A couple said they 'shed a tear' when their bay window collapsed during a renovation of their dream home.
Holly, 28, first got on the property ladder with partner Daniel, 29, in 2016, but just two years later decided to sell up and get stuck into something they could both really put their stamp on. Holly told the ECHO: "People thought we were crazy.
"We sold our house pretty quick and to allow us time to find the perfect home we made the bold decision to move back into our parents' with an 18-month-old in tow." The couple has faced some challenges after moving into the period property, and have stripped out the 1970s décor to create a modern haven for their family.
READ MORE: Inside revamped Georgian townhouse up for sale
Holly said: "I think for both of us we always knew our next property would be a renovation. But we viewed so many houses and none where the right fit. Eventually we viewed this and as soon as we walked in we both looked at one another and smiled."
The pair have now created a modern space in Cressington for family living which is a far cry from what they moved into.
The transformation of the front and back gardens is Holly's greatest achievement when it comes to the home. It was the final project on their list and was completed "against the odds" as the country emerged from its first lockdown in the summer of 2020.
The kitchen and dining space is also a favourite. It's housed in a new extension, with bi-fold doors that lead out to the patio. The neutral walls are offset by charcoal cabinets, with splashes of mustard and blue in the lounge/dining area.
Holly said: "This was our main goal, to have a family kitchen combined with a living space. It’s the heart of our home. We literally spend most of time in that room and we’re so happy that we did it just how we wanted."
You can follow Holly's renovation account here @inourlpoolhome
And while Holly admits there's nothing "ground breaking" about renovating these days, when you're going through it "you see the good, the bad and the ugly". She added: "It's really rewarding to come out the other end."
Her proudest moment is looking back and seeing how far the house has come. She said: "It’s so rewarding, especially when people in the street chat to us and say how happy the previous owner would be to see a young family living there."
The journey has not been without its setbacks - a bay window collapsed while the couple were removing the pebble dash for rendering.
She added: "The bedroom was painted and carpeted and we were planning on moving in. We were gutted. Our new carpet was ruined and the house wasn’t water tight once again. I think we both shed a tear when that happened."
Holly said renovating is not totally unlike childbirth: "Right after you swear you’ll never do it again. But then months down the line you feel like you’d do it again in a heart beat."
READ NEXT: Mersey mansion that looks like LA retreat goes on the market for £2.5m
'Beautifully' decorated flat in prestigious location for sale
New trust aiming to 'stop cycle of homelessness'
