaks to somebody and makes them want to do the same.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00Back in Essex, Jody and Lori's building site
0:34:00 > 0:34:02has turned into a family reunion.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07My dad's here. Lori's dad's here.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08And Colin's here.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13With a range of trades amongst family and friends,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16the couple are calling in every favour they can.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20You know that everyone's got your best intentions at heart.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23You know no-one's ever going to try and do one over on us
0:34:23 > 0:34:26or anything like that, rip us off, so really it helps to have people
0:34:26 > 0:34:29that also want to make it nice helping you.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Because everyone's going to enjoy the house once we've finished.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33We're going to have Christmases here, aren't we?
0:34:33 > 0:34:36And so everyone will get to enjoy it.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39So they're going to enjoy it, they may as well come and help do it,
0:34:39 > 0:34:40I suppose.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44And today is critical.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47The enormous sliding doors that link the house with the garden
0:34:47 > 0:34:49have arrived and need fitting.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52That's for the outside.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Is there one for the inside? Have I got mine?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58Probably should have paid the extra and got the proper fitters in!
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Right. I'm going to get on that side.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08The giant panes are cheaper than bi-folds
0:35:08 > 0:35:10but are far heavier.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- Ready?- Yes.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16The slightest impact to an edge could cause them to shatter.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Oh, my God!
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Jody cannot afford to buy them again.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32Is it further in?
0:35:32 > 0:35:34It needs lifting up over this at the bottom.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35- See it?- Yeah.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38- Ready?- Here we go!
0:35:38 > 0:35:40That's it. That's it.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42Lovely!
0:35:42 > 0:35:46The new windows will make the most of natural light,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50but they are also finding inventive ways to add artificial light.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52The LED's going in there.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53Yeah. Running all the way.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56That's three metres. I think lighting's really important.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58I didn't want to go with the spotlights everywhere.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01After seeing one of the houses we went to in London
0:36:01 > 0:36:04and they had this strip lighting in these aluminium profiles,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and I just thought it was brilliant, so after that we had to have it.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11The actual LEDs are probably about £9 a metre, so it's not that much.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18But every penny is now pushing their tight budget to the limit.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22It was a lot easier when it was just the blockwork and the timber frame
0:36:22 > 0:36:25going up, but now all these other extra bits,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27making phone calls and doing research,
0:36:27 > 0:36:29to try and get the prices down, it's quite overwhelming, isn't it?
0:36:29 > 0:36:32Yeah. You're not sleeping, are you, at all?
0:36:32 > 0:36:33No.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36We've still got quite a bit to do inside,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39although we have paid for quite a few things, so...
0:36:39 > 0:36:42But I...
0:36:42 > 0:36:45It's obviously going to get close to the hundred quite quickly.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49So, yeah...it is running away a little bit
0:36:49 > 0:36:52and there are some other things we still haven't paid for yet, so...
0:36:52 > 0:36:54It just adds up really quick.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58Every day we are spending money and it's quite frightening
0:36:58 > 0:37:00when you look at it on your spreadsheet.
0:37:00 > 0:37:06You realise, like, you've spent so much, £1,000 in a week,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09and you've still got quite a long way to go.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13So, yeah, just got to keep control.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I'm concerned with money running low...
0:37:17 > 0:37:18That's a bit much.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20Bit much!
0:37:20 > 0:37:23..they might throw away their chance for a unique interior.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29The cheapest way to get one is with colour.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Today is Piers's opportunity to show that a modern house
0:37:36 > 0:37:38need not simply be white and grey.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Tell me what you think about colour?
0:37:44 > 0:37:46We haven't thought much about it, have we?
0:37:46 > 0:37:48- We haven't given it enough thought. - No.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49- That's what we think about colour. - Yeah.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52At the moment everything's white and grey, I must say,
0:37:52 > 0:37:56- and Lori's been trying to think of some other colours to add in.- Yeah.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00So far, the only colour choices they have made is a slate-grey kitchen.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04The walls throughout the house will be white.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Well, that's a fairly standard yellow.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11The primary yellow, really.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12- Oh, dear. - They are bright, aren't they?
