'We sacrificed our twenties and worked seven days a week to build our dream home from scratch'

Anyone who has watched Grand Designs will know just how much work goes into a self-building project. The popular Channel 4 property programme follows ambitious individuals as they design and build their dream home, from the initial blueprints right down to the final reveal.

One couple in Lancashire took on their very own Grand Designs-style project without the cameras, and now live in their beautiful five-bed detached house which was carefully constructed from scratch. After having lifelong goals to build their forever home, Katie and her husband Michael worked tirelessly throughout their 20s to make their dream a reality.

Katie, 31, spoke to the Manchester Evening News as part of our Where I Live series. Each week we chat to a different homeowner across the north west about their buying and renovation journey; and take a look inside to see how they've made their house a home.

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Katie, who grew up in Preston, bought her first house with her husband Michael seven years ago, and they have worked their way up the property ladder ever since.

"We bought our first house when I was 24. It was a two-bed semi detached which we paid £135,000 for," Katie told the Manchester Evening News.

"Since then we've worked our way up the ladder and have owned four houses. We have never bought a new build, all of our houses have been renovation projects that have needed work doing to them.

"If you buy a run-down house and renovate it, you can almost always sell it and make money on it. That's a great way to move up the ladder by buying, renovating and selling on, then using that money to buy another one.

“We’ve always gone for the worst house on the best road as