A dad has claimed he 'manifested' winning a £3 million dream home by pinning a photo of it to his fridge and keeping one in his wallet - the very same method he used to win over his wife.
Kevin Johnson, 37, and Dee, 46, won the keys to a three-storey Victorian townhouse in Islington in 2023. Despite winning the remarkable property, as well as £250,000 in cash, Kevin revealed the pair continued with their careers and settled into the lavish home with their family.
'I really believe I manifested this'
Speaking this week, Kevin insists the extraordinary win was no coincidence - having used the same strategy to win the heart of his future wife Dee several years earlier.
"People might laugh, but I really believe I manifested this. I kept a picture of the house in my wallet and one on the fridge, telling myself it was already ours – and it actually happened," said the construction site manager.
"I know it works, because I used the same tactic to marry my wife, so it was tried and tested. If you truly want something special, you've got to really believe it can happen. I've manifested a marriage and a multimillion-pound home. I feel so content that I've not even thought about the next picture I'm going to put on my fridge."
From rented flat to dream home
Kevin and Dee have been married for 15 years and had rented the same modest East London flat since 2011 prior to their win. The couple admitted they are still adjusting to raising their four sons in one of the capital's most desirable postcodes.
Kevin has built more than a decade of experience in the construction industry, rising from carpenter to site manager, while Dee brings over twenty years of expertise in childcare and education.
The day the Omaze team arrived at his door remains etched in Kevin's memory.
"When Omaze first called me, I recognised the lady's voice from the TV adverts, so thought it must be genuine – but I didn't for one second think we'd won the actual house," he recalled.
"When the team arrived at my doorstep to tell me the good news – I was so shocked my knees almost gave way. My wife was on her way home from work so I video called her straight away – she didn't believe me at first, but when she saw the camera crew the penny finally dropped. She screamed and turned her phone around to tell the packed train that we'd just won the Omaze house – all the other commuters started clapping – it was crazy."
Life after the win
The enormity of their win continues to feel surreal. Kevin continued: "It's been over three years since we won the Omaze house, and some mornings I still have to pinch myself when I'm downstairs flicking the kettle on, making toast in this large, bespoke kitchen, and then realise – it's all ours. We went from a small, rented flat to living in our absolute dream home, right in the part of London we all love, all for just £50.
"The house felt so large compared to our old place, I genuinely thought we'd need walkie-talkies just to find each other across all the floors."
Kevin explained that the family decided against selling after settling into their new home very quickly. He continued: "The surprising thing was, we thought it would take months for it to feel like home – but actually, within days we were super relaxed and suddenly having a studio in our very own garden felt normal. I joke with my wife that I can't imagine life without a kitchen island now.
"Living in a beautiful house, with so much space and in such a great area, has been totally transformational for us. We only moved fifteen minutes up the road, but the difference in our quality of life is almost immeasurable."
Kevin shared that despite the substantial improvement in their living situation, little has altered in their everyday routine. "There was no upheaval at all – we've even kept the same jobs and our daily lives have stayed wonderfully familiar. We enjoy hosting loads of barbecues and parties, and it's great to have the space to share with loved ones," he said.
"We're both still working, but for the first time there's no pressure at all. We can retire early if we want and have options we never had before. We always believed we'd be grafting our whole lives and might never have a place of our own, but not only do we own our house now, it's a stunning £3 million home exactly where we want to be."
A property with modern and traditional features
The three-storey, 3,400 square foot property is located on one of Islington's most sought-after roads, having been renovated and expanded to an exceptional standard that marries modern aesthetics with traditional features.
Features include a custom-designed kitchen with a marble island that leads out to a landscaped garden and its own fully equipped studio space, while the principal bedroom features a freestanding bath and walk-in wardrobe.
Places remain available for Omaze's latest Million Pound House Draw, London, offering one fortunate winner the opportunity to mirror Kevin's success with an impressive £3.5 million Victorian property in the verdant North West London neighbourhood of Mapesbury.