0:38:15 > 0:38:18What about that orange for your kitchen?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Bright, vibrant, full of life.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23It's a bit '70s, isn't it?
0:38:23 > 0:38:25On a grey day,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28in a house with lots of light, you're not so sure.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30There's silence from one half of this partnership.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32I'm wondering where we're going with this!
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Piers needs to take them "back to basics" with a colour wheel,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41starting with the primary colours.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46These three are the three most basic colours.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52By mixing each colour with the one next to it,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55it becomes clear which colours go well with one another.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00That's not bad.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05Generally, colours that are opposite each other go really well together.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Also colours that are adjacent to one another go really well.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11What I think we ought to do is upscale it
0:39:11 > 0:39:13so you can see what it's like in your house,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15and then we can just move them around
0:39:15 > 0:39:17and have a look at what goes with what, really.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19- OK.- Yeah.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23A common mistake with vibrant colours is not using enough of them.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Try painting whole rooms, including skirtings and even ceilings,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28the effect can be amazing.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33What about the orange at this scale?
0:39:33 > 0:39:34I really like the orange.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37It makes a big difference when you put it on a big area like that.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40- Yeah.- You worry about you're going to close rooms in, though.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43That's always been my worry about colours, especially the darker ones.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47People typically want all rooms to feel light and bright
0:39:47 > 0:39:50but darker colours help create fantastic cosy rooms.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54I think that colour is coming back into architecture
0:39:54 > 0:39:58as an essential component that helps you define the way spaces work.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03The biggest lesson to learn when experimenting with colours
0:40:03 > 0:40:05is how to combine them.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10As your kitchen is already chosen and it's going to be
0:40:10 > 0:40:12that fantastic, rich grey,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16what other colours do you think would be good with it?
0:40:16 > 0:40:17I like the orange with the grey.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19I think that looks really nice
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- and I like that sort of turquoise blue as well.- Me, too.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25These are complementary colours.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27If we went back to that colour wheel,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31those are almost opposite each other, so these are natural friends,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33these colours. They lift each other.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37So this bright orange lifts this teal.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40It's interesting seeing you need the three colours
0:40:40 > 0:40:42to make all of them work.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47Adding a hint of colour or an accent makes all the difference.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51If you take the orange out of the equation,
0:40:51 > 0:40:53that's a pretty dull combination.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55- Yeah.- But if you add the orange in,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58it makes everything seem much crisper,
0:40:58 > 0:41:00but fresher, much brighter.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02A bit of colour brings it alive.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11When you came in this morning you were saying you liked white and grey,
0:41:11 > 0:41:14and now here we are looking at orange and turquoise.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Do you feel a little bit less frightened of colour,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20having seen just how a little bit of colour can transform the way
0:41:20 > 0:41:22other colours work?
0:41:22 > 0:41:26I'd never have thought of any of those apart from the grey.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28That would be, like, a really lovely kitchen, won't it?
0:41:28 > 0:41:31- Yeah, without a doubt. - With all those colours in it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:32That would look really nice.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Definitely been useful, hasn't it?
0:41:34 > 0:41:38- Yes.- We were very bland with our colours.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41I think we needed that bit of inspiration, didn't we?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- We've walked straight past these colours, haven't we, in the shop? - Yeah.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47When Jody and Lori saw me open the paint pot this morning,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51I think they were worried initially that I was going to try and thrust
0:41:51 > 0:41:53upon them some colour they didn't want.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56But actually, all I did was show them the basic principles
0:41:56 > 0:42:00of colour theory and now I think they feel equipped
0:42:00 > 0:42:02to make some quite interesting changes
0:42:02 > 0:42:04to their fairly bland colour scheme.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11Back in Southend,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14one job's dominating everyone's time.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18That's another two metres. That's going to go on that side.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20I've got nine extensions.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Jody's LED lighting scheme.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25- Go for it!- Da-nah!
