HOUSE THAT
I won a £250,000 flat in Sheffield but I chose to rent in London instead – here’s why
The renter made her estate agent only look for houses numbered 11
A WINNER of Channel 4's Big Interiors Battle house makeover show has sold her prize and moved to London.
Tara Rodrigues won a £250,000 flat in Sheffield last year after winning the TV show.
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But the interior designer has already sold the home and is now renting in West London.
In an interview with , Tara revealed that she decided not to move to Sheffield because her business is in London.
She said: "As a single parent and business owner I rely heavily on my support network all based in London. Saving the money for our forever home, developers bought me out."
Tara’s design studio, TR Interiors, uplifts communities with pro bono projects for children in need.
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Despite London's tough renting market, Tara said she requested her estate agent only look for houses numbered 11 as that is her lucky number.
But she said she has found a flat with great value for money in Ealing.
Since she's moved in, Tara has decorated her home with furniture bought from Facebook Marketplace.
Tara recommends people use a mood board and samples to figure out what works together and prevent returns.
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She also says shopping around is important for finding the best deals on items.
She said: "So far we’ve been really happy and settled here. My landlord has been amazing and that weighs in heavily when renting, having a responsive landlord certainly goes a long way."
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Tara currently pays £1,750 per month for an Art Deco home for herself and her two daughters.
She says the home is nice and in a safe area with good access to public transport.
Tara is planning to move out of London in the next few years to buy her "forever home".
Big Interiors Battle was axed by Channel 4 last year.
It saw eight interior designers receive the keys to an apartment where they were challenged to transform a different room each week.
Viewers watched as Tara broke down in tears on hearing the news she had bagged the £250,000 property.
Like Tara, most of us are redecorating our homes on a budget.
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Meanwhile, the experts at explained why you should avoid some popular renovations if you're trying to sell.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, foodies may be tempted to splash out for the best appliances money can buy, but an expert warns against it.
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