Couple transform house that hadn’t been touched for 30 years in just six weeks

A couple has given their first home a complete makeover in just six weeks by doing most of the work themselves – and added £45,000 to the property value in the process. 

Ewelina Mejka, 36, and husband Przemyslaw, 33, purchased their new home in Rugby, Warwickshire, for £155,000 in May 2018. 

The property hadn’t been touched in 30 years and the couple set about giving it a complete overhaul, tearing out the kitchen and family bathroom.

To save money, the couple watched YouTube tutorials to learn DIY and furniture-making hacks and were able to do everything for just £18,000.   

KITCHEN BEFORE: Ewelina Mejka, 36, and husband Przemyslaw, 33, purchased their new home in Rugby, Warwickshire, for £155,000 in May 2018 and had just six weeks to give it a complete overhaul (pictured: the kitchen before the renovations) 

KITCHEN AFTER: The couple took out the original kitchen and Przemyslaw fitted a new one himself, which they purchased from IKEA for £3,000

KITCHEN AFTER: The couple took out the original kitchen and Przemyslaw fitted a new one himself, which they purchased from IKEA for £3,000

LIVING ROOM BEFORE: Before the renovations, the lounge had a dark green carpet which the couple replaced with wooden flooring and an old fireplace fitted into the wall which they ripped out

LIVING ROOM BEFORE: Before the renovations, the lounge had a dark green carpet which the couple replaced with wooden flooring and an old fireplace fitted into the wall which they ripped out 

LIVING ROOM AFTER: The downstairs wooden flooring cost £2,000 and the couple tried to keep costs low where they could, by buying second-hand items (such as this rattan chair) on Facebook Marketplace

LIVING ROOM AFTER: The downstairs wooden flooring cost £2,000 and the couple tried to keep costs low where they could, by buying second-hand items (such as this rattan chair) on Facebook Marketplace 

Ewelina and Przemyslaw, who are parents to daughters Amelia, 12, and Lena, nine, took time off work so they could work all day long to fix up the property

Ewelina and Przemyslaw, who are parents to daughters Amelia, 12, and Lena, nine, took time off work so they could work all day long to fix up the property

Healthcare assistant Ewelina said: ‘The state of the house was really bad. An old lady was living here and she passed away – I think she hadn’t done anything to the house for 30 years.’ 

Luckily, the couple found all of the electricity and piping was in good condition, but still needed a complete overhaul for it to fit their needs. 

Ewelina and Przemyslaw, who are parents to daughters Amelia, 12, and Lena, nine, took time off work so they could work all day long to fix up the property. 

They removed all the carpets and wallpaper, and took out the original kitchen and bathroom.  

Przemyslaw skimmed the walls and Ewelina spent time painting the entire house three times, one white coat and then two of the chosen colour for each room. 

The couple spent £5,300 on new windows and a new front door, as well as £2,200 on a new boiler.  The kitchen, which they purchased from IKEA, cost £3,000 and Przemyslaw fitted it himself.  The downstairs wooden flooring cost £2,000, while the upstairs carpet set them back £1,300. 

They spent around £4,200 on a new bath, sink and toilet, linoleum floors in the kitchen and bathroom, and paints and plaster.  

BEFORE: The couple took out the original bathroom, which was a dated brown and blue three-piece suite, spending around £4,200 on a new bath, sink and toilet as welll as the linoleum floors in the kitchen and bathroom and paints and plaster

BEFORE: The couple took out the original bathroom, which was a dated brown and blue three-piece suite, spending around £4,200 on a new bath, sink and toilet as welll as the linoleum floors in the kitchen and bathroom and paints and plaster

AFTER: The bathroom looks unrecognisable after some hard work and elbow grease, with the couple replacing everything

AFTER: The bathroom looks unrecognisable after some hard work and elbow grease, with the couple replacing everything

The bathroom has seen a particularly dramatic change, with the original three-suite swapped for a fresh white upgrade, muted sage walls and patterned linoleum floor

The bathroom has seen a particularly dramatic change, with the original three-suite swapped for a fresh white upgrade, muted sage walls and patterned linoleum floor

The kitchen used to have green cabinets and grey worktops, with floral curtains and a wall dividing it from the dining room

The kitchen used to have green cabinets and grey worktops, with floral curtains and a wall dividing it from the dining room 

The couple knocked down the wall and created a large space for an open-plan kitchen and dining room, with a large gallery wall behind the dining table, which they bought along with the chairs on Facebook Marketplace

The couple knocked down the wall and created a large space for an open-plan kitchen and dining room, with a large gallery wall behind the dining table, which they bought along with the chairs on Facebook Marketplace 

