RENOVATE YOUR HOME by RenovateYourHome

A Home and Build Publication

RENOVATE your EXTENSIVE

Refurbishment in Co. DOWN

Family Home in Galway From School to a Home in Cavan Dermot Bannon Interview

Renovate your home 3

In conversation with SEAN McGARRY by Emer Kelly

howerGem was born from Sean McGarry’s father’s frustration at his daughter’s razors and shampoos being strewn across the shower floor and cluttering the family bathroom. He tried using the traditional metal caddys but the suction cups would never work and they would soon rust. Fed up of this situation he went into his workshop and created The ShowerGem. McGarry Jr. was so impressed that he vowed to take it to market. ShowerGem Ltd. was founded in October 2015 by father and son duo, Sean McGarry Senior and Sean McGarry Junior. Once founded, there was an initial three year period of prototype development and materials testing in order to ensure product quality before trading finally began in October 2018 with the product officially launching in February 2019. Since this time, significant growth has been achieved with ShowerGem winning multiple awards and securing both private and government funded investment. The Irish company also has a global IP portfolio consisting of trademarks, patents and registered designs. ShowerGem is designed, manufactured and assembled in Ireland. Here, the Company Founder of ShowerGem Sean McGarry Jnr talks to us. “My Dad came up with the idea for the ShowerGem as we was sick and tired of the metal shower caddies because they would get covered in rust and the suction cups would always fall to the floor no matter what it said on the packaging. I have two sisters so the shower was always covered in bottles and razors and he was fed up of the clutter so he went over to his workshop and made the ShowerGem,’’ explained Sean McGarry Jnr.

A SHOWER CADDY THAT’S

A SHOWERGEM

“He brought me over to the workshop to see the product when it was made and he asked me for my opinion and straight away I thought it was brilliant. It’s so effective and you know that it is going to do what it says it is going to do. “The product is flying! We’re in more than 100 independent bathroom retailers in Ireland and we’re selling really well online. We’re in about three stores in each county in Ireland. Online is great but it is important to be in retail because people need to be able to see the product and buy it. “We’re a family run business and the product is made in Ireland. Everyone always assumes that everything is made in China but that isn’t the case with ShowerGem. We pay the extra manufacturing cost to produce it in Ireland. It’s good to support the local economy. When you buy our product in a shop you are supporting the people in the shop, our manufacturers; our boxes are made in Cavan, the leaflets are made in Mayo and the plastic parts are made in Longford. As to the future plans for ShowerGem? “We’re working at a few things for bathrooms and storage at the moment! We’re all hands on deck with ShowerGem. Both Dad & I are thankful that my sisters were so messy and that he came up with a solution,’’ said a laughing Sean. “By the end of 2020, we are hoping that Ireland will only be making up a small part of the sales and markets like the United Kingdom are where we are generating the most revenue from,’’ concluded Sean McGarry.

elcome to the latest issue of Home and Build and our Renovate your home special. This issue is has some fantastic properties. Glassdrumman House was built circa 1760 with a single storey range of outbuildings to the North of the house. The house has recently undertaken a makeover which comprised of the complete internal and external refurbishment of the Georgian House and it’s adjoining Linear Barn. Externally a glazed extension was added to the barn gable furthest from the road and built a new double garage connecting the barn and existing outhouses to enclose a new entrance courtyard. The barn and house are juxtaposed creating a secure courtyard for playing and outdoor entertaining. The introduction of new glazed walls increases the connection between the house and it’s mature site. Internally the ground floor plan was freed up to allow for flexible open plan living. Central to the barn is a new double height entrance hall which is flooded with natural light via full height glazing and roof windows. Another fantastic property is from Craft Studio Architects who took the project on to refurbish, extend and convert the Old Killygarry School to a family home. The project involved the renovation and extension of a 1894 built, two classroom national school in County Cavan. Abandoned in 1997, after the construction of a new school, it was due to be demolished, having laid decaying since. “We wanted to maintain the look of the old school but as it had become a bit of an eye sore we were keen to freshen it up whilst maintaining its presence along the road with whatever we did to the building playing second fiddle to that,’’ said Ronan Fitzpatrick. “We began work on the house in the summer of 2016. Due to the very nature of the building and it being a very simple structure, there isn’t a lot of complexity to the building itself so that is why nothing that we wouldn’t have expected raised its head throughout the building work. “It’s a very simple but sound structure. Work on the project was finished at the end of 2017 and we absolutely love the house and we couldn’t fault the house,’’ added Mr Fitzpatrick. Our renovation article inside is full of tips and practical ideas to help your renovation project come in on budget and on time so flick forward to read that article. Dee Noone, her husband Evan and their twin sons Sam and Freddie live in an 1800’s cottage with an extension in Galway. Ms Noone had been living in Dublin for a number of years when she met her husband and they decided to move back to Galway. They bought a small cottage in 2012 and lived there for four years before renovating and extending in 2016. The old cottage was modernised and they wanted to build a new extension that had a completely different feel to the existing cottage. Storage, an extra bathroom and an open plan kitchen/dining area were at the top of their agenda. Dee wanted to keep the front of the home ‘traditional,’ while the extension is contemporary and modern. The cottage still holds its original charm and has quirky features throughout. We hope the various properties featured give you some ideas, help to drive you forward with your own project and keep you motivated. We sincerely hope you enjoy the issue.

