Somerset couple used lockdown to turn 1970s house into dream home

New parents Steve and Kirsten Currer transformed the worn-out three-bed into an unrecognisable modern four-bedroom house.

The unloved property had sat unsold for nearly a decade but the pair have given it a complete makeover - all while raising a new-born.

Steve, 33, and Kirsten, 35, bought the run-down house in Portishead, North Somerset, in August 2019.

But soon the pressure was on to create their dream family home when they discovered Kirsten was pregnant.

The ambitious couple began renovating the worn-out three-bed the following March while the country was in lockdown due to COVID-19.

The clock was ticking to get it ready for the arrival of their first child in August 2020 - and they managed to get the carpets down with just 12 hours to spare.

Now almost a year since they began their enormous renovation project, the house is unrecognisable.

It is the perfect family home to raise son Jonah, who is now five months old.

Furloughed plasterer Steve Currer, 33, took the lead as project manager and worked seven days a week on the house to create their dream family home, beneath the watchful eye of solicitor Kirsten.

Because of its condition the couple got a bargain on the price - but it should be worth now around 400K, as are similar house on their street.

He said: “It was a huge project, especially in a pandemic and with a baby, but everything went to plan in the end.

“We were under pressure because we didn’t know exactly when Jonah would arrive and whether it would be ready in time - and you can’t bring a baby onto a building site.

“It needed a lot of work doing, and we ended up changing literally everything in the house.

“It still isn’t completely finished - but we’re nearly there now, and we’re really happy with it.”

Steve and Kirsten first purchased the 1970s house after it had sat unoccupied for around seven years.

The couple had been looking for a renovation project to create their dream home and saw potential in the worn-out three-bed.

The couple moved in unofficially weeks later - with plasterer Steve working a room at a time to get the house ready to start the building work and decorating.

Equipped with a meticulous architect’s blueprint and a budget spreadsheet, the couple’s building works properly began in March 2020 as the country descended into lockdown.

They began with an extension which took the house from a three-bed to a four-bed, as well as replacing the roof and knocking all the walls through to make downstairs an open-plan space.

Steve said: “We had to do everything room by room and keep things tidy because we were living in the house while we were renovating.

“Kirsten wasn’t able to do too much hands-on work because she was pregnant, but she definitely made her opinions known - and she was great at bringing cups of tea and bacon sandwiches!”

As the due date loomed closer, the pressure was on to get the house ready for their new arrival, Jonah, who was born on 27th August 2020 - just twelve hours after Steve managed to get the new carpets down.

Steve had originally feared the house wouldn't be ready for their new-born's arrival - because “you can’t bring a baby onto a building site.”

Juggling looking after a new baby alongside working on the house, which they had to re-mortgage twice in accordance with Steve’s budget spreadsheets, the family finally began to see the house come together.

Now coming up to a year since the extension began, baby Jonah is five months old and the house is near completion - with just the driveway, garden, and top bedroom left to complete.

Steve said: “Sorting out the garden is the next step, so that Jonah has somewhere nice to play once he has learnt to walk.”

Although COVID-19 prevented the family from any kind of baby shower or housewarming celebration, Steve said that’s one thing the family are looking forward to when the pandemic allows.

He said: “Everything went pretty much to plan and we’re really happy with it.

“We’re really excited for people to see the house properly when it’s all done - it will be a lovely house for Jonah to grow up in.

“All of our neighbours have been very welcoming - they have been nothing but supportive and given us lovely feedback.

"Everyone on the street has told us it’s nice to see the house regenerated after being unoccupied for so long.”

“Our aim was to bring the house back to life, and that was what we did.”