A key worker who decided she wanted a ‘nice place to relax’ amid stressful coronavirus shifts has revealed how she invested the money she had saved for a holiday, in a summer house.
Michelle Pilkington, 47, and her carer husband Leigh, 44, from Nottingham, were quoted over £1,000 for the build in their garden, and decided to take on the lockdown project themselves.
Taking to Facebook group Extreme Budget DIY & Life Hacks, they shared the before, during and after pictures of the stunning outhouse Leigh built by hand, using locally sourced timber, and bargain buys bought online – costing just £777 in total.
Michelle Pilkington, 47, and her carer husband Leigh, 44, from Nottingham, were quoted over £1,000 for the build in their garden, and decided to take on the lockdown project themselves (seen before)
Taking to Facebook group Extreme Budget DIY & Life Hacks , they shared after pictures of the stunning outhouse Leigh built by hand, using locally sourced timber, and bargain buys bought online – costing just £777 in total
The finished results, which took thrifty Leigh just three weeks, racked up hundreds of likes and comments from impressed users.
Michelle shared a picture of the sleek square wooden build, complete with wooden and glass French doors, felt roof, a Futon sofa from eBay costing just £74.
The interior was completed with a tyre used as a table which came free, a £36 rug from Very, a £14 teapot from Amazon, and stylish mint paint for £15.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘Our lockdown project, all the summerhouses I wanted where over £1000, hubby built and kitted this out’.
The finished results, which took thrifty Leigh just three weeks, racked up hundreds of likes and comments from impressed users
The interior was completed with a tyre used as a table which came free, a £36 rug from Very, a £14 teapot from Amazon, and stylish mint paint for £15
Speaking to FEMAIL, Michelle explained: ‘As like most people, the option of going on holiday this year has not been possible.
‘I am a keyworker and needed somewhere nice to relax after work whatever the weather.
‘I designed a simple but attractive summerhouse with Japanese inspiration, natural and minimal.
‘It took my husband three weeks to build from scratch this was due to supplies being available and changes in the weather, majority of materials have come from local companies at reasonable prices.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘Our lockdown project, all the summerhouses I wanted where over £1000, hubby built and kitted this out’
Michelle’s clever husband Leigh built the house in just three weeks – weather permitting
‘The build cost £591 and £186 for the internal features.’
And followers praised the build, with one writing: ‘Cracking idea with the rope table’.
Another added: ‘Looks fantastic’, while agreeing, one said: ‘Looks great!’.
Elsewhere, a fan joked: ‘Summerhouse looks amazing but I have to say the basset hound looks even better’.
Michelle shared a picture of the sleek square wooden build, complete with wooden and glass French doors, felt roof, a Futon sofa from eBay costing just £74
And followers praised the build, with one writing: ‘Cracking idea with the rope table’