From London to Powys…
Helen Skelton and Northern Ireland architect Patrick Bradley follow a young couple, Jess and Colin who are leaving London to return to their family roots in Powys in rural Wales where they hope to create their dream house.
Having completed a restoration project of her own, Helen Skelton has experienced the trials and tribulations of building a dream home and she wants to help Jess and Colin restore their run-down Victorian cottage which they discovered has past connections to both of their families.
“Bringing old properties back to life is always something that has fascinated me, I love a property with a story to tell. Watching Colin and Jess create their forever home with Patrick’s guidance and ideas has been a total privilege.
“It is not always straightforward creating a dream property. I have lived the restoration highs and lows myself having completed my own project so getting a ring side seat for this one was a total joy.” – Helen Skelton
Helen enlists the professional design help of Patrick – who specialises in breathing life back into old buildings – to provide the couple with creative design ideas at various stages of the build.
As the work begins, Jess and Colin soon face the reality of restoring this old property and adapting to life back in the Welsh countryside. Leaving friends and the bustling life they had created for themselves in London is a big adjustment, and Colin struggles to juggle the pressures of a hectic work schedule while trying to project-manage the restoration. Building a forever home is a challenge that will take a toll on the couple’s finances and their relationship, but ultimately deliver them the house of their dreams.
Forever Home airs Thursday 15 May at 7pm on BBC Two and is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. The programme aired on BBC Northern Ireland earlier this year.
