Married couple transform rundown cottage into dream home for £3,000

A savvy couple have revealed how they transformed a rundown cottage into their dream home for just £3,000.

Jane Simpson, 46, and her husband Mark, 49, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, bought the property in June 2018 for £190,000. 

Electrician Mark spends much of his time on building sites, meaning he was easily able to ask his fellow tradesmen for help and advice. He also used YouTube tutorials to learn how to do the jobs himself, rather than having to pay another professional. 

The couple also scoured Facebook and second-hand shops to find materials and furniture for bargain prices. 

The married couple transformed the property, which they bought in June 2018 for £190,000, for a bargain price of £3,000 (above, renovated master bedroom with a freestanding bath)

After getting underway with the renovation, they scoured Facebook and second-hand shops to find materials and furniture for bargain prices (above, master bedroom during renovation)

After getting underway with the renovation, they scoured Facebook and second-hand shops to find materials and furniture for bargain prices (above, master bedroom during renovation)

They added their own modern flare to the old-fashion bathroom, replacing the old fittings with a sleek stone-tiled effect wet room with a walk-in shower (above, after renovation)

They added their own modern flare to the old-fashion bathroom, replacing the old fittings with a sleek stone-tiled effect wet room with a walk-in shower (above, after renovation)

The married couple renovated the dated family bathroom in the cottage, which featured a vibrant turquoise bath, sink and toilet and other vintage styling

The married couple renovated the dated family bathroom in the cottage, which featured a vibrant turquoise bath, sink and toilet and other vintage styling

Jane Simpson, 46, and her husband Mark, 49, (both pictured), from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, have unveiled their renovation of an old cottage, which had not seen a makeover in 15 years

Jane Simpson, 46, and her husband Mark, 49, (both pictured), from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, have unveiled their renovation of an old cottage, which had not seen a makeover in 15 years

The £3,000 budget 

  • Bath, sink and toilet: £500
  • New chrome taps for sink: £100
  • Macerator pump for toilet: £200
  • Plumbing equipment: £200
  • Windows and door: £700
  • Flooring: £400
  • Second-hand staircase (taken out of another home): £50
  • Plaster boards: £200
  • Insulation boards: £200
  • Three sets of drawers from WayFair (sale item): £300
  • Stair spindles: £70
  • Skirting board: £70
  • Ceiling bracket: £40
  • Shelving: Free 

Total: £3,030

Jane, who works at a kennels, explained: ‘Mark’s the real driving force behind the renovation, I could never have imagined it looking like it does.

‘The cottage hadn’t been decorated or changed for around 15 years and had been empty for three years before we moved in.’

She continued: ‘Mark’s an electrician but can do most other things.

‘Working on building sites means he’s been able to ask tradesmen to come and look around the property and tell him what he needed to do.

‘Some areas of the home were already to building standards, for instance the joists, so they didn’t need reinforcing, which would have been difficult for us.

‘Mark watched loads of tutorials on YouTube to help him learn how to do things. They’re really useful.’

The couple kept up their full-time jobs while working on the project for the year.  

The centrepiece of their newly renovated home is their impressive loft conversion, which is now the couple’s stunning master bedroom. 

Jane said that her husband did most of the work on the modern bedroom, which even included installing a luxurious freestanding tub.

She said that they bought the bath from Facebook Marketplace, adding the biggest challenge was getting the bath up the stairs, rather than the plumbing.

But they did not stop with renovating just two rooms, as they also transformed another bedroom from its tired textured wallpaper design into a charming grey-themed cosy space

But they did not stop with renovating just two rooms, as they also transformed another bedroom from its tired textured wallpaper design into a charming grey-themed cosy space

Jane revealed that Mark also used YouTube tutorials to learn how to do the jobs himself (pictured during building), rather than having to pay a professional to do the renovation

Jane revealed that Mark also used YouTube tutorials to learn how to do the jobs himself (pictured during building), rather than having to pay a professional to do the renovation

Jane said that her husband, who works as an electrician, did most of the work on the modern bedroom, which even included installing a luxurious freestanding tub

