Renovation Column: A symbol of progress and new possibilities

This week, something happened that may have been one small step in the renovation but symbolised one giant leap for our future. A moment that will be forever etched into our renovation history.

In any renovation process, there are milestone moments between the chaos and noise that serve as a symbol of change and a shining light at the end of that dusty tunnel.

My Neil Armstrong moment came as I swung a lump hammer at the wall and watched the bricks crumble to the floor. The removal of the first internal wall may have only taken a few hours but it felt like a colossal step forward.

Dramatic as you may think comparing the house renovation to the first moon walk may be in the all consuming world of renovating it feels like a liberty I can take.

I’ve never been one for architects drawings and AI renders I like to see results in front of me so to stand in our old kitchen and see the start of the open plan space take shape was thrilling.

And to be given a go with the lump hammer was even more exciting and of course gave me carte blanche to take credit for the whole thing when my husband returned home from work.

It may have been bricks and mortar that were being smashed to smithereens but it felt like so much more, it felt like breaking down a barrier and opening up the possibilities of a new space that would unite our family and transform our home forever.

Besides saying goodbye to our first internal wall, this week we also saw a roof emerge on top of the utility extension and the start of the new four-metre patio door.

The exciting progress comes with other challenges to navigate including a severe escalation on the dust front. Now every time you step foot in the kitchen you emerge looking like you've had a dodgy spray tan, covered in a light, uneven misting of orangey-red brick dust, delightful.

And with our family holiday on the horizon I am very much looking forward to a week away to enjoy clean worktops, breathe fresh, brick-dust-free air and listen to the sound of the waves instead of an angle grinder.

As much as I’m looking forward to a break part of me is gutted to be missing a whole week of the renovation process and not being here to witness the changes in real time.

I have left the builders strict instructions to take lot of pictures and videos and look forward to walking back through the doors in a week to see what other milestone changes have been achieved.

Keep up to date with all the progress by following @ohgodweboughtavicarage on Instagram.