Stories from Site - Renovation Podcast

In this bonus episode, Amy and Jane round up their key takeaways and top tips shared by the renovators in our fifth series of the Stories from Site podcast. They discuss the common themes that emerged, including the different ways of phasing your project, the essential preparation that every project needs and the different timescales involved. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk with Isabelle who shares her experience working with an interior designer to renovate her London flat. We discuss the importance of creating a warm and inviting home, the vision for the space, and how her interior designer helped bring it all together. Find Topology Interiors at https://www.topologyinteriors.com/ Quote HOMENOTES and you'll get £50 off your first e-design package* 🎉 *If you purchase services from Topology HomeNotes will receive a small fee to help fund our work. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk with Jamila, who shares her experience of renovating her home in Yorkshire, room by room. We discuss her negotiation strategies with suppliers, how she worked with her husband as a team, and how visual references and detailed communication helped in getting what she wanted from contractors. Find Jamila on instagram @prosecco_lifestyle __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we chat with Lou about her experience renovating an Edwardian villa. She has rolled up her sleeves, learned trades on the fly, and brought her tired house back to life. We'll discuss how she tackled the project, restored original features, and let her home guide the process of creating cozy and inviting spaces. Plus, Lou shares the satisfaction of rediscovering her creative side after years in the corporate world. Find Lou on Instagram @notaperioddrama __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Ella, who’s need for a quick turnaround led her to work with a design and build company to create a loft extension for her home. We discuss the hurdles she went through to get to the finish line and the pros and cons of the renovation route she chose to take. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Lee, founder of Bert and May tiles about his latest home renovation. We discuss his approach to creating ‘timeless’ interiors, the art of slow renovating to create a space rich in layers and materiality, plus the environmental need to consider our purchases and avoid renovation waste. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we chat to Jen, as she shares her journey of climbing the housing ladder, one renovation project at a time. We talk to her about upgrading her skills over multiple renovations and the dangers of taking on more than you can handle. Plus the benefits of having a large Instagram following cheering her on. Check out Jen on Instagram @thehousethatjenbuilt_ __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

In this bonus episode, Amy and Jane round up their key takeaways and top tips shared by the renovators in our fourth series of the Stories from Site podcast. They discuss the common themes that emerged, including creating a vision for your project, making sure it meets the needs of your household now and in the future, the emotions of having to adjust it and the relief of seeing it through. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we chat with Lauren, a first-time renovator whose partner's electrician skills are coming in handy as they tackle updating their 1970s home. As we catch up with her midway through her renovation journey, having just completed the kitchen extension and gearing up for the rest of her home, Lauren reflects on the accomplishments achieved so far. Check out Lauren and Ash's project on Instagram @renodreams_at17 __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

In this inspiring episode, we delve into the remarkable self-build journey of Ade, an architectural designer and project manager, who transformed a dilapidated barn into a dream home for his family in the picturesque Kent countryside. We discuss his drive to uncover hidden opportunities, his commitment to maintaining the highest standards throughout the conversion process, and the challenges of putting the fate of your future in the hands of the planners. Check out Ade's Instagram account @threeacrebarn. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

In this episode, we sit down with Bo Fetum, an experienced interior designer who had to make some tough decisions when faced with skyrocketing renovation costs. She shares her insights on how to pivot a project successfully and create beautiful, engaging spaces without breaking the bank. Check out Bo Fetum's Instagram account @bo.fentum.design __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Gemma who renovated an old school building on Anglesey whilst living in Manchester. We talk to her about managing a remote renovation, the pros and cons of working directly with a larger contractor, and the differences in renovating a holiday home as a business. You can stay in Gemma's renovation - check out her listing at https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Anglesey-Dinas/Ysgol-Fawr-1134531.html __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

In this episode, we talked to Barbara about the journey of falling in love with a fixer-upper home, as well as the challenges of handling costs in a labour-only building contract, and the joys of undertaking DIY projects during maternity leave. Check out Barbara's panelling in action on Instagram and TikTok @thebabshouse. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Claire and Dan who renovated a 1950’s bungalow in Poole. With construction costs rising, they reduced the scope of their project, lived on site through the build and managed the project themselves - hiring the different trades they needed on day rates. We discuss their ambition to keep the process a positive one, and how they organised their home to meet the needs of their family. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

In this bonus episode, Amy and Jane round up their key takeaways and top tips shared by the renovators in our third series of the Stories from Site podcast. They discuss the common themes that emerged, such as tight budgets and the need for inventive solutions to make renovations affordable. And share their top tips from the series, including the use of shared accounts for managing finances, budgeting room by room, and finding unique ways to document and track progress. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we speak to Camilla whose renovation journey started during lockdown when she and her husband realised they needed more space for their growing family. After an initial dream of finding a period property, they fell in love with a 1960s property which needed a complete renovation. We talk to her about envisioning her finished project, and her process of project managing the works with her contractor to bring it to fruition. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to ‘Don’t Move Improve’ winner Nic who, together with his partner, self-built a garden studio and extension to their 1 bedroom flat. We talk to him about his decision to take on a self-build project, the process they went through and what he would do differently next time. You can see more of Nic's project on his website https://nichowett.co.uk/ __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Tamzin who explains why, after renovating previous properties, she chose not to take on a big renovation for her current home. We discuss the joy of getting creative in your home, being savvy with up-cycling interiors and her process of turning a blank canvas into something special. You can find Tamzin's project on Instagram @at_the_mcgillens __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

This week we talk to Hannah who is mid-way through renovating her thatched cottage in the countryside. We discuss the downsides of renovating an old property. The difficulties of finding contractors and how she manages the logistics of DIY renovating around life and kids. You can see Hannah's project and work in progress on her website here and on Instagram at @theottohouse. __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes

A serendipitous chain of events led Siobhan and Joe to quickly move from a finished flat straight into a building site with development potential. Over the next 6 years, they worked together in their spare time to renovate a ’60s house and build a new property in the adjacent garden plot. Joe, who is an architect by trade used his skills to input into the project and Siobhan took advantage of maternity leave to oversee the build. We talk to them about grabbing an opportunity, the difference between doing a house renovation and a new build development, and the hurdles of receiving planning for a new build project. You can see Siobhan and Joe's project at @ourleytonhouse (Air Bnb coming soon!) PLUS - Sign up here for our webinar '3 Common Renovation Mistakes (and how to avoid them)' __________________________________ This podcast is sponsored by Drench Bathrooms; Website: https://www.drench.co.uk/ Instagram: @drench.co.uk Pinterest: @drenchuk __________________________________ Stories from Site is brought to you by HomeNotes; Check out our Getting Started Course to make a plan for your project. Website: https://homenotes.co Instagram: @wearehomenotes