Hayley and Pedro Castle have lived in Brighton for 5 years in a small regency style cottage near the seafront. They want to clear out their place and start again. Using the ‘St Martins’ Lane Hotel’ as inspiration, they plan to modernise their home into a light, airy and totally modern space. The planned budget is just £23,000. As the work starts, all does not run smoothly, tensions run high as they fall out with the main contractor, after the property is plagued with structural problems, damp and leaks. Despite all of these nightmares, delays and overspending, the results in the end are very glamorous.

• Kevin McCloud