I transformed an old church into a stylish family home on a budget

A INTERIOR design whizz has revealed how he transformed an old chapel in Norfolk into a stylish home on a shoestring budget.

Jack Kinsey, who was a finalist in BBC Interior Design Masters competition, bought the Methodist chapel, which dates to 1909, in 2017 with his partner Alex Walters.

The pair spent the next two years renovating it themselves by “mixing old and new and picking up a pre-loved bargain and giving it a new lease of life."

Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Jack, who snapped the property up within an hour of seeing it for sale, has now shared his top money-saving tips and tricks for renovating your home.

"I’ve always been drawn to old and unique properties and there are many beautiful barns and chapels in Norfolk but they don’t come up for sale very often," Jack explains.

"The chapel was covered in ivy and half hidden so we had a look around and instantly saw its potential."

"It was a rare opportunity to get our hands on one of those old gems that we could turn into something really different and magical."

But the interior design guru was eager to transform the chapel, which is two storeys with two bedrooms, both with modern en suites, without breaking the bank.

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"We did a lot of the work ourselves to keep the cost down and watched a lot of videos on YouTube," Jack explains.

"We kept the original floors and many of the old features and learnt what bits of carpentry we could do.

"I love reclamation yards and we picked up several unique pieces for reasonable prices."

Despite filling the old chapel with several pre-loved purchases, Jack has a clear favourite.

"The spiral staircase has become the focal point of the property," he explains.

"We were initially quoted £18,000 so we had a hunt around and found an almost identical one on eBay for £1000, reclaimed from a train station in Liverpool!"

The DIY whizz also credits upcycling for helping to cut back costs.

"We had to replace part of the wooden floor but couldn’t find wood to match," he says.

"I cut lengths of another wood and hand painted the old knots and grain to match the original floor.

"It was a large area and took forever but now you wouldn’t tell the difference - it was worth every minute."

And for anyone looking to renovate their own homes, then you're in luck...because Jack has shared his expert advice.

First up, he says that MDF is your best friend.

"It's affordable and perfect for creating detailing," he explains.

"Panelling made from MDF is a great way to add depth and opulence to a plain wall. Also, B&Q will cut it for you!"

Next, Jack urges people to educate themselves by watching step-by-step videos shared on YouTube.

"You can a learn a lot from them," he adds.

According to the interior design whizz, another easy way to save money is to shop around.

"If you’ve seen something in a shop you love, I guarantee you'll find it on eBay," he explains.

"So, have a look around, make a note of what you want and then make it your mission to find it second hand - nearly everything is only lightly used and you'll feel good about shopping a more sustainable way."

He also goes on to encourage people to mix the old with the new to create a unique space.

"Second hand pieces with the odd scratch or quirky flaw here and there bring character to a room and give it an inviting “lived in” feel," he says.

Finally, when it comes to time-saving hacks, Jack warns: "Know your limits!

"Know what you can and can’t do before attempting any project and get professionals in if needed.

"It'll save a lot of time if you haven’t got to undo and redo a job!"

Jack is set to judge for the Sudocrem Pre-Loved Awards which is all about finding the individuals and retailers who champion the win-win merits of buying second hand - savvy, eco-friendly shopping that benefits the planet, saves money and makes you feel good.

The competition is open until August 31st and everyone who enters goes into a prize draw to win a £1000 Airbnb. To enter, go to www.sudocrem.co.uk/pre-loved/enter.