spacious	airy
off the beaten track	isolated
cost	expenses
virtually	almost
gigantic	massive
ample	more than enough
inhabitants	residents
leisurely	unhurriedly
estimate	calculate approximely
methods	practices
refurbish	redecorate
despise	detest
roughly similar	pretty much the same
as far as housework is concerned	when it comes to housework
very greasy and dusty	thich with grease and dust
scruffy	untidy, messy
behave according to stereotype	revert to type
not much influence	so little impact
come down to	depend on
put up with	tolerate
as good as new	still in good condition
dresser	kitchen cupboard
infested with	plagued by
faults	drawbacks
go giddy	get dizzy
prey	victim
dweller	inhabitant
sloping	pitched
reception	living room, lounge
assess	evaluate
high-flying	ambitious
cupping	surrounding
ghastly	grim, gloomy