A designer transformed a 1970s house into a mini 'stately home' - and added £1.7m to its value. Claire Totman, 38, bought the three bedroom property off market with her mum, Liz, 71, for £875k.
The designer had a vision to recreate the outdated property into a "elegant" and "timeless" home. She spent £460k and eight months extending the house at the side, back and roof to create four large bedrooms, and an additional drawing room.
Now the mum-of-two says the house has been valued at £2.6m. Claire, director of Claire Totman Designs, from Weybridge, Surrey, said: "The original house is still there.
"People think it is a new build. Our style is classic, traditional and a modern twist. It elegant and timeless. We don't follow the trends, because a trend is a trend."
Claire had been interested in design ever since she was young and built her way up to become a design manager. But when the company she worked for went under, Claire took the opportunity to start her own business in summer 2016.
Claire had helped design three of her mum's previous homes but had a big vision when they bought Sandacre house off market in October 2019 for £875k. She said: "The original house is 1972. It only had one owner. It's on a large plot.
"I look at it and I have the vision in my head. I look at what needs to be achieved."
Claire started the renovations in February 2020 and kept the structure of the original house. Claire said: "We extended at the rear and side. We replaced the windows and built a porch. We took off the roof structure and replaced it to allow habitable space. We did a nice gut job inside."
Claire spent £460k on all the renovations in 2020 - but says she was able to get cheaper costs through her design business.
She said the industry is completely different post-Covid. She said: "I buy everything through the business. Now you would be looking a double."
Claire says the project has become an "iconic" photo and draws clients to her. She said: "They come to you because this is what they want."
Claire says her mum "loves" the house. She said: "She loved it. There's loads of space for us to come around. She's one of the lucky baby boomers. She did well on property. She bought her first for £6k."
Follow Claire on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/claire.totman.designs/
