Room to Improve (v2)

the_pen_turner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102915#Comment_123102915

yes but was it divided up into 4 indevidual units. regs are diferent for one dwelling v seperate units. hence the little porches

Deeec

I liked tonight's episode. The flats looked comfortable and I'm sure it will be a valuable service for families.

I always feel a little bit sad though when a beautiful old house like tonights house is broken up into flats or offices. We lose history and ruin these houses forever. Tonight's house would have made a beautiful family home.

However I'm glad though it will be put to good use

HeidiHeidi

Having grown up in a similar sort of house in that broad area (also partly divided up into flats), I can assure you that they make for wildly impractical family homes!! And also very expensive to renovate from practically derelict to modern comfort standards. It's a small footprint, with rooms spread over 4 floors, not a lot of families these days want to live with that many stairs!

They were built in the time of Upstairs Downstairs (for anyone old enough to remember!), and servants to do all the running.

I think they did a great job renovating and preserving all the beautiful features of the house (and there were a lot of them!) - I wouldn't like to think of what that would have cost if you were a private client paying going rates.

4 apartments is a great result, and the bones of the house are still there if anyone mad enough to want to restore it to one unit ever comes along!

balanced24

I think some rain from storm hermonia got in my eye

Zardoz

A 1.6m initial budget, and over 2m estimated spend on a 300 square metre house.

I nearly spat out my tea when I heard the figures.

I have a 200 square metre Victorian house that needed serious renovation around 5 years ago, more than Tranquility house.

Did I spend 1.6m, did I what.

Absolute insanity.

Underfloor heating in a Victorian house, seems bizarre.

Jeff2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103048#Comment_123103048

I think for the most part it was restored to original. Ceilings fire place and so on as some places were not reaching the ceiling.

RTE must have known before this show that it could be done and what donations were and people willing to work free came in.

They had the guy on RTE shows a few times before to promote this.

The charity people came across as people that expect too much.

I want different kitchens in each. Feck off when you only said €250 to spend.

I want this in the office...…. Well feck off.

GAAcailin

I live close to it and the parking on the road is not great at all; no off street parking and a school a few doors up. Can imagine tired parents arriving there late at night from Crumlin (or one of the other hospitals) and not being able to find a space nearby; it’s all paid parking too so not sure how they will manage that.

Enjoyed the episode tho; have to admire Julian’s spirit.

Last episode next week

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103074#Comment_123103074

I think well done for restoring a magnificent house.

However I've a snag list 😂

Guts of 3 million spend....could easily have bought a few properties for that....1 or 2 close to each hospital!

4 apartments so in theory 4 cars....where do they park? No driveway didn't see any mention of a back lane access....if it's "on road" parking your neighbours are going to love you!

Wheelchair accessibility? Lesser extent pram accessibility??

This thread has been murder over toddlers and the 2 kitchen steps last week....I'm sure young kids will be in this house too and there's steps everywhere.

Delighted a beautiful house got restored and fair play to everyone who helped, but there's much better value out there that would be more fit for purpose than that house.

the_pen_turner

750k for each apartment seems nuts.

That CEO lady or whatever she is seems like a right wagon.

The yellow on the plasterwork on front of the house looked sick against the red brick. Should have gone for white.

The fire proof porch looked more out of place than the old one.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102899#Comment_123102899

I don’t think he intended to be loose with other peoples money choosing the house - judging by the look of him I’d say he wanted to give the CF people a taste of glam and fab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103185#Comment_123103185

Seems cheap for that neighbourhood

the_pen_turner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103207#Comment_123103207

is it for a 1 bed.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103226#Comment_123103226

Well for a 1 bed being built by an NGO 😂

Now that I think of it though, the building did look in reasonable condition structurally so 750 for a fitted kitchen, bathroom and window refurb is steep

thereiver

All the work was done for free by builders and painters he raised money for materials one other costs those 3 units will be available for patients families to stay in. The kids will be in hospital parents will stay there . I see no point in having different kitchens the work was free .were there materials donated . You can catch a bus from the house to 2 hospitals . The budget seems high to me . they had to put in new heating insulation a new sprinkler system .

event

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102920#Comment_123102920

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102942#Comment_123102942

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102951#Comment_123102951

Jaysus lads, lets home ye, your family or friends never have to use one of these houses or one from any other charity.

FrancieBrady

Loved a lot of it. Particularly the preserving of the moulding/ceiling roses solution.

