Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the DIY Guys, the podcast where home renovations, power tools and mild panic go hand in hand. I'm Nick Morris. And I'm Dan Doher. Each week we'll be chatting with some property pros, some DIY diehards, hopefully help you with some tips and tricks along the way.
Speaker: Hi everyone, we have Kat here from the Barn Renovation. Thank you very much for joining us. well Thank you for having me. No, amazing. We've been following you for some time and could you tell us a little bit about your property and what you've been up to?
Speaker: Okay, so i bought at the house that we currently live in about 10 years ago. It's a barn conversion. um It was originally, the bottom half is Victorian. And then in the 1980s, it was converted into a home by raising the roof. So it's sort of a home of two parts.
Speaker: um And we've lived here for 10 years. We actually lived just at the road before then. So we've lived in the same village for probably 13 years now. um And yeah, and we live here. live here my husband, our three children and a dog and more recently a cat. how Wow, a lot of you there. Is that the real country life? That's right.
Speaker: What drew you to sort of like living in a barn, I suppose, like a converted barn? Well, interestingly, this barn, it's got family history. So this barn was actually my husband's grandparents' ah cow barn.
Speaker: So, um yeah, they used to live here. They used to you they used to live in the farmhouse and they farmed for many years. And then um they then moved, when they stopped farming, they moved and and converted this barn. So we actually bought the barn off my husband's grandma.
Speaker: and And so it's been in the family for a very long time. And I've got stories of, like, my mother-in-law, she used to, at they used to have a swing in in the barn. used to swing from the eaves and play in here when it was just barn. So it's got quite a lot of... um Yeah, it's got a lot of family history. And um so it definitely feels like home. It's it does feel like where we're supposed to be.
Speaker: wow. That's amazing. Was that a more complex sort of build then? If it used to be so many different other things like this, a cow shed? And how did you actually start developing that and actually making it and like a cosy home?
Speaker: So um the actual original conversion was done by my husband's grandparents and they had to raise the roof because it was a bit, it was a bit low. And this window that I don't know if you can see behind me, that was the window where the cows actually just came in off the street. was amazing um And when we bought it, it was, it was obviously, it was made for them and it hadn't been decorated since they converted it. So that was probably 30 years. So it was really dated. And it it didn't really flow in the way that you'd probably live in a house now if you were to buy a home, sort of a modern family. and So really my aim was to make it um a a gorgeous house, but one that was practical for a growing family. And that's essentially, I suppose, the the point that I always come back to. It's got to look good, but it does actually have to be practical as well.
Speaker: Yeah, that's it. and And like you say, the layout is so important for that and making sure everything's in the right place. Yeah, exactly. How did you come up with that? how you wanted your house laid out. Did it take a lot of time thinking or was it quite a natural process? um I think it was quite natural. I think we've got quite a lovely long garden and and you couldn't see it at all from the house. So there was a dining room at the back and with a tiny window that was probably about 80 centimetres wide. And that was the only sort of window onto the garden. and then there's a really old conservatory that blocked loads of light. And um the kitchen was in another part of the house near the front. And we wanted to be able to bring the inside, sorry, the outside inn So it was natural really to move the kitchen to the back of the house where it will flow onto the garden. And um really, again, that was practical reasons. I wanted to be able to see the children playing in the garden. I wanted a big space where I could cook, but also the children could be in the same room.
Speaker: And the setup that we had previously, there just wasn't the space to do that. So and it was it was a natural process, but it did require quite a bit of thought, I suppose. oh Yeah, that sounds really nice and homely already.
Speaker: So was it um something that you just did slowly over time or did you go gung ho on certain areas of the house? So when we first moved in, I did go a bit gung ho in some areas. So because it was so 1970s, I thought i can't live in this space. It was really quite dark, the decor was. I thought i can't live like this. And we had a really old axminster carpet that was like really brown and patterned going up the stairs. and But actually the issue I faced was my husband, he'd obviously grown up around this house. And so he was quite attached to really old-fashioned features. So he liked the fact there was this green carpet in the lounge. And he liked the fact that there was this really old and brown carpet.
Speaker: and So actually to start with, some of the things I wanted to do, i wasn't allowed to do. I had to keep it for a bit. and But the big work started probably about five years after we bought the house. So we did live in it for quite a long time.
