Series 13 – Four new episodes air throughout January starting on RTÉ One on Sunday January 8th
Tullamore
Conor and Amy are a young couple who have made the decision to put down roots together by renovating an old farmhouse in the heartland of Tullamore. The old dwelling has a special significance for the couple as it was where Conor’s father grew up and was the homestead of his paternal grandmother and family for many years.
The house was effectively derelict for decades and is in need of a full overhaul. Conor who works for the Irish Army as a training officer, asked his friend Ronan from White Construction to undertake the big job. Their budget is very tight, to renovate the old farm dwelling and incorporate a contemporary extension to the side of the house is going to cost a total of €325,000. Due to the deep rooted family connection associated with the farmhouse, Conor insisted that the original traditional building keep its charming layout but be totally upgraded and that the extension compliment the old farmhouse façade.
Throughout the build the couple encountered a lot of stress and unforeseen problems, Covid lockdowns and then Conor being called away to serve in Kosovo for six months during construction. It was Amy, who is originally from Cork, who had to take on the entire project management of the build while Conor was abroad. While Dermot was on board to support and steer Amy, he encountered the added difficulty of the couple having two different styles. Conor wanting a cosy home and Amy wanting a modern contemporary abode, navigating through compromises between the two was no easy feat! However, the project resulted in a spectacular build with two extremely satisfied clients.