An Essex couple have completely transformed their 1960s semi-detached home, which includes self building their own incredible extension.
Richard, 37, and Emma Plummer, 32, first moved into their home in Chelmsford in January 2016 and set to work on the run-down property the very next day.
They began by ripping out the ceiling and stripping the walls where asbestos had been found in a survey. After this, the couple installed an oak porch to give the home an instant update.
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Following this, Richard and Emma - who have three young boys - began on their main project: a huge extension at the back of the house.
After structure plans were passed by building control, the couple set to work.
"We hadn't originally planned to self build the extension but instead do a fair bit of the donkey work to save a bit of money," Richard and Emma tell Tyla.
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Speaking about the process, they continued: "We started by digging the footings, having to move all the soil out the front, one wheelbarrow at a time. It was an easy decision to get the concrete pumped in!
"We then decided to try our hand at brick laying to get the walls up to dpc, then the floor slab, the block walls...
"As each stage was completed we rose to the next challenge and did every aspect of the build ourselves apart from the electrics (as we needed them certified for building control), the GRP roof finish, seamless aluminium guttering and quartz worktops."
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Incredibly, the couple even installed the structural steels which hold the frame of the extension.
"This was one element we did think twice about doing ourselves as it carried a fair bit of risk," they said.
"We had a couple of quotes to install the structural steels which came in at an eye watering sum. They also couldn't guarantee they could install the steels flush within the ceiling, this was the deal-breaker so we decided we would install the steels ourselves.
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"A lot of knocking the existing house about and some much needed muscle from some friends the steels were installed."
Richard and Emma - who run the Instagram account @the_house_the_plummers_built - spent around nine months worth of evenings and weekends working on the build, which cost them approximately £24,000.
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"We are both from an architectural background so saved a few thousand drawing plans and submitting the building regs ourselves," they explain.
The couple also saved a lot of money by sourcing items from eBay bids, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree.
"Our bi-fold doors came brand new boxed - we won them for £1300 on an eBay auction. They would have cost in the region of £3600 new!"
We think you can agree the transformation on this home is incredible - we only wish we were this DIY savvy. And it seems we aren't the only ones who love it.
"Such an amazing transformation," wrote one fan on their Instagram. "You're braver than me!! All the hard work paid off! Looks fab," wrote another DIY fan.
Nice job, Richard and Emma!
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@the_house_the_plummers_built