Spirit of adventure

Thoughtful design decisions and a respect for its original features have transformed a run-down east London property into a serene, and very stylish, modern retreat

The sheer amount of work Rebecca Bethell took on to bring this Edwardian home back from the brink is impressive

Spray-paint affordable lampshades with texture paint to give them a concrete look for less When I look back, I can’t believe how much we’ve done to this house. We tackled the work in stages over 18 mo

AS RENOVATION FIRST TIMERS, AMY AND TOM HAVE TRULY PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS, TRANSFORMING A DARK, TWO-STOREY TERRACED HOUSE INTO A THREE-STOREY, LIGHT-FILLED CONTEMPORARY HOME

The decision to buy a tired doer-upper was all about the location for one couple and realising they had to knock it down felt like a setback, but now they have a contemporary home that’s as spectacular as the landscape it sits within

When one couple decided to build a new house they asked designer Francesca Leat to ensure it felt like a home that had been lived in and loved for years