Ep 6. Sonia & Nathan

Sonia and Nathan are a couple living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in London, struggling to make their home work for them and their two children. They love their neighborhood and don't want to move, but they're frustrated with their lack of space and the awkward layout of their flat.

In this episode of Sarah Beeny's Renovate Don't Relocate, Sarah meets with Sonia and Nathan to assess their space and come up with a plan to make it more livable. As she explores their home, she discovers a number of issues that are contributing to the cramped feeling of the apartment, from an oversized hallway to a bizarrely angled kitchen.

Sarah's first order of business is to reconfigure the layout of the flat to make better use of the available space. She proposes removing a wall between the living room and kitchen to create a more open plan living area, and adding a small extension to create a new dining nook that will maximize the natural light flooding into the property. She also suggests creating a new bedroom by dividing their overly spacious hallway, so each of the children will have their own room.

But before they can start any work, Sarah challenges Sonia and Nathan to declutter and streamline their belongings to see what they really need and what they can live without. Sonia is hesitant to let go of some of her cherished treasures, including a large sideboard passed down from her grandmother, but Sarah helps her to see that sometimes less can be more, and a lighter touch with decor can make a small space feel much bigger.

Once the decluttering is done, the renovations begin. Sonia and Nathan pitch in with demolition and cleanup, and Sarah's team gets to work on the remodel. The new layout takes shape quickly, and the addition of a skylight in the dining nook floods the area with light, making it feel airy and spacious.

Throughout the renovation process, Sarah encourages Sonia and Nathan to be open to new ideas and to think creatively about how they use their home. She advises them to invest in multi-functional furniture and to continue to pare down their belongings to maintain the feeling of spaciousness they've created.

As the renovations draw to a close, Sonia and Nathan are thrilled with their transformed home. The new layout works so much better for their family, and they love the feeling of airiness and light that permeates the space. They're particularly thrilled with their new dining nook, which has become the heart of the home and the perfect spot for family meals.

Overall, the renovation has given Sonia and Nathan a whole new appreciation for their home and their neighborhood. They're delighted that they didn't have to move to find the space they need, and are looking forward to making many happy memories together in their newly renovated apartment.