A couple desperate for a change has revealed how they transformed a rundown cottage into their dream property.
Louis and Gen Eveleigh got tired of living in the big city so they wanted to live somewhere quieter.
Louis was originally from England and had lived in Scotland before. He loved the beautiful scenery.
They have moved to Snowdonia with their partner, Louis, and transformed a cottage they had into a luxurious new home.
Speaking to WalesOnline, Louis said: “We were tired of the attitude of people; none of it made a great lifestyle for us or the kids.
“But my idea of getting away from everything was to persuade my wife we should live on an island!”
He added: “It wasn’t until she pointed out that my choice was nearer to Norway than Scotland and if I suddenly had a craving for a beer and chips, then I might have to wait days for the next ferry out!”
But then Gen had the idea of looking at Snowdonia, so they discovered homes and eventually settled on the worst house they’d ever seen.
Louis revealed: “Why we considered viewing it then still makes us laugh. There were no great pictures, the rooms looked tired and pokey, and then there was the photo of what looked like someone who had died and been covered over with the bedclothes!”
But after looking on Google at the cottage, the location soon captivated them, showing them the true beauty of the area.
The house was close to a village, but not in the center as it was positioned in a quiet area which they described as being “calm, surrounded by trees, hills and a river”.
He said: “We arranged a visit with the estate agents and one Saturday we set off. When the sat-nav told us we had arrived at our destination we couldn’t believe our eyes; it was just pure magic.
“We couldn’t have asked for more. It was a sunny day, and despite the tiredness of the pictures advertising the house, it was just us who fell in love.”
The stone cottage needed a lot of work and it took the couple of years to get it to look what they wanted.
Louis explained: “We spent ages researching old properties on what should and should not be done to them and battled the company for months until we finally got the answer we wanted.
“Don’t live in the property while you are renovating it if you possibly can move out.”
The couple is keen on upcycling and sourced items from eBay while using second-hand shops to buy vintage finds.
Their favorite room is the living area, where they chose a dark red to make it “You will feel cozy.
Louis and Gen have been settled in their Welsh dream cottage for over a decade and are thinking back on their rollercoaster ride with the home.
He continued: “Don’t get me wrong, life isn’t perfect, and living semi remotely has its challenges – but it’s these challenges that make you think and work around them till you come to a solution.
“It’s unique because whenever you get tired or fed up with things you only have to open up the front door, lookout, and let the surroundings take those cares and fears away.”