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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Business
Storm Newton

People transform nightmare houses into dream homes

Ever find yourself down a rabbit hole of reels? Or enjoying a buffet of before and afters? The ECHO has pulled together the top Instagram accounts charting their home journeys for you to enjoy.

These include show-stopping revamps, tips for that DIY project you've been putting off, or where to find the best and cheapest finishing touches to make your home stand out.

In no particular order, here are a run down of some of the best accounts run by people from Merseyside on Instagram:

READ MORE: 'Beautifully' decorated flat in prestigious area for sale

@home_at_threefourfive - 162k followers

This page is focused on Lyndsey's second renovation journey - she transformed her three-bed Halewood semi on her previous @home_at_242 account, creating a modern and stylish home with a show stopping rear deck. The new place in Cronton is a bungalow, something Lyndsey has had her eye on for a while given the potential to expand on the usually large plots.

The garden of the Cronton bungalow looks like the Love Island villa (Lyndsey Gynane)

Work on the inside isn't expected to get underway until autumn, but that doesn't mean the family is slacking - they've already converted the former koi carp pond in the garden into a jaw-dropping pool, complete with a sunken fire pit that looks like it's straight from the Love Island villa.

@thetaleofelmsvale - 24.3k followers

Hannah and Alisdair started their renovation journey in 2018 with a south Liverpool doer upper dating back to the 1840s. They have amassed thousands of followers with their content, showing in-depth and behind-the-scenes snippets of the project which has so far included an extension, the installation of a bedroom mezzanine and a statement blue and grey kitchen with a sky light and bi-fold doors.

Hannah is really proud of the history of the house and has done some digging into its roots. She has also painstakingly tried to restore what she can of its period features, French polishing the old staircase and replacing the coving. Next on the list - tackling the Victorian coach house.

Hannah and Alisdair's kitchen with its statement central island (@thetaleofelmsvale)

@southport_victorian_renovation - 5.8k followers

Ceri and Rich are doing up a breath-taking six-bedroom Victorian house near Hesketh Park in Southport - a very sought-after area. It was built in 1893 and the new owners are all about 'sympathy and rejuvenation' as well as bringing essentials such as the electrics into the 21st century.

Protecting the period features in their Southport home is a priority for Ceri and Rich (@southport_victorian_renovation)

Protection is their priority, especially when it comes to original period features such as the stained glass windows, the stained glass front door, butlers bells, the ornate staircase and unusual fireplaces for generations to come to use. And their hands are full to say the least - she and her partner are also juggling full-time jobs, a teenager and a puppy.

@atthegallghers - 1.8k followers

Abbey Mercer had three children under three when she bought her 1930s south Liverpool home in 2018. She saved up before embarking on the much-needed extension two years ago. There were setbacks - namely a global pandemic - but the huge space now houses a stylish monochrome kitchen, dining and living space with a central island.

Abbey has created a monochrome dream home with a massive extension (@atthegallaghers)

@chronicles_on_the_crescent - 5.3k followers

Leah has lived in her 1850s Victorian home now for 13 years. She knew it was her "forever home" so has taken her time with the restoration, redecorating each room from scratch.

The period features are her favourite part of the property. She's worked hard to retain everything, from the fireplace to the coving, shutters and the panelling. She's also revamped the basement to create a vast space acting as a games room, cinema room and bar, complete with an impressive wine cooler under the stairs.

Leah's basement is now a bar, cinema room and games room with a hidden wine store (@chronicles_on_the_crescent)

@project_no.37 - 2.3k followers

This is a real labour of love for Emma; she grew up in a Victorian house in Scotland and after seeing this south Liverpool property, she had to have it - even if it was "heart over head". It's now a multi-level family home - it has been extended upwards, and the small outside space is now a functional 'yarden' for the family to enjoy.

Emma has been smart about using space, extending upwards instead of to the rear or side (@project_no.37)

Hard work has been taken to protect original features, although vandals did try to make away with the lounge fireplace before the home was occupied - luckily they abandoned it in the middle of floor after discovering it was too heavy.

@inourlpoolhome - 5.1k followers

Holly and Daniel managed to get themselves on the property ladder in 2016, but two years later sold up to get their teeth into a big project. They ripped out the 70s décor of their south Liverpool 1930s semi, taking it back to brick and putting their own stamp on the place. The journey hasn't been easy - especially when a bay window collapsed during the re-rendering - but the couple has emerged with a gorgeous home inside and out, adding an extension and creating a relaxing outside space in the garden.

Holly and Daniel took their home back to brick (@inourlpoolhome)

@theadventuresofastolat - 2.6k followers

Angela and Mark are currently doing up a Victorian semi and are self-confessed novices to the renovation game. Despite this, they've created a space full of colour while keeping in touch with the home's history - decorative coving, panelled walls and a statement staircase lie among modern lighting, herringbone tiles and conversation starter art work.

Angela and Mark are new to renovation game but have created a gorgeous period home (@theadventuresofasolat)

Next on the couple's list in a full basement overhaul, so watch this space.

@theedwardianscousehouse - 2.4k followers

This is another account charting its owners' second renovation. Louise has styled her new place as 'the one with the purple door' and is just a few months in to the new project: "We picked purple because we think it's important for our house to be our happy place and have a sense of fun," she told the ECHO.

The dreamy pink kitchen at the Edwardian Scouse House (@theedwardianscousehouse)

The kitchen really is the heart of the home in this period property; it's a salmon pink show-stopper with gold accents and a gorgeous central island. She's now working on an outdoor kitchen for al fresco dining, making smart use of a small space. Work is being carried out by Mustard Seed Gardens.

@thehousethatjenbuilt_ - 109k followers

This is another account whose owner is no stranger to a doer upper. Jen's family moved into their 1930s home earlier this year and they haven't hesitated in getting straight down to work.

Jen has carried out a lot of the work herself and has now turned to tutorials (@thehousethatjenbuilt)

Jen spends a lot of time getting her hands dirty and the end product really shows her hard work. She's done everything from replacing skirting boards to sanding down the floors. Jen has now also branched into tips and tricks if you're brave enough; you can find everything from two-tone paint tutorials to DIY panelling.

READ NEXT:

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