LAMBETH MOTHER COMPLETES £10K GARDEN MAKEOVER AFTER £60K QUOTE

Charlotte Syeda-Aguirre completed a garden renovation of her two-bedroom terraced home in Lambeth, Greater London, for £10,509 after receiving a professional quote of £60,000. The work began in February 2025 and was completed in July 2025, spanning five months. Syeda-Aguirre and her husband Tomal undertook the majority of the manual labour themselves, including excavating the garden and transporting soil in bags to collection points. They paid £6,400 to professional landscapers for assistance with paving and retaining walls.

When the family moved into the property in May 2024, the garden contained a crumbling patio, a mud-covered lawn, and hazardous steps that made it unsuitable for their two young children. Syeda-Aguirre, who works in digital marketing, said the couple drew inspiration from Pinterest to design a courtyard-style retreat. She stated: "We thought if we had £60,000 we would be doing an extension, not a garden. It just was not possible. Anyone can dig, it just takes a long time." The renovation required the family to work manually due to limited space for machinery or skips at the property.

The couple now use the garden regularly for entertaining. Syeda-Aguirre said the completed space had transformed how the family lived and that she would not repeat the project due to the physical demands. The family intends to begin a loft conversion in September 2025 to extend the property to four bedrooms.