A Home and Build Publication
RENOVATE your
ainBeauty stunning A white Beauty in Dublin 4 Paul Byrom Interview A skinny gem in Kinsale Interview with Dermot Bannon
Contents
LETTER from
theEditor
ello and welcome to the latest edition of Renovate your Home. In this edition we feature striking homes in Dublin, Wexford and Cork as well as an interview with Paul Byrom.
Kicking off this edition is the home of Harry & Julie Goff in County Wexford. The clients of this beautiful property situated in Rathnure, County Wexford are a young couple who aimed to build a new energy efficient lifetime home in which to raise their family. They acquired a greenfield site on the edge of Rathnure village in rural Wexford and approached Joe Fallon Architectural Design with their brief in September 2016.
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Next up is Interior Designer Kerry Hiddleston’s fabulous home which you may recognise from the popular RTÉ One show Home of the Year. Ms Hiddleston lives in Sandymount with her husband, Pat and their four young children. Ms Hiddleston decided to make the transition to interior design whilst on maternity leave and hasn’t looked back. Her focus on understanding the client’s needs and delivering a beautiful and practical space with wow factor. She often works on family homes and as a mother of young children understands the needs of parents to provide spaces that work for all the family and that they can be proud of. In Kinsale, we feature a rather unusual project by Conneely Wessels Architects. The project was complicated by the tightness of the site, issues of overlooking, right of light and its location within an architectural conservation area. The design seeks to maximise space and floor plate with the narrow terrace width of 3m by placing the stairs to the rear as a separate, distinct element. TThe house, at only three metres wide, makes it one of the narrowest houses they have worked on and that is why it is nicknamed the ‘Skinny House.’ The Bungalow is a rare beauty situated in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The plainly named Dublin property is a three bedroom, detached brick bungalow built in the 1990s with 120sq m (1,292sq ft) and a small garden – similar in style to so many others around the country although they would probably come with larger private gardens. Around 1990 a small development of nine apartments was built on a site previously occupied by houses at 50-52 Nutley Road. The short tree-lined winding road links Ailesbury Road with the busier Nutley Lane in the heart of Dublin 4. IWithin this article, Interior Designer Ruth Noble talks us through her involvement with the project.
Email: info@renovateyourhome.ie Address: Mill Road, Mornington, Co Meath, A92 K190 c AJ Media Limited 2020
Cork native Saoirse Fitzgerald is the envy of many people across the island of Ireland as she lives in one of the most amazing properties that has ever appeared on the pages of this publication; the reason for that is because Ms Fitzgerald lives in the lighthouse keepers cottage in Youghal, County Cork and between the property and the views it is something to behold. Saoirse grew up 15 kilmoetres away from Youghal in a village called Claddagh and had gone to school close to the lighthouse. This property is firm favourite of mine due to its uniqueness and quirky features, it has given me serious house envy! The final feature in this edition is an interview with Paul Byrom is a man that needs little or no introduction. Having built up quite a successful singing career as one of Ireland’s best known Tenors, Mr Byrom is preparing to release a new album later this year and he very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his career, new album and what the future holds. Throughout the interview Mr Byrom reflects on his career, what home means to him and his plans for the future. We hope you enjoy reading this edition of the magazine as we always strive to produce the most wonderful content for our readers. Hopefully you will get to enjoy reading this edition in the sunshine with a nice cup of coffee in the back garden, that’s if the sun ever decides to return!!!
Sales & Marketing Director: Jason Harding Editorial Assistant: Emer Kelly Graphic Design: Paola Giorgetti
Contents
CONTENTS 4
JOE FALLON Taking the mystery out of architecture
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A BEAUTY IN STUNNING RATHNURE Family is the core to this home
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DERMOT BANNON Renovate my own home
A WHITE BEAUTY IN DUBLIN 4 The Bungalow is a rare beauty situated in Donnybrook, Dublin 4
36 42 52 60 66
A GUIDING LIGHT IN YOUGHAL In conversation with Saoirse Fitzgerald PAUL BYRON Irish Tenor talk to Renovate your Home A MARVELLOUS HOME IN SANDYMOUNT In conversation with Kerry Hiddleston A SKINNY GEM IN THE HEART OF KINSALE Extending and refurbishing London house extension in slate and another in brick Extending and refurbishing
JOE FALLON
In conversation with Joe Fallon, Managing Director
J
oe Fallon and his wife Deirdre moved to County Wexford in 2005 to start a family, build a house and further develop Joe’s architectural practice. Their first step was to buy a 200-year-old derelict cottage in the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains. Joe set about renovating and rebuilding the house, and included a small office from which to run the business. Having been in operation since 1988, he used all his years’ experience in his own home and continued to build the business and service the architectural market in both Dublin and the more rural settings around Wexford.
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In 2014 Joe took on his first full-time employee, and within a year had developed the practice to include 5 full-time staff and a fully-equipped office on the main street in Bunclody, Co. Wexford. Fast forward again to 2018, Joe had returned to his Dublin roots by opening an office in Main Street, Dundrum to service their primary market in south Dublin and had taken on a few more staff members. As of 2020, Joe Fallon Design consists of 8 full-time employees, made up of architects and chartered architectural technologists, working out of their two offices and must be one of the busiest architectural practices in Leinster. Through the Dundrum office they serve south Dublin by way of extensions, renovations and the occasional one-off house. So much of the housing stock in Dublin consists of 1950s and 60s semi-detached homes that are in need of modernisation. Their Wexford office covers the more rural parts of Leinster and provides architectural services for one-off rural dwellings, schools, churches and social housing.
“ I’ve a LOYAL of BUILDERS.”
Taking
the mystery out of
ARCHITECTURE
at Joe Fallon Architectural Design
JOE FALLON
“ I’ve REALLY a GOOD DESIGNERS working for Me.” Part of the reason for Joe’s relocation to the countryside is to maintain a healthy work-life balance between the busyness of the architectural practice and the importance of family and healthy living. A typical day would start at 8:30 in the office, after having breakfast with the family and dropping the kids to the school bus. Work in the office is usually varied; as a creative person, Joe naturally enjoys the thrill of beginning a new project with a fresh design challenge, however most of the work in an architectural office involves emails and paperwork to keep each project running smoothly. They have to deal with councils in relation to planning permission and utilities, building regulations and ensuring their projects all comply with the relevant legislation, and sometimes the needs arises for an emergency conference call or site visit to rectify a problem on one of their many live construction sites.
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It is a very stressful time and someone’s home is their castle, so we do our best to respect that.” Joe attributes a lot of this success to his team of young, enthusiastic staff with creative ideas who design without inhibition. A talented team of other professionals such as engineers, quantity surveyors and town planners help keep the project moving. And of course a strong pool of building contractors, that Joe has built up over the years and have developed a reliable working relationship with - some stretching back more than 30 years. “As a creative industry, there are many challenges that we come across. These become the structure within which we can design. These limits can actually be really helpful, as they create boundaries with which we can work. The hardest thing is often trying to create without any restrictions.” And as Joe summarises, there are many restrictions: planning and development plan limitations, underground services, consensus with adjoining neighbours, and of course, budget. “But all these things come together to create something unique every time. Our bread and butter is the extension market, but each one is unique.”
