Building a family home in a sought-after area, such as the Dublin commuter belt, may leave you with a renovation project on your hands; for Brendan and Sheila McCann of Co Kildare the makeover consisted of a house just 10m wide. In this article we cover: “We lived nearby and walked by the stream that […] More
When we carry out work at home the safety aspect seems to the be the last thing on our mind, until something happens that is! Here’s a real-life example of how to get the builders on board without sounding like a schmuck At some stage, we will all have someone in our home doing a […] More
The owners had had a second home in this part of West Donegal since the 1960s and wanted to continue holidaying there with their children and grandchildren. Their property extended to include almost ten acres. This part of Donegal, one of the most densely populated rural landscapes in Europe, is characterised by a distinct development […] More
The former Tattykeeran Church originally dates back to 1814 and has been beautifully and sympathetically restored, converted and extended by the present owners over the last ten years to now provide what can only be described as a truly exceptional and unique family home. In this article, you will find: The main body of the original […] More
By knocking down an internal wall and reconfiguring her living space, Mary Johnston of Co L’Derry transformed her day-to-day life for the better. We renovated three years ago and I still enjoy walking into our new open plan kitchen, dining and den area. I’m so happy we took that leap of faith, and can’t believe […] More
How do you get your house to change direction, get it to move so that it’s angled towards the sun and views? Insert roller blades underneath? Glenna Woods and Gerry Warnock of Co Dublin found a way to design their way out of this structural problem. Whilst building your house to face the road has […] More
Ian Walsh’s DIY renovation project in Co Carlow shows why it’s important to spend time on determining what you want, how you plan to achieve it, and above all, sticking to the plan. In this article we cover: When Ian bought a rundown property in the midlands, all he could think of was its potential. […] More
How James and Rhea Kipling of Co Antrim undertook a light filled renovation project upon returning home from Australia. In this article, James and Rhea cover: House size before: 214 sqmHouse size after: 227 sqmPlot size: 280 sqmBuild cost: £50,000 including kitchen and landscapingHouse value: in the region of £400,000 “Our family home here in […] More
Fire, theft, water damage, what this 19th Century house lived through reads like an insurance claim gone mad. Saving it from the brink were Wendy and David Campbell of Co Down. In this article we cover: Overview Site size: 1.5 acresHouse size: 4,500 sqft Starting their own business was perhaps the best training Wendy and David could […] More
Thinking of buying a house to renovate? Here’s an architect-led project that lays out how to do it on a budget. In this article we cover: Overview Original house: 120 sqmExtension: 24.5 sqmPurchase cost (2012): £140,000Construction cost: £36,000Total project cost: £58,000 including professional and application fees, kitchen and bathrooms, finishes, full garden works, lighting, appliances, etc.House value: £250,000 Thinking of buying […] More
Stunning views, a family connection and the prospect of an original design prompted Lory Higgins, his partner Sandra and their young family to leave Dublin and set up home in Co Wexford. In this article we cover: The farmhouse Lory grew up in was typical in many ways, in its rectilinear courtyard layout and small […] More
A successful renovation and extension transformed this sloping house into one that makes the most of its Co Antrim views. In this article we cover: Overview House size before: 138 sqmHouse size after: 222 sqmPlot size: 3,575 sqmWalls: mainly existing 100mm cavity walls which were continued; all pumped with EPS insulation beads to achieve a U-value of 0.28W/sqmKRoof: 500mm fibreglass […] More
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