Many Brits have used lockdown to tackle some DIY and now some of the most creative projects have been revealed.
Sofa and carpet specialist, ScS, has undergone a nationwide search for the most brilliant home renovations from the last few months after Google searches for ‘DIY’ more than trebled in the UK.
Jacqui Ruddy, 56, from Manchester, was crowned the winner of the competition after creating an incredible 9ft long playhouse boat for her seven-year-old nephew made entirely of cardboard. Having beaten over 200 other entrants, Jacqui will receive a brand new sofa from ScS worth £599.
Jacqui said: “My nephew loves boats, so to brighten our days during lockdown, I decided to try my hand at making him a playhouse boat, so he can play in the garden.
“It is the first time I’ve made anything like this before. My nephew loves it and we have even camped out in it overnight, so it’s already special for those memories.”
You can see Jacqui’s entry below, along with the rest of the top ten projects.
1) Jacqui Ruddy (56, Manchester)
Jacqui’s amazing playhouse boat certainly made waves in the competition, taking the top spot and winning the family a brand new sofa.
2) Rachel Watson (26, Ipswich)
Rachel’s husband cooked up a treat when he made their daughter this fabulous kitchen workstation. He used free wooden pallets and leftover paint for his creation, which his daughter absolutely adores.
3) Jodie Loveridge (30, Hereford)
Jodie’s cosy little corner was made entirely out of pallets and will be a wonderful area for her and her husband to rest on long summer evenings.
4) Catherine Okey (25, Brighton)
Catherine and her fiancé were due to go away to celebrate their five year anniversary, but had to cancel both their trip and their wedding due to the pandemic. Instead, to make their anniversary memorable, they transformed their attic into a tropical den.
5) Duncan Aston (43, St Neots)
Duncan built an amazing den/summerhouse in his garden with the help of his family. He did the construction, his children took on the painting and his partner decorated – a real team effort!
6) Andy Wilson (46, Oldham)
Andy did his DIY on the ‘cheep’, using leftover wood to produce his so-called “chicknic table”. His whole family chipped in to help and the hens certainly seem pleased with the result.
7) Terri Pucill (67, Derbyshire)
Terri is all set for summer with this fabulously decorated garden shed. She gave it a lick of paint and it’s now all set for visitors – as soon as they’re allowed in that is!
8) Carrie-Anne Brown (27, Kent)
Carrie-Anne made this gorgeous outdoor sofa bench so that she can sit on it and relax while her little boy plays in the garden.
9) James Grist (36, Otford)
Another ‘eggshell-ent’ project, James and his partner built two hutches to house the quails they bought during lockdown. He says it’s their first attempt at DIY but you certainly can’t tell!
10) Will Brown (30, London)
Will created this bohemian paradise in his garage, with a homemade bar providing refreshments for his family’s ukulele jam nights.
Dale Gillespie, Head of Acquisition at ScS, said: “We were blown away by the number and quality of entries in our competition – it’s clear that Brits have put their time in lockdown to very good use!
“Jacqui’s fantastic playhouse boat was a very worthy winner and we’re delighted to provide her with a brand new sofa.”
To see more of the nation’s lockdown DIY efforts, visit: https://www.scs.co.uk/lifestyle/lockdown-diy-competition