Architecture, especially in a medium-sized office such as Joe’s, comprises a variety of tasks and work types. “Most of it is office-based, but we do venture out of the office on occasion as we need to meet new clients, survey new projects and conduct our site visits. It gives us great variety in our work and helps to reduce the possibility of boredom!” enthuses Joe.
Indeed, the last few years have been particularly fruitful, and has been recognised by way of numerous awards and nominations. “In 2019 we were nominated as a finalist with five projects in two categories in the Irish Construction Industry Awards, for Architectural Practice of the Year and Small Residential Project of the Year. And in 2020, shortlisted for the Irish Concrete Awards for Bunclody Market Square redesign.”
“We do have challenges, as the field of architecture requires a working knowledge of so many things.” Indeed, a knowledge of design, spatial planning, town planning and council development plans, building regulations, technical detailing, various construction methods, types of finishes and furnishings – the list is almost endless and the architect needs to know enough about all of these to keep a project on track.
As for the future? Covid-19 is no doubt going to impact the architectural industry just as it has done in other areas, but Joe maintains that enquiry levels are high. “A lot of people still need work done to their homes, and even more so now perhaps, with the increase in the amount of people working from home and the need to create dedicated spaces in their homes conducive to that.”
There is a huge team of people required to make a successful project happen. “I think the reason that we have been so successful has been that we have done our best to take the stress out of the process of renovating, extending or building your home.
“There is also a desperate need for social and affordable housing to give the next generation a hope of owning their own home. We have been involved in the provision of social housing and are hoping to continue our work in that area also.”
“ We’ve a LOT of work going on.”
No doubt Joe will go from strength to strength, continuing his commitment to improving the build environment and providing homes for his clients that they will enjoy for years to come.
www.homeandbuild.ie
A BEAUTY IN RATHNURE
ainBeauty stunning 8
Family is the core to this home Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Billy Conran
“ I’m IMMENSELY PROUD of the HOUSE.”
A BEAUTY IN RATHNURE
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he clients of this beautiful property situated in Rathnure, County Wexford are a young couple who aimed to build a new energy efficient lifetime home in which to raise their family. They acquired a greenfield site on the edge of Rathnure village in rural Wexford and approached Joe Fallon Architectural Design with their brief in September 2016. The clients wanted the house to take advantage of the surrounding mountain views and have internal spaces flooded with natural light. The designers over this project were Billy Conran (formerly of Joe Fallon Architectural Design) of Project Orange in London and Joe Fallon of Joe Fallon Architectural Design. Mr. Conran is working as an Architect with Project Orange. Since joining in 2018 he has worked on projects in a wide range of sectors including residential, retail, office and hotel.
“ The DESIGN process was an enjoyable EXPERIENCE.” Before joining Project Orange, Billy honed his residential design skills working at the Bunclody office of Joe Fallon Architectural Design, who specialize in bespoke one off homes. Billy moved to London in 2017 and began working at ZAP Architecture. At ZAP, he worked on numerous pop-up projects ranging from outdoor cinemas to rooftop Pergolas. He has also completed a body of work that was exhibited in the Irish Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale. “Once I graduated from UCD, Joe Fallon hired me and I moved back home to Wexford for almost a year before moving over to London. Joe’s practice would be one of the more well-known Architectural practices in Wexford and I was delighted that my sister, Julie and her husband Harry
www.homeandbuild.ie
A BEAUTY IN RATHNURE
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approached the office to do the design for their house,’’ said Billy Conran. “Myself, Julie and Harry get on really well and I had absolutely no problem with being involved in their house. It was the first project I had worked on since graduating and it was a larger scale than I was used to at the time but thankfully Julie and Harry trusted me with a lot of design scope. They were really great to work with and were not afraid to go a little bit more contemporary with the house. Early on we settled on the idea of bringing a modern twist to the traditional Irish vernacular. The main form of the home takes the shape of a single cell Irish cottage. “From this central axis, two timber clad elements are pulled out to give the building a certain dynamism. Julie and Harry both love to cook so the kitchen was always going to be the heart of the house. Modern living has evolved where it is all about that big room (kitchen/ living space) so getting that room right was really important and we worked on that area quite a lot.’’ “The design process was an enjoyable experience for the three of us and everyone is delighted with the finished project. The process began in September 2016 and it was submitted for planning the following April. I moved to London shortly afterwards. The house went on site in 2018 and Joe was then in charge of the ten-
“The BUILDER did a SMASHING job.” dering and construction process. But of course anytime I was speaking with Julie or Harry throughout the build all we could talk about was the how the house was coming along, so I always felt very involved,’’ he added. “I’m immensely proud of the house, it’s lovely! The builder (Michael O’Farrell) did a smashing job and he gave the house a very fresh finish, and importantly Harry and Julie found him great to work with,’’ concluded Mr Conran. The schedule of accommodation includes a spacious open plan kitchen/living/dining area, family room, office, utility room, family bathroom and four bedrooms. One bedroom was to be the master suite with an en-suite and a walk-in wardrobe. An important aspect of the brief was to have an accessible bedroom on the ground floor with an adjoining wet room. Ensuring the house was a home for life where the clients can raise a family was paramount to the brief. The clients have close ties to the locality but have not lived there for years. Building their home on the edge of the village will allow them to become lasting members of the community.
OVER
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YEARS EXPERIENCE
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A BEAUTY IN RATHNURE
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The building has a linear form. This allows many rooms to be dual aspect while giving the house a rational circulation flow. There are moments of compression as you move through the house, which then expand to beautifully lit and spacious areas. The main living space is a sunken lounge to flow with the natural slope of the site while projecting out at 45 degrees. This gives the space a more generous ceiling height while opening up to the surrounding views of the Blackstairs mountain range. The house is orientated to let all bedrooms enjoy the sunrise while allowing the main living zone to enjoy the sun for the duration of the day. “Working with Billy was quite fluid and we were able to throw ideas around. Dealing with family made the design process quite relaxed. Rather than attending meetings or sending emails, sketching and planning happened around the kitchen table,’’ said home owner Harry Goff. “We’re really happy with the house. Billy’s design accurately captured our vision of what we wanted our home to be. We found that throughout the design and building process there was a lot of collaboration between ourselves, the designers and the contractor respectively. Joe Fallon Architectural Design and Michael, our contractor, played a huge role in realizing the project,’’ added Mr Goff. Careful consideration was made to ensure that the surrounding landscape is framed as you move about the house. A large window seat in the kitchen forces you to sit and relax while you gaze out to Mount Leinster. The spacious entrance hall has full height glazing to act as a warm spill out living area with mountain views.
