Locals rage over influencer’s ‘garish’ £6,000,000 renovation to historic mansion

A Grade-II listed manor house in a Buckinghamshire village has been completely renovated by an influencer couple – but not all villagers are happy about it.

Investment banker Hugh Karseras and wife Hayley bought the nine-bedroom 16th-century home in Little Missenden, which had appeared on Midsomer Murders and other shows, for around £6,000,000.

But after spending years renovating the home, some neighbours have called the project ‘garish’.

The couple have installed a sauna, a contemporary kitchen and windows, and other renovations to the home, documenting it all on Instagram.

Hugh referred to the renovation as a ‘spacious, tranquil and modern kitchen with utility, pantry, dining and lounge areas thrown in for good measure,’ the Daily Mail reported.

‘Our previous kitchen was on the roadside of the house, and while it was hundreds of years old and oddly charming in its own way, it had very poor usability: no work surfaces, no fixed cabinetry and an Aga and Fridge for appliances,’ he said of the kitchen renovation.

The pair also converted a former schoolhouse on the grounds into a room for ‘spa rituals’, painting it grey for a ‘chalet vibe’.

The historic home’s 17th-century Jacobean oak staircase was also painted dark grey as part of the 18 month renovation.

Locals say Hugh and Hayley are ‘lovely’, but some complained about road closures and lorry traffic during the renovations.

One neighbour told the Mail: ‘They’re very proud of the house. They’ve worked really hard on it. It’s not been inherited. It’s all from their work.’

But another felt very differently: ‘It’s made the village very busy. There was always noisy work going on. 

‘It was all a bit garish to be honest with you, what with how they posted every step on Instagram.

‘The village is a small place, and naturally, people are going to gossip if you insist on bragging about every step on the internet. Why not leave the house alone? It was stunning as it was.’

In a statement, the couple appeared to apologise for the ‘inconvenience’ neighbours experienced during the project.

‘From the beginning, we followed all listed building consents, planning permissions, environmental guidelines and building regulations, and we worked with a reputable local builder to carry out the work as carefully and sympathetically as possible,’ they added.

‘The project was completed last summer, and we are grateful for the terrific patience and understanding shown by those neighbours living closest to us and most impacted during that time. We also feel it’s important to share that no one approached us to register any complaints throughout the entire project. 

‘We feel very fortunate to be able to live in such a historic home, in such a lovely village and are committed to maintaining it responsibly for future generations.’

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