Borja de Maqua Biography: From Spanish Surveyor to HGTV Star, Partner Dean & Baby Boy.

Borja de Maqua is a Spanish-born surveyor turned skilled craftsman and television personality, best known for his hands-on restoration work on the HGTV and Discovery+ series Saving the Manor. Alongside his partner, architect Dean Poulton, Borja has undertaken the ambitious project of restoring a centuries-old Georgian estate in Warwickshire, England. With no formal background in trades, he taught himself essential skills through research, tutorials, and determination, becoming an integral part of their renovation team. Their work, documented through both television and their YouTube channel My Tiny Estate, has earned them a loyal following and widespread recognition for blending historical preservation with modern living.

Early Life and Background

Born in Spain in March 1989, Borja de Maqua began his professional journey far from the world of plaster and paint. He initially pursued a career in real estate, working as an estate agent and surveyor. In 2011, he moved to the UK, a decision that would eventually shape his future both personally and professionally. After spending nearly a decade in the country, he became a British citizen in 2021.

Borja worked primarily in the UK’s property market, where his background in surveying provided him with a technical understanding of building structure and value. While his early career focused on assessments and valuations, he had limited exposure to hands-on renovation work.

Meeting Dean Poulton and Learning the Trades

Borja’s entry into the world of restoration began when he met architect Dean Poulton in the UK through a dating app. At the time, Borja was a Spanish surveyor with no hands-on renovation experience. Their romantic relationship quickly blossomed into a creative partnership. Dean, already working in architectural design and historic property restoration, inspired Borja to explore craftsmanship from the ground up.

Their relationship officially began when they were both 25 years old, and by 2025, they had been together for nearly 13 years. In a March 2025 birthday tribute to Dean, Borja reflected on the journey they had shared—creating homes, traveling the world, becoming parents, and standing side by side through the highs and lows. He expressed admiration for Dean’s strength and kindness, and the way he made life better just by being himself.

What started with small DIY tasks—like painting, wallpapering, and furniture upcycling—soon evolved into serious property projects. Borja took it upon himself to learn new skills by watching YouTube tutorials, observing Dean on the job, and embracing a trial-and-error mindset. A major breakthrough came when the couple received a £100,000 plastering quote. Instead of outsourcing the job, Borja took a £300 four-day plastering course. That decision marked a pivotal moment, turning him from an eager novice into a confident, self-taught tradesman.

Over time, Borja developed proficiency in plastering, bricklaying, glass cutting, carpentry, and metalwork—skills that proved crucial in their larger renovation projects. While Dean led architectural planning and design, Borja handled the labor-intensive work with growing discipline and precision. He often stresses the importance of preparation and knowledge, summarized by his personal mantra: “Research, research, research.”

Saving the Manor: Restoring a 300-Year-Old Estate

While Borja’s hands-on journey began alongside Dean in earlier home renovation projects, their most ambitious and publicly recognized work came with Saving the Manor, an HGTV and Discovery+ series centered around the restoration of their historic 65-room estate in Warwickshire, England. The estate, which includes a Georgian manor, servants’ quarters, piggery, gardener’s cottage, and other period structures, dates back over 300 years and was once linked to King Henry VII.

The show premiered on October 7, 2022, and consists of one season with 8 episodes. Each episode showcases a new restoration challenge—from transforming an abandoned hayloft and reviving outdoor bathrooms to reimagining a neglected servants’ courtyard and unearthing a secret staircase. With Borja’s growing craftsmanship and Dean’s architectural precision, the duo blends traditional restoration with modern upgrades, always prioritizing historical authenticity.

Borja’s self-taught expertise—gained through years of research, trial, and hands-on practice—is on full display throughout the series. He applies his skills in plastering, carpentry, metalwork, and more, while working with Dean to reuse original materials like oak, limestone, and wrought iron. Their goal is not only to preserve the building’s history but also to create a comfortable, functioning home equipped with modern plumbing, lighting, and insulation.

As of 2025, no second season of Saving the Manor has been announced, making Season 1 the full televised record of their renovation journey to date. However, through their ongoing YouTube channel and social media presence, Borja and Dean continue to document their evolving restoration efforts—one room, one beam, and one hand-chiseled stone at a time.

Fatherhood and Life Beyond Renovation

In June 2024, Borja and Dean became parents through surrogacy in the U.S. Documenting the emotional journey on their YouTube channel “My Tiny Estate,” they shared the whirlwind events leading up to the birth of their son. On June 28, 2024, at 12:59 PM, their baby boy, Danto, was born in Phoenix, Arizona. The name—Danto—is a combination of Borja’s favorite name, Dante, and Dean’s favorite, Teo (short for Theo in Spanish), symbolizing a blend of their heritages.

The couple had flown from London to the U.S. two weeks before the expected due date. However, while they were mid-flight, their surrogate messaged to say she was going into labor. They rushed straight from an 11-hour flight to the hospital, with no time to settle or prepare. Within 12 hours of arrival, Danto was born.

The following week was a blur of emotions, bonding, and exhaustion. They shared candid moments with their followers—Dean rocking the baby to sleep, Borja handling paperwork, and both struggling through sleep-deprived nights. They navigated the complexities of international paperwork to secure three passports for Danto—American, British, and Spanish—including an impromptu road trip to the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles.

Despite the chaos, the experience was filled with love and humor. From a late-night trip to urgent care over a minor toenail issue to discovering the joys of Target and In-N-Out Burger, they documented the highs and hiccups of new parenthood. The extended time in the U.S. gave them a private, uninterrupted chance to bond with their newborn before returning home to the UK.

On June 28, 2025, they celebrated Danto’s first birthday. The celebration featured a homemade sugar-free smash cake, games with friends and family, and reflections on how far they had come. The milestone also came just after Danto recovered from chickenpox, adding both relief and gratitude to the occasion. Borja and Dean described the day as magical and exhausting, full of love, laughter, and a sense of awe at how quickly their lives had changed.

YouTube Break and Creative Reset

On May 20, 2025, Borja and Dean announced in a heartfelt video that they would be stepping back from YouTube to focus on family, mental health, and long-term sustainability. With Danto growing fast and their responsibilities increasing—from estate rentals to full-time parenting—they acknowledged the pressure of maintaining renovation timelines and weekly uploads had taken its toll.

They reassured viewers this wasn’t a permanent goodbye, but rather a necessary pause to reassess their priorities. They expressed gratitude for their loyal followers, reflected on the unrealistic demands of renovation content, and shared a desire to make future videos more natural and reflective of their daily lives—including parenting, downtime, and behind-the-scenes moments.

The video highlighted their authenticity and emotional transparency, strengthening their bond with viewers. As they described their hopes to “fall back in love” with content creation, it became clear that Borja’s story was evolving yet again—from craftsman and creator to devoted father and balanced storyteller.

On July 1, 2025, they officially marked their return with the launch of Season 3, revealing their comeback in a video titled “Season 3 Starts Now — Planning Secrets Revealed.” This milestone reset the channel’s direction, blending personal renewal with architectural restoration.

Public Recognition and Online Presence

Borja and Dean share their restoration journey on Instagram and YouTube through their account “My Tiny Estate,” where they’ve built a loyal following. Their relatable, detail-rich posts give fans a behind-the-scenes look at everything from floor restoration to unexpected challenges like crumbling walls.

Their recent transition into parenthood and their open decision to pause YouTube have added new depth to their public persona. Their story now resonates not only with home renovation fans but also with those seeking honest perspectives on work-life balance, burnout, and parenthood.