{"id":23567,"date":"2024-02-08T15:46:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T15:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/?p=23567"},"modified":"2024-02-08T15:46:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T15:46:21","slug":"home-renovation-updating-a-1930s-end-of-terrace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/home-tours\/home-renovation-updating-a-1930s-end-of-terrace\/","title":{"rendered":"Home renovation: Updating a 1930s end-of-terrace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Operations manager Ciara Murphy and her partner, lead project engineer Daniel Bowen, discovered their 1930s three-bedroom home for sale by pure chance. They had initially dismissed the area of Cardiff the house was situated in, when their friend spotted the property online and sent over the details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018The house is close to the university with a large student population, and we thought it would be a noisy place to live,\u2019 recalls Ciara. \u2018But it\u2019s tucked away on a beautiful tree-lined residential street and close to great places to eat and drink, so as soon as we viewed it, we knew it was the one for us.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Colin Poole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Dated decor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The couple bought the end-of-terrace property in May 2017 and immediately began renovating. \u2018The previous elderly owner had looked after the house and, structurally, it was in pretty good condition,\u2019 Ciara explains. \u2018But the rooms had been decorated in primary colours, which looked dated, and the narrow galley kitchen layout was impractical for us.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than move in straight away, the couple stayed put in their old flat while work on their new home commenced \u2013 and for six long months they spent every evening and weekend stripping wallpaper and painting. <\/p>
Advertisements<\/div>\r\n\t
<\/div>\r\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u2018We became DIY addicts, watching endless how-to videos online so we could learn the skills we needed to tackle the project,\u2019 says Ciara. \u2018It was the norm for us to be working in here until 11pm most nights, and our social life vanished as we focused our attention on making over our new home. We joked that we had to ruin our new house to be able to knock it into shape!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a tight budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ciara and Daniel, who live here with their miniature labradoodle, set aside a small pot of money to spend on the house, but it was soon used up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018We bought things from pay cheque to pay cheque and shopped around for special offers on builders\u2019 merchant websites,\u2019 Ciara explains. \u2018Items like the plug sockets and skirting boards we bought months in advance as they were on sale, and we had to be clever so that our tiny budget would stretch to a new kitchen and bathroom.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Colin Poole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The couple saved up for big-ticket items, only buying them when they had the funds. \u2018We lived with temporary plywood kitchen worktops for a year until we could afford to install quartz ones.\u2019<\/p>
Advertisements<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Their plan was to do as much of the hard work themselves to save costs, so they installed new plumbing, knocked down walls and removed layers of old wallpaper. The only part they couldn\u2019t do was the heavier building work at the back of the house and the plastering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Our builder friend knocked down the dividing wall that separates the kitchen and dining room to open the space for us,\u2019 Ciara explains. \u2018He also blocked up the back door to make way for a new window and installed new bifold doors that open out onto the patio.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Colin Poole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
DIY enthusiast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While the messy work was going on downstairs, the couple started on the upstairs rooms. \u2018In the bathroom we discovered three layers of tiles that needed chipping off,\u2019 says Ciara. \u2018We used a vibration drill, which made the wall weak and unstable, so in the end we had to pull it down and put up a stud wall between the bathroom and bedroom instead, which was an unexpected extra cost. Luckily Daniel is very handy and likes a challenge. We always try to give DIY jobs a go \u2013 we make a great team.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\nImage Credit: Colin Poole<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Despite their best efforts, Ciara and Daniel did have a few nasty surprises along the way. \u2018I dropped a bucket of concrete down the stairs, onto our lovely Minton hallway tiles,\u2019 Ciara explains. \u2018Luckily, it didn\u2019t do any damage, but it created a big mess! We also uncovered a few dodgy DIY jobs done by the previous owners \u2013 including the time we took down the fascia boards in the living room, only to discover that they were holding up a section of the bay window.\u2019<\/p>
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-house-outdoors-e1707405815939-700x1052.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-kitchen-700x525.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-in-kitchen-with-dog-e1707405540863-700x526.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-bathroom-700x525.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-lounge-e1707405692846-700x524.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-guest-bedroom-e1707405600505-700x526.jpg\")
![\"ciara](\"https:\/\/www.goodhomesmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ciara-murphy-dining-table-e1707405725254-700x525.jpg\")