Jane said that her husband, who works as an electrician, did most of the work on the modern bedroom, which even included installing a luxurious freestanding tub

She said that they bought the freestanding bath from Facebook Marketplace, quipping that the biggest challenge was getting the bath up the stairs (above), rather than the plumbing

She said that they bought the freestanding bath from Facebook Marketplace, quipping that the biggest challenge was getting the bath up the stairs (above), rather than the plumbing

Jane continued: ‘I’d seen a picture of a hotel room with a bath and thought it would be nice to have that. The actual plumbing wasn’t too much of an issue for Mark, the hardest part he said was getting the bath up the stairs!

‘We bought the bath from Facebook MarketPlace and the wooden stairs were also second-hand. Mark brought them home on the top of the van!’

Jane added that in their picturesque bedroom, only the bed, mattress, bedding and flooring were bought brand new – and they still bought the bargain items in sales.  

The savvy couple also challenged themselves by turning an adjacent box room into the second bedroom's modern en-suite bathroom

The savvy couple also challenged themselves by turning an adjacent box room into the second bedroom’s modern en-suite bathroom

Jane's husband works as an electrician and spends much of his time on building sites, meaning he was easily able to ask his fellow tradesmen for help and advice (pictured during refurbishing)

They bought the property back in June 2018 for £190,000 after successfully haggling the price down from £250,000 (pictured during refurbishing)

Mark works as an electrician and spends much of his time on building sites, meaning he was easily able to ask his fellow tradesmen for help and advice on building their home (pictured left and right during refurbishing)

Despite holding down full-time jobs, the couple remained dedicated to the project and worked tirelessly on the property for nearly a year (pictured, second bedroom before renovation)

Despite holding down full-time jobs, the couple remained dedicated to the project and worked tirelessly on the property for nearly a year (pictured, second bedroom before renovation)

The couple also renovated the dated family bathroom in the cottage, which featured a vibrant turquoise bath, sink and toilet and other vintage styling.

They added their own modern flare to the bathroom, replacing the old fittings with a sleek stone-tiled effect wet room with a walk-in shower.  

But they did not stop there, as they also transformed another bedroom from its tired textured wallpaper design into a charming grey-themed cosy space.

They also challenged themselves by turning an adjacent box room into the second bedroom’s modern en-suite bathroom. 

Jane and Mark (pictured building above) have no intention of slowing down, as they plan to carry on renovating the house and garden, which will feature an outside bar and a pizza oven

Jane and Mark (pictured building above) have no intention of slowing down, as they plan to carry on renovating the house and garden, which will feature an outside bar and a pizza oven

After unveiling their 'before and after' shots on Facebook (pictured, the new modern master bedroom), their followers were quick to share their love for the stunning transformation

After unveiling their ‘before and after’ shots on Facebook (pictured, the new modern master bedroom), their followers were quick to share their love for the stunning transformation

And Jane and Mark have no intention of slowing down their bargain transformation, as they plan to carry on renovating the house and garden, which will feature an outside bar and a pizza oven.

Jane said: ‘We’ve got about seven rooms left to do and Mark’s already started on his next project. 

‘He’s also building an outside bar with a pizza oven in the garden for the summer.’

After unveiling their impressive ‘before and after’ shots on Facebook, their followers were quick to share their love for the stunning transformation. 

One woman wrote: ‘I’m leaving my kids to live with u!’ [sic]

While another excitedly penned: ‘OMG!! Can we clone your husband because we all want one… it’s fabulous.’

A third gushed: ‘Omg!! Can we clone your husband cos we all want one. It’s fabulous you must both be so happy n proud and rightly so!!’ 

And another said: ‘Can he come to my house too please! 

‘Fab fab job, bet its lovely sleeping at the top of the house x’ 

Jane gave some wise words of advice for anyone thinking of renovating their own home, explaining: ‘Be sure to follow loads of DIY pages on social media.

‘Not only are they fab for tips and ideas but they’re also great for reminding you it’s all worth it in the end! The worst thing is the constant dust throughout the house.’