As you move upstairs, you catch a glimpse of a lone hill in the distance through the tall stairway window. The first floor corridor has a window at head height which spans the entire corridor. This gives you a continuous view as you move about the first floor. This elegant strip window also brings balance to the façade as it matches the length of the full height glazing on the ground floor. This home is all about view and light. You are struck with both as you enter the dual aspect master bedroom which has a feature corner window that provides you with the most spectacular view of the Blackstairs mountains bathed in sun, as they sweep around you to the north and east. There is a well-considered materials palette that allows you to read the building easily. The simple form of the first floor has a crisp white render. The contrast of the first floor, to the dynamic movement of the ground floor, is accentuated by the use of full height glazing and Siberian larch cladding which together form a continuous band across the front façade. The first floor acts as a white cottage placed on top of a contemporary timber form. This becomes particularly apparent when you walk out onto the patio and see the first floor cantilever beyond the splayed living block.
“Working with BILLY was quite FLUID.”
The house has an A1 BER rating with energy efficent double glazed windows, PV panels and an air to water heat pump with underfloor heating installed.
straightforward! The MHRV system installed in this property is the LO-Carbon Sentinel Kinectic Plus from Newstar. The Sentinel Kinetic Plus benefits from the latest high efficiency, backward curved impeller design, ensuring the lowest possible energy consumption, ultra quiet operation and an exceptional performance range covering small one bed apartments to the largest of houses.
Without a good ventilation system, your home can fall victim to several problems including any moisture in the air forming condensation and encouraging the growth of mould. Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation provides an ideal ventilation solution and the technology couldn’t be more
“I would be friendly with Julie’s Dad, John and Billy, her brother worked in the office for me. We were delighted to get the job in Rathnure. Julie and Harry’s house is fabulous, it was a lovely job to be involved in and we wish them all the best for the future,’’ enthused Joe Fallon of Joe Fallon Architectural Design.
CONTACT LIST ARCHITECT: Joe Fallon, Joe Fallon Architectural Design, Ryland House, Ryland Street, Bunclody, County Wexford 053-9377633 www.joefallon.com info@joefallon.com Billy Conran, Project Orange www.projectorange.com BUILDING CONTRACTOR: Michael O’Farrell, Michael O’Farrell Development Ltd, Lacken, New Ross, County Wexford 051-428011 - 087-8346041 www.mofarrell.com mofarrellcons@yahoo.co.uk ENGINEER: Eamon Larkin, Riva, Crosstown, County Wexford 087-9665093 eamonlarkin@yahoo.com
KITCHEN & FITTED FURNITURE: Karl Cullen, Karl Cullen Fitted Furniture, Rockfield, Milehouse, Enniscorthy, County Wexford 086-3313850 www.karlcullen.ie sales@karlcullen.ie WINDOWS: Munster Joinery, Munster Joinery, Ballydesmond, County Cork, P51 PD71 - 064-7751151 www.munsterjoinery.ie info@munsterjoinery.ie TILER: Richard Purcell, Summersweet Tile & Marble, 087-6147230
INTERIOR DESIGN: Liz Harte, Harte Designs Butlersland Industrial Estate, New Ross, Co. Wexford 051 421239 - liz@hartedesigns.ie www.hartedesigns.ie HRMV: Oleksandro Dranko, Dranko t/a NewStar, 5 Derry Bawn, Aughrim, County Wicklow, Y14 K665 086-8174720 - olek@newstar.ie www.newstar.ie PV Solar Panels: Solar Electric, Killanne, Rathnure, Enniscorthy, County Wexford 01-9061598 - info@solarelectric.ie www.solarelectric.ie
A BEAUTY IN DUBLIN 4
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A white BEAUTY in DUBLIN 4
A BEAUTY IN DUBLIN 4
T
he Bungalow is a rare beauty situated in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The plainly named Dublin property is a three bedroom, detached brick bungalow built in the 1990s with 120sq m (1,292sq ft) and a small garden – similar in style to so many others around the country although they would probably come with larger private gardens.
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Around 1990 a small development of nine apartments was built on a site previously occupied by houses at 50-52 Nutley Road. The short tree-lined winding road links Ailesbury Road with the busier Nutley Lane in the heart of Dublin 4. It was a low density, low height, well-designed build that left good space for parking and surrounding greenery and the developers also took the opportunity at the time to build a bungalow on the site to the rear. Here, Interior Designer Ruth Noble of Ruth Noble discusses her involvement with this property. “I was asked by the home owners to paint, decorate and refurbish the property to update the property. The brief for the house was to create something that was comfortable and bright,’’ said Ruth Noble. Interior Designer Ruth Noble has more than 12 years’ experience in the area of Interior Design and Decoration, Ruth was based in London for six of these years. Having qualified as an Interior Designer in 2006; Ms Noble has forged a successful career, engaging at project management level, co-ordinating and completing the interiors of high specification luxury properties at an international level.
A BEAUTY IN DUBLIN 4
She has co-ordinated private residential interior projects from conception stage right through to completion in properties located in the UK and in Europe, namely Kensington Palace Gardens in London, Klosters in Switzerland as well as St.Tropez and Ramatuelle in France. Ruth specialises in designing, specifying and sourcing unique, exceptional, bespoke and quality furniture, lighting, fabric and fittings which align with the style, period, purpose and aspect of each property. In 2016, having established a high level of experience in the Interiors and property market at an international level and having built a unique database of highly regarded and exceptional interior suppliers and specifiers; Ruth returned from London to establish the company Ruth Noble Interiors in Dublin. The objective of the service is to engage with developers, architects and private residential home owners, supporting them and collaborating with them in completing the interiors specification of the property both aesthetically and functionally. Ruth identifies with the requirements of each individual property, she has a creative flair, a keen eye for design and a passion for interiors.
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“Throughout the house, we have made the spaces functional. The house is completely open plan but it doesn’t feel like that. The general flow is good within the house. Functionality was very important with this house,’’ enthused Ms Noble. As to Ruth’s overall thoughts on the project? “The home owners were really pleased with the outcome. They wanted to brighten the house up as it had become very dated. They left the house in my hands and they didn’t return to the house until the work was completed and obviously it was a huge transformation.
CONTACT LIST INTERIOR DESIGN: Ruth Noble, Ruth Noble Interior Design, 33 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 A9K0 01-2444371 www.ruthnobleinteriors.com info@ruthnobleinteriors.com
“I was really pleased with how the house turned out. We used a very neutral palette which allowed us to be a bit more creative with how we brought pops of colour in to the house. The way in which we designed the house is out there without being too out there. We feel like we have updated the house a lot and we’re pleased with the reaction of the clients and how happy they are with the work we produced,’’ concluded Ruth Noble.
DERMOT BANNON
“I PICK my BATTLES.”
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DERMOT BANNON
Renovating
my own home is a lot of
Pressure
Dermot Bannon talks to us
Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Volvo Cars / RTÈ
D
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.”
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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.”
Renovate your home
In conversation with JERRY WILSON of Bespoke Sofa Company by Emer Kelly
B
espoke Sofa Company are Ireland’s leading manufacturer of quality Bespoke Sofas using local Irish Craftsmanship to create this luxury brand.
bespokesofa.ie pride themselves on a steadfast commitment to quality handcrafting sustainably sourced hardwood frames which are structurally guaranteed for 25 years. Some of their staff are fifth generation Navan furniture makers, “it is in their very DNA” says Jerry proud of it’s Irish dimension. Continually striving to offer a flexible and modern approach to a memorable buying experience. Bespoke Sofa encourages visitors to their Showrooms in Dun Laoghaire to bring along any design ideas, photographs, which may help in the selection of the perfect fabric and Sofa for your room. Helping to create a relaxing stylish balance of class and functionality.