RENOVATE YOUR HOME - address: 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2

Sales & Marketing Director: Anthony Kelly Graphic Design: Paola Giorgetti

Advertising Sales Manager: Jason Harding Editorial Assistant: Emer Kelly

CONTENTS contents 6

TO THE MANOR BORN... Transforming Glasdrumman House

14 20

RENOVATING MY OWN HOME Dermot Bannon talks with us

28 42

THE SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER From school to family home

A GALWAY GEM Dee Noone talks about her family home

HINTS TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY Things you need to know before you renovate

4 Renovate your home

In conversation with Deirbhile Brennan by Emer Kelly

iamond Furniture is one of Irelands most popular interiors and home furniture stores, they also carry an extensive range of accessories and lighting. Diamond Furniture are 100% Irish owned and committed “making your home everything it can be” On their website and in their showrooms you will find nothing but the best quality crafted furniture. They pride themselves on delivering best in class customer service and all sales staff and delivery teams go the extra mile to ensure each customer has the best possible experience. We have been serving our loyal customers for over twenty two years from the same store on the Longmile Road. The business was established by William Diamond in 1998 and still has many of the same hard working loyal staff from the day they opened. We pride ourselves as having an inspirational store, our customers want to be inspired by our displays and long to see new and exciting designs. The reaction of so many of our customers when they visit out store for the first time is a great reward for our efforts. It is not unusual to hear them say “oh my God!” “this store is amazing” when they see what we have to offer which is great. We are a mid to high end store, so expect to see quality furniture and accessories, says Deirbhile Brennan General Manager. “All of our staff are working here a long-time so they have a lot of experience and we are very hands on. We have lots of experience in every area of interior design. We know all of the ins and outs, we work very closely with our suppliers and we design a lot of our own furniture so that means you won’t find it anywhere else and I suppose that is what makes us unique in comparison to other stores. With all of that comes a price point that people are surprised by when they come to our store. “Our mission is to make everyone’s home all it can be”

When our customers come into the store, they get a lot of attention. We will sit down with customers and talk through plans for their house and we spend a lot of time getting things right for the customer. The second and third wave of generations of families are coming back to Diamond Furniture for their furniture now as they know that previously items were bought from us and they bought quality items and got a good service,’’ added Deirbhile. As to the future of Diamond Furniture? “We’re a small team that have worked together for a very long time. Due to what is happening now (Covid19 Pandemic) it has made us refocus on the company and what we do. We have always had a strong social media presence but now it is about growing our online business so we’re investing money into making that an enjoyable experience for our customers. We have always wanted people coming to the store and to have the personal touch but we’re trying to tunnel that experience through to online and we’re focusing on that which is exciting. “It’s always important to remain fresh and ahead of the competition but it’s exciting at the same time. We’re passionate about what we do, and I hope that shows when customer visit our store ” concluded Deirbhile Brennan.

Manor Born

TO the

MANOR

BORN...

Transforming Glasdrumman House Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Paul Linsday Photographer

MANOR BORN

lasdrumman House was built circa 1760 with a single storey range of outbuildings to the North of the house.

The house has recently undertaken a makeover which comprised of the complete internal and external refurbishment of the Georgian House and it’s adjoining Linear Barn. Externally a glazed extension was added to the barn gable furthest from the road and built a new double garage connecting the barn and existing outhouses to enclose a new entrance courtyard. The barn and house are juxtaposed creating a secure courtyard for playing and outdoor entertaining. The introduction of new glazed walls increases the connection between the house and it’s mature site. Internally the ground floor plan was freed up to allow for flexible open plan living. Central to the barn is a new double height entrance hall which is flooded with natural light via full height glazing and roof windows.

A secondary staircase leads up to a gallery walkway and generous master bedroom suite. The Architect over this project was John Lavery of BGA Architects and here he discusses this project with us. “Predominantly it was an existing house that we didn’t add any footprint to, we actually just reconfigured it. The history of the house was that it was a manor house at the front and it had been extended to at the rear and the rear extension linked the house to a long barn,’’ explained John Lavery. “The front of the house has a very traditional Georgian front and it (the front) wasn’t directed towards the approach to the house so we wanted to redirect the house to the approach and within the long barn we created a double height entrance space off the new courtyard so really the only building we did when it came to this project was to create a new double garage to create a new courtyard and off that then is a new double height entrance hall so we basically carved out one third of the long barn to provide this really welcoming space,’’ added Mr Lavery.

“It was a very labour intensive project both in terms of design and specification point but also from the builder on site. The builders attention to detail throughout the project was fantastic. It was important to retain and enhance any traditional details and it was important to take and create a new modern approach when it came to new additions.

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Chartered with the RIBA and registered with ARB, they are currently designing projects throughout Northern Ireland.

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PROPOSED GROUND FLOOR PLAN TV

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

“The back of the barn is predominantly glazed and that houses a new living room which opens out on to the rear courtyard which is totally secure and above that living room is the master bedroom which has terrific views of the drumlins in County Down,’’ he enthused.

“We RECONFIGURED IT.” 05

entrance hall guest bedroom guest ensuite lounge larder kitchen living dining wc/coats entrance link double height dining office utility pool/gym

02 01

BGA Architects are an RIBA Award Winning architectural practice based in Newtownards, County Down. The practice was established in 1984 by Brian Grahame and is now led by Managing Director, John Lavery. John and the team have considerable experience in designing various building types however most of our workload is in the residential sector. They strive to provide a professional and friendly service from inception to completion.

MANOR BORN A drumlin is an oval shaped hill largely composed of glacial drift formed beneath a glacier or ice sheet and aligned in the direction of ice flow. Their formation remains controversial but in spite of this they are extremely useful for reconstructing former ice sheets. “The manor house at the front didn’t really change as we added in an en-suite to a room which has become a guest bedroom. There were no real structural changes to the front of the house but there were significant structural changes to the rear return of the house to provide more living space within the house at ground floor level,’’ added John. “We also introduced a lot more glass in to these areas and that is to try and bring the outside in and vice versa. We also had 600mm stone walls to work with which was a real heavy job. The barn underwent a major transformation as originally it had plaster work and there were fake beams in the plaster work so we used dried ash render and split the barn up with stone and timber cladding,’’ enthused Mr Lavery. A drumlin is an oval shaped hill largely composed of glacial drift formed beneath a glacier or ice sheet and aligned in the direction of ice flow. “It was a very labour intensive project both in terms of design and specification point but also from the builder on site. The builders attention to detail throughout the project was fantastic. It was important to retain and enhance any traditional details and it was important to take and create a new modern approach when it came to new additions. “The back of the barn is predominantly glazed and that houses a new living room which opens out on to the rear courtyard which is totally secure and above that living room is the master bedroom which has terrific views of the drumlins in County Down,’’ he enthused.

