I transformed the worst house on the best street into the ‘classiest council house ever' – it was flea infested before

The Sun

09-05-2025

A HOMEOWNER has revealed how he transformed his shabby old council house into a posh and cosy sanctuary.
Ashley amassed over 21k followers on social media thanks to the incredible makeover of his old 1850 cottage.
3
The interior designer recently took to TikTok to show off his luxurious pad, which was created using bargain buys and charity shop gems.
In the viral video, the vintage lover explained how lucky he feels to be able to live in the curated space of his dreams.
"I have spent so much of my own time and my own money creating a home that I absolutely love, and I'm not ashamed to openly admit that this is actually a council house," he said.
The council house is also a period property, Ashley revealed, which is something he had dreamed of owning.
Inside, the home isn't exactly what you might expect from an old council house though, and that's all thanks to Ashley's amazing decorating skills.
Instead of sticking to current trends Ashley decided to take a step back in time and adorned his home with stunning vintage pieces.
Intricate blue wallpaper lines the walls, and artwork you'd expect to see covering the walls of the Palace of Versailles lays over the top in luxurious gold frames.
It really is the details to make the house a home, with delicate ornaments, glass vases, books and photo frames all around.
In fact, there's not a surface in Ashley's living room that hasn't been revamped with a vintage-looking find.
Like any home though, Ashley's council home cottage has its fair share of problems, he admitted.
The 'charming' Irish castle on market with a host of perks
One of the issues is that because it is a council property, Ashley has little say in some aspects of the home, which he said "the local council likes to do on the cheap."
The kitchen cupboards, for example, don't exactly match the posh aesthetic he has created throughout the home, but that doesn't mean he hasn't given them a face lift with a few savvy tricks.
Now, you barely notice the modern cupboard because of all the interesting design details he's added around them, including posh plates
And although the space looks cosy and cute now, that wasn't always the case.
When Ashley got the keys to the property, the walls were covered in inches of nicotine stains, the kitchen was covered in grease, and the whole space was infested with fleas and covered in dog fur.
"I took the worst house on the best street and created a home," Ashley said.
Within a year or so, Ashley even hopes to buy the property from the council, making it his home.
After showing off his stunning space online, fellow interior fans were left amazed by his hard work.
One said: "I can tell you've poured your heart into your home, it's beautiful."
"I was gobsmacked when you said your beautiful house is a council house," a second wrote.
And a third commented: "Who cares whether it's a council house or not, it's your home and you've made it beautiful and that's all that matters, be proud hun. Amazing job."
"Classiest damn council house ever!!!" someone else chimed in.
Meanwhile, someone else said the home was "like walking into a museum" and another said it's their "dream house".