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The company is owned by Jerry Wilson. After a brief stint working for Macy’s in the USA, Jerry discovered his passion for designing bespoke furniture. After returning home, he set about offering handmade Irish sofas in the traditional way. Often ahead of the curve in design choices, shapes and fabrics he has proved that after 20 years of manufacturing, it is possible to offer hand-crafted sofas at reasonable prices. When purchasing at Bespoke Sofa, they can manufacture to any size that you require to best suit your room. An extensive fabric selection is available to create that perfect dream sofa or chair for several generations to come. “It is important to purchase comfort first, then style” suggests Jerry and whilst price is always a consideration you certainly get what you pay for when it comes to sofas in particular. “The choice is simple handmade luxury or mass produced. Bargains are a falsehood you get what you pay for.” We’re in business almost 30 years and we’re expanding the business later this year opening a flagship showrooms in Galway in the Autumn. As a company we’re in a very blessed position in that we have 100% stock ownership, this is very unusual in business and is due to being careful in how and where we expand’’ said Jerry. “ I don’t sleep much preferring to create new designs at night so maybe that has something to do with the success of the business! I’ve got some great staff alongside me. We have retained all staff through the recession and now Covid-19 and we would be devastated to break up our team which is like family.
“we’re in a very blessed position” “When I came back to Ireland having worked in America for a number of years “I came up with what is basically an American customer service based idea”. Offering a higher quality sofa service overall to client’s who would rather have exactly what they wanted when it came to them spending their hard earned money on furnishings. To that end I set about learning how frames were made, where fabrics came from etc. so I could become the direct source of high quality custom made sofa’s in 14 days. “A tall order in Ireland but after almost 30 years we do it for clients all over the 32 counties. Of course I had to go as far as setting up our own factory to do it, but we got it done. Now that we have grown we take more like 4 to 6 weeks to meet the demand but it is still so much better then the normal four month wait for standard sofas through outlets. In terms of the future of the business? “We’ve just recently did Ireland’s first virtual online home show with Lorraine Keane. We will probably look to do something like that again in the not too distant future as you have to have a presence within all media/social media sources. We’re obviously focused on expanding the business later in the year and we are very proud of the fact that everything we make is all Irish made,’’ he enthused. “We are fast becoming one of the biggest furniture re upholsterers as we’re doing a lot of re upholstery. We’re covering everything from boats to boardrooms and we’ve also recently launched a full curtain shop in our Dun Laoghaire store headed up by the wonderful Orla Mangan and Vivienne Kenny. They measure clients homes and oversee the manufacture and installation of high-end curtains into people’s homes including automation,’’ concluded Jerry Wilson. Galway will be headed up by a an equally experienced guy when it opens who boasts over 35 years experience in dressing the most modest to high end properties when we open in Sept. We look forward to seeing you all in Dun Laoghaire or Galway soon.
Renovate your home
In conversation with ALAN O’SHEA
A
BS Construction is a family owned construction business based in the heart of Co. Wexford.
At ABS Construction they have a flexible client focused approach which ensures our projects whether small residential or commercial projects are carried out professionally. With more than 30 years’ experience within the construction industry ABS pride themselves on customer satisfaction with an unrivaled aftercare service. Their services include commercial services, residential services, renovation and extensions and plastering works.
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“The company was established in 2017, I come from a Quantity Surveyor background and my two brothers are plasters by trade. It’s a family business and we mainly specialise in renovation and restoration work,’’ said Alan O’Shea of ABS Construction. “Business is very busy and we’re currently working on a renovation project on a house in Waterford where the house originally had an energy rating of G and we are trying to get it up to an a1 energy rating so there are substantial elements going in to this project as we are trying to keep the original aesthethic of the house but it is a nice job to be working on. “We are also working for the Local Authority in Carlow where we are renovating three apartments,’’ added Mr O’Shea. “Going forward we want to move on to bigger projects because we have the capabilities and skill set. We’re in business three years and we want to grow our name. Currently most of our work is word of mouth. Most importantly we always want to do good work and build up good relationships that way,’’ concluded Alan O’Shea.
“ABS Construction make their work sound like A,B & C!”
Renovate your home
FLOGAS
Gaslight
F 34
logas Gaslight propane cylinders are the smart choice whether you are camping, caravanning, boating, barbequing or using patio heaters this summer. The innovative, lightweight Flogas Gaslight cylinder will help you to avoid heavy lifting, and the semi-translucent exterior will ensure that you can keep on eye on your gas level.
Shop online today for Flogas Gaslight Propane cylinders and accompanying products. www.Flogas.ie/shop or www.flogasni.com/shop
• Semi-translucent exterior allowing you to see exactly how much gas is left • Easy to connect
• About half the weight of traditional steel cylinders meaning they are easy to carry and transport • Never rusts
LIGHT IN YOUGHAL
“ I really LOVE my HOME.”
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A guiding LIGHT in
YOUGHAL
In conversation with Saoirse Fitzgerald Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Saoirse Fitzgerald
LIGHT IN YOUGHAL
C
ork native Saoirse Fitzgerald is the envy of many people across the island of Ireland as she lives in one of the most amazing properties that has ever appeared on the pages of this publication; the reason for that is because Ms Fitzgerald lives in the lighthouse keepers cottage in Youghal, County Cork and between the property and the views it is something to behold. Saoirse grew up 15 kilmoetres away from Youghal in a village called Claddagh and had gone to school close to the lighthouse.
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“I was living over in London at the time so getting a mortgage from abroad is fairly tricky. There aren’t really any products available in Irish banks for Irish abroad wanting to buy at home. I had to go with a holiday home mortgage and the deposit you need to pay for that is between 25% to 45%. Renovation work on this project took a total of five months and it was overseen by the Conservation Officer for County Cork, Mona Hallinan.
Youghal Lighthouse was the first lighthouse in the world to be run by female lighthouse keepers and the lighthouse is still operarting and owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.The first potato to be planted in Ireland was done in the garden of the keepers cottage by Sir Walter Raleigh. When Saoirse saw that the keepers cottage was up for sale she was based in London where she was working as a Brand Director for Linkedin before moving home to Cork.
“We took several tonnes of rubble out and as access is tricky everything that was brought in or out of the house had to be done so by crane over the wall! Things you do not think of with places that tend to have a great view, they sometimes have tricky routes of access,’’ added a laughing Saoirse. “The renovation was considered a green renovation as where possible we used sustainable methods ( ie air to water heat system, restored the old windows, upgraded insulation, reclaimed the wooden floors, eco friendly paint, lime plaster for the walls, added heating controls, added underfloor heating, low flush toilet etc).
