Man with a Hammer: From forgotten wreck to forever home – an inspiring DIY transformation

by Greg Penn

Many of us dream of a renovation project, but few would be brave enough to take on a 8,200-square-foot, 30-room, 5-storey Georgian mansion on only a shoestring budget. But that's exactly what Greg Penn did, buying the near-derelict Admiral's House and embarking on an ambitious restoration plan.

In this inspirational, informative book, Greg tells the story of his remarkable home, its journey to restoration and the deep history the house and surrounding area offer, alongside snippets of advice, budget-friendly tools and hacks and an exploration of each room as he's unlocked history and restored the house bit-by-bit to its former glory.

Man with a Hammer is a visual feast and a manifesto on 'having a go' and tackling the undoable with understated elegance and optimism.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[emma mundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been following Man with a Hammer on Instagram for a few years and this book gave insight into the incredible process of renovating such a historical, massive home

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Greg for some time on Instagram. We are renovating a much smaller Victorian, (rather than Georgian) house and have learned a lot from him. I therefore couldn’t wait to get the book. I have a lot of interiors books, however, I don’t often read them from cover to cover. Rather, I just flick through and dip in and out. I read Man With A Hammer from start to finish and savoured every sentence and every piece of advice. The photography is beautiful and of course, Greg’s taste is exquisite. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know it’ll serve as a great reference book for years to come.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much and read it cover to cover. I was pleasantly surprised that the photos were so clear in the e-version and easy to enlarge. Yes, I would love to have the hardback copy on my shelves, but in reality I know I will refer to the one on my phone or tablet to check on the decor decisions for ideas about the same for my house. It is a veritable feast for the eyes!

Congratulations, Greg! I'm looking forward to your future postings on Instagram (and your next book).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love traditional English decorating, particularly Georgian styles, so reading Greg Penn’s account of his massive DIY restoration of his Georgian mansion, Admirals, was a bit of fun dreaming and inspiration. Who doesn’t love to see something worn down and neglected restored to beauty? While we have massively different lifestyles and budgets, reading this book gave me a little kick in the pants to move forward with some of my own modest home decor projects.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful Coffee Table style design book. I have followed Man With A Hammer for quite some time on Instagram and eagerly pre-ordered this volume when it was made available. It is lovely to read the actual book, but I have also enjoyed listening to the Audible version on road trips which the author, himself, narrates. It is a short read and one that can be enjoyed over and over again whether browsing the pages or listening to an audio version.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book through audible and think it may have been better to read a hard copy as I assume there are accompanying photos to support the renovation works. A soft listen for a wintery Sunday staring at my own project.

[Victoria Morwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading Greg’s story of his restoration. What a dream! Well done.

[Colette Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Check out Man with a Hammer on Instagram.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve followed Greg on instagram from almost the beginning of his journey with The Admiral. This book is beautiful, well bound, and convey’s Greg’s cheerful and conversational tone that he has always communicated with online. I enjoyed the floor plans and photos to help visualize all of the incredible work that’s been done.