In an emotional episode of BBC One's Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon, Stacey helped a grieving family combine two households' worth of belongings into a beautiful new home. The Smith family is made up of three nieces and nephews and mum and dad, Raaj and Roydel, and their son Ajay.
Living in Hertfordshire Raaj and Raydel moved into her sister's former home after she sadly passed away from Covid in 2020 during the pandemic. This meant that they quickly moved in to look after her sister's children, Simarn, Harjoth and Gurkeet after the death of their mum. Raaj said: "Coming into this house without my sister felt painful but I instantly felt I had to look after these kids and fulfil what my sister wanted for them."
Raaj became very emotional while sorting through her sister's possessions, especially her cooking spices. Although the spice jar was empty Raaj found it very difficult to part with it.
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She said: "I always remember her cooking and keeping spoons in there...it is just so much of her personality and her hands have touched this. I just don't want to lose that memory. I feel like if I take those things away those memories will be lost and I live for these memories, I want to see them."
Raaj explained to Stacey she had left sorting out the jars and spices as throwing things out meant dealing with her sister's death all over again. Becoming emotional Raaj said: "She was my best friend" while Stacey understandingly comforted her.
The family did a very good job and managed to halve the possessions they had in their house, leaving Stacey and her team double the amount of space to work with while transforming the house. Raaj also became emotional when seeing the eventual transformation, saying the house feels more like a home now.
Gone was the overwhelming front room that was buried under clutter with nowhere to relax, replaced with a pastel pink makeover with a desk, family photos and sofas. While emotional Raaj said: "I can't believe it. I really love it!". Elsewhere Ajay was moved out of Raaj's and Raydel's room, the girls' bedroom now gave Simran and Harjoth their own space and there was a family table they could all enjoy dinner around.
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