I turned a derelict garage that was being used as a toilet into a two-bed home
But transforming a dilapidated garage used as a makeshift toilet into her dream home has been her most daunting challenge thus far.
This large detached house was one of a seven-bedroom property nearby, although it was lying empty.
channel, TheHomeGenie.
‘I was dismayed to find the garage had reached a state of complete disrepair, but I thought I could extract something worthwhile from it – which is precisely what I did, constructing a useable two-bedroom dwelling.’
Georgina has made a conscious choice to reuse and recycle most of her furniture, which is allowing her to save a substantial amount of money.
Started a long time ago by chance when she was at university.
I accidentally knocked a mirror off my bedroom wall, but me and my friends managed to salvage the broken bits and turned them into some really cool new mirror designs, sort of like home decor accessories with jewels and other trinkets added to them.
Her distinctive ingenuity is apparent. ‘I have a habit of rescuing and giving new life to discarded items whenever possible. I've even gone so far as to leap into skips to save old Victorian picture rails in order for them to be used again.’
‘In a way, it's quite significant, regardless of the property's background, as well as the value that lies in the efficiency of something that is still operational.’
She feels her skills have improved with every project. 'I've frequently collaborated with qualified tradespeople and picked up a great deal from them. Skilled tradesmen are extremely proficient, and it's clear in both the standard of their work and their productivity.'
My stepdads, Alan, has also provided me with guidance and support over the years. One significant help he offered was teaching me how to use a saw, as he couldn't stand watching me incorrectly cut a piece of wood.
Georgina enjoys doing DIY projects, even though she admits that even she can get fed up, as happened with what turned out to be one of her most significant achievements.
'I've long yearned for a chaise longue, and I finally came across one with a lovely shape, albeit unfortunately with discoloured and stained upholstery. I discovered a teal fabric that perfectly matched my preferred shade, so I decided to rescue the chaise longue.'
‘I foolishly started doing it in the evening, so ended up staying up quite late and the atmosphere was tense – but I love that chaise longue. When I see the kids playing on it, I know that all the hard work was worth it.’
Georgina explains her design process and creation for each area, showcasing the satisfaction of breathing new life into items that would have otherwise ended up as waste.
Top bedroom
I have a real fondness for this room. The colour palette makes it feel extremely serene, and the skylight transforms it into an enchanting space when the sun is shining.
The headboard was purchased from a charity thrift store - I salvaged a really dreadful, out-of-date trim, covered it in a vibrant turquoise upholstery, simply secured to the back with staples.
It only took a few minutes and will end up saving me a significant amount of money and spare me the hassle of searching for one. The side tables I sourced from a charity shop were then given a makeover with gold paint and turquoise accents.
I couldn't track down the correct hue of lamp shades, so I opted to give some fresh coats of paint to white ones. The artwork is my own creation.
It was a way of using up leftover paint to create a cohesive look. The two pharmacy jars, which belonged to my grandparents, were incorporated into the layout.
Bottom bedroom
This room was a somewhat unusual experiment with hues; whilst plum and lime may not be to everyone's taste, I rather enjoy it.
When you're looking for furniture in specific colours, it's actually quite challenging to find ones that match. By the time you've searched for them, it's likely you could have actually repurposed an existing item.
The side tables in this room were sourced from a charity shop and originally came from a set of reproduction antique tables. I've given them a fresh coat of paint in lime and grey hues. I must say, one particularly handy aspect of these tables is that the glass tops provide a barrier between the paint and any potential stains, keeping it protected in the process.
A bit more introverted artist myself, to be honest,
I had paint everywhere, including on the doorway leading to the living room where I was working on the canvases.
I accidentally hurt my toe quite badly, which forced me to visit the emergency department at the hospital, and it was really frustrating as it happened when I still had a lot of work left on my art project.
Hallway
The hallway features a previously-owned mirror and matching cabinet, made from reclaimed materials.
I'm rather pleased with the tile effect on the stairs too. They're actually made up of just self-adhesive tiles.
I thought it would be perfect for photos, but they've managed to keep their shape and have transformed what would otherwise be a fairly dull staircase into a standout feature.
Kitchen
I have to be honest and admit that the kitchen was installed by a carpenter. It was lock-down time and I was busy homeschooling my daughter and presenting live on ITV's This Morning from my kitchen, so I needed to get a professional in to sort it out.
It was quite tricky to handle, as I had to conduct it remotely due to his presence, so I had to utilise FaceTime to engage with his inquiries.
I was broadcasting for an Irish television programme, and, as we were only able to utilise our phones for the broadcast, the live transmission was suddenly interrupted by someone's phone call, inquiring what height I had requested the wall units to be.
I'm really pleased with how the mirrored tiles add some real personality to what could otherwise be a fairly plain kitchen.
En suite shower rooms
I had experts install and tile the two en-suite shower rooms. I can handle small tile jobs myself, but these areas had floor-to-ceiling tiles and one's a wet room, so I thought it best to leave it to the professionals to avoid any potential issues.
The blue design is carried into the adjacent room and I was endeavouring to create a coastal atmosphere. I painted the sink unit and subsequently utilised two repurposed spice racks as shelves. The mirror is, in fact, a second-hand find.
I hold the mirror in the bathroom close to my heart as it once belonged to my great-grandmother. I just hope she wouldn't have been upset that I repainted it to match.
My mum recalls gazing into that mirror as a child and it was perfectly suited to the spot, so I believe it was destiny.
Living room
This space is filled with second-hand or ex-display furniture. There are two small round side tables that were abandoned on the street. They just required a bit of repair and renovation, and I've given them a fresh coat of paint and a marble finish for the top. I'm particularly fond of these pieces, as they are both decorative and practical, and would have probably ended up in a landfill if I hadn't intervened.
The table and benches were crafted from the unwanted joists that were leftover from the construction of the building. I, the architect, envisioned them, but I must confess that I enlisted the expertise of a skilled carpenter to bring them to life. The substantial timber required specialised equipment to work with. Alternatively, it now occupies its designated spot and I find immense satisfaction in knowing it's a unique feature.
You see what I've hung above as a unique chandelier - that's a second-hand bicycle wheel I've got painted gold, fitted with fairy lights and air plants. I also have some planters made from pallets on the wall. I'm actually quite fond of air plants because they don't need soil, so I've simply stuck them in place using a hot glue gun and give them a bit of a spritz of water now and then.
I was looking for a TV stand that fades into the background, so I found a corner unit in a charity shop and gave it a fresh coat of paint. I love the convenience of upcycling – if I couldn't find the perfect thing, I could just repurpose an item for a fraction of the cost.
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