Homeowners praised for showing ‘truth’ behind ‘amazing Victorian house renovation

The owners of a “breathtakingly beautiful” Victorian house have been praised for their sympathetic and traditional renovation choices, with critics grateful after learning one harsh truth about the transformation. Embarking on a renovation is quite the challenge – it’s time consuming, messy and very expensive.

When it’s finished though, renovators are left with a stylish, safe home that’s been completed to their expectations, tastes and standards. Lots of homeowners take to social media to showcase their renovation journeys, often appealing to and connecting with likeminded people going through a similar experience – not to mention interior design fans who are able to live their renovation dreams vicariously through others.

Like many things on social media, the reality of a renovation – in particular just how long it takes – is often glossed over but one “picturesque” home has been praised after the owners confessed its impressive facade was achieved over a period of five years.

Jack D. March is a content creator sharing the story of his and his partner’s home transformation to a small yet growing community of followers on TikTok.

In a recent video, he shared how the front of their home has been spruced up gradually since they got the keys five years ago.

In the footage showing the property’s evolution, Jack explained in a voiceover: “This was the front of our house in 2020 when we moved in – green windowsills, a gate that constantly fell off the hinges, not to mention, crazy paving [and] so many levels of concrete slabs.”

Jack explained that “shortly after moving in”, he painted the door and the gate in red and added “all new door furniture”. 

Soon after that, they had a chequerboard tile floor installed on the path to match their internal hallway, and got a new front gate and railings installed too.

The windows in the front had “been painted shut” so were all replaced, apart from the middle window on the second floor – directly above their red front door – which was a different size.

The front garden was re-paved and flower boarders were added and, after a number of years, the couple were able to transform the “mismatched” window, getting it “heightened so it’s the same height and style as the rest”.

Jack added: “It’s taken us five years to get to this point but I am so happy with the result.”

In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts, with one person impressed the lengthy time scale of the project was so clearly highlighted.

They said: “It looks so nice. I’m glad you mentioned it took 5 years. So many people make it sound like they did everything at once.”

To which, someone replied: “Yes to this!!”

A third person agreed: “Looks great! THANK YOU for telling us how long it actually took”.

A fourth person said: “It looks amazing. I love the red door and gate”.

Another fan of the house shared: “it’s beautiful but I’m dying to see inside”.

Someone else said: “Painting the door red is perfection! Looks so picturesque in the snow”. 

One TikTok user shared: “Great job! So nice to see a front garden that hasn’t been converted into parking space!”

Another commented: “Now this is how you renovate a house of old style”.

And another agreed: “This is [breathtakingly] gorgeous, you guys have done such a job”.