I won a £250,000 flat in Sheffield, but I chose to rent in London instead – and here's why

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 house and is now renting in West London.

In an interview with SubwayTara revealed that she decided not to move to Sheffield because her business is based in London.

She said: “As a single parent and business owner, I rely heavily on my support network, all based in London. By saving the money for our forever home, developers bought me out.”

Tara's design studio, TR Interiors, improves communities with pro bono projects for children in need.

Despite London's tough rental market, Tara said she asked her agent to only look at houses numbered 11 as that is her lucky number.

But she said she has found a great value for money apartment in Ealing.

Since moving here, Tara has decorated her home with furniture she bought on Facebook Marketplace.

Tara recommends people use a mood board and examples to figure out what works together and avoid returns.

She also says shopping around is important to find the best deals on items.

She said: “So far we have been very happy and settled here. My landlord is great and that weighs heavily when renting, having a responsive landlord certainly goes a long way.”

Tara currently pays £1,750 a month for an art deco house for herself and her two daughters.

She says the house is beautiful and in a safe area with good access to public transport.

Tara plans to leave London in the coming years to buy her forever home.

Big Interiors Battle was axed by Channel 4 last year.

Eight interior designers were given the keys to an apartment, where they were challenged to transform a different room every week.

Viewers watched as Tara broke down in tears when she heard the news that she had bagged the £250,000 property.

Like Tara, most of us are redecorating our homes on a budget.

But one home design professional insists you can renovate your kitchen without going broke, as long as you avoid common mistakes that cost too much and focus on small details that make a big difference.

Meanwhile, the experts at Houses and gardens explained why you should avoid some popular renovations when trying to sell.

Meanwhile, foodies in the kitchen may be tempted to shop for the best appliances money can buy, but one expert is warning against it.

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