“The BARN underwent a MAJOR TRANSFORMATION.”

“It was a LOVELY PROJECT .” This project took 14 months from beginning to end with the owners able to move in to their gorgeous home in May 2017. “There were no major issues with this build; the issues arose when we started opening up the existing structure and we found things that would be typical for a refurbishment of this nature. The roof of the main house needed to be re-roofed when we got on site and we also needed to rebuild two brick chimneys and they were the unforeseen things with this project. “Since it was a major renovation and extension project, we took the opportunity to up the thermal performance of all the elements within the house so there is completely new glazing throughout the property, the walls have been insulated with plasterboard to improve the U-value and the roof has been insulated as well,’’ explained John.

“It’s a roadside property so there was great intrigue when the work was happening. The project took 14 months in total; we spent a chunk of time re-wiring and re-plumbing the house as well as removing an old front porch and digging out the barn as well as bringing the barn up to modern day standard and once we got the windows in we could see the house starting to come together. It was a fairly tight programme that we ran to. “This house is in or around 6,000 square foot excluding the out buildings and we were never going to get it to perform the way a new build would so the house is coupled with a wood pellet boiler,’’ he added. In terms of Mr Lavery’s closing thoughts on this project? “We had a great team, the builder, the clients and I worked well to achieve this and I have to say we are very proud of this house. Whilst we didn’t build a lot when it came to this property we have made a number of significant changes that all add up to make it a very different property. It was a lovely project to be involved with, ‘’ concluded John Lavery.

CONTACT LIST ARCHITECT: John Lavery, BGA Architects LTD, 50 Regent Street, Newtownards, BT23 4LP, United Kingdom 0044-2891815736 office@bga-ni.com - www.bga-ni.com

@bgaarchitectsni #bgaarchitectsni

12 Renovate your home

In conversation with Tom Farrell of Complete Insulations by Emer Kelly

omplete Insulations are a family owned Irish company. They have been in business for nearly 16 years and their management team has a combined experience of over 80 years in the insulation sector. As their business has grown over the years, they have continually expanded their scope of services to meet their clients’ needs while maintaining their quality of work and client satisfaction. All of their work is carried out in a professional, safe and clean manner to the highest level. Their work uses the latest installation techniques and the most energy efficient products. Complete Insulations offer their customers a top quality service and products at very keen prices. They can advise and assist with any grants that may be available for each measure. They aim for 100% customer satisfaction and are proud to have a long list of very satisfied customers who can testify to the quality of product, service and workmanship they provided at their properties. Complete Insulations are proud to say that the majority of their work has come on a referral basis from previous clients. “We predominantly do insulation and retrofits. We’ve insulated more than 500 houses for Dublin City Council and we’ve insulated more than 10,000 overall. Over the last 10 years we’ve branched out and we can do heating upgrades and we can also supply and fit windows,’’ explained Managing Director of Complete Insulations, Tom Farrell. “We’ve got a showroom that is going to be opening in the next couple of months. At the moment, we’re just trying to get over the Covid-19 dilemma that we are all after experiencing and it is tricky but I think we are all adapting to the ‘new normal,’ at the same time.”

Complete Insulations and their continuing expansion Complete Insulations are registered with SEAI (No 12529) and all of their work is carried out to SEAI standards. All of their operatives are fully trained, hold current safe passes and possess licences for MEWPs. All of Complete Insulations products are IAB, NSAI or BBA certified. All of their heating work is carried out by Bord Gais and RGI approved plumbers. All of Complete Insulations operatives are recently compliant with ACOPS and Working at Heights training. “We’re going out to view houses because people want to get work done on their houses but the hardest thing for us now is to do our work in a safe way. Some of the lads that are going out on jobs have worked together for the last five or ten years and they have always shared vans; now they put on their masks, keep their social distance, use hand sanisitser and so forth. We can only do what is asked of us in this situation to the best of our knowledge. “We’re a very hands on company from day to day. I go out and survey the jobs, line up the lads and we generate work from there. We’re looking forward to seeing what the future brings,’’ concluded Tom Farrell.

DERMOT BANNON

“I PICK my BATTLES.”

DERMOT BANNON

Renovating

my own home is a lot of

Pressure

Dermot Bannon talks to us

Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Volvo Cars / RTÈ

ermot Bannon is one of the best known Architects in Ireland and is best known to the Irish nation for his show ‘Room to Improve,’ which is one of the most talked about programmes on the nations lips after it airs on Sunday nights over a six week period.

“I’ve fairly simple taste and I want this house to be minimal but there are certain things that I would like to put in this house such as a brass splashback,’’ added Mr Bannon. “I’m at the stage where I wish the house was done now and we could just move into it,’’ revealed Dermot.

Mr Bannon has also recently been to Sweden, Melbourne and Sydney for his show ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes,’ which garnered a lot of attention when it aired in February.

During the build, Mr Bannon made sure to account for two charging points in his driveway as he is switching over to a Volvo hybrid this summer. “I’m eliminating fossil fuels from the house and we’re taking a G rated house right up to an A rating; there is going to be no gas or oil in the house, there will be a heat pump and it is going to be super highly insulated because I’m determined to have a house where you can walk around in your tee shirt in December as well as having a house that costs very little to run,’’ he explained.

