Dan & Archie are the dynamic DIY duo

Renovating with a skilled partner can be both a dream come true and a rollercoaster of emotions. We spoke to Dan & Archie (@a.modest.semi) to understand their dynamic and how they go about transforming their new home, hand-in-hand.

A picture perfect snap of Dan & Archie (@a.modest.semi) in front of their Edwardian home.

When Dan moved to the Southeast during the lockdown, he thought it would just be temporary. Two years on and Dan and his fiancé Archie – who got engaged this year on Valentine's Day – are now the proud owners of an Edwardian semi-detached home in Essex.

‘Divide & Conquer’

Things don’t always go to plan – you definitely know that if you're a fellow DIY'er. The couple followed their hearts choosing the place, looking through what other owners had done to see its potential. “It’s a slow burner due to our budget,” Archie says. “But we just crack on.” Taking it room by room, they “divide and conquer”, thinking outside the box to bring their vision to life. 

Dan is a designer with an eye for colours and creative direction. Archie’s carpentry adds to the home’s unique, handmade touches. When the house throws them surprises, Dan says he can be “quite dramatic”, while Archie is “more level headed”.

Mix n’ match

Dan & Archie find magic in the balance and have fun with it – their home bursts with personality on their Instagram, @a.modest.semi. Traditional elements get a 21st century edge, like their upcycled front door, where Dan knuckled down to take “100-year-old paint off the frame with a heat gun. It was hard work, but the end result is great because it’s got all the details back.” 

It’s now a chalky, nautical blue, and they’ve picked up a gold WILSON Door Knocker to make it theirs. “The door is very traditional, though this good quality, modern knocker, brings together the old and new.”  

The door now opens to red and cream checkerboard tiles that they made and laid themselves – they’re real stunners “We didn’t settle for what was on the shelves. It was a bit of a challenge but we love them. They’re just different from the rest.”

Bold, brave but modest

Their secret to scroll-stopping home improvements like these? Dan says it’s about “making brave choices but knowing when to stop.” Archie’s tip is practical as ever: “When renovating is such a money pit, there’s so many things out there to do it alternatively. Have the confidence to give things a go” – even when you can’t predict how it’ll end up.

Dan & Archie chose our SADLER Knobs to complete their cabinets.

A huge thanks to Dan & Archie for joining us for a TEA BREAK. Why not follow their renovation journey at @a.modest.semi? 

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