0:42:25 > 0:42:27It worked.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31In the hallway here is, this is the colour we've settled on.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34This is the LEDs that will give us our working light
0:42:34 > 0:42:37to sort of work around the kitchen, cook the dinner, that type of thing.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39It's still got to have a filter over the top,
0:42:39 > 0:42:41so it won't be quite as bright as this when it's done.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45But basically this is what's going to be going on the ceiling
0:42:45 > 0:42:46in the main room as well.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48It's a gesture in the hallway...
0:42:49 > 0:42:52..but in the main room, he's gone all out.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55We've had at least about 50 metres...
0:42:55 > 0:42:59- Yeah...- ..in the ceiling, and then with the covered lights?
0:42:59 > 0:43:00Maybe another 15 metres.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- 15 metres.- About 65 metres in total.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07I know! I know it's a lot.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Credit to Jody, he's thinking outside the box,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11trying to do something a bit different, you know.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13And sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Let's just hope it does. I think it will.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18I think it will look fantastic when it's done.
0:43:18 > 0:43:24Colin has had the unenviable task of fitting the 60-plus metres
0:43:24 > 0:43:25of LED strip lighting.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28This is a trap that gets installed into the ceiling...
0:43:28 > 0:43:31like this, and then it gets plastered over
0:43:31 > 0:43:34to the lead point there which shows you're there,
0:43:34 > 0:43:38and then once it's finished, the lens just clips over the top
0:43:38 > 0:43:40to hide the LEDs inside.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43That's basically how it looks when it's finished.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46I mean, it's literally ten times more work.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Ten times more work.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51I imagine it will be ten times more money as well.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53But it could look ten times better when it's finished,
0:43:53 > 0:43:56- so that's what it's all about. - He's given me the bill.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58- Yeah!- Just haven't paid it yet.
0:43:58 > 0:43:59No.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Building your own home is a huge financial risk.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08The temptation to get carried away and overspend at the end is enormous.
0:44:09 > 0:44:13We've gone way over what we was expecting to spend.
0:44:13 > 0:44:18But because we've seen things we like,
0:44:18 > 0:44:20we want to add them.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22So, yeah, I mean,
0:44:22 > 0:44:25we are needing to use some credit cards now
0:44:25 > 0:44:27to get the property finished.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29But hopefully once it is finished,
0:44:29 > 0:44:31then we can mortgage it and obviously pay that off.
0:44:31 > 0:44:35But, yes, we've definitely gone over what we was meant to.
0:44:35 > 0:44:38But now we're going to really love the house.
0:44:38 > 0:44:39Just want to get in.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44But will Jody and Lori have produced a home
0:44:44 > 0:44:49that's cheaper and better than the developer homes they couldn't afford?
0:44:49 > 0:44:52And will they like the result?
0:44:54 > 0:44:56Jody and Lori were brought up in Essex
0:44:56 > 0:44:59and understandably wanted to bring their children up here, too.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02But they were priced out of the housing market and couldn't afford
0:45:02 > 0:45:05£400,000 for one of the new executive homes around here.
0:45:06 > 0:45:10We encouraged them to take the opportunity and take a chance
0:45:10 > 0:45:12to make something uniquely theirs.
0:45:12 > 0:45:14So how far have they got for their 100K?
0:45:14 > 0:45:17And have they been able to turn plans that were once generic
0:45:17 > 0:45:18into something uniquely special?
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Just seven months since their build began,
0:45:25 > 0:45:29Piers and I have returned to Essex to see the home one final time.
0:45:29 > 0:45:31- Hi, guys.- Hi, how you doing?
0:45:31 > 0:45:32- All right.- Look at this!
0:45:32 > 0:45:34- Finished!- Good to see you both.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36- Good to see you.- There's a hell of a lot work here,
0:45:36 > 0:45:37it's amazing to see it finished.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39- How do you guys feel? - Been nonstop, really.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41- Nonstop, hard work. - Especially the last few months.
