"It's changed our lives": Cornwall family's home transformed on DIY SOS
Take a look at the amazing transformation of the bungalow in Carbis Bay
Last updated 27th Nov 2020
A family from Cornwall say having their house transformed on DIY SOS has changed their lives.
Nick Knowles and his team came to Carbis Bay last year, to help Lynn and Stephen Smedley.
The couple have fostered over 100 children and now care for their three grandchildren, following the tragic death of their daughter.
Their small retirement bungalow only had two bedrooms, so the three boys were having to share one room with a triple bunk-bed.
The family were struggling in terms of space, until the DIY SOS team came to the rescue...
The Smedleys' Story
Over 15 years, Lynn and Stephen Smedley have fostered 103 children, from premature babies with cerebal palsy to teenage mothers.
They were about to retire when tragically, their 32-year-old daughter Carrie died unexpectedly.
Tragically, Carrie's eldest son Ruben was the one who found her went he went into her room one morning but couldn't wake her, he was only 13 at the time.
Since Carrie's death in 2017, Lynn and Stephen have been caring for their three grandchildren in their small bungalow in Carbis Bay.
Space was so limited, brothers Ruben, 17, Jaden, 11, and Uche, 10, had been sharing a triple bunk bed in one room.
There is only one bathroom and Lynn was even been forced to do the washing and ironing in the shed.
The family felt like they didn't have the mental or physical space to grieve, especially with the boys sharing one room.
Lynn and Steve said they had almost had to put their grief for their daughter on hold to care for the boys which, although taking the boys in was a no brainer because they’re family and they couldn’t entertain the thought of them going into care, was tough because Carrie was their daughter.
The eldest boy, Ruben, says there have been moments where he's felt like a parent to his two younger brothers.
The transformation
Dozens of local companies, tradespeople and volunteers helped out with the project and star Nick Knowles described the community spirit in the Duchy as "absolutely amazing".
Now the Smedley's small two-bedroom bungalow in Carbis Bay has been completely redesigned, so there is space for all five of them to live.
The house now has four bedrooms, Lynn and Stephen have their own as now do each of the boys.
There is also a much larger kitchen and living room, which allows them space to sit as a whole family.
There are also now two bathrooms and a lot more garden space, including a football area.
What kind of a difference has it made?
"The thought of where we were living, with Covid, I can't even bear to think about it. I really don't know what we would have done. It's an absolute godsend what they've done.
"All those people giving up their time for us is unbelievable, the boys have grown up a lot more, there isn't the fighting there used to be, they get along much better and have their own space. It's done so much for us a family."
Lynn Smedley
At the end of the TV episode, Lynn and Stephen thanked the hundreds of volunteers who had helped the big build take place.
“We built our home for us two and then we obviously had to take the boys in but it didn’t feel like a family home. So it literally needed the transformation really that you guys have done to it. It’s made the world of difference to us and I just cannot thank you all enough. From the bottom of our hearts it means the absolute world to us, doesn’t it Lynn”.
Stephen Smedley
“When we realised we had lost Carrie, we were devastated. We couldn’t believe it. Nothing can prepare you for losing a child but our first instinct was we must protect the boys. There was no hesitation - the boys would come and live with us. Then reality struck. It has been extremely hard at times. No privacy or space. No time to grieve. But the boys come first. We can now move forward and build our lives. Thank you”.
Lynn Smedley