East London, UK 📍
Issey and Steph 👫
"We met about 12 years ago on the top floor of the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London — it was very much a work setting, not a romantic customer scenario!".
An elevated love nest 🪺
"I fell in love with the large windows and the way they frame the views of NE London. It’s a maisonette, so our ground floor is technically on the 1st floor — so we’re elevated, giving us incredible natural light. As camera operators, we’re drawn to soft, natural sunlight — it felt like stepping into a studio on the day we viewed it." — Issey.
"For me, the size of the living room was a big draw. It’s unassuming from the outside, but once you step inside, it opens up like a TARDIS! There’s a great sense of privacy. Off-street parking was a big added bonus.
Our vision is to create a calming sanctuary that reflects a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic. We’ve worked to curate meaningful, cozy corners filled with pieces that spark memories. The house feels modern, yet warm, with Scandi-Japanese influences. Ultimately, we want the home to feel like a welcoming retreat from London’s chaos; tranquil, grown-up and comforting, but still full of personality." — Steph.
A creative network 🛜
"My degree in Interior Architecture has definitely come in handy when redesigning our home, giving me a clear understanding of what I like & don’t like when it comes to interiors & design.
But since becoming a camera operator & editor in 2018, I’ve captured hundreds of photos and videos of beautiful, modest makeovers and jaw-dropping, design-led homes — which I’ve used to curate a real-life Pinterest board, so that’s also been really helpful!" — Issey.
"We’ve also brought on skilled collaborators! For example, our friend Luke who’s an amazing carpenter and Josh — who created the beautiful Scandi-inspired storage unit in our living room — was someone Issey worked with on a previous video project." — Steph.
"We really love collaborating with people, it feels really special." — Issey.
Calling in the pros 🤳
"DIY wasn’t second nature to me — I only got into it in my 30s! I’ve leaned on advice from friends who are more experienced, like my best friend Zach, who’s been doing DIY with his Dad for years. At first I found it daunting but, over time, I’ve really come to enjoy it." — Steph.
"I don’t think either of us are inherently 'DIY people', but we’ve learned to embrace it in small doses. Some projects, like painting or sanding, have been enjoyable, while others — like tackling the stairs — have pushed us to our limits. We also know when to call in the professionals for more technical jobs." — Issey.
"DIY is definitely an investment — not just in time, but also in tools and storage space. But I’ve come to see it as rewarding, and I’ve fallen in love with the process over time." — Steph.
Divvying up the DIY 🪛
"I’d say we’ve naturally fallen into complementary roles. I’m the creative director and designer, while Steph is the producer and logistics lead." — Issey.
"You come up with the vision, and I help make it happen. But we’re both good at setting aside time and working together to get things done. We don’t rush — we aim to do things to the best of our ability. " — Steph.
"Clear communication and defined roles have been key. There’s no competition or ego, and we trust each other’s judgment." — Issey.
Dramas in the dust 🎭💨
"Have there been on site bust ups? Oh, definitely!
When we were prepping the stairs, we didn’t plan enough time to prep, sand and paint before the carpet runner arrived. It was a chaotic four-day sprint. One night, Stephan was sanding and I was painting until 3AM so we were tired and agitated to say the least — he looked like Santa Claus covered in dust by the end of it!" — Issey.
"And then there was the time I pulled the banister off, and it tore a chunk of the wall with it. I managed to find a plasterer within 10 minutes, and he patched it up the next day. But at that moment, I thought the entire wall could collapse!" — Steph.
"A recent disaster was mismeasuring the kitchen by 4 centimeters. The builders told us the cabinets wouldn’t fit and I was so stressed. Steph, as always, stayed calm and collected. Unlike me. But luckily, in the end, the builders worked their magic and made it fit. JUST!" — Issey.
Prioritizing 'us' moments 🛋️
"We’ve learned to carve out pockets of time for ourselves, whether it’s date nights or weekend getaways. During the chaos, we made sure to keep one room cozy and functional. For a while, our spare bedroom became our little sanctuary while the living room was out of action." — Issey.
"It’s all about finding balance. Even amidst the dust and disruption, we prioritise moments of calm together." — Steph.
The proud points 📌
"The kitchen is definitely our biggest renovation accomplishment. It’s completely different to what it was before. Seeing it go from a 2D moodboard to a fully realized space has been so rewarding." — Issey.
"Ultimately, I’m proud of how we’ve transformed the house together. It’s a reflection of us as a couple, blending creativity, hard work and teamwork." — Steph.
Surrey, UK 📍
Meg and Russ 👫
"We met in our first year of university 12 years ago. It was part of a bet... but that’s a story for another time!" — Meg.
Love at first sight 😍
"What made us fall in love with this place? Simple. The views! We were after a proper doer-upper, and this one caught our attention as there were zero pictures of the inside on the listing — it was in such disrepair!
The only thing selling it was its location and the beautiful views. And once we saw it in the flesh, we fell in love with its potential. Despite the mould!" — Meg.
Project planning as a print designer 🎨
"I'm a print designer by trade, so I always start designing a room with a wallpaper or fabric I love. Paint comes next, then everything else like flooring, fixtures and fittings. I'm pretty sure this is the wrong way round, but pattern and color is the most important thing to me — so that has to come first and foremost!" — Meg.
Getting stuck in 💪
"We try to DIY where possible but, with such an ambitious build, the professionals have had to be called in for the big bits!
When there are parts we can help with, it’s such a satisfying feeling. But ask us again in the spring, when we're elbow deep in paint!" — Meg.
A Yin & Yang dynamic ☯️
"Russ is very chilled, which helps calm me down when everything’s going tits up!
On the flip side, I’m an incredible optimist (perhaps too much so!), so if Russ is struggling to see the woods through the trees, it's my turn to pick us up. I think it’s important to always have one side of the party calm or positive to balance out the drama."
With regards to the responsibilities, Russ has taken on all the brainy stuff! Working in construction he knows all the lingo and things I don't have a scooby about. My job is simple… make it look pretty!" — Meg.
Drawing a line ✍️
"When it comes to making time for us, as a couple, not living on site and being able to escape the chaos has really helped. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that!
We have a cut off time of 9PM each night, where the house isn’t allowed to be mentioned. But, mainly because we're really enjoying the process (so far), it doesn’t feel like a hinderance.
Date night at Mouldy House, chatting about lighting plans or colour decisions - sign me up!" — Meg.
The terrific brick terrace 🧱
I'm most proud of the terrace! Have you seen the brickwork pattern!? Chef's kiss 👌
Joking aside, it took us ages to figure out how to link our house on a hill to the garden, but I think we’ve nailed it. And we haven’t even shared the best thing about it so far... watch this space.