0:45:41 > 0:45:43I can't wait to see what you've created inside,
0:45:43 > 0:45:46but the outside of this building was kind of defined for you
0:45:46 > 0:45:47a little bit, wasn't it?
0:45:47 > 0:45:50Yeah, we had to stay quite traditional as well for the planning permission.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54Obviously we made up for that by inside doing something different.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57In a way you've taken a standard building but then quite subtly
0:45:57 > 0:46:00you've made it your own. The windows of course are one thing.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03The dark grey windows really lift it and then the render is very simple.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06There's no brick quoins or feature details and you've done that
0:46:06 > 0:46:08quite consciously, haven't you?
0:46:08 > 0:46:11The paring back of a standard model of a house.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13Yeah. We didn't want it to stand out too much.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16We still tried to make it a bit more modern as well.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18- Yeah.- And are there some surprises for us inside?
0:46:18 > 0:46:19We got a bit carried away.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21It's a little bit crazy in there.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Hang on. This is understated.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25You're saying inside is overstated?
0:46:25 > 0:46:26- Yeah.- Maybe a little bit.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28- Possibly.- Can we go and have a look?
0:46:28 > 0:46:29- Sure can.- Great!- Great.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30Lead on.
0:46:33 > 0:46:34Like most new homes,
0:46:34 > 0:46:38the hallway in this family home was completely ignored.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41There was no storage, it was narrow and had no natural light
0:46:41 > 0:46:44because the staircase was at the back of the house.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52This is great. I mean, the first thing is that it strikes you
0:46:52 > 0:46:55as much wider than a normal developer house would be.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57It's quite a generous, light space.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00You can see light coming from different directions.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02This re-design was a big job
0:47:02 > 0:47:07but allowed the old bathroom window to light the staircase.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09Brilliant white is used on every surface
0:47:09 > 0:47:11to increase the sense of space.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15It's interesting what a big change the organisation of the staircase
0:47:15 > 0:47:16has made to the house,
0:47:16 > 0:47:19and the window makes such a big difference for nothing.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22It's a small bathroom window, or it was the bathroom window,
0:47:22 > 0:47:24but you pushed the bathroom back.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27And you've just put the window then in the heart of the house,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30where the stairwell is, and what it means is this whole entrance,
0:47:30 > 0:47:32all of the circulation and all of the rooms
0:47:32 > 0:47:35benefit enormously from light and quality of space.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38- So worth it.- What do you think the benefit's been?
0:47:38 > 0:47:41It's just, yeah, with the kids there's so much more room
0:47:41 > 0:47:45coming home. I love it. At our house at the moment we've got nothing.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47You literally walk into our front room.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51So having the space like this was really, really important, wasn't it?
0:47:51 > 0:47:55- Although it wasn't in your previous scheme, was it?- No.
0:47:55 > 0:47:56- It was that important.- Exactly.
0:47:56 > 0:47:58Didn't think about it.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01But I'm also really intrigued by this light fitting.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04Because I know, I remember us going to see that beautiful Lipton
0:48:04 > 0:48:06plant extension and interior and you really...
0:48:06 > 0:48:08you sort of loved those light fittings.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11- Loved it.- You pledged to go and make them and you've done it.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13I loved that. I'm into my sci-fi, and as soon as I saw those,
0:48:13 > 0:48:15I was like, definitely got to have those.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17And obviously we've gone a bit mad with it.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21Your light is performing exactly the same function that it did
0:48:21 > 0:48:22at that beautiful interior,
0:48:22 > 0:48:25which is about leading us into the main space,
0:48:25 > 0:48:27which I'm so excited to see.
0:48:27 > 0:48:28And it's amazing.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48So big. You don't expect it from the street.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51This huge, generous space and the view from these windows.
0:48:51 > 0:48:52It's fabulous!
