Jessie Cutts, a quilt-maker, and her husband, Ivo, are in the midst of sensitively restoring a Georgian townhouse in Ramsgate. When they started last May, there was only a handful of habitable rooms, with plenty more that were “literally falling down”. After months of repairs and sanding, they’re now choosing paint colours and starting to furnish the space.

Committed to turning “the ugly house into a lovely house”, fashion designer Jessica Horton and art teacher Robert Leech are thoughtfully transforming this east London Victorian terrace. The first-time homeowners are doing everything themselves – from removing the pebble-dash facade to sourcing reclaimed taps and lighting.

This will terrify some and inspire others. Improbable as it sounds, Cal and Claire ended up buying this derelict Victorian villa in Scotland by mistake and decided to run with it. Along with a merry band of friends and volunteers, the couple are overhauling it in as sustainable a way as possible – from replacing structural beams to installing a new roof made from recycled composite slate.

Edinburgh-based Tom and Emma are giving this 18th-century cottage a new lease of life with contemporary additions, including a Douglas Fir framed extension and polished concrete floors. We persuaded them to share their Japanese shou sugi ban charred cladding method with us.

Not so clueless now, Jess and Darius have spent almost two years gutting and restoring their Victorian terrace in north London. They’re full of wise words – “if I had one tip for anyone starting a renovation it would be to stick to what you love on anything structural; everything else can be added or changed over time, as and when budget or energy allows,” Jess wrote.

Nadine and Julius started renovating this Victorian terraced house in south London last April. From sourcing plaster in a global pandemic and replacing rotten floor joists to opening up fireplaces and upcycling vintage furniture, there is plenty to inspire. They don’t shy away from showing the messy realities of renovating either.

“We will be keeping all that we can and honouring this special place, which for a very long time was a home and someone’s livelihood in one,” say the couple behind the renovation of their Victorian shop-fronted home in East Dulwich. Their mantra is a good one – retain the originals and update the essentials.