A disabled women has shared how nothing can stop you doing what you dream of – transforming her entire home while dealing with crippling symptoms of her chronic illness.

Vic Au-Yeung, 42, from Herefordshire, West Midlands, was born with Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare bone disorder where two or more bones in the neck are fused together, but didn't start showing symptoms until she was 35.

She has also developed dystonia, a chronic condition in which muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements.

With a keen passion for upcycling and DIY, Vic has shared how she decorated the home she shares with her husband, Shawn, 42, and their 15-year-old daughter Jazmyn – even making her own furniture.

The family moved into the four-bed, detached property five years ago which they purchased for £230,000 and got to work immediately – and Vic estimates their DIY changes have added £70,000 to the house value.

However, two years into the project, Vic's condition started to worsen, resulting in her leaving her job and having to also make the home more adaptable to her needs, as she needs to use a wheelchair to move around.

Vic, who has over 42,000 followers on Instagram (@our_home_in_kingstone), has also made incredible pieces of furniture out of pallets and apple crates.

In the kitchen, which took just £50 and four months to revamp, accessibility is key with an open-plan design in rustic-chic interior with greenery draping from the ceiling onto the wooden-panelled breakfast bar.

Outside, further greenery fills the area which is complete with dim lighting on a wooden pergola and various patterned pillows that sit upon the comfy sofas.

In her daughter Jazmyn's room, striking green walls are accented with minimalist artwork, a fluffy pink stool and a sign which reads: "Wake me up when I'm famous."

The dining room, which cost just £20 to transform, marks the definition of Scandi-style with white chairs coupled with a fluffy rug, which sit in between dark navy and gold storage units.

"We started redecorating immediately as we wanted to make it into a home and put our stamp on it," Vic told Jam Press.

"I love the industrial and upcycled look; my coffee table in my living room is even a cable reel.

"I also have a huge passion for plants, they have become a huge part of my decor.

"With soaring prices on everything I think a lot of people will definitely be able to relate [to taking things slow and on a budget].

"My favourite compliment I always get is when people say they can see so much personality in my home.

"Whilst I’m always getting inspiration from others, I would hate for my home to look exactly the same as anyone else’s.

"I think it makes you appreciate it more this way as we’ve put so much hard work into it."

Speaking about the adjustments the couple have made to the house to make it easier for Vic to move around, she added: "Once I began needing my wheelchair, my husband built two ramps, one for me to get outside into the garden and one in the garden to access the higher part of it."

"I’d been scouring a new stairlift months and just had to wait for the right one to come along.

"Once it did, I painted it black and, again, having that mobility aid meant freedom.

"Not having to crawl up and down the stairs like I had for years was a real treat.

"I [also] don’t really leave the house much anymore, partly [because of] Covid and partly because I need someone with me to put my wheelchair into a car."

Two rooms that the mum has spent extra time on includes the couple's bedroom, which triggers mixed feelings due to her disability, and her daughter's room.

Vic said: "In my bedroom I’ve gone for a boho look, now that I spend a lot of time there I’ve worked hard to make it look nice.

"When you spend a lot of time in just one room, you want your surroundings to be beautiful and to make you feel safe.

"I have a love-hate relationship with my bedroom; whilst I love how it looks, sometimes when my health is really bad it can feel like a prison, albeit a beautiful tropical looking one.

"I recently did my daughter's bedroom, it took me about six months in the end but I did it.

"I definitely pushed myself too hard but the sense of achievement once finished was an incredible feeling.

"I’ve also built tables, stools and even a bed for my daughter.

"I don’t mind being asked if I need help but it’s incredibly disheartening when you say 'no thank you' and then you’re ignored.

"Ableism is everywhere. If I’m in a shop or coming down a path, people either literally leap out of my way or completely ignore me.

"It’s generally always one or the other.

"I’m very confident in asking for help when I do need it, I’m often met with surprise as to what I can do."

As for their budget, the couple have kept costs very low, sourcing products and materials from Facebook Marketplace – including the stairlift – or high street shops.

They've also received donations from companies like B&Q.

In her bedroom, Vic spent around £300, while her daughter's room transformation cost £200.

The living room costs were kept low with £30 on paint and some cheap eBay finds to decorate with, while the kitchen set them back £50 and the dining room cost just £20 to revamp.

Aside from the furniture and decoration, they've spent £15,000 on DIY revamping their humble abode and believe they've increased the value by £70,000.

Vic said: "The only problems I’ve encountered with decorating my home is a non-existent budget.

"With me giving up work, there hasn’t been an awful lot of cash spare to spend on our home.

"We’ve not spent a lot of money on anything really, except the garden.

"That’s been a labour of love over the past five summers, we’ve only been able to do it bit by bit each year.

"We were incredibly lucky in that B&Q donated all the materials."

For other disabled people who are struggling with accessibility in their homes, Vic recommends contacting the local council, speaking to occupational therapists and applying for grants.

And for any DIYers, she has one top tip: take it at your own pace.

She added: "There’s lots of grants available that many of us are unaware of so always ask.

"When decorating on a budget, the best advice I can give would be to try and not compare your home to others.

"Keep taking a step back and appreciating how far you’ve come, don’t let yourself get bogged down [about] how far you’ve still got to go.

"Don’t be afraid to try new things when it comes to DIY.

"Somewhere on YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and even TikTok now, there will be instructions or tips to help you achieve what you want to do, just get stuck in.

"The sense of achievement when you’ve done something you never thought you could is an incredible feeling."

ENDS

COST BREAKDOWN BY ROOM
Dining room: £20
Living room: £30
Kitchen: £50
Vic's bedroom: £300
Daughter's bedroom: £200

DIY materials and garden costs over five years: just under £15,000