Didn’t like the fire porch solution at all.

A great facility for people who need it. Suspect the figures were again for dramatic effect as was the spat with the interior designer.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103491#Comment_123103491

You can be sympathetic to a project but still call out poor use of funding.

I think it's a lovely idea but I do see issues with it and I think there would be more suitable properties for that spend.

It's supposed to be for families but if you'd young children all those steps dragging a buggy with you?

All the furniture was light coloured and fabric....not very practical with families. A nice reclining leather suite that can be wiped down would be much more practical.

An outdoor play area /patio would also be beneficial.

Easy and safe parking.

Wheelchair accessibility

Not one of the apartments looked like they were equipped for special needs (hand rails, shower seats, rails around the toilet etc)

These are the very basics I would expect from a respite accomodation. Especially one that cost 3 million

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103491#Comment_123103491

Ah here, a multi million euro Victorian property in Rathgar for temporary respite accommodation!? I fully admire the ambition to deliver it and all the contributors but it's hard not to imagine that there's better bang for the buck to be had elsewhere. It's not simply a case of tugging at heartstrings.

But good luck to them. I'm not out there doing anything like this for anyone.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103248#Comment_123103248

Why were they banging on about separate bathrooms to avoid cross contamination if it's only for the parents?

Doesn't seem like good value for money at all. I can't believe that a charity spent 1.25 million up front, half of it borrowed, without having a vague idea of what it was going to take to finish the project.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103555#Comment_123103555

But good luck to them

Really doesn't sound like you wish them luck to be honest.

Is this charity a slush fund?

This house is an outrageous use of raised funds. To my mind anyway.

If you don't think it's a good use of money, fine, but there's no call for that sort of nastiness, it's a charity for sick children and their families FFS.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103645#Comment_123103645

I'm willing to bet that there was nothing vague about the project at any point whatsoever.

An awful lot of that will have been hammed up for the cameras.

That will have been a collaborative effort right from the first time the idea popped into Julian Benson's head. Yes, they may have had to fundraise along the way (clearly they did) - but when JB said that his total - "TOTAL, that's EVERYTHING" - budget was €250,000, I knew we were being had.

But fair dues to him, he pulled it off in the end. More luck to them, and I hope lots of families get comfort and use from it.

Fletwick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102942#Comment_123102942

Wow…

Fletwick

Much respect to Julian. A regular in Borzas of Sandymount in the past. Great guy.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103645#Comment_123103645

Why were they banging on about separate bathrooms to avoid cross contamination if it's only for the parents?

They very clearly said - repeatedly - that it was for patients and their families. Why would each unit need two bedrooms if only for a parent to crash in?

Besides, if you have one child with CF, there's a 1 in 4 chance that your next child does also, so if you're bringing the patient's sibling with you, you have to prepare for that scenario too.

event

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103522#Comment_123103522

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103555#Comment_123103555

In Dublin?

Where do you find such a site please

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103747#Comment_123103747

You don't find a site. You find three or four existing apartments, ground floor or with lift access.

Why reinvent the wheel?

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103747#Comment_123103747

For starters I'd pick an area that you get more bang for your buck!

I think the likes of clondalkin (the monastery end) would be ideal.

You are just off the N7 for anyone coming from Kerry etc just off M50 for anyone coming from Wexford etc so the south pretty much covered, then coming in from Galway you can come in via Lucan etc.

You would be close to tallaght and crumlin hospital, the 13 brings you to Temple Street and the mater…it also goes past james' and the eventual children's hospital. It's a quick spin on m50 to blanch hospital and I think the luas goes past Vincent's(nope different hospital but you get the idea ) too.…so Beaumont is the only one you'd have a bit of a trek to.

I'd then look for a detached house or end of road semi-d that have a big enough driveway for at least 2 cars and with gardens big enough to take an extension.

There are plenty of decent sized properties that would lend themselves to this project just not a 3 storey period house that are known money pits!

event

Have ye ever heard the phrase "hurling from the ditch"

GAAcailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123104836#Comment_123104836

Luas doesn't go near Vincent's Hospital.

Agree it was a lot of money but think he wanted an own door property, rather than 4 faceless apartments. Wonder was the furniture rented for the show, thought it was strange a giant L shaped pale coloured couch right up against the kitchen units; could see it being manky very soon especially being so close to the cooking area.