Speaker: before we actually did major work, so before we extended or anything like that. But in terms of decor, I definitely did jump into a few things and decorate in a way that i absolutely would not now, just sort of to try and get rid of the dark 1970s vibe that the house had. and So, I mean, that would be a top tip for me. Don't make rash decisions because you're going to end up having to do it again a few years down the line, and I definitely did.
Speaker: I love that you had to be so polite, whereas normally when you move in somewhere and it's not to your taste, shall we say, you're like, you can slag it off. I suppose you couldn't do that. Absolutely. And it wasn't just my husband. Obviously, my mother-in-law and all of their extended family, this house is kind of a hub for them.
Speaker: so they're used to being in and out of here. And, um you know, they're very much attached to a lot of the features that perhaps I didn't have the same attachment to. So I did keep some of it for a bit, but in the end it did have to go.
Speaker: Wasn't that one of the things you said as well? I noticed on your page you said things you regret and it wasn't it just painting everything white in the beginning. And I'm still actually, I'm still correcting that to this day, 10 years later, because I just wanted everything white because there was some really bizarre like pale pinks and just some really odd colors. And it was very, very dark. And I just wanted to lighten the whole place up. um But yeah, I don't, I'm still correcting. in fact, my hallway is still the same white that we painted when we came in. And every time I look at it, I think I need to correct that. But I just haven't brought myself to do it yet. But i will do. It's so funny, isn't it? Because they I've heard some people say just living in it for a while and then you can sort of you know, get a feel for a place and what to do. But I'm really impatient and I just jump in as well. So it's really tempting just to go mad, isn't it? Just paint everything and do everything.
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. 100%. Yeah. So do you guys have um like a big DIY background? Have you always been quite hands on? So I, my husband, no, he's got absolutely no interest in anything to do with this. have to really like beg for him to actually help me. He's not interested. But i I've watched my dad as I was growing up. My dad's really into DIY. He did all the DIY in our house. And he's even got and like plumbing and electrical qualifications now. and I just watched him really. um And I suppose that's where I first got the bug.
Speaker: And I've always just really loved beautiful interiors. um And if you haven't got a huge budget, you're going to have to do it yourself. yeah exactly like So I suppose I've just learned if I want certain things, I'm going to have to do it myself. um So...
Speaker: Yeah, i've and I've definitely got the bug now, but I've been doing it for such a long time. And and that's kind of, I suppose, how my page developed, really. and It started from me really appreciating beautiful interiors and wanting to create something. um and um I am a a creative person. So for me, it's it's satisfying doing DIY. Actually, I do enjoy it as well. So a lot of people find it frustrating and it can be, but I do actually enjoy it as well.
Speaker: Nice. Yeah, i was going to say, do you have a creative background or is this something like how you get your creative flair out? Yeah, I mean, I used to, i used to be a musician and that was where I got my sort of creativity out. But um yeah, so after I got older, I suppose I've just um fallen into DIY. But it's definitely something I've learned about myself is that I have to be doing something creative in order to feel, um I suppose, complete and happy in my life. It's definitely a part of who I am for sure. Yeah. That's cool. And did you tap up your dad for the plumbing and electrical knowledge? Because that's really useful. They're the ones that people don't want to touch. yes Yeah, I mean, i he's a bit older now, so I don't tend to ask him to do so much. But he's the first person that I'll message and be like, how would you do this? Or what would you do? and And yeah, I wouldn't say he always gives me the best advice. Obviously, he's not personal. We don't always agree 100%. But he's definitely the person I always go to. How would you do this? And he's sort of now got into woodwork and things so I keep giving him little projects that he can work on for the house as well so yeah it's good to have someone in your family that is hands-on definitely can help you out yeah that's so helpful isn't it and is this your first renovation or did you do one before this So it's our first major renovation. We moved, as I said, we lived up the road prior to buying this house and that was really cosmetics. It was just sort of and decorative. um That was when I suppose I learned how to wallpaper and learn about different types of paint and things like that. But yeah, in terms of actually major DIY, it would be in this house. Yeah.
