We bought our first home back in 2022 and here are some of the most controversial decisions we’ve made as DIY renovators over the last 3.5 years 🤭 1. We did a DIY loft conversion but added NO dormers. We just don’t think they’d suit this house, plus you need to get planning permission in Wales to add one! 2. We added 2 big picture frame style windows in our open plan kitchen/living space. NO they don’t open. But they let in SO much natural light and allow us to appreciate the view so much. But I will admit they are a nightmare to clean 3. We chose an upside down layout (kitchen/living/dining space on the first floor!). This property was split into 2 flats when we first moved in (hence our username!) and this inspired us to have the living space on the first floor. It just makes sense! 4. We invested heavily in our solar panels and battery storage when we replaced the roof. We spent a lot of our budget on them but it will pay off long term. It’s also nice to be able to produce your own electricity - so far we’ve had 2 occasions where we’ve been able to continue to use electricity when the local area has a powercut! 5. We designed our en-suite in the loft conversion to be tiny, but functional. It’s a really compact layout but has everything we need in there. My favourite part is the built in shower. So much space saving! 6. We uncovered a MASSIVE hidden fireplace in our main bathroom (previously the ground floor flat’s kitchen). We fell in love with this beautiful, original feature and knew we had to display it. We spent SO many hours restoring it but the final result is so worth the effort 7. We chose full, clear glass panels for all of our external doors. We’re fortunate that the position of the house offers a lot of privacy, so we thought we’d take advantage of trying to let in as much light as possible! 8. We’ve lived here since the day we got the keys. The first 2 years were tough. No heating, an electric shower that turned cold after 3mins of being on, constant dust and NEVER being able to walk around without shoes or slippers on. Living out of suitcases and every spare moment being spent on DIY to try and get the house to a comfortable state. It was our only option and although it was challenging, we wouldn’t have it any other way. It made us appreciate the wonderful environment we’re now able to enjoy… well at least, the first floor! The ground floor still currently looks like this 🥲 Let us know your controversial renovation decisions in the comments below, and if you think we’ve missed anything off this list, drop it below! Ellie & Lloyd 🫶🏻 #fyp #loftconversion #renovation #DIY #homerenovation - @2flats1house