Transforming a Crumbling Chapel into a Stunning Family Home | Building Historic Homes | Abode

Follow this family on the incredible journey of turning an abandoned chapel into a contemporary family residence. The church, neglected for over two decades, needs a full home renovation to restore it's interior into a beautiful home. From intricate craftsmanship to innovative design, witness the transformation of this historic structure into a modern living space.
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[@mattneillninasmom]

Stunning. Would definitely recommend a coffee/tea station & mini fridge in the bedroom for those cold mornings, cozy evenings..

[@dlebreton7888]

Grand to see people giving history new life.

[@nadia-i1l5h]

Truly the deepest of respect for this undertaking and the result. Hope they enjoy their labor of love

[@phyllisjasinski6622]

I wanted to say at first glance why would you tear up a church. But then after watching how you enhance the beauty of the church. I am so happy that you were the ones to rehabilitate the building the old and mixed perfectly with modern architecture. Thank you for sharing.❤❤❤❤

[@kensteffes6712]

The house within a house is perfect.

[@zellavie21]

It inspires me tobuy old historical building with priceless stories...

[@pobrien864]

I admire your courage in taking on and sticking with this project as some of the structural issues I think would have scared me to death! Congratulations on a wonderful project completed!

[@maricogan2903]

Lovely final project. The respect this couple showed to the building was unusual for this time in history. Thousands of people have married, bene mourned, babies baptised, people of all ages worshiping...Hymns and Christmas Carols lifted to the rafters for over a century. This was beautiful.

[@gertanckaert3023]

yes, my feeling, in my 100 year old former chapel

[@danielappell3484]

Great work, beautifully done. I would cover the exposed wooden buttresses with metal flashing to keep the rain away from that wood for a while longer.

[@kellygb9278]

Copper sheeting would age so well here. The patina would enhance the look & preserve the stone walls and the wooden beams

[@sianwarwick633]

People would have it in a flash ​@@kellygb9278

[@bryan__m]

I thought the same, but then I figured with as much engineering and attention to detail he put into anything else, there's no way he just forgot that the exposed wood will harm it. They probably just didn't show it in the video, or hadn't gotten to that part of the restoration yet. It looks like 3 sides were originally painted, so painting the 4th side is a pretty quick final detail.

[@StevenSeven]

What a beautiful makeover! Stunning.

[@lorettajohnson5900]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@chrysantha9769]

at least the neighbors are quiet....😆

[@rainbowkitty1996]

Most of the time ;)

[@olgavarela3647]

😂😂😂

[@1marcelo]

Maybe

[@caseyflorida]

The roof removed from that courtyard makes the wood buttresses exposed to rain. Those will rot away!

[@kathymateer]

Eventually, wrapping in copper should do the trick.

[@gonzalogonzalez4220]

@caseyflorida No more than any wooden structure exposed to the outdoors. They were originally painted and can be kept painted.

[@donnajenkins4721]

Stunning

[@lilliancruz1756]

I love this home so much and the wonderful amazing couple who took this restoration on! WELL DONE to the craftsmen who did the work, and the architect who drew up the plans. All around beautiful. This couple deserves this home, after living in a caravan for 2 years. Bless their family.

[@jasonkane8200]

400,000 for this seems like a bargain and not pricey at all. I don't think you could touch twice the price to do that here in the states. This is terrific. I would commandeer the tower room for a small library and reading room.

[@lib556]

I've often dreamt of living in a renovated church. I was a bit disappointed not to see what was done in the tower.

[@paulsheridan1]

Both Sean and Debs have really proven themselves capable, having handled such a magnificent renovation, effectively on time and on budget. I think this has to be one of Charlie Luxton's all-time favourites. 🎉

[@starveartist]

Please do a part 2 when they work on the rest of it!!!!

[@danielkoher1944]

31:22 It surely does, the opened courtyard not only gives privacy. But, a Beautiful Serenity. A+ ⭐️

[@gertanckaert3023]

love the “ shoulds “ from all of you, who don’t own a church, and haven ‘t renovated one ( yes, i live in a small chapel...yes, even minor upgrades, and reno takes experts and $$$ )

[@KimSincox]

Brilliant! Stunning! Glorious...sumptuous...charming...cozy...incredibly tasteful without being stuffy. On time and on budget by a lovely couple who saved a treasure. Bravo! I'm going to have to rewatch the ending with pauses just to take it all in.

[@susannajones7203]

Lovely family and story. Thank you for sharing your journey.

[@danielkoher1944]

36:09 It certainly is. I wish the Both of You many years of Health, Wealth, and Happiness.

[@TheTishy44]

Wow…..nicely done….love the water feature area….so perfect.