0:48:54 > 0:48:59Jody and Lori have hand-picked ideas we showed them and ran with them.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02A single quality flooring is used throughout.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Bespoke strip lighting marks out different zones
0:49:06 > 0:49:10and the room is flooded with light from the rear and above.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12When I think of that interior we went to see together,
0:49:12 > 0:49:15I sort of got the impression when we were there that you thought
0:49:15 > 0:49:17it might be a bit out of your league, but what do you think now?
0:49:17 > 0:49:21Massively. Yeah, and we've done it pretty much, haven't we?
0:49:21 > 0:49:23If you just budget a little bit better you can get it,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26- and that's what we've done, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29They've managed to make the main living room a real surprise.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33The way that you've run this along across the room,
0:49:33 > 0:49:35because you come into a long corridor.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38You go into a bit of the kitchen that is all about the length of it.
0:49:38 > 0:49:42And actually here, this is all about the width and it feels twice as wide
0:49:42 > 0:49:43as it actually is. It's great.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46It is lovely. And we wanted to make the most of this view.
0:49:46 > 0:49:48So that was the priority.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51I really love this window.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54Some people think this would be too expensive to achieve on the kind
0:49:54 > 0:49:57of budgets you were working to, so how did you manage to get this?
0:49:57 > 0:49:59I called around to get quite a few quotes,
0:49:59 > 0:50:01but it ended up being a local company.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03I think they were about £3,800.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05I didn't think that was too bad at all, really.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08That's a lot lower than you'd expect for a similar product, isn't it?
0:50:08 > 0:50:10- Yeah.- I think you had another price for about 12,000.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Most of the quotes were about 11,000, 12,000, so,
0:50:13 > 0:50:16especially for the thin profiles which I've got here,
0:50:16 > 0:50:17so I was really happy with that.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20And your lights, they're great. They look amazing!
0:50:20 > 0:50:22You've gone light-tastic in here.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24When we were eventually able to switch them on,
0:50:24 > 0:50:25I really was pleased,
0:50:25 > 0:50:28because we just didn't know what it was going to look like.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30We turned them on, and me and the guy, Colin, who done them,
0:50:30 > 0:50:32we were just both like, "Wow!"
0:50:32 > 0:50:35It was worth it. We got that big smile on our faces.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37So we were really pleased with it.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41The final bill for all the lighting was around £3,000.
0:50:41 > 0:50:45Jody and Lori have been clever to spend money where it counts,
0:50:45 > 0:50:47raising this home out of the ordinary,
0:50:47 > 0:50:51but some of their boldest moves cost very little.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54It's interesting to remember that you were going to paint
0:50:54 > 0:50:57all of this white or, if not white, shades of very subtle greys.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59And this is quite a radical departure for you, isn't it?
0:50:59 > 0:51:01- Yeah.- Fantastic grey.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03And because the house is so light,
0:51:03 > 0:51:04this is something you can get away with.
0:51:04 > 0:51:07We were so nervous before, weren't we, putting it on?
0:51:07 > 0:51:11And then as soon as we started painting, we were like, "Wow."
0:51:11 > 0:51:14Just made the room look so much nicer.
0:51:14 > 0:51:15Was there a bit of a barrier to get past
0:51:15 > 0:51:19in terms of just being interested in wallpaper or a colour, or...?
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Do you know, every single member of our families
0:51:21 > 0:51:24tried to put us off that wall, doing that grey.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26And now they all love it.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29I think I was trying to persuade you to use a tiny bit of orange with it.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31- Yes.- You haven't done that, have you?
0:51:31 > 0:51:33- I went for the copper instead.- Yeah.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40There are lots of unique things in this house and I can see another one
0:51:40 > 0:51:44over here, which is this window into your front room.
0:51:44 > 0:51:47And I think that was where you were going to put your expensive, well,
0:51:47 > 0:51:48£5,500 fireplace.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52And instead there's a couple of hundred quid's worth of glass,
0:51:52 > 0:51:54- which I think is much better. - It's a very good saving.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56- Thank you very much.- I like it.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58It's really simple and most people don't know how to deal
0:51:58 > 0:52:01with that front room, but actually this is really good solution.