Speaker: Oh, And do you have like a favourite room you've really transformed or favourite spot? And in those sort of country homes, there's always like little nooks or window seats or something that usually often so nice.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, I've got loads, to be honest. I mean, in one buildings, we've got a little porthole window that's really unique that I love. um I mean, my favourite room is definitely the kitchen. And actually, that's where we pretty much spend all our time. we've we've So we've renovated this house and we put this extension on. thinking or making the house bigger but actually we all just stay in one single room now we don't really you never use the living room really um so we're just basically only in the kitchen um because it's really transformed how we live in the house um how because we can all stay and it's big enough that everyone could be in the same room we can cook we've got living space we've got dining space um and i've heard lots of estate agents say that that's not how people live anymore. They're going back to dining rooms. But I i fundamentally do disagree with that. I think if you've got a family, having that big open space is is so important and allows everyone to connect in a way as well.
Speaker: and i don't know what it was like when you growing up, but and I was, suppose, a bedroom child. So when someone white everyone seemed to be in the bedroom, didn't they? They were like plagiarism. 100% of my kids never, ever go in their bedrooms. They're always downstairs.
Speaker: um So now we've got this big space where we can all exist you know together. I mean, they can do their own thing a bit, but we can still, you know, see each other. So it's nice. That's really nice. Yeah, that's kind of what I think most people want in their lives. I don't really want my little girl now when she's older to be like cooped up in her room like I was. But we did play in the garden a bit as well. That's what you of want, especially when you live in the country. It seems much nicer.
Speaker: Definitely. Yeah. So how did you, um how did the timeline go with your renovation? Have you been doing it for a long time? Was it, has it been quite staggered or... ah Yeah, so I think we started about 10 years ago. the major work started about five years ago.
Speaker: um But it's still ongoing because obviously there's not an endless pit of money. So it's just as and when. And something will pop ah crop up and we think, oh, we better do that first before we can do this. So I've got an ensuite upstairs that's never been touched. I think I put i put a vinyl floor down a few years ago because I couldn't bear to look at the cork tiles.
Speaker: but pretty much as it was. And every every year I think, oh, um thats I need to do that. I need to do that. But then something else pops up and you end up not doing it. So um yeah, it's still ongoing and it probably will be for a long while. at the moment, we're splitting two bed, sorry, one bedroom into two. so that has taken up all my time and energy because I somehow got myself into decorating two bedrooms at the same time. and But yeah, it's a long list still of stuff that needs to do. And it's an old house, so there's things crop up that you weren't expecting so yeah we're 10 years in and we're probably going to be here for I said I don't think we'll ever be finished because I think as soon as I think I'm finished I'll start again to be honest well that's exactly it isn't it yeah I'm done now right that's was the first room we did and then exactly it's funny you mentioned the bedrooms because I saw that um bed you did uh for the kids and that looked amazing how did you come up with that concept
Speaker: Yeah, I think I saw something similar on probably on Instagram. And um so it's an Ikea, cu I think they're called cura bed. And it's it can be they're interesting to return them. They can work both ways. They can be upside down or the other way around. thick And I decided to turn it into a bunk bed because they wanted a bunk bed. um And I thought, well, i'm not just going to buy one. That wouldn't be me. So I bought this cura bed and then I bought loads of wooden slats. And they wanted to make it a bit more like a den. So I sort of covered it.
Speaker: in these wooden slats to make it look a bit more like a den um yes that was and it was a really cheap like cheap DIY project and it was really easy to do um and the kids love it yeah that's so cool so what what do you think has been your sort of um favorite thing you've done so far would it just be that kitchen because you said it's just like your family living or is there like another space that you just really really love to be in um I love I've recently also done our bedroom because what we've done is had to move all the bedrooms around in order to split this big bedroom into two so I've moved our bedroom into another room and so i've I've renovated that and again that was done probably too quickly I didn't think it through when I originally did it um and it wasn't very calming it had like a really busy wallpaper and now I've made it like a really calm space um and something that's interesting about this house despite it being a barn we've got no
Speaker: character beams or anything like that so when they converted it they didn't keep any of the original beams which I think is outrageous but they didn't so I've been trying to create ways that I can give it that character back um and you know you can get companies that will come and plaster on fake beams and but you know you're talking a lot of money for something that you can probably do yourself so I've been using paint packs to make it look more like um a beam really and i because you've got lots of sort of plasterboard beams and i've been going through the house making them look more like old-fashioned wood and i was surprised at how well it it looks actually i thought i saw them on the internet i thought they're going to look a bit dodgy they're not going to look very good but actually they do they do look quite good so it's just using i use friend chic paint and then like the top um and i genuinely thought it's going to naff but it doesn't it looks quite good no yeah i've seen that looks amazing but
Speaker: Where did you get that inspiration from? Is it a project you saw someone else do or was it just like a problem you had and you're like, well, up I want to try and fix it? um So I definitely saw other people doing it first. Definitely not my idea. um let's both excuse Excuse me. And um people have used it on furniture as well.
