Room to Improve, RTÉ One, Sunday, March 4th at 9.30pm
IT manager Christine has bought herself a red brick terraced house in Clontarf, North Dublin. Christine has big plans for the place but as Dermot quickly discovers, they’re far bigger than her €130K budget will allow. And despite his best efforts, Dermot is unable to convince Christine to modify her wish list.
Christine’s determination to achieve her glamorous dream of interior designs straight out of the pages of a magazine is undaunted by Dermot’s skepticism, QS Lisa’s exasperation and the discovery of a host of structural problems, from crumbling walls to woodworm infestation.
With work on site delayed and a host of crucial decisions pending, even the simplest design choices spiral into confusion – a situation not helped by Dermot as he arranges the construction of sample brick walls without taking his client’s choice into consideration.
Will the architect ever convince his client to see reason, or will Christine’s vision remain what Dermot always suspected it was: a pipe dream?
Series Overview
ROOM TO IMPROVE (Series 11)
The nation’s favourite architect is back with a brand new series of Room To Improve. Backed up (and occasionally backed down) by the sobering influence and steely-eyed determination of no-nonsense QS Lisa O’Brien, Dermot sets out to create dream homes for a diverse range of clients in locations from the Dublin suburbs to the wilds of Donegal.
At a farmhouse in rural Tipperary, Dermot attempts to convince his clients – Cork-born Katie and local dairy farmer Padraig – to remove an internal wall and embrace the concept of open plan living, but he and Katie can’t seem to agree on anything.
At a 1960s ‘Semi D’ in Stillorgan, Dermot’s vision of a million euro ‘Malibu style’ house for Rory and Lorna from the west of Ireland descends into an ongoing battle over the style and position of the front door.
How will the urbane architect fare as he accepts a challenge from singer Daniel O’Donnell and his wife Majella to reconfigure their beloved home in Kincasslagh, west Donegal? Daniel pretends he couldn’t care less but, determined to achieve her ideal home, Majella proves more than a match for Dermot.
Time is not on Dermot’s side as he attempts to complete the unfinished renovation of a 1950s house in Killester, for Cliona, Micheal and their new baby.
In Fermoy, Dermot attempts a challenging combination of old and new for his clients Dave and Susie as he merges a high-end, luxurious extension complete with swim spa, gym and sauna with the 170-year-old mansion that Susie fell in love with as a teenager.
At the seaside village of Portrane in North Dublin, Dermot creates a workable home for three generations of the one family under the watchful, budget-conscious eyes of two sisters.
In Clontarf, Christine wants to bring New York style straight from the pages of a magazine to her traditional red brick terraced house. Dermot attempts to reconcile his client’s long wish list with a limited budget but QS Lisa suspects Christine’s dream may never be a reality.
There will be high expectations to meet, dreams to conjure, builders to placate, budgets to massage, clients to calm and visions to sell, as one single-minded architect comes face-to-face with seven of his most demanding builds yet.
Seven designs for life, but you know what they say about the best laid plans!