Ewelina spent time painting the entire house three times, one white coat and then two of the chosen colour for each room

Przemyslaw skimmed the walls

Przemyslaw skimmed the walls and Ewelina spent time painting the entire house three times, one white coat and then two of the chosen colour for each room

The master bedroom used to have a dark green carpet and plain walls, which the couple have completely transformed for their space

The master bedroom used to have a dark green carpet and plain walls, which the couple have completely transformed for their space 

The formerly plain master bedroom has been transformed into a teal oasis with glamorous fur finishes and prints on the wall behind the bed, and a rattan chair at the dressing table

The formerly plain master bedroom has been transformed into a teal oasis with glamorous fur finishes and prints on the wall behind the bed, and a rattan chair at the dressing table 

The plain walls in Amelia's bedrooms have been changed in place of a large pink floral display, with the same glamorous fur finishes as the master bedroom

The plain walls in Amelia’s bedrooms have been changed in place of a large pink floral display, with the same glamorous fur finishes as the master bedroom 

Ewelina added: ‘Before we got the keys, I was on the internet all the time trying to find what we needed for a good price.’ 

What was spent on the house?  

£5,300 – windows and front door

£2,200 – boiler

£3,000 – kitchen

£2,000 – downstairs wooden flooring

£1,300 – upstairs carpet

£4,200 – new bath, sink and toilet, linoleum floors in kitchen and bathroom, paints and plaster 

Since moving in the following month in June 2018, the family have taken their time perfecting each room with finishing touches such as decorative furnishings – often themed around natural fabrics and tones. 

Ewelina ensured they stuck to the tight budget and scoured Facebook Marketplace to find second-hand items. 

She said: ‘I just give them [the products] a second life. The table and chairs in our dining room are from Marketplace, and so is our bed and the rattan chair in the lounge.’ 

The couple even made certain items themselves, such as the coffee table in the lounge, which Przemyslaw made out of wooden pallets by following a YouTube video. 

Each room in the house is now unrecognisable after being carefully decorate over the last two and a half years.  

The bathroom has seen a particularly dramatic change, with the original bright blue three-piece suite swapped for a fresh white upgrade, muted sage walls and patterned linoleum floor. 

The lounge is equally unrecognisable, with the original green carpet and dated fireplace ripped out in favour of wooden floor, cream walls and light, natural furnishings.

Meanwhile, the wall between the kitchen and dining room was knocked down to create a large, open-plan space filled with modern appliances, grey units.

It also features a stunning picture wall behind the dining room featuring dozens of frames purchased from Homesense – Ewelina’s favourite shop. 

Each bedroom has undergone a significant makeover, with the formerly plain master transformed into a teal oasis with glamorous fur finishes. 

The family chose to abandon the plain walls in Amelia’s bedroom in favour of a bold accent wall with a large pink floral display. 

Lena's bedroom started with wooden floors and a plain wall but the couple painted it with equally sweet, with pale pink walls and added the same carpet as the other bedrooms

Lena’s bedroom started with wooden floors and a plain wall but the couple painted it with equally sweet, with pale pink walls and added the same carpet as the other bedrooms 

Lena's bedroom has a colourful bed an plenty of unicorn-themed trinkets, as well as a pink chair and fluffy cushions on the bed

Lena’s bedroom has a colourful bed an plenty of unicorn-themed trinkets, as well as a pink chair and fluffy cushions on the bed 

Lena’s bedroom is equally sweet, with pale pink walls, a colourful bed and plenty of unicorn-themed trinkets.

Overall, the family couldn’t be more pleased with the result.

Ewelina said: ‘I love the finished look because it’s our first house and we have done absolutely everything here how we like it. 

‘Every day we are so happy that we decided to buy this house and put in so much effort.’  

The family have taken their time perfecting each room with finishing touches such as decorative furnishings - often themed around natural fabrics and tones

The family have taken their time perfecting each room with finishing touches such as decorative furnishings – often themed around natural fabrics and tones

The stairs have been transformed with a rustic white painted bannister with wooden and carpeted steps and a wicker basket at the bottom

The stairs have been transformed with a rustic white painted bannister with wooden and carpeted steps and a wicker basket at the bottom 

The hallway had a front door with a large window and a navy blue carpet, with light orange, plain walls

The hallway had a front door with a large window and a navy blue carpet, with light orange, plain walls 

It has been updated to have wooden flooring, with a black rug, and a brand new front door, with a mirror and storage box right next to the door and fabric hearts leading up the stairs

It has been updated to have wooden flooring, with a black rug, and a brand new front door, with a mirror and storage box right next to the door and fabric hearts leading up the stairs