The Restore Store’s Dominic Chinea made the ‘life-changing’ choice to uproot his household and enterprise from Kent to Cornwall final 12 months
Dominic Chinea’s new workshop was broken within the dangerous climate just lately (Picture: U&YESTERDAY)
The Restore Store’s Dominic Chinea has shared a “heartbreaking” revelation following important storm injury to his workshop. The metalworker, who gained prominence after becoming a member of the beloved BBC programme in 2017, initially behind the scenes earlier than stepping right into a presenting position, has confronted surprising challenges at his new Cornish dwelling.
In 2025, Dominic relocated to Cornwall together with his spouse Maria and their cherished canine Wendy, abandoning their earlier life in Kent. The tv character described buying the farmhouse and barn as “life-changing,” although he acknowledged that weatherproofing his newly transformed workshop would show to be a “strain”.
Dominic joined The Restore Store in 2017 (Picture: (Picture: BBC))
Sadly, Dominic’s issues materialised earlier this month when extreme storms wreaked havoc on his workspace. The presenter now faces pressing restore work earlier than resuming his tasks, while concurrently trying to finish renovations on his farmhouse kitchen.
Talking in a YouTube video, he defined: “The storm has brought on loads of injury, the workshop roof, varied tiles and ins and outs. I am doing my finest to cope with these, I’ve ordered extra roof sheets and I’ve lined up roofers to try to repair the roof, however I am additionally juggling making an attempt to complete this kitchen.”
Throughout the footage, Dominic additionally expressed frustration concerning the fixed sound of chainsaws all through Cornwall. He remarked: “I believe each tree surgeon in Cornwall is as much as their eyeballs busy in the meanwhile. It is form of heart-breaking, there’s not sufficient timber right here as it’s.”
Dominic has beforehand opened up concerning the challenges of relocating his household from Kent to Cornwall.
He defined: “It’s fully life-changing. It truly is. I am by no means transferring once more. It was nerve-racking, however it’s like having that workshop and having that at dwelling has been a dream for thus lengthy. And I am very, very lucky, very grateful that I’ve really been in a position to do it, however it would not come simple.”
He continued: “It has been loads of work, an enormous quantity of labor, and as I say, it’s nonetheless very a lot derelict. I am nonetheless shovelling cow poo out the place all my instruments are. So, you recognize, it has been a protracted street, and it’ll proceed to be a protracted street, however it has been a life-changing choice.
“Transferring to the opposite facet of the nation, it is like, you recognize, seven hours away from anybody. Nevertheless it’s good, it is good.”
For Dominic, his place on The Restore Store represents his splendid profession. Talking to CornwallLive, he recalled: “I used to be at my workshop in Hackney Wick, I used to be making props, designing and constructing props, and so forth set, however behind the digicam. By no means in one million years did I believe I’d find yourself on digicam.”
Dominic moved from Kent to Cornwall (Picture: (Picture: BBC))
He mirrored on his surprising journey into presenting: “So this complete type of TV presenter factor is nothing I might have ever anticipated. Simply reveals, I suppose, you take advantage of the alternatives that you just’re introduced with, and provides it your all, strive your hardest, and yeah, good issues can come of it. It’s a dream job. We’re all an enormous household down there, all of us get on, all of us love what we do., and I am extraordinarily lucky to be a part of the household.”
Dominic is ready to grace tv screens as soon as once more with The Restore Store airing at 8pm this night (January 29) on BBC One, following an 11-week hiatus. Tonight’s episode options three sisters from Shropshire who’ve introduced alongside a sit-down hairdryer from their cherished salon, which holds deep sentimental significance because it as soon as belonged to their mum.
Extra objects showcased will embrace a fragile silk rugby flag relationship again to a 1936 worldwide fixture between Eire and England, alongside a valuable assortment of intricately hand-carved Nigerian collectible figurines. A worn cornet case, treasured by the identical household throughout 4 generations, may even make its approach into the workshop.
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Initially debuting in 2017, The Restore Store invitations the general public to current their treasured keepsakes to a staff of expert craftspeople for restoration. Since 2024, the programme has been introduced by Dominic alongside furnishings restorer Will Kirk.
In October 2022, King Charles made an look on the present with pottery crafted for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and a timepiece.
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