Speaker: and But I always thought, is it just something that looks good on the internet and not actually in real life? So I didn't want to risk putting it on, but actually I'm really pleased with it. I think it looks really good. And I think it cost me about £15 and I've still got loads of paint left. So yeah.
Speaker: a bargain, in a way of transforming a plasterboard beam, really. Yeah, they're so cool as well because it looks you want it to look old as well. So you're actually painting something to look old. It's quite a bizarre concept, but it's so good when something like that actually comes off.
Speaker: Yes, definitely. Yeah. Because most people we don't want things to look older, though. No, exactly. Exactly. So with your social media, how did that sort of grow? It's like amazing. I think you've got 58,000, is it, at the moment? Yeah, something like that. um So, I mean, i've had it for years and i suppose it's just steadily increased.
Speaker: And I really started taking it seriously probably ah about two and a half years ago after I'd had my third child. Just before I went back to maternity leave, I just thought, I'm going to take this seriously. going to treat it more like a business. yeah and that's what I did and I suppose I really pushed myself outside of my comfort zone uh creating content that perhaps I wasn't comfortable doing before like talking to the camera or voiceovers and things like that um it takes quite a lot of confidence to do something that you've you've never done before and then put it on the internet for like 50,000 people yeah um I just thought gonna do it I'm gonna do it properly so I just I just did um and then it's steadily increased and from that I've I don't only create content for my Instagram page I also create content for companies that they use for adverts and things like that and so it's become like a business for me really and I really appreciate that I can do it whilst being at home and whilst being at home with my children and also you know it centers around something that I really enjoy doing and
Speaker: That's not to say it's not stressful at times because it can be. And I know that sounds ridiculous. People thinking, oh, how can, you know, being a content creator is possible. But it can be, know, still have scripts to write and deadlines and people saying they want this and they want and they to change things. And you have to wear a lot of hats like editing.
Speaker: and And but I am really grateful that i've I've managed to do that for myself and for my family. Yeah. yeah And it's and again, it's a creative outlet for me. Yeah, it's also really, really time consuming, isn't it? I mean, I've done some things in the past where they'll just say, oh thanks for version one. Can you just make this slight 10 second edit? And it's literally like the whole reel or whatever it is can just change and all go out sync. And it can honestly take like a couple of hours just to add a 10 second clip in. Unless I'm completely useless. Yes, I find that really frustrating. They'll say, can you just remove that clip? And it's like half a second.
Speaker: Yeah. like now Yeah. but So I have to redo everything else for that half a second. um And you do get some really interesting, some really interesting comments from brands. I remember I did one. I won't mention them because I'm still working with them. They're great. But.
Speaker: They want me to advertise something, but they don't really want me to mention the product that I'm advertising. I wrote the script and they were like, that is great. But what we want you to do is take all of the stuff out about the product. We don't want you to mention it. was like, how do you advertise your product then? So yeah, you have to have a sense of... That's like, there's subtle and then there's that. That's just farcical. Yeah. So, I mean, that'll be interesting. I'm not sure to pull that off, but we'll see.
Speaker: I've literally had two like that. I've had one where they said, I actually agreed with them though. They were like, don't overkill it because people, you know, they know it's an advert and they're going to be a bit bored by it. Then I had the opposite where they were like, we want you to mention like a thousand different things about this thing and even risk read off like a list of colors. So I to read off like nine different colors. It would be like apricot cream. It just sounds so stupid. Yeah. but I just yeah guess you just got to listen to what they say. I know. There's definitely, yeah, some brands definitely get it wrong. There's like a middle ground between being, you know, at really advert-y and also not mentioning your product at all. I don't think they always get it right. But like you say, you have to go with what they want ultimately.
