Couple spend £1 million to rework 18th century farmhouse into gorgeous fashionable ‘without end house’ on island in North Wales – simply throughout the coast from the place they’d their first date as teenage sweethearts

Teenage sweethearts who returned to their hometown North Wales following high-flying careers in London and Manchester have spent more than a million to refurbish a dilapidated 18th century farmhouse into a stunning, modern ‘forever home’.

Barrister Tina and school administrator Steve poured their hearts and souls into a bespoke property on the island of Anglesey – which overlooks the coast where they had their first date, in a café, as youngsters.

Now the couple and their daughter Lucy featured in tonight’s episode of George Clarke‘s Building Home, airing at 8pm.

They took viewers through the painstaking transformation of the ruins into a sprawling two-storey build with strikingly decorated bedroom suites, a custom-made staircase and a glazed glass extension which was made into a sitting room, offering sprawling views of the surrounding Irish Sea.

The initial project was meant to take 12-15 months and budgeted at £800,000 – but in  the end took two years and seven months, with the final figure very much ‘north’ of the planned finances, which Tina admitting the number is ‘scary to say out loud’.

Her and Steve, supported by a team helmed by local builder Jamie, battled pouring rains and battering winds to get the property off the ground, conscious of knowing they need to work around the area’s at times unforgiving climate.

‘It’s important to have someone who’s local and understood the constraints of the site,’ Tina explained. ‘And understood just how windy and exposed it is.’

And the weather wasn’t the only challenge – as a mistake with the size of the steel beams at the very beginning set the couple back too.

Barrister Tina and school administrator Steve poured their hearts and souls into a bespoke property on the island of Anglesey – which overlooks the coast where they had their first date, in a café, as youngsters. The couple pictured with George Clarke 

It took weeks – and cost thousands – to build new ones, to set up the foundation for their glass extension.

The family was also adamant to pay homage to the community by relying on local artisans, to build and decorate the interiors in the two bedroom suites, guest bedroom, study and snug.

A local craftsman painstakingly hand-assembled the stone work on their main building, using the ruins from the original farmhouse.

Elsewhere, Tina was giddy as she unpacked a statement pink kitchen, which was also handmade locally – just on the other side of the coast from where the house is. 

‘I can see where the kitchen was made while I stand in this kitchen,’ she gushed. 

Now the couple and their daughter Lucy featured in tonight’s episode of George Clarke’s Building Home, airing at 8pm. Lucy and Tina pictured with George Clarke

The pair also commissioned a local artist’s glasswork for a centerpiece chandelier, that hangs proudly, and offers a pièce de résistance as soon as you enter the house.

George Clarke was in awe as he visited the family in their incredible new home in tonight’s episode. 

‘This is outstanding,’ he remarked. ‘This is stunning.’

The presenter remarked: ‘Tina and Steve have created something quite extraordinary here.

‘Yes it might have taken over a year longer than they planned and cost a lot more money but in the big, grand scheme of things, it just doesn’t matter.

‘They’ve come back home – and they’ve built a forever home.’

‘Whilst I always wanted to leave, I always knew I wanted to return,’ Tina explained. ‘Because we’re from an island, there’s almost a connection with the land.

‘I think just being able to see the horizon… I’m in nature. It’s really very special.’

‘We’re from this area, our family’s from this area… they always say home is where the heart is, and for me its as simple as that,’ Steve added.

‘It’s that connection to  a place… it’s so strong. I feel so privileged.’

Their daughter Lucy also said that it’s ‘like living in a work of art’. She shared: ‘I think its taken a great deal of tenacity and determination.’

George Clarke’s Building Home is airing on February 12, on Channel 4, at 8pm