Indoors, cracked plasterwork, damaged upper floor joints and a badly vented oil burner need repairing while the dark and dated kitchen requires a complete redesign to make better use of the light and space available.

Outside, the tired asphalt roof shingles, layer upon layer of peeling exterior paintwork and rot around the summer-house all require work, while the garden, which also appeared healthy at first glance, has its problems. A single rotting maple tree is causing trouble for surrounding plants, and new neighbours have cut down the dense hemlock which had served as a screen between the properties. Re-landscaping is required on a grand scale, but luckily homeowner and gardener Kim is enthusiastic and on-hand to help out.

The challenge is on for the team to entirely update every aspect of the tired property and its surroundings for living today, while remaining within the boundaries of the original style of the house, which the homeowners are adamant to retain. Rather than replacing damaged areas with modern fixtures, time and money is spent restoring and conserving the existing features and sourcing original materials.