[@lasalleman6792]

Reminds me of a small castle, with its own chapel. Kind of Medieval/modern. Very nice.

[@starveartist]

Truly beautiful and unique!!!

[@heatheryoung36]

What a beautiful building! Kudos to this couple and others who save precious buildings all over England. I really admire the work ethic to finish a lovely home for themselves. Cheers from Canada.

[@susanwarford4221]

Beautifully done. Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🎉.

[@h3022]

Absolutely stunning! Love this so much.

[@dreed1058]

Simply stunning! A work of love and creativity. I also love the courtyard & bedroom - it's all lovely. Everyone seems concerned about exposed buttresses - I'm sure they have a plan!! Best wishes🎉❤!!

[@conniekiers9554]

Absolutely stunning

[@sianwarwick633]

Can people come up and see this place. It's astonishing

[@julie4636]

Absolutely amazing renovation. Love the stone still worn with age. Creative blend of old and new. Including the necessary red post!

[@spider46531]

GREAT!!! Another wonderful rebuilding of historic homes like Restoration Man!!!

[@ellenmadsen7308]

Fascinating project. Would have liked to hear about plans for the tower and any other spaces left to work on.

[@СолдатШвейк-з8й]

It’s a pity that the state does not have enough money to maintain and restore historical architecture.

[@pamelawing5747]

There is a ton of historical buildings supported by the state. There IS a limit. It is wonderful to see that there are people like this with the money and the vision to restore these lovely structures. It's happening in quite a few countries. France has a lot of chateau restorations going on and it's lovely.

[@22gtrotter]

Impressive !!!! I love the way they kept some parts almost untouched, showing even the years of neglect.

[@mryan22]

I shudder at those wooden buttresses in the courtyard being exposed to the elements. If any of those fail after being exposed to the elements, the entire place would come down.

[@danielkoher1944]

I’m quite sure as much attention they’ve paid to structural detail. They’ll continue to keep an eye on it.

[@stevendaniel8126]

BRILLIANT!! Totally fascinating......

[@siobhanroberts8627]

Truly incredible feat you accomplished. Beautiful home.

[@BlessedForever888]

I feel like the spirits of the people buried in the cemetery nearby helped this family out. The results are awesome.

[@sonnylambert4893]

Yeah like ok lol

[@peggystein3745]

Absolutely amazing accomplishments!!! So beautiful congradulations and enjoy! Thank you for sharing God bless i am sure their are good spirits there!

[@eh_bailey]

I'm still stressed about those exposed timbers. This is an interesting build, but they should have kept the leaded glass windows and just put permanent insulated storms over it. You always want this kind of thing to be undone in a historic structure.

[@jeffivany9532]

Disagree. The leaded glass would give too much religious overtones.

[@marionchase-kleeves8311]

I disagree, what is more beautiful than God's good light? The leaded Glas was a necessity since glass was poured or spun and large panes were impossible. The amount of light is astounding!

[@katecrossrhodes]

Their house, their choice.

[@danielkoher1944]

Insulated windows over stained glass. Further deteriorates the original leaded stained glass.

[@danielkoher1944]

@@marionchase-kleeves8311🙄

[@dixiechicken2643]

Stunning and Brilliant. Without a doubt, one of the best I've seen! You should be so proud of yourselves.

[@laurensouthgate2458]

WOW!

[@donaldcurlee9635]

Absolutely love this

[@maryjones5710]

Congratulations, your home is wonderful.

[@baseball4697]

As you were making the windows and I saw the forest green color, I thought, “I bet he’s going to shingle the upper part.”

[@zackdreamcast]

Those exposed timber flying buttresses hopefully has some nice flashing and marine grade sealant on them and have continued maintenance schedule attached to them

[@loril.mangold8160]

I think they should have a nice expresso machine upstairs in their bedroom

[@CyrusTheGreat8791]

I wished they framed those.beautiful columns with glass.instead of encasing it within the glass wall frame but then the bedrooms size would become much smaller!❤

[@danielkoher1944]

At least they saved a building before it was lost. 😊

[@danielkoher1944]

33:12 As the kitchen is the central location of celebrations and Holiday Memories.

[@marionchase-kleeves8311]

Needs to get window installers to REMOVE WINDOW TAGS! TACKY! I'm jealous, but Relieved I dont have to do the cleaning!

[@VoklstWestie]

Very Tartarian, Bellisemo!

[@heathermcrobert9779]

How do you vacum the ceiling at that height!! What an atmosphere for a home!!

[@dianafessenden7361]

Truly amazing and I am pleased for them. My only thought was dealing with all of those stairs throughout....as they age it would seem impossible (perhaps an elevator is forthcoming.)

