GP Suky and her husband Gordon, who appeared on Channel 4's Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It: Brilliant Builds, have described their renovation experience as 'awful', recalling the difficulties of living in their home during the build.
The couple's story was revisited in Wednesday night's episode, which saw property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer look back at renovations from 2023. Suky had wanted to sell their property to acquire a bright, open-plan living space with a dedicated laundry area, while Gordon, an office manager, was reluctant to leave their family home, which featured a heated indoor swimming pool.
Couple chose full-scale renovation
Ultimately, the pair decided to invest in a full-scale renovation, converting their conservatory into a family room, overhauling the entire kitchen, and transforming one room into a dedicated office space. However, as building work got under way, the couple found it increasingly difficult to continue living in the property simultaneously.
Speaking directly to the camera, Gordon said: "We're in week 14 of a six-week build here, and I'm not loving it quite as much anymore. We're stuck upstairs, there's no heating downstairs."
He added: "There are very few lights downstairs, it's tricky. There are things to trip over and injure yourself on. Living in that at the moment, it is getting quite tough."
'Worst part of the whole process'
When Kirstie dropped in to check on their progress, she remarked upon the 'chaos', describing the property as a 'skeleton of a house' that was virtually uninhabitable. Reflecting on the experience, Gordon admitted it had proved a far 'bigger project' than either of them had anticipated.
Suky remarked: "I think the worst part of the whole process was last winter when we just had an OSB board across the back."
She continued: "There wasn't any back end of the house, and we just couldn't keep the children warm in their beds. It was really awful."
Renovation figures revealed
Gordon concurred that it had been 'tough' to endure at the time, before Kirstie presented them with some key figures. She revealed that the pre-renovation valuation stood at £643,000, with the couple having spent £75,000 on the improvements.
Nevertheless, she assured the couple: "The average post-renovation is £725,000, so even without being finished, you haven't lost any money."
Reflecting on the couple's ordeal, Phil said they 'went through the mill', stating it was very hard on them as it was stressful through the winter. The couple told Kirstie and Phil they intended to remain in the house for the foreseeable future.