The keepers cottage was the residence of every lighthouse keeper at Youghal Lighthouse since the 1800’s. ““I saw an article on the Irish Independent when I was aimlessly scrolling on Facebook and that’s how I happened to come upon the house being up for sale and it had a time frame of 30 days to sell and it was going to be done by a blind auction,’’ said Saoirse Fitzgerald.
“I didn’t really have any interest in interiors before doing up my house, I loved going to nice hotels and appreciated nice decor for sure, whereas now I have unearthed a whole new love for interiors and it has opened up a whole other element to my life that I didn’t even know was there. I have even gone on to train as an Interior Designer since the renovation’’ she added.
LIGHT IN YOUGHAL
“They sometimes
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have tricky ROUTES.”
The renovation introduced open-plan living downstairs, a sea-facing bathroom and bathtub, underfloor heating, new electrics and plumbing, insulation throughout, and a 20-foot conservatory complete with hanging chair, and new windows throughout.
world feel throught-out. When I first bought it, it certainly wasn’t a dream home but slowly we have brought the old keepers back to life.
As to Saoirse’s overall thoughts on the house? “From the moment I first set foot in the home, it had a really safe feeling and air to it. It oozes character and has a real old
“Even though the house is a material thing, it brings me so much happiness. I really love my home and buying this house is one of the best things I’ve ever done,’’ concluded Saoirse Fitzgerald.
CONTACT LIST INTERIOR DESIGN: Saoirse Fitzgerald, 083-3521487 sasafitz@gmail.com PAINT: Pat McDonnell Paints, Centre Park Road, The Marina, County Cork - 021-4320200 www.mcdonnellpaints.ie info@mcdonnellpaints.ie SOFA, SNUGGLE CHAIR, DRINKS TABLE & BATHROOM MIRROR: Meubles Furniture Store, 12 Kilkenny Retail & Business Park, Ring Road, Smithsland South, Kilkenny, R95 Y26C 056-7722034 www.meubles.ie SANITARY WARE: Bathshack, Unit D2 Donnybrook Commercial Centre IE, Donnybrook, Co. Cork, T12 H5NH 021-2337346 www.bathshack.com
HEATING SYSTEM & PLUMBING: Aidan O’Rourke - ORME, Kilmore, Clashmore, Co. Waterford 086-3866487 www.orme.ie - aidan@orme.ie
TILES: Tilezone, Knockaun East, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford 058-52843
HOME, GARDEN, DIY & BUILDING SUPPLIES: Cal Flavin Limited, 100 - 101 North Main Street, Youghal Lands, Youghal, Co Cork - 024-92026 www.toplineflavins.ie
Stonebridge Tiles & Timber, Foxhole, Youghal, Co. Cork 024-85567 - 087-2514992 www.stonebridgetiles.com info@stonebridgetiles.com
ELECTRICIANS: James & Ronan Fitzgerald, 087-7563275 HEADBOARDS, CUSHIONS & CHAIRS: Ned O’Connell Furnishings, Seafield Business Centre, Killeagh Road, Co. Cork 024-93106
METAL SHELVES (in snug): Interiosity, Unit 19 St Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Douglas, Co. Cork 021-4898471 - sales@interiosity.ie www.interiorsity.ie SINK, SLEEPER SHELVES & OTHER SALVAGED ITEMS: Macs Warehouse, 749 South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 RWF1 01-6792110 www.macswarehouse.ie info@macswarehouse.ie
PAUL BYROM
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“ Life is an exciting rollercoaster.”
In conversation
PAUL
with
BYROM
Irish Tenor talks to Renovate your Home
Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Webpress
“P
aul Byrom is a man that needs little or no introduction. Having built up quite a successful singing career as one of Ireland’s best known Tenors, Mr Byrom is preparing to release a new album later this year and he very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his career, new album and what the future holds. “I started vocal training to be a boy Soprano at the age of seven and then through that I got cast in my first ever Operatic production at the age of 12 in the National Concert Hall. I was the only child in the opera and I suppose that was the first taste of the professional world and the Operatic scene and I fell in love with it as well as commiting 100% to it,’’ said Paul Byrom.
PAUL BYROM
In terms of what home means to him? “Home is a place of love and security for me. I lived in New York for five years and I loved it but nothing beats home, Dublin and Ireland. You can’t beat popping down to the local pub for a few pints with your mates. All that matters to me is my family; my Mum, my sister and her children and my girlfriend. “As you get older your priorities change, making millions and being world famous is no longer my objective. My objective now is to sing, enjoy it and hopefully people will enjoy listening to me sing and I’ll make a few bob. If I can do that to sustain me being around my family and friends then I have done well and I’ve being a success,’’ imparted a very gracious Mr Byrom. As to the future? “I don’t know what I will be doing by the end of 2020! I would love to get in to presenting in some shape or form but the opportunities are limited in Ireland. Life is an exciting rollercoaster and you never know what the future holds,’’ concluded Paul Byrom.
“ I was the only child in the OPERA.”
44 “When I was 14 I released my first album called ‘The Golden Voice,’ and it just continued from there. I’m 41 now and there have been a lot of highlights throughout my career. I’ve performed to a full house in Radio City Music Hall in New York and then of course performing for President Obama in The White House on his first St Patrick’s Day in office was pretty awesome but they are certainly two stand out moments for me. “Selling out The National Concert Hall as a solo artist was pretty nice too. It’s always nice to sell well in your hometown because much and all as you can have success abroad it is only when you are recognised that you feel some level of self accomplishment,’’ added Mr Byrom. As to what he is currently working on? “I’m just putting the finishing touches to my new album and I’m looking forward to releasing that later this year,’’ enthused Paul. In 2007, Paul became one of the original soloists in the hit show Celtic Thunder. He toured North America and Australia with the group and had six number 1 World Billboard albums. In 2017, the album ‘Thinking of Home,’ reached the top of the iTunes, Amazon, and World Billboard Charts. Mr Byrom’s talent as a singer has taken him across the world and he has performed for dignitaries such as Emperor Akihito of Japan, former Irish Presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.
Renovate your home
In conversation with NOEL NOLAN by Emer Kelly
N
olan Home Improvements are expert loft converters and extension builders. They work exclusively in the domestic market.
This means Nolan Home Improvements can concentrate solely on the loft conversion and extension needs of the homeowner. They offer customers their extremely competitive pricing structures and they have garnered a reputation for the speed of their builds and professional, customer focused approach. Nolan Home Improvements staff can boast a minimum of 20 years’ experience in the loft conversion and home extension industry. The team offer clients an all in one service. They also take care of everything during a loft conversation. Any plumbing, electrics or installation that needs to installed, their fully qualified team are able to handle it. This means they are able to offer clients a quick, pain-free attic conversation or home extension. The speed of Nolan Home Improvements service means they are able to pass on savings to their customers making them one of the most competitively priced loft converters and home extension builders available in the Blessington to South Dublin To Naas Triangle area.