As well as running a very busy architectural practice, being a husband and Dad to three young children, he is currently busy working on his new home in Drumcondra but despite all this Dermot very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to talk to this publication. “Renovating my own home is a lot more pressure than I thought it was going to be, I was actually looking forward to the whole process and when we bought the house and we were applying for Planning Permission I got really excited about doing it and I was pinching myself at the thoughts of getting to do this to our own house,’’ said Dermot Bannon. “Now that I’m in the middle of it, it’s incredibly stressful because you know every little detail there is to the project. Sometimes you might let things go on a regular job because it doesn’t really matter and you can’t see it but when it comes to your own home, you can’t un-see these things and I don’t want to be looking at this little detail for the rest of my life so that’s why I’m trying to iron out a lot of these things. “Most of the stress is caused by making sure that you have thought of every little thing. It’s absolutely melting my head at the moment! You want to put in the best of what you can afford when it comes to the house. I don’t think I will be doing anything differently to my own house than I would when it comes to the houses on ‘Room to Improve,’ the finishes won’t be very expensive; I would like some nice finishes,’’ he enthused.

“I’ve been driving a Volvo for a few years now and they asked me recently would I like to test drive one of the plug in hybrids and even though I was a bit dubious (because I didn’t think I would get the range out of it) of taking it for a while, the car really surprised me in a lot of ways! “The car changed the way I drove; there is a button with ‘b,’ written on it so basically every time we brake or the car slows down we waste that energy normally when we’re driving but with this car, that energy goes back to the engine and then you can plug the car in. “Generally, for day to day use you get a 40KM range out of it and you have a petrol engine as well. In a day you probably wouldn’t do more than 40KM between school runs and so forth so essentially you can charge the car at night,’’ enthused Mr Bannon. “I put two charging points into our front garden, whether

“I wish the HOUSE was DONE.”

DERMOT BANNON

or not we will have two electric cars I don’t know but the aim would be to have two electric cars in the next four to five years because they won’t be making fossil fuel cars after 2030. If you are future proofing your house and you are trying to make it as close to carbon neutral as possible then you should be thinking about your car especially if you are living in the city,’’ added Dermot. “I know that I will have to do a country run in the car and for that I will have to use petrol but to make my life easier, I put the charging points in. It also makes total sense to put the charging points at your house as there is a grant available for it as well. “I loved driving around in this car, more so because it really changed my driving patterns and I really started to think about how you’re using your fuel. I drive slower now and I try not to use the brake as much. When you see how much energy you waste in speeding up too quickly and braking too quickly instead of trying to keep the car at a slow, regular pace it makes you a more responsible driver. The Volvo hybrid is a lovely car to drive,’’ he stated. In terms of the reaction to ‘Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes,’? “We picked the houses because they were amazing properties in amazing locations. It was a wonderful trip and I still pinch myself every time I think about it. I think the houses in Melbourne were better; the Sydney trip was great and everyone has an affiliation with Sydney but the houses in Melbourne were cooler. It was my first time in Australia. We got to see amazing houses and because I was doing the television show it got me access to places that you generally wouldn’t get access to. “The trip to Sweden was an eye-opening one because it showed us how responsible they are.

“They have these luxurious houses with two bathrooms, they haven’t got a clatter of them. The people all live in apartments in the city during the winter and during the summer they head off and live in their summer houses so Sweden was fascinating and it was the trip that I learnt the most from despite it being the closest to home,’’ said Mr Bannon. As to ‘Room to Improve,’ and problematic clients? “I’m hoping for more of the same with the show because I think if it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it! We have six new projects and six brand new couples. We have houses in fantastic locations all over Ireland and they are all very different builds to what we have done before. I was excited working on them so I hope you guys are excited watching the show,’’ explained Dermot. “I pick my battles and I do get frustrated with the clients but I wouldn’t give up with them. I would email them in the middle of the night and I would ring them, if they are married I would talk to the husband or wife and try to get them to not give up on an idea I’ve put forward and then there are other times when you have to say right I’m done here if you’ve really fought a battle,’’ concluded Dermot Bannon.

“It’s INCREDIBLY stressful.”

18 Renovate your home

In conversation with ALAN KELLY by Emer Kelly

athrooms 4U has over 10 years’ experience in full-bathroom refurbishments. They are proud of their strong bathroom renovations background. Now as they are growing and expanding they also pride Bathrooms 4U in electrical work, tiling and carpentry. They strive to provide their customers with a ve star service. They design, t and supply bathrooms in both domestic and commercial markets. They also work with local council authorities to deliver both mobility bathrooms and stairlifts through the grants available” Bathrooms 4U do bathroom make-overs all over Ireland from Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Dublin. “The essence of the business model is that we o er everything from free in-home consultation, design, supply and t service and we deliver a complete new bathroom in just ve days. We have a very good reputation and customers nd using us a very handy experience rather than sourcing di erent tradesmen to complete the job” said Alan Kelly of Bathrooms 4U.

It’s ALL About You

“The other side of the business is that we do a lot of the bathrooms for the elderly or people with a disability. Every local authority has money allocated for Grant Aid Bathrooms and it is basically for anyone of a certain age with an illness or disability and their bathroom is rendered not t for use. People can apply to their local authority for the grant and they can receive up to €6,000 (which is up to 90% of the cost of the job) towards their new bathroom. I would call out to the person who has applied for the grant, have a look at their bathroom and give them a quotation for the work which is then submitted to the authority, they are then awarded the money,’’ explained Mr Kelly.