Speaker: That's it. I suppose if they're choosing someone like you, then they should kind of leave it more in your hands. So it feels a bit more natural when it flows with everything you do, because obviously you've got a lot of followers yeah that come to see your content the way it's filmed. So to kind of take that out of it, it's a bit crazy. Yeah. And I find that frustrating sometimes. um And I do, ah I do sometimes try and not convince, but I do try and suggest that I want things to be a certain way because obviously it doesn't seem very sincere if,
Speaker: um And actually what I found is the bigger brands tend to be more hands off and they tend to sort of let you get on with it and perhaps do it your own way. Whereas the smaller brands can be slightly more prescriptive about what they want. and But ultimately, you know, it's their product. They've got to just say that they're deciding how it it goes out into the world. So you have to you have to let them ah ah do what they want. But also it has to be it has to sort of reflect you as a brand as well. So I don't take all the things I'm offered if it's it's you know not going to sit sit right within my page.
Speaker: um And equally, it you know even if it's not for me, if it's for their own advert, I get offered things. and If I don't feel comfortable with the product or I don't think I can do a very good job, I won't i won't take the work on because if it's got it's got to be me really, otherwise I don't take it on.
Speaker: Yeah, I totally agree. I got offered a VPN the other day and I was like, I don't even really know what that is. like I would love to get you to to explain to me what that is. yeah But your page has always been really transparent. I always follow, i always tend to follow people that are really transparent with costs and not just costs, but and um how not to do things or things that have gone wrong. Yeah. um I think you put, obviously I said about the white paint, but was it like you didn't, have you didn't like sort of put a budget for your garden and things like that. Was that something you liked doing and you've got a lot of feedback from people saying that it's really helping them?
Speaker: Yeah, I think so. And I think I found it frustrating and also slightly confusing why people are so, ah they they won't discuss costs. And i thought I don't really understand why that is. And when, you know, if you're thinking about a renovation, you haven't really got very far or you it's just an idea you've got and you have absolutely no idea how much it costs and you're not quite at the stage of, you know, getting a builder in, it would be really useful to know whether you're talking, how much you're talking. And for some, I don't know why it is. And I've had, even myself, when I've asked other accounts, oh, how much did that cost? And they won't tell me.
Speaker: And I don't understand why that is. i think, well, why does it cost me how much it costs? I don't understand how that... i did it's ah So it's very odd. So, yeah, it's important that I am transparent.
Speaker: and And I'm going to be honest, I haven't totted the total up because it's probably the actual extension part. But after that, it's, you know, bits here, bits there. and And but I think I think that kind of honesty and transparency is probably one of the reasons why people do follow me. But um costs is something that a lot of people are very cagey about. And um it's always confused me why. I still don't know why people won't tell you the cost of things. anyway Yeah.
Speaker: I come from an electrical background and you're one saying too many spotlights really made me like i was like, yes, because I go in some houses. It's like like the Heathrow runway. It's just fast. And I don't know. They're not like cozy or anything. I know in a kitchen needs to be bright, but I just don't understand the fascination of them.
Speaker: Yeah, so when we, I, that is, look, I think when we um extended and the the electrician was here, I think I just had decision overwhelm and they'd come to put the spotlights in and I was like, I don't know, I don't know many spotlights, I don't know where to put them. I just said, you know, you're the expert, you put them in. And then I think he definitely put way too many spotlights in. So we're stuck with them now, but it's fine. and We tend to use lamps anyway. But um I think when you are doing a big project, you do get decision fatigue. And sometimes if you you are going to make mistakes, and we're probably not going to fix the spotlights, they're just going to stay. It's just... Yeah, it's kind of harder to get rid of something.
Speaker: right yeah so funny how often we hear decision fatigue yeah so because there's just like so many small things to do in every room it's amazing even something like a bedroom where you think oh it's just quite simple in terms of design and everything can just be like 30 choices it's kind of really overwhelming yeah definitely 100% and I remember when would the builders are in and I'll be constantly getting messages saying, what do you want to do about this? And I'll be at work and they're sending me all these messages. i'm like, I don't know. I can't just make all these decisions all the time. um So, yeah, lists are important, I think. Having loads of lists, writing stuff down.