[@JosephGoins-m1y]

Leaving the wood buttress exposed 😮 they have to be iron now the walls of the main structure is in danger

[@mauricepowers3804]

You need a coffee machine in your bathroom❤ beautiful build❤

[@Myrnateatro]

Lovely! What about the outside, what did they do to the cemetery?

[@dicoakhmad9076]

Wow,the owners is totally extraordinary person,personally i do love the final building.its look beautiful but beside that they have collections of gravestones i their backyard

[@jackiec859]

Lovely!

[@cynthia5304]

How do you incorporate the tomb stones into you exterior living space?

[@Roses-lilac]

How do you heat it?

[@truthserum5202]

How terribly creepy to live in a home surrounded by the dead.

[@epluribusunum1460]

Billions of humans have lived and died; most of us live surrounded by the dead, cemeteries or no.

[@kensteffes6712]

Would be ver easy to put a free standing elevator in this house.

[@arielb5317]

That place is haunted or is going to be. That is absolutely mental. Nice work but MENTAL!!

[@erikseanwolff5341]

What a spectacular video of an amazing process I am now a subscriber to your channel and I am looking forward to so many more amazing episodes.

[@jozf8163]

Very interesting concept. Not sure if I could live in an old church. If you don't mind me asking - what software did you use in the 3D concepts?

[@DoJoDiL]

Am I the only one who noticed the music playing around 36:00 was from The Sims?

[@9aguirre]

Styles don’t match or fit. Looks a bit oogly upstairs.

[@VoklstWestie]

I knew I was meant to watch this show, when I saw the Westies!!!! Ive been jn search of a (worthy) church..

[@flipjuicychic02]

I'm curious if there were ghosts at the grave yard 😂

[@christinahouldsworth6124]

36:43 Isn't that the Sims Song for building?

[@stevenschwagel8029]

❤this

[@RonMeece]

love Sean's rusticated walls best. Sorry Debs!

[@timothyfortner4500]

I appreciate the show! However, I would have really appreciated information about the historic church, such as the year(s) it was built.

[@22gtrotter]

Watch again, it was mentioned when it was build, i believe 1850 someting but not sure.

[@jo4vt]

They gave the history at the beginning.

[@ChiefWindyCheeks]

solar panels.... in England....🤣🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@r824077]

Image if the chappel was haunted lol

[@AFAskygoddess]

The restoration of the church is magnificent. However, their taste in the interior decor boggles the mind, and NOT in a good way. I absolutely wept when I saw that hideous red post in the kitchen. Then I stopped watching. I couldn't take anymore. But hey, it's their house. None of my business how they want to live.

[@jackiec859]

Well, it's a sure bet that no one will accidentally run into the red post and knock themselves silly.

[@ernestomondragonromero3024]

I feel like the main part of the church with that amazing architecture was left like a space the nobody uses nobody goes there, I think it would be amazing the main living room there with a big chandelier as a main focus on that huge space, hanging from a metal support due to the delicate ceiling, and the other living room as a tv room that is more private or a garage/man cave, also the expose wood beams that are structural features is not good. Another thing is, how is it that a massive house the boys have to share bedroom in a bunk bed. And I think the outdoors are not even taken in consideration as part of the design. And what happened with the tower? That could be the most impressive feature of the project and was left out 😢

[@cratecruncher4974]

Major changes to a religious site in the middle of 2000 graves of people that loved the church the most? Wasn't that a movie???

[@tackyman2011]

"They're Heeeeeere!"

[@Nerdsplayingcards]

I would design the interior with more rustic undertones huge oil paintings. Greek statues the who 9 yards

[@zafjas]

This renovation must have cost much more than 400K

[@whitneylake2107]

Goerge did these already

[@raraszek]

It's depressing that there is an abandoned chapel in the first place

[@sofiebribiesca6678]

Well done. Bargain ;-)

[@jamesedinger4956]

I'm happy for them...but that place would be creepy to live in

[@CarlaLR74]

Old creepy cemetery in the yard, that is a big no for me.

[@wdwerker]

@@CarlaLR74But the neighbors are so quiet ! 😊

[@---wu3qj]

No offense intended, but this is a very weird building for a home. It is too massive to be cosy to me.

[@DianaStuckert]

If you believe that water purification house looks Californian, you are delusional. I have lived in California my whole life. No one here lives in anything like that.

[@scottygdaman]

living in a graveyard ? weird

[@willgame26]

something about it i dont like.

[@ВартанВартанян-з2у]

It should illegal to change the internal design in the former churches!!! People just ruin its beauty!!!

[@wdwerker]

That would limit buildings like this to demolition unless a congregation has very deep pockets !

[@krystofsimek1134]

Great idea very badly executed.

[@23mlke]

i’m sorry but they ruined it