Top 5 Dos and Don’ts of a Home Renovation From a Real-Life Couple

Londoners Nadine and Juls, who started revamping their first house just before the pandemic, share their tips on planning, budgeting, and DIY.

Mar 31, 2021 - 22:00
Top 5 Dos and Don’ts of a Home Renovation From a Real-Life Couple

Londoners Nadine and Juls, who started revamping their first house just before the pandemic, share their tips on planning, budgeting, and DIY.

When Nadine Bacchus-Garrick and her partner Juls bought their first home in April 2020—a two-bedroom Victorian terrace in South London—they never expected to be undertaking a renovation in the midst of a pandemic. "We got the keys the week the UK government announced the lockdown," says Nadine. "We were excited, but also worried about the shops closing and being able to start the renovation."

Nadine Bacchus-Garrick and her partner Juls are in the process of documenting the renovation of their first home on the Instagram account @rona_renovation. "This is totally new for both of us,

Nadine Bacchus-Garrick and her partner Juls are in the process of documenting the renovation of their first home on the Instagram account @rona_renovation. "This is totally new for both of us," says Nadine. "Juls is a leather craftsman and makes all his products by hand, so he’s handy, but I have a background in PR and work in a stationary office job. A lot of the men in my family work in trade, though, so I had a rough idea of what to expect."

@rona_renovation

Despite the challenges, the couple were keen to realize their dream home as soon as possible. "People less fussy than we are might have just given it a lick of paint," admits Nadine. "When we investigated thoroughly, though, we discovered that it needed a lot of structural work, and a lot of the work that needed to be done was hidden."

There were rotting joists, holes, damp, and haphazard electrics. "It was built in 1901 and just wasn’t up to 2020 living," says Nadine.

One of the major challenges so far was a plaster shortage in the UK due to lockdowns, and so finishing the plastering of the master bedroom walls was a major milestone. "This is such an exciting landmark for all renovators as it means you can finally think about decorating,

As they began the transformation, Nadine was put on furlough and wanted something to occupy her time, so she started an Instagram account, @rona_renovation, to document the progress. "The account has become such a lovely part of my life and has brought nothing but positivity and happiness," she says. "I’ve met brilliant people, and it’s also been a really practical source of advice."

The couple moved into the partially finished home in September 2020 and are about halfway through the project. Below, they graciously share the major takeaways from their experiences, though the work is far from over. "I have some big pipe dreams about what I want to do next," says Nadine. "This isn’t our last project. After doing this, I can’t imagine walking into a house and loving it exactly how it is!"

Tackle the Bathroom First

"My number one tip is to do your bathroom first, even if you’re living in your renovation," says Nadine. "All the other essential things you need, you can freestyle—you can set up a kettle, microwave, or camp stove in any room, but you can’t freestyle a shower! So, throw money and time into getting the bathroom sorted as you won’t regret it. It’s so nice to be able to finish a really labor-intensive day in a nice, new bathroom."

When the couple started the renovation it was near impossible getting anything from hardware stores due to lockdown, so they began by gutting the house—beginning with the bathroom. During the process, they discovered rotting joists under the bathroom floor, which all needed to be replaced—an issue that had been flagged by a surveyor before they purchased the home.

When the couple started the renovation, it was near impossible to get supplies from hardware stores shut down by the pandemic, so they began by gutting the house—namely, the bathroom. During the process, they discovered rotting joists under the floor, which all needed to be replaced—an issue that had been flagged by a surveyor before they purchased the home. "It’s definitely worth investing in a structural survey to give you an overview of what might be wrong with the property to help you budget and plan the renovation," says Nadine. 

@rona_renovation

See the full story on Dwell.com: Top 5 Dos and Don’ts of a Home Renovation From a Real-Life Couple
Related stories:

Read More at Dwell