From Cancer Survival to Community Sanctuary
A remarkable couple who both conquered brain tumours and multiple cancer diagnoses have opened their extraordinary Kent home to others navigating serious health battles, four years after their initial appearance on Grand Designs.
Greg, a pub landlord, and Georgie, an artist, first connected through a charity fifteen years ago when Greg had recently recovered from his brain tumour. Georgie's health journey began even earlier, experiencing her first brain tumour at just ten years old. She later faced thyroid cancer at twenty and has since battled an astonishing ninety types of skin cancer, with some treatments ongoing.
The Dream Home Project
After Greg proposed in 2018 and the couple married, they moved into an annexe attached to Georgie's parents' house in Kent. Together, they embarked on an ambitious mission to convert a protected, dilapidated 35-year-old barn in her parents' garden into their single-storey "forever home."
Their vision included an open kitchen, living and dining space, an art workshop, a snug, multiple bedrooms and a utility room. With a budget of £250,000, Greg took on much of the work himself to control costs, especially after spending a substantial £80,000 on groundwork alone.
Remarkably, they completed the project in just eighteen months, finishing only £25,000 over budget. Greg described the completed property as "extraordinary" and "unbelievable," while Georgie reflected that they had both been given "a second chance in life."
Giving Back Through Difficult Times
In a heartwarming development, Georgie has transformed one of their bedrooms into a retreat for friends experiencing health troubles. This provides them with an opportunity to escape reality and relax in the countryside within their cosy barn conversion.
During the evening's Grand Designs episode, host Kevin McCloud revisited the couple in July 2025 - six years after they began work on their unique property. He discovered that Georgie wanted to give back to her community of friends who had supported her through challenging periods.
The painter, who has since undergone a major operation and currently receives high-dose chemotherapy, explained their motivation: "We know what it's like when you're recovering and we like to look after people because we know how awful it can be and how rough times are."
She added: "[We want] to look after people like we've been looked after. [They can] have a space that they can call their own for the weekend and just come and do whatever they want or nothing at all."
Jodie, one friend who benefited from the serene wilderness retreat, described how staying at Georgie and Greg's home allowed her to "escape" her undisclosed illness. She shared: "It was a scary time, so coming here was a real escape for us. It provided the respite that we needed, just physically and mentally; we were exhausted."
Jodie particularly praised Georgie's generosity, noting: "I think it's even more extraordinary that [she] is still undergoing treatment, she's still doing all these things, yet they've still opened up this space to others who need it."
Finding Solace in Art and Community
Despite losing her hair due to medication and now wearing a wig, Georgie's health challenges haven't prevented her from pursuing her dreams. She has found comfort in art, with their humble barn hosting 130 people for an exhibition of her breathtaking paintings. She now runs art classes upstairs in her workshop.
Reflecting on her nearly thirty years of treatment and operations, Georgie shared: "When you're down in the hole and you don't think you can scramble out again, you make the most of all the opportunities and every day is special and you just have to carry on."
The couple's building journey faced numerous challenges, including discovering their eco-heating company had gone bust, losing £5,000, and navigating Covid-19 restrictions. Despite these obstacles, by late summer 2020, they had completed their incredible modern barn, with Kevin McCloud praising the "extraordinary finesse" of their build.
Greg's motivation for the project stemmed from his cancer diagnosis, which prompted serious reflection about life goals. He revealed in 2019: "Having a brain tumour was one of the best kick up the a***s I've ever had. I just remember in that hospital bed, I was just weighing up all the things I hadn't done in life and how I wanted to cross them all off. One of them was to build a dream home."
His building skills have since been in high demand, with multiple family members asking for his help with their projects. He has separated the annexe from the main house for Georgie's parents, Julie and Tom, who wanted to downsize, and is currently assisting his brother with an extension.
Georgie's parents express immense gratitude for having the couple nearby, with Julie sharing: "Every single day I look out and I think 'This couldn't get any better really' to have them all so near."
The couple's story stands as a powerful testament to resilience, love, and the transformative power of turning personal challenges into opportunities to support others.
