Michaela Shoebridge spent two years revamping her 1980s property on a shoestring budget

A jaded four-bedroom bungalow that had lain empty for months became a labour of love for Michaela Shoebridge.

Despite its neglected appearance, Michaela could envisage the potential of the 1980s-built bungalow in Hull and used her creative skills to start transforming the place, after moving in with partner, Lee, in 2019. Such has been the success of the project that Michaela has documented on Instagram that the 35-year-old quit her job in communications to focus on helping other budget-conscious renovators create their dream homes, reports the Daily Mail.

Now able to share images of her chic and desirable contemporary home, it was a different story when Michaela first picked up the keys to the bungalow. “We had very little spare funds to start the renovation, so I had to get creative,” recalls Michaela. “I love Victorian style and colours but it didn’t work - the house is surrounded by garden and I realised we had to go lighter and bring the outside in.”

Wood panelling and rough-hewn barn-style doors designed and made by Michaela and Lee figure throughout, sitting alongside key design pieces plus textiles and furnishings from Zara Home, TK Maxx and Facebook Marketplace. The most cost-effective hack saw Michaela and Lee rip out their existing kitchen wall units, wrapping the remaining bright, red base cabinets and dated worktops with Cover Styl’s thermoformable architectural vinyl to create a fresh finish.

In the master bedroom, Michaela attached foam to MDF planks cut to size and upholstered each individual panel to create an oversized boutique hotel-style headboard. During the pandemic, Michaela designed a mini home office that can easily revert back to a dressing table when required.

In the hallway, Michaela fitted a DIY version of a slatted ceiling, reinventing the tiled floor with paint chips and resin to resemble Italian terrazzo and dressing the area up with a wall mirror and sideboard from H&M Home. “My nifty home hacks have been great for upping the aesthetics and making our house liveable while we save up to do some bigger, more structural projects,” she said.

Michaela and her partner Lee exposed the brickwork, knocked through a middle wall and installed a double-sided log burner to create a light and bright contemporary look in their living/dining room

Michaela's kitchen is unrecognisable after the makeover using architectural vinyl to 'wrap' the old red cabinets

A dressing table area doubles as a work from home desk when needed

Michaela and partner Lee created their dining table by building a table base, adding two Ikea desk tops, and half-round dowels, all painted black

Michaela loves the deep wood-panelled sill she created in the bathroom

Black washi tape was used to create the look of Crittall glazing on the patio doors

Michaela documents her room makeovers on Instagram

No corner of the property has been left untouched

Wood panelling and rough-hewn barn-style doors designed and made by Michaela and Lee figure throughout

The bathroom was ripped out and reconfigured

Michaela's followers learn all about her home renovation tips and tricks