TRANSFORM a room in our Abandoned Bulgaria House | Christmas Makeover

#bulgaria #abandonedhouse #farmhouserenovation #junk

Turning a room in our abandoned Bulgarian house into something cosy lounge for Christmas.

This just the beginning of our story — and we’d love for you to be part of it.
👉 Subscribe and join the homestead

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Chapters:

00:00 Timescale we have to get the abandoned room transformed
00:34 The plan
00:48 Clearing the room
01:53 Traditional Bulgarian pechka
07:24 Problems we found with the walls
10:41 Traditional Bulgarian build methods
14:25 The midpoint summary
19:47 Secrets of the house
26:14 Tips and quicks wins on filling cracks
33:35 Finishing of prep for painting
34:59 Summary of work
36:32 end

☉ WELCOME TO FRESH START STICKS ☀︎

We’re a family of five who left the UK to start a new life in rural Bulgaria.
After the events of 2020, life in the UK changed dramatically. Attitudes shifted, businesses struggled under constant regulation changes, and with three young children, we began questioning whether the traditional path still offered the future we wanted for them.

We didn’t feel that the school system could provide the structure, freedom, and real-life skills our children need as they grow into young adults — so we chose to homeschool.

After researching several European countries, we chose Bulgaria. It’s still organic, the people are welcoming, and the nature is truly beautiful. After months of searching — and almost giving up — we finally found an old farmhouse in the countryside that had been empty for over a year. We decided to buy it and renovate it, learning as we go.

OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE:
Renovate our Bulgarian farmhouse
More freedom.
More family time.
Growing our own food.
And travelling together as a family in the Balkan countries

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🎥 WHAT WE SHARE HERE

This channel documents real family life after moving abroad — the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Real-time relocation & rural living
Honest DIY & renovation (no experts — just learning as we go)
No crew. No big budgets. Just us.
New videos every Sunday.

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🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

👉 Subscribe here:
www.youtube.com/@freshstartsticks

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🌍 Official Website & Project Links:
Homepage → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/
Watch the Journey →
Support the build → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate
Property services →
Press & Media →
Blog →
Contact →

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Explore renovation blogs, cost of living guides and sustainable living insights

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📝 FEATURED BLOG GUIDES

Cost of Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/cost-of-living-in-bulgaria
Rural Living in Bulgaria → https://www.freshstartsticks.com/post/rural-living-in-bulgaria-our-honest-experience
Buying Property in Bulgaria
Home Renovation in Bulgaria: What You Should Know

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🤍 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Your support helps us continue renovating and documenting this journey.
https://www.freshstartsticks.com/donate

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📲 FOLLOW US
Instagram: instagram.com/FreshStartSticks
Facebook: facebook.com/FreshStartSticks
TikTok: tiktok.com/FreshStartSticks

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🎵 MUSIC
Song list: Morning Mist
If you enjoyed our music selection and would like access to it, you can find it here:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/rrpbsk
(Affiliate link)

DISCLAIMER ⚖️
Some links maybe affiliate links. We may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), which helps support FRESH START STICKS and future videos. Thanks for your support.

© Fresh Start Sticks 2026. All rights reserved.
Unauthorised use or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

🔍 HASHTAGS
#LifeAbroad #FreshStart #Bulgaria #Documentary #RenovationLife #FamilyLifeAbroad #BlackFamily #RuralLiving #VelikoTarnovo #HomeRenovation