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“I set the company up in 2011 and business is going very well. I’m working in the building industry since I left school. 90% of our work would be word of mouth,’’ said Managing Director of Nolan Home Improvements, Noel Nolan. “We’re very busy with no plans to expand the business as we are happy with where the business is going. I’m working in this industry since I’m 17 years of age and I still enjoy what I do,’’ added Mr Nolan. As the loft conversion specialists Nolan Home Improvements converted lofts for a myriad of different purposes. So often the extra space afforded by an attic is wasted on simple storage when a loft conversion – like those supplied by Nolan Home Improvements – can add a whole extra floor to a home property. The loft conversions they offer customers are fully insulated and professionally built within an agreed upon timeframe. During a loft conversion, the company take care of all aspects of the conversion and the build. Their expert team design your new loft layout and work alongside customers in creating the kind of loft conversion they want, and one that’s perfectly suited to their purpose. A professionally converted attic can add significant value to a property along with adding much needed extra space. The Nolan Home Improvements team are well experienced when it comes to knowledge about extensive, professional house extensions. The team are available from the design stage right up to the last day of the build. They work closely with your architect and engineer to ensure customers a smooth, professional building process.
The company’s customer focused approach means they are always available to advise and update customers on the progress of their build. They are available to build extra rooms from the ground up and extend rooms within a property. Nolan Home Improvements professional team have developed a reputation as professional, competitively priced, tidy reliable workers within the Dublin homeowner community. Their attractive pricing structures for home renovations means a full-scale home extension need not cost an arm and a leg. Nolan Home Improvements is a fully SEAI Registered home extension company. They are able to apply for the home extension grant for their customer and this scheme gives government assistance to those looking to renovate or extend their home. The company are able to advise customers if they qualify for this grant and they take care of all the paperwork for clients.
“Nolan Home Improvements are here to help you!” They are also a fully registered housing adaptation grant contractor. In cases where a person needs to modify their home due to issues with mobility, the company help customers through this process. Nolan Home Improvements also offer advice and assistance and take care of all the paperwork involved. Nolan Home Improvements provides customers with a range of domestic renovation services. They specialise in providing customers with full-scale bathroom renovations. Their expert team are able to design a new modern bathroom that fits in with the aesthetic of your home. Their team are able to advise clients on everything from tiles to fixture placement. Their general building services offer customers a range of renovations services that are perfectly suited to the domestic property. They are bathroom renovation specialists. Their beautiful bathroom renovations turn your old drab bathroom into a spacious eye-catching space. From design to the build’s completion we’re available to guide our customers through the process. Their cost effective bathroom renovations are the perfect choice when revitalising a domestic property. The team are comfortable with all types of bathroom fixtures. Whether your tastes are traditional or ultra-modern, Nolan Home Improvements will be able to design and fit the right bathroom for you. Nolan Home Improvements is available for a range of general building services. These services include; knocking in of walls, window updating/replacing, interior doors replacing, paving, patio building and room extensions. Nolan Home Improvements are also HRI Home Renovation Team Certified, SEAI Certified and Housing Adaption Grant for People with a Disability Certified.
Renovate your home
In conversation with Rob Knight by Emer Kelly
M
id-Knight Electrical Ltd are an electrical contractor company serving Dublin and the surrounding counties for more
than 30 years. They specialise in commercial and domestic installations such as relets/rewires, fuseboard replacement, smoke detectors, heat detector and Carbon Monoxide detector installations as well as vanity lighting inside and outside. “It is a family run business that my Dad set up and we are going from strength to strength. Our current list of clients include, the Local Authority, the Office of Public Works (OPW), and the Irish Defence Forces. We do the electrical maintenance for Fingal County Council as well as for the OPW. We also do plant hire and ground works,’’ said Rob Knight of Mid-Knight Electrical.
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“It was great that I was able to take over running the family business from my Dad, and now there are eight employees working for the company. Of course, there are a lot of ups and downs, but if it was easy to run a business everyone would be doing it,’’ added Mr Knight.
“We have worked on a massive warehouse and hub for DPD Couriers in Santry and we are currently working on two projects which include an attic conversion and house extension, as well as working on a house refurbishment and extension. “We also have designated buildings where we do all of the maintenance on them. Over the next number of months we will be working on a two year project with Fingal County Council where we will be working on empty houses with voids and relets and we will be refurbishing them,’’ concluded Rob Knight.
“Mid-Knight Electrical continue to get it right!”
Renovate your home
by Emer Kelly In conversation with John McCabe
W
ith more than 20 years of industry experience, JMC Paving & Landscaping are immensely proud of their unique ability to
design and install highly functional paving and landscaping solutions for their clients, creating specialised outdoor and covered garden solutions. From new driveways, replacement patios, paths and retaining walls to complete garden redesigns, no job is too big or small for JMC Paving & Landscaping.
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The company’s friendly cheerful approach ensures an efficient, reliable service is provided with minimal disruption to your daily life. JMC Paving & Landscaping always set high standards to make sure their customers receive a finished result that exceeds and delights your expectations. “Business is very busy at the moment. Due to the Covid19 pandemic people were in their gardens a lot more and they are now looking at their garden as an extension of the home more so than anything else,’’ said John McCabe of JMC Paving & Landscaping. When we work on a garden, we like to make it a practical outdoor space that can be an extension of the room inside. Even though the word garden scares some people, you don’t have to be one bit green-fingered to have a nice outdoor space. You don’t need to have any interest in flowers or plants to have a nice garden. “I think people have realised over the last number of months that it is actually quite nice to sit outside in the morning and drink your coffee, and it is also good for the mind and soul to sit in the outdoors and relax,’’ enthused Mr McCabe. “I mainly do one off, residential projects, which I get great enjoyment out of doing because I get to know the client and it makes my job a lot more interesting. All gardens are designed encorporating the clients ideas, with their needs and lifestyle in mind,’’ concluded John McCabe.
“The grass remains green for JMC Paving & Landscaping”
KERRY HIDDLESTON
“ Our HOME is very much a CONVIVIAL space.”
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In conversation with Kerry Hiddleston Words: Emer Kelly Pics: RTÉ Press Office
“ I’m CRAZY abour ART.”
A Marvellous home in
SANDYMOUNT
KERRY HIDDLESTON Originally, Kerry wanted a white box, but then she decided to add some curves for interest, including a curved wall in the living room and a curved stairs, and the builders obliged in every way. She also wanted a wall of glass in the new kitchen and light wherever possible. The house now has a large open-plan, kitchen/dining/ living space and a study on the ground floor, while upstairs there are four bedrooms, one en suite.
A
ccountant turned Interior Designer Kerry Hiddleston lives in a delightful home in Sandymount with her husband Patrick O’Grady and their four young children Will, Vivienne, Harley & James.
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Ms Hiddleston decided to make the transition to interior design whilst on maternity leave and hasn’t looked back. Her focus on understanding the client’s needs and delivering a beautiful and practical space with wow factor. She often works on family homes and as a mother of young children understands the needs of parents to provide spaces that work for all the family and that they can be proud of. Here, Ms Hiddleston talks to this publication about her marvellous family home. “We lived in a flat in Sandymount and Pat saw this. It was very higgledy piggeldy, with lots of little extensions and in a terrible state,’’ explained Kerry Hiddleston. “We bought the house and continued to live in the apartment until baby number two was on the way and then we decided to make the house a home. The house was a 150 years old, but it had no original features - the 1970s hadn’t been kind to it. There was nothing to keep, so we knocked everything except the front wall and a side wall. “The roof was fine and we added the kitchen extension. We’re very lucky, it’s more like a new-build,’’ enthused Ms Hiddleston.