“Everyone that has gone down this route has been very happy with the work and they are delighted to have a bit of independence back as they don’t need assistance getting in and out of the shower or going to the toilet due to the bathroom facilitating their needs correctly through hand rails, grab rails and so forth.” As to the future? “We have lots of work ahead of us and we’re very happy about that. During the pandemic none of our customers cancelled jobs that were booked in and I think that is testament to the company that the work remained there. We’re constantly trying to think outside the box and keep ahead of our competitors; currently I’m doing extensive training with design software that can give customers 3D and 4D of their bathroom so even if you don’t want us to t your bathroom for a small fee I can design your bathroom for you which is really exciting,’’ concluded Alan Kelly.

A Galway Gem

Dee Noone talks about her family home Words: Emer Kelly Pics: RTÉ Press Office

“ Consider the FORM & DIMENSIONS.”

GALWAY

gem

ee Noone, her husband Evan and their twin sons Sam and Freddie live in an 1800’s cottage with an extension in Galway. Ms Noone had been living in Dublin for a number of years when she met her husband and they decided to move back to Galway. They bought a small cottage in 2012 and lived there for four years before renovating and extending in 2016. The old cottage was modernised and they wanted to build a new extension that had a completely different feel to the existing cottage. Storage, an extra bathroom and an open plan kitchen/dining area were at the top of their agenda. Dee wanted to keep the front of the home ‘traditional,’ while the extension is contemporary and modern. The cottage still holds its original charm and has quirky features throughout.

A Galway Gem “The inspiration (for the house) came from the house itself. I wanted to keep the original traditional feeling of cosiness and the character of the cottage. And the extension to feel new and contemporary rather than trying to recreate,’’ said Dee Noone. “We achieved this by the use of colour, putting traditional greens and warm colours in the cottage, and more contemporary like navy’s and black in the extension. Fixtures and fittings help with this also. We used the one flooring throughout the whole home to pull the extension & original space together. I also find social media such as Pinterest & Instagram great for getting different ideas,’’ she added. An Art & Design graduate from GMIT, Deirdre has spent her career working for companies such as H&M, Topshop and Brown Thomas creating seasonal visual displays. In recent years, Dee has turned her focus to Interior Design. She runs her own Interior Design business entitled Yellow Gate Design; the company offers services including room remodelling, design conceptualisation, space planning, furniture and artwork sourcing as well as accessories and soft furnishings.

“I wouldn’t MIND TACKLING something AGAIN.”

In terms of the favourite part of her home? “There’s different elements depending on what time of year! In the winter I love our living room in the cottage, the stove & window seat make it very cosy & a nice place to snuggle up in the evening. During the summer I love the kitchen as its open & bright. Whether its opening out the double doors into the garden or having a gang piled in around the kitchen bench, the room is just a really nice place to be and that’s what you ultimately try to achieve with every room,’’ enthused Ms Noone. Having undertaken such a project, what advice would Dee offer to anyone who is about to embark on such work? “I would definitely say to live in the existing space for a while before undertaking any work. It gives you time to think about how your home needs to work for you. What you feel is missing, and what it is you need to create your dream space. We lived here for four years before doing the renovation, and by the time we got an architect on board we were very clear on what we wanted to achieve. “The other thing I would say is have your design elements clear from the start and include any particular building work needed for it in the builders tender. The more prepared you are with specifics you want, will mean no changes later on and the job in on budget,’’ she imparted. As to whether or not the cottage is their forever home? “We absolutely love it here. Its a great area with a spacious country feel, yet its right on the outskirts of town so the location is perfect. I really enjoyed the whole process, most people find it stressful but I wouldn’t mind tackling something again. This place is a little gem and I cant imagine we’ll stumble across something much better but, I always loved the idea of renovating an old farmhouse so never say never!! “The project ran pretty smoothly so there was no major issues. This was helped by being very clear from the get go on budget, and by not deviating from the plans. There were smaller issues that you will always stumble upon with a house that is 200 years old, but thankfully nothing too serious. Robust plans from your architect and and detailed tender document means everyone is clear on what is required from the start,’’ concluded Dee Noone.

CONTACT LIST INTERIOR DESIGNER: Dee Noone, 086-3797780 - dee@yellowgatedesign.ie

24 Renovate your home

In conversation with RONAN of FRABER Wood Pellet Stoves & Boilers by Emer Kelly

raber Wood Pellet Stoves & Boilers are a company based in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath. Here, Ronan talks to us about his business. “We sell and install a complete range of wood pellet stoves for rom heating and water heating from select quality suppliers in Italy. We sell them to suit the smallest room in a house right up to a factory,’’ explained Ronan. “I took over the company from my Father in January 2019. He was one of the first people to source and import wood pellet boilers to Ireland approximately 15 years ago. He has a lot of expertise in this area and he has dealt with a lot of quality suppliers in Italy. With the implementation of carbon tax people are looking for alternatives to solid fuel. A pellet stove is carbon neutral and is an ideal replacement for solid fuel boilers and ranges.

A tale of heat

“People are moving away from solid fuel due to ash, dust and and the dirt they cause. Most pellet boilers require minimal cleaning compared to solid fuel. Fraber also offer a service called ‘Power Flushing’, which cleans every radiator in the house and improves efficiency. As to the future plans for his company? “Hopefully there will be a Government initiative, especially in rural Ireland to assist people who wish to upgrade to a carbon neutral source of heating.

Carbon tax has already been implemented and we offer a good value way of switching over to carbon neutral fuel. We sell both modern design and traditional stoves. We have a huge range to suit every style. “All of the pellet stoves we supply have a Wi-Fi option so they are fully controllable through an app on your smartphone, for a small amount extra. This enables you to turn on your heating safely before leaving work. Pellet stoves and boilers are efficient, economical and a clean way to heat your home or business.

