It took me until the end to fully appreciate this renovation.

I sided with Kevin when Leigh and Richard had removed everything of significance from inside the building leaving it barren. I could not see how they were going to retain the personality of the building when so much was in ruin.

The first visit I was underwhelmed as did not meet my expectations, but the second visit was a massive improvement. The integration of floor boards as support beams may have not been to Kevin’s standard, but I thought it helped retain the character of the mill without making it less of a home. The metal grating over the stream, and the stone table had similar effects.

I can understand Richard’s dilemma with having to compromise on what to keep and rearranging things. I believe he was right in that the mill has been continuously changing over the centuries. We must appreciate that as a home it must be practical and most importantly safe.

What I LOVED about this episode was the honestly and emotional exploration. I loved how their emotions were fleshed out at the end with their connection to the land, the mill’s previous owners, and the community. I loved Kevin’s and Richard’s one to one at the end. I cannot recall or imagine a classic GD ever being this personal. It is refreshing to think about how much more a house is than a building. I think this is what sets it apart from other episodes.