couple After learning how to DIY on YouTube, he spent £150,000 on the 'ugliest house on the street', doubling its value and turning it into his dream home.
Lizzie Williams, 37, and her husband Phil, 40, who works in finance, bought a four-bed semi-detached house in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in June 2014.
They claim the property had not been lived in for four years and was the “ugliest” property on the road. There were holes in the ceiling, dead plants and bacteria growing in the downstairs toilet.
The couple spent nine years renovating the property themselves and estimate they saved £200,000. I learned about plumbing, electrical, how to build a pool, and how to install a kitchen on YouTube.
They hired a contractor to build an addition to the back of the property and install a new roof.
The long garden path leading to the summerhouse, which previously had little charm (left), is now elegantly arranged around the swimming pool and patio (right)
After a difficult building project (left), the family renovated the garden in a contemporary style (right)
The kitchen looked neglected as it hadn't been used for four years (left), but now it's a modern family kitchen with an island breakfast bar (right)
What was once a dark, dirty, and uncomfortable bathroom (left) is now a bright and airy space (right)
They completed the renovations in September 2023 and say they have turned this home into the perfect family home.
Lizzie and Phil used their savings and salaries to spend a total of £150,000 renovating “the ugliest house on the street”, which they say has doubled its value.
Lizzie, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who works in marketing, said: 'Phil is very detail-oriented and absorbs information really well.
“We used a lot of online forums to collaborate, and we also watched YouTube videos.
“He relied on his friends and family to help us and ask for advice on how to deal with the situation.
“That means doing a ton of research on the internet and asking your friends.
“We have put our heart and soul into this home, and the fact that we did many of the renovations ourselves makes our home truly special.
Lizzie and Phil Williams at their four-bed St Albans home, which is being renovated.
Phil Williams works on removing a wall during a building project.
Lizzie and Phil added an extension to the front of the property
This home exudes charm with a blend of tradition and contemporary style.
“Renovating the main house took about six years as we did most of the work ourselves.
“We finished the garden and completely completed the renovation last year, nine years after we first bought the house.”
The couple bought the property in June 2014, moved in six months later and began demolishing the building.
Phil and Lizzie initially lived in a two-bedroom while renovations were being carried out around them.
Lizzie says, “We set up the front room as a bedroom, followed by a back bedroom that we used as a living room.”
“Other places we worked, we lived in that room for a year.
“We weren’t at the back of the house for a year because we were also building an addition.”
When they bought the property, it had four bedrooms, but Phil and Lizzie expanded the property to make more bedrooms and renovated the garage to add four more rooms.
Lizzie said: “It's not the same house we bought, we redid the plumbing and we worked with our neighbors to add a two-storey extension to the rear.
“We were able to extend the property into a garden.
“We converted the garage into four rooms that we use as a utility room, toilet, study and storage room.
“We went down a little bit and there was just a cavity underneath the house that was used as a storage room.
“We got that space back, and now you can step into our kitchen area.”
The inside of Lizzie and Phil's St. Albans home is unrecognizable from how it used to be.
The house was stripped out by Lizzie and Phil during renovations.
The couple trained themselves to do most of the plumbing and electrical work themselves (pictured: new joists installed under the living room floor)
The couple spent £150,000 renovating the property after realizing its potential.
Lizzie and Phil spent a total of £150,000 on the property, had £40,000 in savings, borrowed money and used their salaries to fund the renovations.
Lizzie said: “The £40,000 we saved lasted us for about two years, we borrowed more money and the rest went towards our own salaries.”
“That's another reason it took so long because we didn't have huge reserves.
“It's been a lot of work, but we love it.”
Lizzie said her favorite room in the house was the kitchen, and said she enjoyed the home's “quirky” features, including a “hangover bench” to sit on in the shower and a TV in the bathroom.
Lizzie says, “We love the kitchen. We love the high ceilings and the space.”
“You wouldn't know that in a 1950s house, but the ceiling in our kitchen is 3.5 meters high.
“It gives you a sense of space and openness that you can’t get anywhere else.
“Of course the swimming pool is cool. In the summer it's great for my three-year-old son William.”
“We incorporated some fun features into the home: There is a TV in the family bathroom.
“There is a bench in the shower stall that we affectionately call the hangover bench.”