26 Renovate your home

In conversation with MICHAEL by Emer Kelly

all Wrap External Wall Insulation are an external insulation company. They provide a service within the areas of Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Louth and Wicklow. Here, Michael of Wall Wrap External Wall Insulation talks to us. “Basically my business partner Martin & I come from a building and insulation background and over the last 20 years we both have had separate companies involving insulation but Wall Wrap is the coming together of the two of us,’’ said Michael. “We saw that there was an opening in the market for what we do and we know that we can bring higher and better standards to this field. We do residential work and we also do work for the SEAI, the Government and various Councils but it is the standard of work that we are interested and focused on. “We project manage the projects ourselves so that is how we are able to offer a higher standard on the quality of the finished product and so forth. We are more hands on than other companies in this field are, we take the project on and bring it over the line ourselves and that is what makes the work we do a higher quality,’’ he added.

“Martin would generally be out surveying and pricing the work that we have to do and I would be out on site every day organising materials and project manage. We have fantastic women that run the office and organise the paper work. We are not a huge company but at the same time we all have our little jobs and there is never any hassle. We are able to spread ourselves nicely.” On average, a home loses between 20 – 30% of its heat through the walls. A lack of insulation could make this number worse! A poorly insulated attic could create further losses of up to 30%. Insulation will reduce heat loss and heating bills. If you want to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, externally insulating your house can help to achieve this. The SEAI provide a range of wall and attic insulation grants which can help make any home more energy efficient and comfortable. As a contractor registered with SEAI, Wall Wrap External Wall Insulation can help you choose the best insulation required in your home. “The SEAI grants are a great help, we can’t afford to burn energy in this country and the bogs are going to be closed within the next couple of years. Gas and oil are not going to get cheaper. The best way to eliminate high energy costs is by investing and externally insulating your house which will work out cheaper in the long run. There is nothing as bad as turning on your heating if it isn’t benefiting your home,’’ enthused Michael.

A profile of Wall Wrap External Wall Insulation

36 School around the corner 28

The SCHOOL around the CORNER

From school to family home Words: Emer Kelly Pics: CraftStudio Architecture

“ I had a VISION for the PROJECT.”

raftStudio Architecture took on the project to refurbish, extend and convert the Old Killygarry School to a family home.

The project involved the renovation and extension of a 1894 built, two classroom national school in County Cavan. Abandoned in 1997, after the construction of a new school, it was due to be demolished, having laid decaying since. The Architect over this project was Ronan Fitzpatrick who also owns this property and he very graciously took time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his gorgeous family home. Mr Fitzpatrick is an architect, registered with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. He is also a Grade 3 accredited conservation architect and is extremely passionate about the restoration and repurposing of our built heritage. He has expertise at leading project teams to deliver building projects on time and on budget. Ronan has studied at the University of Ulster, Belfast and Waterford Institute of Technology. Ronan’s thesis project was nominated for the RIBA President’s Medal Awards. Having gained experience at leading architectural practices, Ronan established CraftStudio Architecture about eight years ago with the intention to deliver innovative architecture both locally and country wide. “We wanted to maintain the look of the old school but as it had become a bit of an eye sore we were keen to freshen it up whilst maintaining its presence along the road with whatever we did to the building playing second fiddle to that,’’ said Ronan Fitzpatrick. “We began work on the house in the summer of 2016. Due to the very nature of the building and it being a very simple structure, there isn’t a lot of complexity to the building itself so that is why nothing that we wouldn’t have expected raised its head throughout the building work. “It’s a very simple but sound structure. Work on the project was finished at the end of 2017 and we absolutely love the house and we couldn’t fault the house,’’ added Mr Fitzpatrick.

30 School around the corner

The design maintains and reinstates the presence of the schools setting, with a new extension retracted behind the formality of the original building. It is composed as a dark geometric volume, its exact shape and size ambiguous from the public domain. The structure is clad in vertical black stained larch, grounding it in its setting, whilst distinguishing it from the traditional wet dash of the existing. Whilst distinctively modern the new extension is configured to remain subordinate to the original, the form tempered by a traditional pitched roof. Sited along a busy national road, the geometric form of the extension is orientated and structured in direct response to this constraint, maximising privacy for the occupants.

â&#x20AC;&#x153; The BUILDING was to be DEMOLISHED.â&#x20AC;? Internally the large classroom accommodates the main living spaces. The floor level has been raised in part to allow views from the kitchen and dining areas, with a snug unobtrusively demarked by a change in floor level. A living space in the new extension is intrinsically linked via existing opes in the original stone and brick rear facade. A top lit double height volume between accentuates the juxtaposition and draws light into both. The staircase is designed as a sculptural piece, folded raw steel, cranked to sit within the constraints of the existing space. Deep punched windows and recessed opes are deliberately orientated to frame views of the surrounding countryside.

www.homeandbuild.ie

32 School around the corner

“ It’s a VERY SIMPLE but SOUND structure.” “It’s important when you are doing a renovation project of any nature that the existing building stays at the heart of what you are doing. I would encourage people to embrace it (the project) if they ever get the opportunity to renovate an old building like this because they have an awful lot to offer,’’ enthused Ronan. As to his closing thoughts on his home? “I had a vision for the project, I was very hands on and I did quite a bit of the work myself. I was on site every single day bar when I was on honeymoon. “The key part of it was that it was the school that my Dad went to and I also attended the school and it is a building that is embedded in the community. “The building was to be demolished and we were appointed to procure the demolition of it and it was only then that I gave it some consideration and I decided to do it up and make it our home,’’ concluded Ronan Fitzpatrick.

CONTACT LIST ARCHITECT: Ronan Fitzpatrick, CraftStudio Architecture, Aviemore House, 6 Hill Street, County Monaghan 047-82036 www.craftstudio.ie info@craftstudio.ie

Hercuglas

HERCUGLAS Present two key products for the retro fit market.

