Wirral Revisited

How do you turn your small 1960s dormer bungalow into a generous 21st-century piece of slick architecture for just £175k? Stuart and Rosie from the Wirral tried to find out back in 2015. Their plan was to dramatically decapitate the bungalow by cutting off the roof, leave just the walls, and balance a big new floating timber box on top to create 5 bedrooms for them, their two children and guests.   

  

The family’s ambition was to get a stylish industrial look on a low budget by doing all of the internal work themselves and roping their children in to help. But stress levels reached an all-time high when the unsanded, stripy wood cladding went on the outside of the building – and the neighbours begin to grumble about an ultra-modern wooden house going up in the middle of their traditional suburban area. When presenter Kevin last visited in 2016 he saw a very unfinished house, with the family camping between studwork and breezeblock walls. 

  

Now nine years later, Kevin is back to see just how well the stripey yellow box has settled in with its traditional surroundings, and whether the family of four are finally living in a complete house.