0:52:05 > 0:52:06So here's the other colour.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09This is the teal that we talked at length about,
0:52:09 > 0:52:10needing to go with the grey.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13And it's great to see it. You can't quite see the two colours together,
0:52:13 > 0:52:15but you carry that grey with you, don't you?
0:52:15 > 0:52:17And this really works.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19- We liked the colour, didn't we? - Yeah, loved it.
0:52:19 > 0:52:20It's nice. And the walls are nice.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22Still white skirting boards.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25I wanted to do them teal but Jody said no.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27All his family were like, "No, leave them white."
0:52:27 > 0:52:30- You ganged up on Lori about the teal.- They bullied me!
0:52:30 > 0:52:31Why did you feel the need?
0:52:31 > 0:52:34I wasn't sure about the skirting boards in the same colour as the wall.
0:52:34 > 0:52:36But then you wouldn't notice them - that's the point.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Everyone just wants to stick to what they know,
0:52:38 > 0:52:40and they know skirting boards are white.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43- And that's it.- We're on Lori's side. - Yeah.
0:52:43 > 0:52:44How is this room going to be used?
0:52:44 > 0:52:47It's just going to be a TV room, isn't it?
0:52:47 > 0:52:49- Like a snug.- It's not just a TV room, Lori.
0:52:49 > 0:52:50This is the cinema room!
0:52:50 > 0:52:52This is very important!
0:52:52 > 0:52:54Something tells me that that isn't the cinema.
0:52:54 > 0:52:56This isn't the TV, is it?
0:52:56 > 0:52:58No, that's not the TV. That's actually a...
0:52:58 > 0:53:01fire.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03- More light!- More lights.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05How about you, Kieran? Are you going to get one of these?
0:53:05 > 0:53:08I'd really like to hear what you think of this, actually.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10I think my kids would love it.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13That is the most backhanded compliment I've ever heard!
0:53:13 > 0:53:15- You hate it?- Piers hates it, but don't feel bad,
0:53:15 > 0:53:18because he hates lots of things normal people like.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20I really love that it didn't cost five and a half grand.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22- Exactly.- Good answer.
0:53:22 > 0:53:23Good answer.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29Upstairs, moving the staircase means a narrow corridor
0:53:29 > 0:53:36becomes an enormous landing leading to the kids' rooms, a study,
0:53:36 > 0:53:39and a large, sumptuous bathroom with views across the fields.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47But the best views are saved for the top floor.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50Great. You always wanted your master bedroom, didn't you?
0:53:50 > 0:53:52This is an amazing space.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54And this view is incredible.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57And that's my side of the bed, so I get that every morning.
0:53:59 > 0:54:03It's so nice. One of the things I've noticed, especially about today,
0:54:03 > 0:54:06is you seem to have grown so much in confidence
0:54:06 > 0:54:09in terms of making decisions about the building, about interiors,
0:54:09 > 0:54:12about how you want the building to be and how you want your house to be.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14Is that fair? Do you feel like you've come on?
0:54:14 > 0:54:17Yeah, I mean, at the start it was causing me so much stress.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19I found it really daunting.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21I was thinking, "Oh, my God, where do I start?"
0:54:21 > 0:54:23But, do you know what? I actually love it.
0:54:23 > 0:54:24I really enjoy it.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27I don't know what I'm going to do with my time any more.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29It's just about having the confidence to do it.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32And once you take that first step, and, like, put a colour on the wall,
0:54:32 > 0:54:36or whatever, then the rest of it just flows.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38It's really fantastic. Do you think you want to do more
0:54:38 > 0:54:40- of that kind of stuff?- Yeah, yeah.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43I'll be looking for someone else's house to decorate now!
0:54:43 > 0:54:45- Perhaps a new career.- Yeah!