Speaker: And um I think if you've got someone else that you're innovating with, trying to sort of, you know, share some of that mental load. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely, and it's harder when you've got two people trying input as well, because you always get the back and forth, don't you? and you're like yeah And then in the end, you're like, have we just spent like three hours talking about handles? but Yeah, it's just so many painful things, isn't there There's so so many things that don't matter. um mean, handles is fine. It does matter. yeah But there are some things that just really don't matter and you spend so long over it. Yeah, but at the time, they feel like they do really matter, don't they?
Speaker: Yeah. Well, actually, that doesn't really matter at all. Sorry, I'm quite lucky that I can make these decisions. I don't, to be honest, I don't even ask my husband. I just go and buy the hand. That's what I was just about to say. was like, this isn't a marriage podcast, but have you actually had any fallouts over just to get some juicy gossip, but maybe he just stays out of the way. completely stays out of the way he genuinely i mean i said i'm renovating those two bedrooms he has absolutely no idea what's going on in there every day surprise i don't even think he's really been in there he's not bothered he genuinely doesn't care um the only thing i sometimes ask of him is if i've got loads stuff outside like a floor coming that he might help me bring it inside otherwise he just needs to stay out of the way and he generally likes what i've done and i don't think he'd dare say otherwise to be honest that sounds perfect then yeah exactly I was just going to say love the image of your husband just coming home and just something being completely different. It's like an extension on the side. You joke, but actually generally when he does come home, there's something that I've done he's like, he doesn't know. don't tell him. I just wait for him to notice.
Speaker: I say I put like a cat flap. I cut a hole in the door and put a cat flap in. a few weeks ago and I didn't tell him I was doing it I was just I'm gonna put a hole in the door I didn't notice about two weeks getting in and out oh i put a home so funny some people don't take an interest because when I was renovating my house my mum and dad were like coming over my dad was just coming to basically help me like lift in plasterboard sheets and stuff and I'll be like I've just done upstairs do you want to come see and he's like no really from this is gonna be like our forever home your granddaughter's gonna live with yeah i'm just not i'm just not bothered he's honest at least he's honest yeah i suppose it's better than someone being a bit fake and be like no this is lovely when they don't care yeah yeah oh wow
Speaker: So have you guys got any tips for actually living in a renovation? Because that's a really tricky and stressful thing. so's definite Yeah, if you've got kids as well, it it is very difficult. I think if there is anywhere else that you can go to hide for a bit. So if you've got family or friends nearby where you can, you know, if you need a hot shower and they've turned the water off, ask there's somebody that you know nearby that you could just go and camp out there, even if it's just for an evening. I know we'd had lots of times where they'd turn the water off at really inconvenient times or the electricity electricity you know electricity was off for hours.
Speaker: But we were quite lucky because we were moving our kitchen. They kept the old kitchen until the new one was in. oh yeah. Or about, I don't know, a few days. So we were actually really lucky that we weren't without kitchen.
Speaker: and But it was hard. The dust, having people come in and out the house all the time when you've got little kids, And, and you know, having things lying about that perhaps aren't really very safe for young children as well.
Speaker: and So, but you just have to be quite resilient and you just have to think it's not for a very long time and good communication with the builders that are doing the work. You know, if they're going to turn something off for a prolonged period of time, they're going to have to give you a bit of notice, things like that.
Speaker: and But yeah, having somewhere to go nearby that you can, you know, get away from all the chaos, even if it's just for a few hours would be a top tip, I think, if that's possible. Yeah, and I saw one of your posts and it really rung true about ah your kids helping. Oh, my God. Because my two-year-old just constantly, I'll be trying to do something, he'll just turn up with this like little toy drill and he'll just start trying to drill away. Yeah. This is a toy drill. Yeah, exactly. yeah Yeah, I had that yesterday with my two-year-old. I was trying to paint the wall.
Speaker: And she'd found a wallpaper roller and was trying to stick the wallpaper roller into the paint and was like, I want to help. And I was like, it's not helpful, is it? It's so annoying because you want them to be enthusiastic and you want them to take interest, but actually you're like, oh, you're actually slowing everything down. I just want to finish it, actually. I just want it done.
Speaker: Yeah, bless them. and But then I'm trying to remind myself that I got into DIY because i watched I watched my dad. So I do like them having an interest, but sometimes it is quite frustrating.
