Reflecting both their heritages, the couple saved up and put in hard work to bring their place a flair of culture, colors, and a taste of home.

Marrakech – A Sicilian school worker has invested her life savings to turn her dreary London terrace into a “Mediterranean oasis,” – a reminder of home.

Anatolia and Frank Elamradi sacrificed takeaways and lavish holidays to save for their dream project, transforming their 1930s house into a vibrant paradise.

Anatolia, a 52-year-old exam invigilator, was set on blending her Sicilian heritage with her husband’s Moroccan culture in their home. 

The mother of two dreamed of a bright, airy kitchen, starting by tearing down their old extension to build a larger one in its place.

Having lived in their Newham, London home for 28 years, the couple embarked on a downstairs makeover in October 2020, completely refurbishing the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

With their life savings of £80,000, they made “economic choices” to fund the project.

Now, guests are often astonished to learn that the family resides in a three-bedroom terrace home, thanks to the spaciousness created by the new extension.

In an interview with the Somerset Live website, Anatolia said: “We never really did anything big in terms of renovation until three years ago when we decided to do a complete makeover starting with demolishing the extension we had and build a bigger one.”

She noted that it had always been a particular dream of hers, stating, “Obviously something like this costs a lot of money and we wanted to make sure we had enough savings before we started on anything. We’re not the type to put anything on credit cards.”

The previous extension was simply a rectangular box, lacking natural light. They had a vision inspired by their roots, understanding that light and a view of the garden were essential. They desired a vibrant space filled with color.

With Italian and Moroccan influences, they had specific tastes and aimed to brighten their home to reflect their heritage. One of the sitting rooms features a mural adorned with lemons, a nod to Sicily, while the kitchen had previously felt cramped.

Their goal was to infuse their culture into the house, adding a splash of color to evoke memories of their backgrounds, something that held great significance for them.

Anatolia shared to Somerset Live that forgoing takeaways and being frugal with travel expenses played a crucial role in funding their ambitious project. They invested their life savings into this endeavor, knowing it was essential for their dream.

They never indulged when traveling, always opting for budget-friendly choices. Instead of takeaways or frequent dining out, they consistently saved money on the side.

After years of saving, they couldn’t be happier with the results. Waking up and stepping into this transformed space feels truly incredible.

Regarding visitors, she remarked that many people have walked through the house and are amazed. It’s hard to believe it’s a terrace house. 

For Anatolia, it’s flattering to hear that others consider this space beautiful.