The hit property TV makeover show Your Home Made Perfect returns to our screens on Monday and features Northumberland architect Lynsey Elliott - as well as a new twist.
She is one of five new architects to join the programme, hosted by Angela Scanlon, who will be transforming problematic homes into dream homes - this time with the magic of virtual reality.
In each episode of the BBC programme, now in its third series, , a family will be presented with two radically different designs by two of the architects, before deciding which to make a reality.
Laura Jane Clark returns to the show, joined by Lynsey as well as Julian Mcintosh, Will Foster, Lizzie Fraher and Damion Burrows. Robert Jamison won't be a part of the new series due to schedule commitments.
Lynsey, who was born in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary and went to Whickham Comprehensive School, said: "I was privileged to be asked and excited by the opportunity to be taken a little out of my comfort zone.
"Your Home Made Perfect don’t seek drama through disaster or misfortune, they emphasise the skill, control and positive impact that an Architect can have on a project no matter what the scale."
Lynsey said her architectural education was heavily art based, studying at both the Mackintosh School of Art in Glasgow and Washington University in St. Louis.
Her professional life began in Manchester working on very large scale regeneration projects following the destruction of the city centre bombing in 1996.
After two years in Manchester she moved to Bath working in a small design based practice with projects in a more sensitive and historic context.
Married to fellow architect Ben Elliott and now with three children, they decided to move back to the region where she still has family.
Lynsey said: "After city living for over a decade we were keen to bring our young family back to the North East.
"The appeal of friendly welcoming people, wide wild landscapes, the beach and significantly less traffic were a big draw for the next phase in our life."
The couple run Elliott Architects based in Corbridge. "Our own practice has grown naturally through word of mouth supported by our quality and commitment to architecture and our clients," she said.
Lynsey said she was in part inspired to become an architect by her parents who bought wrecks of houses and did them up, doing most of the work themselves.
"We were always heavily involved even as kids, a lifetime in building sites and then enjoying the fruits of your labour and then doing it all again. We have inflicted the same on our children."
As for her favourite North East buildings, Lynsey said: "From a nostalgic point of view I love the Crown Posada pub on the Quayside as it reassuringly hasn’t changed.
"From my late teens to when I brought my husband to Newcastle for the first time, it was the first building we visited. I love this building for the memories, its compromised space, and of course its classical extravagant architectural features, it feels indulgent for such a small building.
"In complete contrast to the Crown, the other building that I love in our region is Cragside.
"I appreciate it as a beautiful building in a phenomenal setting, but it stands out to me as an architect for the consideration of the spaces making it work effortlessly as a home, combined with the integration of fantastically advanced technologies means this building was far ahead of its contemporaries of the time but its style and craft remain timeless."
Two examples of Elliott Architects work are the Dell in Morpeth and North Bank in Haydon Bridge.
Her one tip to homeowners wanting to make a big renovation?
Lynsey said: "Quality not quantity, bigger is not always better. Good design comes from understanding the existing building; evaluating and retaining what works well and not being afraid to discard what does not.
"Be open minded yet selective, there is a temptation to be like a child in a sweet shop when it comes to style, finishes, products etc, keep the palette simple, it will be more effective."
* Your Home Made Perfect starts on Monday, May 24 at 8pm on BBC Two. Lynsey first features in the second episode on May 31.
