BBC One

Charlie Luxton

Charlie Luxton is an architectural designer who combines his design work with writing and presenting television programmes. He is most recently known for his work on FIVE presenting Build a New Life in the Country and Best House on the Street. Charlie's passionate about the environment, sustainable architecture and eco-friendly design and this week he's getting his hands dirty with Nick and the team!
Before: Front of house

The tired looking house before the team arrived.
Before: Back of house

The house looks run down and no render means water gets in and heat escapes.
After: Back of house

Re-rendered. The house is now stable and secure with a two story extension to give the family extra space.
Before: Front / play room

The front room was quite unworkable and depressing as an area for the girls.
After: Front / play room

The team's magic touch creates a bright and safe place for the three girls to hang out in.
Before: Kitchen

The basic kitchen before the revamp.
After: Kitchen

Food preparation has become a joy!
After: Living room

Now the family have a much larger, brighter space where they can spend time together.
Before: Family bathroom

A very dated and jaded bathroom.
After: Family bathroom

The modernised and serene bathroom for the family to enjoy.
Before: Front bedroom

A bedroom come junk room, such a waste of valuable space.
Before: Main bedroom

Master bedroom where the whole family slept.
After: Sarah's room

Soft and lady-like bedroom for 11 year old Sarah, and a desk to do her homework.
After: Sacha's room

A bright and colourful room for three year old Sacha.
After: Sophie's room

A girly room for seven year old Sophie.
After: Master bedroom

Jennifer and Hayden's much needed personal space.
Plan

Ground floor
Converting the front room into a play room for the girls gives them a bright and colourful space where they can play with friends and do their art work.

The ground floor of the extension allowed us to open up the living room and create an open plan feel with the kitchen and dining room.

The kitchen is bright and spacious and a place the family can enjoy together.

First Floor
The two story extension allowed for the space we needed to not only give each of these girls their own bedrooms but also allowed for a small en-suite bathroom for Haydn and Jennifer. Haydn's illness means that he needs to spend a lot of time in the bathroom, so it was important to give him privacy and free up the family bathroom for the children.

We were able to create a corridor which gave access to a bedroom at the back of the house for Sarah and partition the front bedroom to make two rooms for the younger girls.