Speaker: Yeah. And you've DIYed so much. um I was looking yesterday on your page, but is there actually anything where you were just like, well, we're going to splurge on one thing and this is going to be our thing and we don't care? and and and gone Yeah, I think. Well, the thing that I think probably had the biggest impact that was expensive was all the glass that we had put in the um kitchen. So the bifold doors and the the lantern roof, and because before it was so dark.
Speaker: and and now obviously it's just flooded with light and we can now see the garden so the garden is now sort of part of the house and prior to that we didn't really use the garden we just sort of looked at it and walked through it but we never went in it really but now it's definitely part of part of the house um so yeah I think that that was you know a lot of money was all the glass that we had in but it's definitely worth it it's it's it's transformed it's transformed the space it wouldn't be the same without You know, if we just put like a ah little door and it wouldn't have been the same, have the same impact. So I think it's definitely one of the best things we've done.
Speaker: And as you say, the Bifog Dolls really like combine the sort of indoor and outdoor. And I've noticed your current project the ah outdoor kitchen. How's that coming along? Well, I'd say how it's coming along, it's stopped for a bit. I've decided it's not the weather for it. So I've done it.
Speaker: I made the frame and I put the stainless steel doors on and then I just thought it's too cold. So I'm going to cover it up. We'll start again when it's warmer. So thought I'm not to use it now. I'm not going use it now. Let's be realistic. I'm not using it. I'm not outside of the pizza oven in the middle of October. Sorry, in the middle of December am I? So...
Speaker: I'm going to leave. really want an outdoor kitchen too. There's something about having a pizza oven. You can just literally do it in your oven and it'd probably be better. I know. But there's just something about it. I know. And I think, I was looking it thinking, it looks really cool, but am I going to use that? Am I actually going to go out of my kitchen outside to do that? Yeah.
Speaker: um I think one of my things is always to try and add value to the house. And yeah that's that one of, you know, whenever I do anything, it's it's got to look good. It's got to be practical, but it's got to add value as well. And I think gardens add value. And um I just thought it's not going to cost me a lot of money. It's just a wooden frame.
Speaker: um And I am going to make it look really good. And it's going to add value to the it's going to add value to the house and when I finish it. Obviously, right now it does not. Yeah. Yeah, it's currently freezing, isn't it? There's no way you're going. I've been um steaming wallpaper this week. It's actually been lovely. Oh, nice. You're like, this is so toasty.
Speaker: Well, thank you for giving us um your time today. We always sort of end on the same sort of question for everyone. It's just basically, I think for you, it is more DIY than the actual house. But what is your favorite thing about DIYing something for your home? And then what's your least favorite thing about just doing DIY in general?
Speaker: ah So my favorite thing is, I suppose for me, it's the creative out out ah outlook for me. um And i I really like seeing something. I find it um just a really positive experience creating things. So for me, it's it's creating something out of nothing and seeing and and seeing that transformation. It's really satisfying.
Speaker: and And I think, you know, in this modern age where not a lot of people are doing things, we're sort of just sort of scrolling on our phones or watching things. And I think to actually be doing something with your hands is really satisfying. and and to create something. I know I'm creating something for my children as well.
Speaker: um And i think i I like that they're watching me do it, especially as a woman. It's not traditionally something that a woman would do in a family. Perhaps it'd be more the man that would do it. And I like that they're seeing that actually, no, you can do that. Cause I've got two girls. I like them to be able to see that they, you know, that they can do anything that they want, even if it's sort of outside of perhaps the norm.
Speaker: The worst thing about it is the mess. Yeah. oy up So once you've, done something so I've just pulled a load panelling off the wall and it's stripped right back to the plaster now and I've got all those little bits and scraps of paint and I've got scrape it all off that's worst bit ti Are you one of those people that also tells everyone that you did this? So especially to your daughters, you're like, yeah, I know I did that and this was involved. Yeah. And when my husband tries to chip in with something, like, not a minute. You didn't even know there was a room up there. You've not even been in there in six months. you don't even know what colour it is.
Speaker: well amazing thanks so much for joining us Kat could you let everyone know where we could find you on socials and what your social names are my page is i at the barn renovation and you can find me mainly on Instagram but I am also on TikTok and I've also got a website www.thebarrenovation.com amazing thank you so much for your time thanks Kat
