Who lives in a house like this? Couple’s semi-detached dream makes final five in UK’s most beautiful home (From This Is Cheshire)

Who lives in a house like this? Couple’s semi-detached dream makes final five in UK’s most beautiful home

2:45pm Friday 9th May 2008 in

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A COUPLE who transformed their Stockton Heath home in to a modern oasis are hoping for your vote.

Michael and Carey Byers, of Whitefield Road, have been picked as one of six finalists in a magazine competition searching for the country's most beautiful home.

They almost didn't buy the redbrick semi-detatched house that has got them through to the final but didn't let their soon-to-be ideal home slip away from them.

Carey, aged 51, said: "It was only when I thought about it later, that I realised it was ideal. We knew that whatever we bought, we would change, so we preferred a place where we could start from scratch."

“We knew what we were letting ourselves in for, but the house deserved it.”

Carey Byers

When they moved in, the interior designs were not to their tastes but they soon set about turning the property into their home, adding their own touch.

Work that needed doing included re-wiring, re-plumbing and structural repairs and Michael, aged 56, managed to do most of the work himself, although they had to rely on professionals for the structural work.

"Mike could easily have installed the kitchen himself, so it was frustrating to have to pay someone else, but timewise we just had to move forward," added Carey.

It took them five years to turn the house around but they believe that all the hard work was worth it.

Carey said: "We knew what we were letting ourselves in for, but the house deserved it."

Their home was featured in the April edition of 25 Beautiful Homes, the magazine behind the competition and the vote for readers to pick their favourite home will run in the July edition with the winner named in September.

The couple have already won a weekend break in Sweden for being shortlisted and if they win the competition will win a DUX8888 bed worth £6,800.

l Taken from 25 Beautiful Homes' April issue. See more inspirational homesin the latest edition, which is on sale now.