RED Heat Pumps Highly efficient and innovative RED air to water heat pumps are designed and manufactured in Ireland. Designed as a heat pump from the start and optimised for Irelands humid maritime climate, to work as efficiently as possible. RED products strive to be best in class, using innovative Irish design and technology to bring these benefits to the homeowner. RED heat pumps are suitable for newbuild, renovations and boiler replacements, with home heating, hot water and cooling at you finger tips. Without the need for expensive buffer tanks or electric heaters and with a 60Â°C hot water storage temperature, it really is ideal for all situations including existing radiators. The RED retrofit heat pump package options are specifically designed by Hercuglas to ensure the heat pump has maximum performance and cost savings for the home owner. Each package will consist of a correctly sized heat pump, plus the correct zone distribution manifold, matching the required heating zones, plus a heat pump domestic hot water tank, sized according to the hot water demand. The RED qualifies for the SEAI retrofit grant.

ECOFLOOR DRY UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM. The EcoFloor Dry Underfloor Heating System was designed by our Irish engineers to retrofit into any building causing the minimum disruption and creating the maximum comfort. At only 15mm thick, the system requires no digging or drilling with only the floor space being heated required. There is no dust or dirt created in the home and following installation a sealing resin fills all joints forming a clean dry surface for tiling, timber or carpet to rest on. The system is ready for use following placement of the finished floor and heat radiates directly into the space creating a warm dry environment for the occupants to enjoy.

38 Renovate your home

In conversation with Stefan Ivascu by Emer Kelly

&A City Tilers was set up by husband and wife duo Stefan & Ana Ivascu in 2016. They are based in Clonee, Dublin 15.

“My business is a family run tiling business and we do commercial and residential jobs. Business is going very well, we’re very busy,’’ said Stefan Ivascu. “I first set up my business in 2004 and I’ve experienced the boom, the recession and now Covid-19 but I’ve stayed positive throughout it all and kept going as it is the only way to do it. “It is hard to know how business will go but I would like my business to continue doing well. We went through all of these hard times with no problem of getting work so hopefully that will continue as my company does good quality work and I just hope for the best in the future,’’ added Stefan Ivascu.

S&A City Tilers

40 Renovate your home

In conversation with PADDY BROUGHAN by Emer Kelly

addy Broughan Builders is a family business based in Dublin.

“I’m working as a bricklayer since I am 16 and I set up my own business in 2005,’’ said Paddy Broughan. “I enjoy working for myself and two of my brothers, my son and two cousins work for me. It is very much a family focused business. There isn’t any hassle working with family! “Business is going well and we’re very busy. We’re working on a big site for Hollybawn Construction in Delgany, County Wicklow at the moment. I would be contracted for commercial work as well as working on residential projects. “I’ve a lot more work to do over the next while which is a good complaint. I’ve always worked for smaller builders and even when I was working on bigger projects I always made sure to look after the people that wanted one off houses built also,’’ added Mr Broughan.

As to the future? “We’re just going to continue doing what we’re doing as it seems to work. I’ve a group of lads I can turn to when I need a dig out and I suppose there are times when I could do with more lads but I tend to stick with 20 people and then if I get work that we can’t get to then I hand the job over to friends and let them do it. “We do good work and we’re a reliable company,’’ concluded Paddy Broughan.

“WE DO GOOD WORK!”

HINTS TO HELP

Hints to help you along the

WAY...

Things you need to know before you renovate Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Webpress

hether you’re extending a house or renovating, these are a few hints that will help you along the way!

*Describe your current home. What do you like about it? What’s missing? What don’t you like? Do you want to change the space you have? *Why do you want to renovate your current home? *What is your lifestyle? Are you at home a great deal? Do you work at home? Do you entertain often? *How much time do you spend in the living areas, bedroom, kitchen, utility space etc.? *How much time and energy are you willing to invest to maintain your home? *If you are thinking of extending, what functions or activities will be housed in the new space? *What kind of spaces do you need, e.g bedrooms, bigger kitchen, family room, bathrooms, etc? *How many of those spaces do you think you need? *What do you think the extension/ renovation should look like? *What do you envisage in your renovated home that your present home lacks? *How much can you realistically afford to spend? *How soon would you like to be settled into your renovated home or extension? Are there rigid time restraints? *Do you have strong ideas about design? What are your design preferences? *Who will be the primary contact with the architect, contractor, and others involved in designing and building your project? *What qualities are you looking for in an architect? *Is there anyone in the family with a disability or do you envisage staying in the house for a long time, mobility problems of ageing may need to be addressed? *Do you want to pursue options, and establish the additional inputs required, to optimize your buildings performance to achieve zero energy inputs, healthy materials, or other sustainability goal? *How much disruption in your life can you tolerate to extend or renovate your home?

HINTS TO HELP

Architects can also provide the following services: MEASUREMENT SURVEY & DRAWINGS: Measure existing buildings for the purpose of making drawings to assist in design proposals for alterations or additions. CONDITION SURVEY: Inspect and establish the condition of a property and prepare a report. INTERIOR DESIGN: You may engage your architect to provide an interior design service, advising on loose furniture, artworks and finishes. URBAN DESIGN & MASTER-PLANNING: Architects are at the forefront of the design of urban spaces in existing and proposed sections of our towns and cities. DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES: Architects offer dispute resolution services such as mediation and conciliation.

HINTS TO HELP

CONSERVATION SKILLS: If the building you own is ‘historic’, a ‘Protected Structure’, or in an ‘Architectural Conservation Area,’ you will need the advice of an architect with skills in conservation. Even if your building is not listed by the Planning Authority it can still be worthy of conservation and you will want to make sure that its character is not damaged in the process of any alterations or extensions you plan to carry out. UNDERSTANDING THE TERMONOLOGY: To communicate a design, the main drawings used are plans, sections and elevations. Architects may also use axonometrics, which offer a bird’s eye view, and sketches and perspectives. Many clients find a simple 3-d model useful to understand the relationship between spaces and the overall look of a design.