CONTACT LIST INTERIOR DESIGN: Kerry Hiddleston, Hiddleston Interior Design 086-9582195 www.hiddlestoninteriordesign.com kerry.hiddleston@gmail.com KITCHEN UNITS: Robert Mooney Furniture, 6 Druids Court Industrial Estate, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow - A63 FY90 01-2871397 - 086-2546174 www.robertmooneyfurniture.ie info@robertmooneyfurniture.ie
“In terms of the interior of the house, I am crazy about art and there are some things that I will spend money on and there are some things that I won’t spend money on! For instance, I found the green chesterfield sofas on Done Deal and I bought them off a farmer in Meath for little or nothing,’’ revealed a laughing Kerry. “Our hall is dark blue and that is because I bought a really nice seascape that I absoultely adore and I thought that if the hall was blue that it would be interesting to arrive in through the front door to a dark space before moving on to a light filled space and that the dark blue would make the painting really pop. “Similarily the green room is quite dramatic but that colour was picked because green is a relaxing colour and it is a reading room. I also bought another amazing painting that has gorgeous shades of red, green and blue in it and I thought the green would really make that painting stand out. “Our home is very much a convivial space and it is somewhere that you want people to enjoy being in rather than having them thinking that they have to stand on ceremony,’’ she added. As to Kerry’s overall thoughts on her home? “We love our home because it works for us and it functions really well for our family. There is a spare room upstairs that we haven’t done any work on yet but it will be tackled! My favourite space in the house would definitely be the front room because it is a reading room and I love reading, there isn’t a television in there so the kids tend to leave me alone when I’m in there! “I loved renovating the house and we had a really sound builder working with us. The process wasn’t stressful, it was really enjoyable,’’ concluded Kerry Hiddleston.
BUILDER: Daren Mollloy, Spring Construction LTD, Unit 5 Crag Crescent, Clondalkin Business Park, Dublin 22 01-4572525 - 087-9967563 www.springcon.ie - dmolloy@springcon.ie CABINETRY:John Stewart, Cófra Kitchens, 25 Northlink Retail Park, Coes Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth 042-9351599 - 087-2223399 www.cofrakitchens.com - info@cofrakitchens.com
Renovate your home
In conversation with JOE LAVELLE of Podology Ltd. by Emer Kelly
“P
odology is a family run business. We started off with just one style of Pod and have progressively added to the range over the years. We currently have eight beautiful designs to choose from, so there is a style to suit every garden no matter how small or how large your garden is. We install the pods all over Ireland, North and South and can assist people in selecting the Pod that most suits their needs,” said Managing Director Joe Lavelle. The styles of Pods are: The Wheel Bench, The Rotating Seater, The Rotating Lounger, The Oval Pod, The Summerhouse, The Deluxe Summerhouse, The Grande Deluxe and The Grande Deluxe Chic. Five of the designs require a power supply as they have heating and lighting installed. Blue tooth is also standard on the larger models.
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“The Pods are very popular. They allow people to extend the amount of time they spend in their garden comfortably and are used for simply relaxation, entertaining and dining with family and friends and even for study. In more recent times the Pods are being used as a home office by people who were forced to work from home due to Covid – 19. This has opened up a new avenue for Podology, as Companies are seeing the benefits of providing a cost- effective office space for their staff in their own garden, which takes them away from the hectic and noisy atmosphere of the family home. At the weekends and evenings, the Pod can be turned into a chill out space for the family.” Added Mr. Lavelle. Each stylish Pod, is crafted from treated and laminated Norwegian spruce, stainless steel and tinted polycarbonate. The Garden Pods are carefully constructed on site, they come with a 10-year guarantee and best of all don’t require planning permission.
Transforming gardens around Ireland “The true beauty of the Garden pod lies in its flexibility. Unlike a conventional conservatory or sunroom, the garden pod can be fitted in any part of your garden which is ideal for that little sun trap in your garden. Even better, this flexibility means you can take the Pod with you if you move house,” enthused Joe. Because there is no requirement for planning, commercially the Pods have become a viable solution for many companies who have unused space either outdoors or indoors. The Pods are being used as, Marketing Suites, breakout areas, meet and greet areas, training and interviewing areas and for a host of other activities. Hotels, Restaurants and Gastro Pubs are also expressing an interest as the Pods can be used to enable social distancing and have the potential to create an extra stream of revenue. The Pods are ideal for dining, coffee, business meetings, network meetings to name just a few. Many of the Pods can be customised with Audio Visual, Air conditioning, Company Branding etc. Extend your outdoor seating, extends your outdoor season, especially as you have heating. Podology Garden Pods are Architectural by design, Contemporary by nature. With their curved shape they are more aesthetically pleasing to the eye rather than having a big square box in your garden. The foot print of most garden Pods is no larger than a standard patio set therefore they take up very little space in your garden. As to the future of Podology? “Going forward we’re going to continue doing what we’re doing in terms of fitting pods all over the country. We are also working alongside Capital Credit Union where if you want to buy a Podology Garden Pod, Capital Credit Union will provide you with the finance at a very competitive rate. “In the last year, we have added the Oval Pod to the collection and the Grande Deluxe Chic has now been added. For future development keep an eye on our website www.podology.ie as well as on our social media - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Podology is most definitely open for business and we’re busier than ever,” concluded Joe Lavelle. www.podology.ie - info@podology.ie Ph: 01 412 4029 /086 8118928
Renovate your home
In conversation with Karina Szmurlo by Emer Kelly
“W
K Composites is based in Slane, County Meath. They specialise in the design and production of custom fibreglass products.
The professional team has 15 years of comprehensive experience in the field of composites. WK Composites activity includes the design and production of plugs, moulds and the production of composite elements. They also have a relationship with a company that supports CNC, with which WK Composites can take the technical drawing to the finished part. Their products ensure full traceability of all materials and components used.
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They are currently the main GRP supplier for international minibus conversions EVM and EVM Direct. The company’s mission is to manufacture fibreglass products with highest care for quality and safety of use. WK Composites also strive to maintain the best standards cooperation with clients and contractors. Their team is constantly evolving, both in terms of new solutions and laminate production technology to meet the needs of the market and meet the expectations for each individual customer. The production of fibreglass elements is their passion. You can make virtually anything from laminate due to its unusual properties. A great example of using these possibilities is the manufacture of of elements such as hulls and decks of sailing boats and motors, yachts, windmills with current turbines, GRP vehicle body elements, sanitary fittings, swimming pools, cabins, tanks, buildings, window sills and exterior decorative elements.
