DIY couple transform old bathroom into a modern space and save £1,000

A couple have transformed their old bathroom into a chic modern style – and saved £1,000 by doing the work themselves.  

Teresa Jakubowska, 36, and her husband, Raf, 40, bought a three-bedroom detached house in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 2020 with plans to redecorate after moving in.

The house was built 24 years ago and Teresa, who works as an accountant, felt the place looked old and outdated.

She especially wanted to give the bathroom a new look and transform the space, and set to work with her husband and her handyman brother Tomek. 

A couple have transformed their old bathroom into a chic modern style – and saved £1,000 by doing the work themselves

The house was built 24 years ago and Teresa, who works as an accountant, felt the place looked old and outdated

The room now looks unrecognisable and cost £3,000 in total, with the couple saving money by using wholesale sellers and buying display items.

The trio began by knocking down the storage cupboard to provide space for a new shower cabin, installed a new plumbing system and new electrics.

Teresa ordered tiles and fittings while Tomek helped her create a layout plan to fit the accessories.

She sourced equipment from wholesale sellers, scoured for special offers on the internet and purchased display items from stores, which are much cheaper. 

Teresa Jakubowska, 36, and her husband, Raf, 40, bought a three-bedroom detached house in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in 2020 with plans to redecorate after moving in

The room now looks unrecognisable and cost £3,000 in total, saving money by using wholesale sellers and buying display items.

The entire bathroom transformation took just seven days to complete and they couldn’t be more pleased with the final result.

Teresa said: ‘My brother did all the work on my bathroom himself with the help of me and my husband.  

‘From demolishing the old bathroom to putting in a new plumbing system to re-locate everything, new electrics to tiling and fitting all accessories.’

The entire bathroom transformation took just seven days to complete and they couldn’t be more pleased with the final result

The trio began by knocking down the storage cupboard to provide space for a new shower cabin, installed a new plumbing system and new electrics

She added that he was ‘the only person’ she trusted to do the job, and he advised her of what brands to use to keep the costs down. 

She said: ‘I saved a lot of money buying equipment from wholesale sellers, finding special offers on the web or ex-display items which are still brand new but a lot cheaper.

‘I probably saved about £1,000 just on equipment and tiles by doing so.’

However, there were some challenges during the renovation – such as when Tomek’s legs went through the ceiling as he slipped while installing the plumbing.

A hilarious shot shows his legs dangling through the hole.

Teresa said: ‘His foot went through the ceiling when my hubby was helping him with something while floorboards were removed to put a new plumbing system in place.

‘He slipped off the beam and went through the kitchen ceiling! I was shocked but when I heard boys crying with laughter upstairs, I couldn’t be angry – I was just glad he was okay.

‘I absolutely love the bathroom now and can surely say this is the best bathroom I could have ever ask for.’

She sourced equipment from wholesale sellers, scoured for special offers on the internet and purchased display items from stores, which are much cheaper

However, there were some challenges during the renovation – such as when Tomek’s legs went through the ceiling as he slipped while installing the plumbing