WHEN IT’S TIME TO DESIGN: Building Energy Rating By law, anyone renting or selling a property must supply a Building Energy Rating (BER). A building energy rating calculates the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A to G, with A1 being the most energy efficient and has the lowest energy bills. A BER covers energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation and lighting calculated on the basis of standard occupancy. A BER certificate is accompanied by an advisory report, which will identify how you might improve the energy performance of your home. There are exemptions for certain categories of homes, for example, protected structures and certain temporary homes.

HINTS TO HELP

Building Regulations Concern all aspects of construction and apply to new buildings, extensions, alterations and renovations. They are designed to ensure that buildings are structurally sound and comply with fire safety, universal access and energy performance. Your architect will be competent in all aspects of building regulations and is required under RIAI Registration to regularly attend Continuous Professional Development courses to stay abreast of new regulations. Building Specification This document is compiled by your architect as part of the Construction Drawings. It sets out in writing the construction requirements including materials, finishes and fittings as well as energy efficiency. Construction Drawings (Working Drawings) These are produced by your RIAI architect for the construction stage of your project. They comprise of detailed floor plans, sections and elevations as well as a full specification, which allow the contractor to construct your building. The drawings are the result of a lengthy design process, in which the client plays an important role. Changes to the design at the construction stage are likely to have costly implications.

Sustainability Sustainability is considered essential to architecture and is based on the principle that good design will last for future generations. Sustainability considers not only the energy performance of a building but wider issues such as the protection of the environment (including under construction); the use of eco-friendly materials and their provenance; and the availability of local infrastructure and public transport. U-value The rate of heat loss, for example through windows, is calculated in U-values. The lower the U-value, the greater is the thermal performance of the window and the resulting energy savings. Your RIAI architect will advise on how to achieve optimum U-values for your project. Take your time If your renovation project includes an extension it is important to note that not every job needs planning permission; most extensions fall within the permitted 40sqm. If you are embarking on something more ambitious, then the process can add months to your build schedule, and the costs for rental accommodation or storage need to be included in your sums.

HINTS TO HELP

Track your spending Once the project is up and running, it is imperative to keep an eye on where your hard earned cash is going. The best way of doing this is by setting up a spread sheet and colour code the different sections within the document to differentiate between each section of the project. Manage the budget There are usually two stages in terms of costs. First, when your initial designs, complete with all the frills, come back from your architect and are costed up. There is then a second round when you have sent your revised designs out to tender to construction companies. Each round will usually require compromises. What to put in your cost plan Fees & Contributions: Professional fees, connection fees for utilities, rental and removal costs, if necessary. Build Costs: Demolition, construction and associated costs, such as roofing. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook preliminaries, items that must be in place before the build begins - scaffolding, skips, for example - but are not part of your specification of works that you contract to your builder. Contingency Fund: Usually between five percent and 15% but double that for period buildings. This is for unforeseen costs, such as rising damp or rotten joists. Prime Cost (PC) Sums: If you use a standard form contract, PC sums, items that have not been decided on yet, but which you have control over, such as windows, doors, kitchen, is where you will cut costs from, if necessary once the project has begun.

52 Renovate your home

A synopsis of TCE Construction Limited In conversation with MATTHEW by Emer Kelly

CE Construction Limited was set up in 2017 and they are based in County Meath. “Before setting up the company with my business partner, I was a Contracts Manager with MCR Flooring and my business partner was actually working for me so we decided to put our heads together and open our own business,’’ said Managing Director of TCE Construction LTD, Matthew. “Business is going absolutely fantastic. I have good connections and I’ve always done things right and looked after lads when things weren’t great so that is how I have a good, loyal workforce to be honest. “We do a lot of sub-contracting for one of the largest flooring companies in Europe so we’re flat out working with them as well as other companies. We also have new companies coming on board with us over the next number of months,’’ concluded Matthew.

54 Renovate your home

In conversation with DANIEL WHELAN by Emer Kelly

aniel Whelan Tiling and Bathrooms supplies clients all over Dublin with a comprehensive selection of quality tiles from the very best tile manufacturers. Their team of highly qualified tradesmen are available to fit tiles in your bathroom and kitchen. Daniel Whelan Tiling and Bathrooms also provide clients with a complete bathroom fit-out service. “We are pretty much a one stop shop, we can supply and fit everything. We literally do everything for you; we will visit your house and measure up the bathroom or wherever needs to be tiled and then the client will visit my showroom and have a look to see what they want and then they are given a price for the job and we set to work,’’ said Daniel Whelan. “I started tiling in 2002 and then I set up my own business in 2008 and it is going very well. We’re working on some very big projects at the moment as well. The residential work would be my bread and butter whereas the commercial work would be more sporadic. “I’ve a lot of projects coming up over the next number of months and I’ve numerous bathrooms ready to go. In a few years time, I would love to open a bigger showroom,’’ enthused Mr Whelan.

“I WOULD LOVE TO OPEN A BIGGER SHOROOM”

56 Renovate your home

In conversation with DAVID FARRELL by Emer Kelly

avid Farrell Bricklaying is in operation since 2014 in Dublin.

“I set up my business six years ago with a man I worked with years ago and business is flying. We’re flying along. The majority of work is mainly in Donabate,’’ said David Farrell. “We’re only a small crew with no hassle or stress. There are four of us in the company and we get through a good bit of work as we’re fairly efficient and many hands make light work. “We’re going to continue to do what we do and hopefully the work will keep coming in! We take pride in our work and it is all done to a high standard,’’ concluded David Farrell.

David Farrell Bricklaying in a nutshell

RENOVATE YOUR HOME

Articles inside

RENOVATING MY OWN HOME

TO THE MANOR BORN

THE SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER