DIY SOS - A Heartfelt Transformation in Leicester
Among the many interior design programmes broadcast over the years, DIY SOS is one that has truly connected with viewers across the UK. Earlier this year, we had the privilege of taking part in one of their projects, as they brought their show to Leicester.
Eight-year-old Isla lives with a rare genetic condition called mandibuloacral dysplasia, which causes her organs to age prematurely and leaves her bones extremely fragile. This makes mobility difficult and limits her day-to-day independence.
When DIY SOS put out the call to help transform Isla’s family home, they received more than 2,000 volunteer applications - one of the highest responses the show has ever seen.
Mark Warren, one of our bench joiners, first heard about this opportunity through his daughter, who lives near the family featured on the show. He brought the idea to our team, and we shared his enthusiasm for the project and were quick to jump in and offer our support.
As those familiar with the show will know, time is often at a premium, with the entire project necessitating a fast pace from all involved.
Our Technical Lead Tim Sneath stepped in without hesitation, eager to help and volunteered his time to drive the project through, meaning we hit the ground running from the very start. All designs were completed within two days of the initial meeting, and construction commenced just one week later.
Many other local businesses offered their time and expertise, all coming together for our common cause. Our team took on the task of designing and building wardrobes and a dressing table for Isla’s mum Stacey, and a similar setup for Isla’s sister Paige. The brief was a “shaker style,” and we were excited to help bring this vision to life.
Material Selection
It became apparent early on that this project would be particularly joinery-heavy. As Gabrielle Blackman, Lead Interior Designer, put it, it was a “joinery Rubik’s cube.”
To ensure durability, the wardrobes and dressers were made from white MF MDF for the carcasses and MR MDF for the doors and exterior. These were then painted in Farrow & Ball. Soft-close hinges, chrome hanging rails, and Accuride soft-close drawer runners were added for functionality, while Broughtons of Leicester generously donated antique-effect handles. Lee Glass of Nottingham kindly provided protective glass worktops for the dressing tables.
Go, go, go!
With so many volunteers and a tight timeline, the installation phase had to be incredibly regimented. As Tim put it, the key challenges of the project were “Logistics, logistics, logistics! With so many tradespeople working simultaneously in such tight spaces, it was a real challenge. But everyone took it in stride, and with a smile on their face!”
Our team worked extraordinarily hard, starting at 4 pm after a full day at Thorpe’s HQ. The logistics of such a condensed programme created obvious challenges; we had to wait for the carpets to be fitted before we could begin installing our joinery, for example, and site conditions presented their own complications, often resulting in trades working alongside one another.
Our joiners, Dave Snutch and Mark Wilson, worked downstairs in Paige’s room, while Fran and Vinny focused on Stacey’s room upstairs. Tim also pitched in, lending a hand to both teams as they installed the pieces. By the time they wrapped up at 2 am, they had spent about 8 hours in each room - no small feat considering the team had already put in a full day’s work!
The installation took place in early February, during some very cold and wet weather. It was crucial to get all the joinery pieces inside quickly to prevent any damage from the elements.
Reveal Day: The Heart of the Project
After weeks of hard work, the day we had all been waiting for arrived - the reveal day. Volunteers worked tirelessly to get everything ready, and everyone gathered to hear Nick Knowles give a briefing before the filming began. It was clear how much the DIY SOS team cared about the cause and how passionate they were about making a difference.
Mark Warren was able to join us for the big day, which made it even more special. It was a meaningful moment for our Thorpes team, especially since Mark had been the one to suggest this project in the first place. We even got to meet the Milky Bar Kid, who, much to our surprise, had transitioned into an IT specialist but was still handing out Milky Bars on the day!
Once Isla and her family toured their newly renovated home, they stepped outside to thank all the volunteers for their hard work. As a thoughtful gesture, the family had prepared little thank-you gifts for everyone involved.
A Memorable Experience
Working on this project was an incredibly rewarding experience, and we are grateful to have been part of it. The passion and dedication of the DIY SOS team were evident from start to finish, and it was truly special to meet Isla, Stacey, and Paige.
Thank you to everyone at South Shore Productions and DIY SOS for allowing us to contribute to this incredible transformation. It’s a memory we will always cherish.
You can watch this episode here.
“Being involved in such a meaningful project for such a wonderful family was truly rewarding. Meeting Isla at the very first meeting helped us stay focused on the task at hand. Here’s to many more great memories for this beautiful family!”
