Hard work and creativity have helped Will Rome convert his old bungalow into a two-storey home fit for modern living, all on an impressively small budget

WORDS & PHOTOS ALEXANDRA PRATT

When Will and Vanessa Rome bought a rundown 1930s bungalow back in 2010, on their return from working overseas, they had their hearts set on completing a major project. “We wanted somewhere in the west of the Isle of Wight with a unique feel but were limited by our budget,” explains Will.

The bungalow was situated on a heavily overgrown plot at the end of a long unmade lane. “It was almost untouched, although it had been underpinned in one corner,” says Will. “It was covered in pebble dash and had an illegal loft conversion. It was awful but it had land, which is rare, and there’s no light pollution here.”

A hands-on build

Despite the property’s poor condition, the couple lived in it for four years before they started out on their renovation. The goal was to transform the main house into a bright and welcoming three-bedroom, two-storey home that would ooze chalet chic.

Will, who is originally from the Isle of Wight, runs Alchemy Architects – so he was confident he could tackle anything the bungalow might throw at him. However, the couple’s tight budget meant that he would have to do much of the work himself.

The DIY aspect of the project was a major learning curve. He started with the garden studio, now his office, which was to be the pair’s home during the 18-month renovation. Will built the studio for just £20,300 – completing the design himself and undertaking almost all of the labour on a DIY basis. “I was worried about moving straight onto the house after I finished the studio,” he says. “But my father told me not to take a year off and it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.”