Room to Improve, Episode 4 of 7, RTÉ One, Sunday, February 19th at 9.30pm
Healthcare trainer Hannah, candle store owner James and their twin sons are hoping to upgrade and extend the 1960s house where Hannah grew up in Sutton.
But with so many family memories tied up in the place, their architect will have to tread very carefully.
To give the couple the ‘wow factor’ they’ve asked for, Dermot designs a large L-shaped extension at the rear of the house with a soaring mezzanine level but, even before the plan goes out to tender, QS Lisa and the site engineer Keith realize that Dermot’s ‘piece of magic’ will add 20 grand to the €200,000 budget.
Determined to retain the feature, Dermot is forced to scale back his designs, but it’s the first of many compromises…
As he struggles to justify the complex layout and multiple levels of the new terrace, further confusion ensues as Dermot’s clients change the design of a window seat, clear panels are ordered instead of the frosted privacy glass they’ve stipulated, and the width of the new extension leaves no side access for the twin’s double buggy.
As whole sections of his initial vision fall by the wayside, Dermot is determined to win at least one design battle.
Can he bring this 1960s house into the 21st century and still maintain a precious family legacy for its new owners?
Watch this episode of Room to Improve on Sunday 19th February 9.30pm on RTÉ One.