NEW COLUMN: 'Oh God We Bought a Vicarage' – a renovation journey

Welcome to my new weekly column where I will be sharing the highs, lows and realities of reviving a forgotten former vicarage and transforming it into our forever family home.

We are at the start of our very first complete property renovation journey and plan to turn this former landmark into something special.

Since picking up the keys to our new home (which was a stressful process in itself and a story for another column) the magnitude of the project has started to sink in.

We have grand plans including removing four internal walls, creating a side utility extension and breathing some life and love back into this property that has been gathering dust for the past four years.

Budget constraints mean we are taking on the majority of the work ourselves and very much learning on the go…..don’t worry we’re avid fans of ‘Grand Designs’ and ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ so what could possibly go wrong?

We will be enlisting the help of experts along the way for some of the more specialised structural, electrical and plumbing works but plan to use our own skills to tackle the rest.

Myself and my husband developed a love of DIY when restoring our first home, a 320-year-old cottage, a project that was seemingly cosmetic in comparison to the challenge we are now faced with.

In our first home it was very much a case of retaining the current footprint of the house and putting our own stamp on it whilst trying to restore some of the historical character that had been lost over the years. It was a labour of love, the majority of which was completed before the arrival of our children – a simpler time when we could fill our weekends and evenings with indulgent pursuits like painting and decorating.

Fast forward a few years and we are now the proud, albeit tired, parents of two girls aged nine and four who will be taking on this challenge with us (don’t worry kids it’s character building).

I’m getting used to the wide eyed and open mouthed expression I’m greeted with when people ask “where will you be living when the work starts?”…"Yes Karen I would love to check into The Ritz whilst the walls are being knocked down but all my money is tied up in stocks and shares." Of course we will be doing what any self respecting DIYer with no money does and living amongst the rubble and dust whilst questioning our life choices.

As a first time renovator I welcome any tips, hints and sanity saving tricks you have along the way, I’m sure we’re going to need them.

I am excited to take you on this renovation journey and do hope it doesn’t become something of a cautionary tale…pray for us!

Keep up to date with all the progress and find out more by following @ohgodweboughtavicarage on Instagram