When John and Sinead Cullen decided to buy a 100 year old house, they embarked on an Art Deco renovation journey that took over their lives. John and I had been living in London for a few years when John’s mum got ill,” says Sinead. “We made the quick decision to come back home so […] More
How Joanne and Milo Butler undertook an eco renovation of their 200 year old property using eco materials such as fibreboard insulation. In this article, Joanne and Milo explain how they undertook their eco renovation project, including: Renovating a 200 year old stone building often involves managing moisture – and that was true of Joanne […] More
Even though Emma and Mark Smith were reluctant renovators, they knew a home extension project was the only way to create the family home of their dreams in such a desirable location. In this article Emma and Mark talk about their home renovation proejct: With six bedrooms, an acre-and-a-half of beautifully mature gardens and breathtaking […] More
How Jane Williams modernised her semi-detached house within budget thanks to the help of her quantity surveyor, architect and builder. In this article we cover: Jane Williams never dreamed she could tackle a major renovation project, until she came across an opportunity too good to pass up. “I got onto the property ladder in my […] More
Tiffany Brien’s major renovation project was inspired by her day job as an estate agent. In this article we cover: How did you find the house? It took time and patience. I was looking for a three-bed semi that wouldn’t take too much work, in Holywood at a certain price point. To help me decide […] More
Few people get to wave at the fishermen passing by when they’re out in their garden, but Saoirse Fitzgerald does from her Co Cork home – the dwelling the lighthouse keeper used to live in. In this article, Saoirse talks about: What state was the lighthouse keeper’s dwelling in, and how did you approach the […] More
How Martin and Saoirse O’Dwyer renovated a derelict cottage on the Sligo / Donegal coastline and added a barrel roofed extension to make it blend in. In this article we cover: “While house hunting we fell in love with the panoramic views from this tiny derelict, coastal cottage,” explains Martin. “The vista reaches across sand […] More
Anthony Cash’s Belfast renovation project was partly funded by a little known VAT rebate. In this article we cover: Overview Renovation cost: £160,000 including kitchen at £20,000House value: in excess of £525,000House size before: 160sqmHouse size after: 212sqmBedrooms: 4Plot size: ¼ acreHeating system: natural gas condensing boiler, stove for living room space heatingBuild method: blockwork […] More
For Mary McGeough renovating this early 1800s cottage was not just about preserving history, it was about paying tribute to her aunt and cherishing childhood memories. As a vernacular cottage listed on the Heritage at Risk Northern Ireland register, with a listing grade of B+, this project was bound to be special. “The house was […] More
How Leonie and Jonathan Kennedy survived their major renovation project, all the while living in their house and preparing for their wedding. In this article, Leonie and Jonathan share how they went about their modern renovation and extension project, including: Overview House size before: 103 sqmHouse size after: 154 sqmPlot size: 1.3 acresExtension specFloor finish […] More
Vivienne Hanna shares how she tackled her new build bathroom design on a budget. In this article we cover: Designing, costing and fitting out four bathrooms was a bit of a headache in the midst of our new build. But we survived! When we were building our family home, we had four bathrooms to fit: […] More
Gareth and Lesley McAuley’s extension project created a connection with the garden and increased the value of their home in Co Antrim. In this article Gareth and Lesley explain how they added value to their home with their extension, including: Overview House size before: 100sqmHouse size after: 150 sqmHouse cost (2014): £275,000Refurbishment and extension cost […] More
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