The story of WK Composites The benefits of GRP materials include; resistance to UV radiation, no corrosion reaction, water resistance, no oxidizing effect, resistance to most chemicals, high resistance to mechanical damage, 75% lighter than steel equivalants, easy to repair if any damage occurs, high impact resistance and design flexability. “Since 2017 we are running a family business, a composites company based in Grangegeeth, Slane, Co.Meath. Our company operates under the name of WK Composites Ltd our small team have over 15 years of experience working in the industry,’’ said Karina Szmurlo of WK Composites. We have experience in tooling plugs and moulds and parts production.Our knowledge of processes and materials has grown over many years in the composites industry. Our services include plug and mould design and manufacture as well as composite part production. “Our products are designed with the help of modern technology used all over the world. Our products are guaranteed to be top quality. We do our best to satisfy our clients,’’ added Ms Szmurlo. Some of our products include shower trays, leakproof shower pods, waterproof wall panels, baths, sinks and disability aids. “When it comes to motorsport, bus and coach, our offer includes the production of parts for the automotive sector - Motorsport, bus and Coach. WK Composites manufactures fibreglass auto panels, GRP body panels and fibreglass body kits to any specification and tolerance,’’ she enthused. We can reproduce parts of passenger cars, vans and racing cars to the exact required tolerances and specifications. From new models to replacement GRP body panels for existing cars. “The GRP composites we use make it possible to produce fibreglass car panels, GRP body panels and fibreglass body kits according to your budget. Due to more than 15 years of experience in the field of production of components from GRP composites, we have extensive knowledge and experience, thanks to which we provide our clients with our high-quality services,” concluded Karina Szmurlo.
MODERN IN KINSALE
A SKINNY
GEM in the HEART of
Kinsale
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BEFORE
Extending and refurbishing by Conneely Wessels Architects Words: Emer Kelly Pics: Lizette Conneely and Irish Examiner
“The house is narrow with innovative design.�
MODERN IN KINSALE
T
his completed project was an extension and refurbishment of an existing terraced property located in the heart of Kinsale by Lizette Conneely of Conneely Wessels Architects (CWA) in Cork. The project was complicated by the tightness of the site, issues of overlooking, right of light and its location within an architectural conservation area. The design seeks to maximise space and floor plate with the narrow terrace width of 3m by placing the stairs to the rear as a separate, distinct element. The stair also functions as a light-well, introducing daylight deep into the existing plan. The final proposals were informed by a series of daylight and shadow studies to ensure that the proposed extension didn’t have any detrimental impact on the adjoining houses and gardens. The house, at only three metres wide, makes it one of the narrowest houses they have worked on and that is why it is nicknamed the ‘Skinny House.’
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Conneely Wessels Architects is an architectural practice based in Kinsale, County Cork. Their practice aims to provide a responsive, imaginative and professional service, tailored to the aspirations of each of their clients, and to deliver quality results regardless of commission size or type as well as seeking to develop sustainable designs which fulfil the expectations of building users, address their physical and cultural context and allow effective solutions for procurement and construction. Their work includes all types of planning, design and their range of services extends from acting as consultants, providing strategic advice on development, regeneration and conservation, to providing full architectural services for building
“Conneely Wessels Architects blew us AWAY.”
projects from inception to completion. They advise and enable clients at various stage of their projects from initial project definition and feasibility through to general estate and facilities management. They also offer clients the cost benefits, ease of management and synergies of a single point of contact for all construction services from project inception through to completion. Here, Ms Conneely discusses the project with us. “Our clients purchased this property with the idea of having a home in Kinsale, where they will eventually retire. The property was in need of renovation and they approached Conneely Wessels Architects (CWA) to re-imagine the possibilities and find innovative ideas to maximise the small narrow footprint of their property,’’ said Lizette Conneely. “The property is located in the heart of Kinsale and in an Architectural Historic Area. This house is also located in the middle of three parts of an originally, substantial historic home. The original footprint was already small and only 44sqm. The brief from the clients was to maximise the footprint, daylight and views from this property and re-imagine the possibilities of developing this property into a modern home. “The design solution was to build a new staircase to the rear of the property. This free-ed up the original footprint and added an additional 14sqm to the overall footprint. The drum-shaped staircase maximised daylight to the neighbouring properties, brought daylight deep into the existing footprint and also formed a feature for the façade design, to the rear of this historical property. The house is called the ‘Skinny House’ because the house is very narrow, but with innovative design, Conneely Wessels Architects was still able to accommodate two bedrooms, a wet room style bathroom, a utility room, a separate WC and a light-filled open plan kitchen/living/dining space, that is located on the top floor to maximise the views.
MODERN IN KINSALE “Clever storage design is paramount in smaller scale properties. CWA maximised this by providing floor to ceiling cupboards on the landing of the stairs (sometimes a lost opportunity to use this space), hidden storage under bay-window seating and externally, by sinking the oil tank under the decking to the rear of the property. Both bedrooms are also fitted with floor to ceiling cupboards,’’ continued Ms Conneely. As to whether or not there were any delays throughout this project? “We were delighted that everything during the construction period went smoothly’’ she enthused. In terms of Ms Conneely’s thoughts on this overall project? “We are delighted with the outcome of the design and how innovative thinking and clever design can have a positive impact on property value. The key to unlocking the potential of small spaces is by engaging an experienced architect that can re-imagine the possibilities of each property and add value with innovative design,’’ concluded Lizette Conneely. “We bought this tall narrow skinny house which was dull, dark with no space, because the old stairs fills up most of the inside space. Conneely Wessels Architects blew us away with their design and modern ideas,’’ added the homeowner.
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“They designed the stairs in a new semi-circular dome extension out the back, which didn’t interfere with the neighbours as the house was 1/3 part of an old Victorian house. They utilised every spare bit of space with useful storage space. “They even stored the oil tank under the decking. Lizettes’ ideas to brighten up the house while still preserving our privacy was amazing, her inspiring ideas with regards to the colour scheme, blew us away. I would highly recommend them to anyone that needs inspiration,’’ concluded the homeowner.
CONTACT LIST ARCHITECT: Lizette Conneely, Conneely Wessels Architects, Second Floor Studio, 7 Pearse Street, Kinsale, County Cork - 021-4709386 www.cwarchitects.ie info@cwarchitects.ie
LIGHTING: Lightplan, Kinsale Road Industrial Estate, Unit 5 Kinsale Road, County Cork, T12 X5CD 021-4971110 www.lightplan.ie sales.cl@medlocks.ie
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Mark Salter, Mark Salter Engineering 087-7951730
KITCHEN: Hannon Kitchens, Unit 5 Gleann Ailinn, Ballygarvan Village, County Cork 021-4888807
CONTRACTOR: Mullane Builders Ltd, Bweeng, Mallow, County Cork 021- 7333197 - 086- 8232246 www.mullanebuilders.ie info@mullanebuilders.ie
EXTERNAL DECKING: Freefoam, www.freefoam.ie
TILES: Kinsale Tile & Furniture Store, Guardwell, Sleveen, Kinsale, County Cork 021-4772966 www.kinsaletiles.com EXTERNAL RENDER: Sto, www.sto.co.uk WINDOWS: Munster Joinery, Ballydesmond, County Cork, P51 PD71 - 064-7751151 www.munsterjoinery.ie info@munsterjoinery.ie
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