0:54:45 > 0:54:48They began with low expectations for their low-cost home
0:54:48 > 0:54:54but, with clever choices, have tuned it to their likes and lifestyle.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56I didn't think it would be as good
0:54:56 > 0:54:58as the houses I'd seen in towns nearby,
0:54:58 > 0:55:00but actually I think it's better.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03And the quality of space, especially downstairs...
0:55:03 > 0:55:06- Exactly.- It's impossible to buy that, isn't it, in areas like this?
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Yes, it is. We would never be able to get a house like this
0:55:09 > 0:55:12without putting in a load more money.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15But this was always a financial gamble.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17So has it paid off?
0:55:18 > 0:55:20The big question.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23How much did you have in your budget and how much have you spent?
0:55:24 > 0:55:28Well, I mean, the aim was to get it in for 100,000.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31- And?- We haven't done that, no.
0:55:31 > 0:55:36The actual costs of the build was around about 115,000.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39But I think we sort of got a bit carried away with the fact that...
0:55:39 > 0:55:43We just wanted a few nice things so I think we're going to be
0:55:43 > 0:55:44at around 130, so...
0:55:44 > 0:55:48Tell me where that extra 30,000 has come from to augment the budget.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52That's our savings, so we literally have no money left.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55- Right!- Yes, we are out, pretty much, now.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57So you're in debt to everyone in your family?
0:55:57 > 0:55:59- Yeah.- No savings.
0:55:59 > 0:56:02Credit cards everywhere. But, you know, it had to be done.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05You know? Once you've started, you've got to finish,
0:56:05 > 0:56:07- if you know what I mean.- And tell me how much you paid for the land.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10115,000 for the land.
0:56:10 > 0:56:15I mean, in total, between 260 and 300, say, for this package,
0:56:15 > 0:56:19how does that compare to other properties you look at in the area?
0:56:19 > 0:56:23The detached ones, the new-builds that are nearby, about 450, so...
0:56:23 > 0:56:25And they're not as nice as this.
0:56:25 > 0:56:26But doing it this way, I mean,
0:56:26 > 0:56:30I know that it's a bit more extra work than buying a normal house,
0:56:30 > 0:56:32but we've got exactly what we wanted for a lot less money as well,
0:56:32 > 0:56:35so in that respect we're happy.
0:56:39 > 0:56:43But after dark, this unique home truly shines.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52What started off bog-standard and generic
0:56:52 > 0:56:55is full of character, colour and fun.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58Come in, everyone.
0:57:00 > 0:57:02Making it the perfect place...
0:57:05 > 0:57:09..to enjoy with family and friends who helped along the way
0:57:09 > 0:57:12and still live just down the road.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14So, what do you think?
0:57:14 > 0:57:17- Beautiful!- It just looks amazing.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19- Yeah.- We are all very, very envious.
0:57:19 > 0:57:21What do you think of Lori's lights?
0:57:21 > 0:57:24Wonderful. I want them myself now.
0:57:24 > 0:57:25- Do you!- Yes.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33It's a very modest house that sits on a road with other modest houses
0:57:33 > 0:57:37but you come in and immediately that's left behind,
0:57:37 > 0:57:40because you look through the door into this fantastic room
0:57:40 > 0:57:44and you leave the world of the developer house behind.
0:57:44 > 0:57:45It's a real surprise, actually,
0:57:45 > 0:57:48and a real lesson that you can take ordinary things
0:57:48 > 0:57:51and, for no more money, make them much, much better.
0:57:55 > 0:57:58I really enjoyed working with Jody and Lori on this house.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02In the beginning, they were the kind of people who perhaps thought
0:58:02 > 0:58:05design wasn't for them. That it was a bit pretentious, a bit tricky.
0:58:05 > 0:58:09But I think through this process they realised that it's precisely
0:58:09 > 0:58:12the thing that transforms an ordinary building site,
0:58:12 > 0:58:13a generic set of plans, into a home,
0:58:13 > 0:58:16into a place they want to stay for many years,
0:58:16 > 0:58:18and that's precisely what they've got.