SHE’S the queen of upcycling who breathes new life into folks's undesirable junk earlier than promoting it on for a tidy sum.
Now Cash For Nothing presenter Sarah Moore has gone one step additional - by shopping for a crumbling house on the Greek island of Skiathos for £100,000, regardless of by no means having seen it.
In her greatest restoration undertaking up to now, Sarah transforms the derelict relic into a shocking house - with the journey documented in a brand new six-part More4 collection, Dwelling Greek Dwelling.
The mum-of-three, 50, noticed the 123-year-old wreck on-line in February 2021 however strict lockdown restrictions in Greece meant she wasn’t capable of go to it earlier than she purchased it.
Sarah, who lives in West Sussex with husband Pete, 49, and their kids Harry, 20, Edward, 19, and 17-year-old Libby, says: “I get heaps plenty of stuff on-line - I purchase furnishings, material and all kinds of issues.
"I am used to going surfing and I am pretty used to assessing whether or not one thing is an effective factor or not, and I feel it was an extension of that, caused by lockdown light-headedness as properly!
“However Skiathos has by no means did not ship. It is simply so lovely. I sort of persuaded my household that, why would shopping for a property be any completely different?"
She provides: "Initially my husband and my two boys had been very very similar to, ‘Do not hassle, truthfully, it is one other one in every of your silly concepts, don’t be ridiculous.’
“My daughter stated it is fairly a good suggestion. And my husband ultimately stated to me, ‘Oh God, you have bought that look in your eyes so we will must discover this.' After which he noticed the potential.
“It was a collaborative determination ultimately.”
Skiathos is legendary for being a filming location for the hit movie Mamma Mia!. Whereas it might be solely seven miles lengthy and 4 miles large, there are greater than 60 lovely seashores.
The BBC presenter first visited the island aged 17 and instantly fell in love with it, returning numerous instances.
She says: “It’s referred to as the boomerang island as a result of folks come again repeatedly.”
Sarah, who has been self employed all her life, says she has at all times strived to avoid wasting up some cash to place apart with a view to have some stability.
The £100,000 got here from cash Sarah had put aside for her pension.
“I used to be trying round for a chance that probably would have a return or be a superb funding," she says.
"With inflation going up and all of that, having cash to take a position, it appears wise to really do one thing with it.
“Though, it is an enormous dedication financially - it is not a minor factor for us to have £100,000. There have been no ensures.”
Sarah solely understood the huge scale of the undertaking she had taken on when she lastly visited the property, which had been empty for round 5 years - and had a powerful stench of fish.
"I had a slight sweaty second after we bought in there," she admits.
“Property agent photos are at all times on the marginally extra optimistic aspect than actuality. It was quite a bit to absorb.
“The roof was leaking. There have been pots and pans in every single place to attempt to catch the leaks.
“We’re a household of swearers... what you hear is ‘wow’ when truly we imply one thing else.”
The house, in-built 1899, belonged to the proprietor's late mom, and had been within the household for a while.
“The previous proprietor of the home had been utilizing it to fry her fish. It didn’t scent good," Sarah recollects. “There was additionally plenty of flour and fish scales round.”
Joker Edward additionally got here dangerously near falling by way of the floorboards.
Sarah says: “Once we stroll in you'll be able to hear the director going, ‘Oh thoughts, oh god…’ The entire place was shifting up and down after we had been strolling on it.
"So when Ed began leaping simply within the space the place the roof had bought a leak, he bought put in his place.
“And it turned out, it was completely rotten, it was simply hanging. So we needed to stabilise that instantly earlier than any of the builders might go in there and get to work upstairs."
The house needed to be taken again virtually to its authentic shell. It wanted a brand new roof, timber beams and flooring in addition to damp proofing.
Sarah says: “We stripped it down after which we determined that we would do a really sympathetic restoration of the unique home, however then put a extra sensible and trendy chunk on, which turned a kitchen and downstairs rest room with a roof terrace above.”
Nonetheless, regardless of leaving clear directions to go away authentic options behind, some had been ditched by the builders.
“In Greece there’s not an enormous tradition of restoration - it’s extra demolition and rebuild. However the builders tried actually arduous to observe the transient," Sarah says.
“The doorways and the home windows had been pretty and so they had been handmade in Skiathos, however they had been nowhere to be seen. So once I bought there, it was like seeing any person’s face with no enamel in. I used to be a bit shocked."
Fortunately, islander and long-term buddy Kostas Yiannitsis, who undertaking managed the construct whereas Sarah was away, managed to rescue them from the rubble and put her in contact with native Yiorgos Karafelas, who restores furnishings as a passion.
The tip consequence left Sarah overcome with emotion.
She says: “He needed it to be pretty, and it makes such a distinction. You stroll by way of the door, and it’s a beautiful feeling.
"He additionally did our gates and made a cabinet out of a window. It’s now the drinks cupboard, which is essential!
“So he’s had an enormous hand in saving all the standard stuff.”
Sarah employed native ladies to make cushions out of second hand material and was given a conventional Skiathos rug from the household.
The household put aside £60,000 for the renovation undertaking however Sarah admits they spent greater than double that.
The undertaking performed to the couple’s strengths; hands-on Sarah had artistic rein, whereas husband Pete, who works in monetary providers, oversaw the funds and all administration, together with navigating the Greek banking system.
Constructing work took 9 months in complete and completed in October, with the ultimate consequence revealed on the present.
Sarah says: “The craftsmanship of the entire crew behind the undertaking was wonderful.
“We put the final items of furnishings in place and had a avenue get together on the identical night time. About 100 folks got here and joined us and partied into the night time.
“Individuals turned up prefer it was a marriage. They purchased us lovely dishes to prepare dinner in, tapestries which were of their household for generations, Skiathos’ selfmade liquor… it was completely lovely. It is one in every of my favorite nights of my life.
"We grilled souvlaki on the street. The neighbours had been singing. It was a complete fiesta. It simply felt pretty to have the ability to give them some hospitality in spite of everything they’d performed for us.”
Sarah's favorite bit is the small tub she put in on the roof terrace, alongside a lemon tree and beer fridge.
Sarah says: “One in every of my objectives is to sit down within the tub with a gin and tonic with a slice of lemon from my lemon tree and simply benefit from the second. That’s what I’m trying ahead to.”
The household are set to return to their vacation house, which options two pull-out beds downstairs, later this yr.
Sarah says: “We’re excited about renting it out ultimately, but it surely’s too new and valuable in the meanwhile.
“I don’t assume there are various locations you may spend £100,000 and get nearly as good a return. It’s been a superb funding.
“Pete has bought a smile on his face when he seems on the figures.”
Dwelling Greek House is on More4 on Tuesday 28 February, at 9pm and is on the market on All4.
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