8 More Amazing Restorations!

Rag to riches stories, drag to fab situations, dramatic and awesome restorations, all of these make for inspiration. You probably enjoy watching an episode of Extreme Makeover as much as the next person. There is nothing more exciting than watching a dull building transform into an awesome masterpiece.

As a home restoration expert, I can confidently say that not all restoration projects cost a fortune. It simply depends on the amount of work needed and the picture you have in mind. You can get a really awesome renovation for a few thousand; however, a big project can run into hundreds of thousands.

If this is the case and your funds cannot carry what you have in mind, all is not lost. You can apply for a bridging loan to fund your renovation project. A bridging loan provides a way to raise short-term finances that will allow you to get your renovations done while looking for other sources of long-term finance. This way, your project won’t get stuck for lack of funds, and you can join the few lucky ones whose homes are beautiful enough to grace home magazines and websites.

While virtually every restoration is beautiful in its own right, check out the following 8 to see examples of some really amazing restorations.

Up one level

A two-bedroom bungalow in Hampshire became too small for the growing family, despite the fact that it had a small terrace out back. Due to the sloping terrain surrounding the house, building an extension would have been too expensive. The best approach, therefore, was to construct a new first floor, adding a dual-pitched roof that allowed all bedrooms to be located upstairs. This made it possible to have a bigger and better living room on the ground floor.

The original bedroom was joined into the hallway to create a bigger entrance with a staircase and vaulted ceiling. The overall effect is one of extreme creativity coupled with an awesome, stylish white finish.

An astonishing remake

A 1950s bungalow in Oxfordshire was brilliantly converted into an ultramodern masterpiece, with much of the materials coming from the original structure. The owners wanted a modern home suitable for their growing family, and the result was a striking difference from the drab-looking farmhouse-type bungalow with three bedrooms and a loft. The new structure came with better access to the garden, a well-lit living area, and a glazed extension, resulting in an awesome courtyard setting.

From old to modern

Almost everywhere in the UK, you are bound to come across a ranch-style home. One such home was bought by a family in Manchester with the intention of modernising it. The idea was to give it a whole new look without tearing down the building or changing the structure in any way. The result is an exciting new structure with a silhouette design made by creating a bigger living and sleeping area and by adding a new parapet to the roof. A dried Douglas fir coat on the old brick exterior gave the building an endearing rustic atmosphere, which also allowed it to blend in perfectly with other houses in the neighbourhood.

Meet the Tudors

Mark and Julia came across a Georgian home for sale in Shropshire and fell in love with it immediately. After buying it, they spent the next ten years putting it together. The result is an awesome Tudor-style home that anyone will envy. The new design involves bringing down the height of the house; they were also able to add twin three-story wings, leaving the original two-story building in the middle to create a balance. One entire wing has a guest entrance, a ground-floor living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. It is obvious that very close attention was paid to every detail and aspect of this awesome renovation.

Dreary home to period charm

Restoring a home to its original state is a very British thing to do, or so the Brits think. But what cannot be denied is that period homes have a charm that modern buildings do not, so you cannot blame anyone who wants to restore their homes to their original vintage beauty. A 19th-century terraced building in the south-west of London is one such building that became a victim of the 20th century. Lots of modern updates helped strip off its period charm, making it a ghost of its original self.

Restoring the original Victorian sash windows and exposing the brick walls are just some of the steps taken to restore this home to its lost glory.

When ugly just won’t work

Owner Jo Glenton realised that his 1960s Cheshire 3-story property was ugly, despite its good proportions and great location. A lot of’major surgery’ was carried out on the property to bring it to a point where anyone can be proud to own it.

This involved dealing with the ugly brickwork and using a soft colour scheme to create a balance between every component of the house. The windows are enlarged to allow for more natural light, and the green tile on the roof was replaced with slate to allow for a more natural look. The overall result is a testament to creativity and will.

Renovating for space

In 2012, Sam and Patrick Regan came across a detached 1950s home with a little bit more than the regular wear and tear. Leaking roofs, rotten and broken windows, and very little visual appeal are putting a brave face on what the new owners were to face in their new home. Even the estate agent couldn’t help but admit that the property needed a bit of work.

Despite these limitations, Sam and Patrick set about converting their four-bedroom property into a five-bedroom home for their family.

Today, Sam, Patrick, and their family have zero regrets and are completely enjoying their new home.

Utilising the loft

Designer Sarah Wallis bought a single-story flat in London that was made up of a set of small rooms left abandoned since sometime in the 1970s. Despite the state of the property, Sarah was willing to take it and invest time and money into renovating it into a whole new loft flat. The project involved knocking down the walls between rooms and making a large open space for the living and kitchen areas. Two-thirds of the ceiling was then moved to allow for an extra bedroom and bathroom. The overall result is an awesome-looking loft maisonette.