Room to Improve (v2)

appledrop

The windows on outside look awful.

harr

Definitely not the worst he has done and family are happy and it meets their needs and did well in the budget considering how much costs have gone up .. it’s definitely a lot of house in Dublin for 400,000 ..

It probably helped that she took control of some of financial send

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665550#Comment_118665550

It's a TV show. That's all. She's telling her story, how it was along the way when they were renting 2.5 hours away from kids schools. It wasn't easy as it all happened during Covid too. Her son is severely autistic.... not sure if you appreciate what that is like, my sister has 2 autistic kids so I've seen it first hand. Nobody is trying to make you feel bad by making these programmes or having these people on them. Half the country makes those commutes these days, and come home, and minds kids. Do we stop making these programmes or "cancel" the people on them because we don't like what they say? Its a fact of life that a lot of people will have better lives than a lot of us. It shouldn't stop us enjoying programmes like this, if it does just watch something else.

They seemed like a lovely family, I'm delighted that they're happy with the house, personally I probably would have gone with something different, loved the snug upstairs . I felt we got a very quick glance at the end result, hard to make it all out, the builder was lovely and they were were an easy going couple, enjoyable episode.

CH3OH

Think the builder took the price increase in the materials on the chin for the publicity.

I can't believe that there wouldn't be some clause in the contract to cover increased cost of materials.

It was a nice job well done by the builder

appledrop

Sweet Maggie I totally understand how hard it is for families who have children with autism that's why her attitude annoyed me.

There are families living in homeless accommodation who have children with autism+ have long commute to their schools often on public transport because they don't want to change their schools as they don't know where they will end up.

Her commute will be short lived.

I get it's a TV Programme + they edit it but she didn't come across well in that segment complaining about the commute in rent free when many families are living in very difficult circumstances.

JustJoe7240

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665675#Comment_118665675

What's the attitude you're referring to?

I also fail to see what relevance the second paragraph has to anything? As you suggesting she shouldn't share her story as there's someone in a worse position?

chooey

Sorry, bit of a random question. Would any of you know what bathroom shop she was in?

Maryanne40

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665675#Comment_118665675

She's just telling her story. I didn't see it as moaning...she simply said she was tired. Totally understandable in the circumstances. She certainly wasn't saying her life was awful compared to anyone else's. Why would that annoy you?

appledrop

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665719#Comment_118665719

Of course it's their story but I'd have a lot more time for them if they said 'God this is hard aren't we very lucky that we don't have to do this all the time?

I know how lucky I am to own my home in current climate and thought everyone else in same boat would appreciate that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665675#Comment_118665675

its a reality TV programme. Maybe the production team should have warned her there would be people offended by her getting a house from friends to stay in while their own was renovated?? If these programmes were to think of every single scenario or person they might offend they would never be made!

I am just glad to see this family getting a break, getting a free house while their own was built, getting their dream home especially for their son. Severe autism is a cross for life for the parents, right into their old age. Their son will probably never live independently. They will always need respite care if they even want a weekend away. They will provide care for him forever. I wish them every success and happiness.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665597#Comment_118665597

It's the same on every renovation show.

95% of the show is all about the drama then the final 5% is a quick flash into each room.

The exterior wouldn't be for me but the interior is lovely.

May they have many happy years there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665787#Comment_118665787

it would! It was like this way back when Room to Improve started and I'd love if they went back to that too.....fixing up a room or an extension.

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665550#Comment_118665550

Lucky?

How do you know her circumstances that you can call her lucky?

Jinglejangle69

I see the cancel and woke culture has now crept in to an easy watching house programme.

Just cancel TV altogether.

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665735#Comment_118665735

It was Tilestyle in Ballymount, D24, its a huge showroom of everything tiles and bathroom. The stuff in there is top end and expensive enough (I saw a 12k euro stone bath in there for example) but every October they have a 30-40% off sale across a lot of their ranges.

https://tilestyle.ie/?gclid=CjwKCAiA6seQBhAfEiwAvPqu1zqrg2xdFQcgUqvvTndhkmOEd6GQ1hccSO--pVUOe8-PMNaa6-pJLBoCtwMQAvD_BwE

Deeec

I felt tonights show was better than the houses shown in the last 2 series of room to improve- the couple got a whole house built from scratch for c€400K - a good price given current construction costs.

I hated the outside of the house and hated the side entrance ( they will regret the side front door down the line). The inside though worked out well and was tastefully done.

Overall I think they probably did get value for money.

chooey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665840#Comment_118665840

Thanks for that!

Nice layout inside, not a fan from the outside. The windows so far apart really stick out (in a bad way) from the outside, don’t really fit in with their surrounds. I liked the kitchen, but I do wonder how it works on a day that isn’t filled with sunshine?

Nice family, tough enough time too with construction closing and all the delays. Did well to keep costs down with the help of the QS and contractor, you’d probably be looking at at least 50k extra if they hadn’t have started pre-construction lockdown.

DebDynamite

As if you wouldn’t be tired and stressed out having to do a 3 hour commute in the morning with 3 boys, one of whom is autistic, and bring them to their various schools, while at the same time doing a self-build which just happens to to be filmed for TV during a pandemic, with costs rising all the time. Give it a rest, ffs!

As an aside, how did they manage to build a massive house on a €400k budget. That seems very cheap, no?

barneygumble99

How big was the house in sq m??? Did they mention what type of heating system they had?? BER rating etc. that’s the kinda things I like to see.

I think a house like that would be well suited to a large corner window upstairs to make the most of the sun/light.

tabby aspreme

What type of kitchen doors did they fit in the end, I switched channels when he was showing them the stained plywood they didn't like, for the second time.

houseyhouse

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118666249#Comment_118666249

The website for the show usually has a list of suppliers

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118666249#Comment_118666249

In the end they went for black stained wood ( think it was plywood). It looked ok in fairness but not sure how practical it would be longterm.

I think Dermot always does bad designs for kitchens - he certainly isnt a cook. Some of his kitchens arent practical at all for heavy use - wood countertops and bad layouts etc. I would imagine his kitchens get worn out very quickly.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118666178#Comment_118666178

They showed "coiled piping" before they filled the ground with concrete.....that's usually underfloor heating?

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665804#Comment_118665804

Home Rescue is good for this.

Roisin irritates me abit but as an architect she is very good, she does seem to listen to her clients.

Most stuff comes from Ikea who do sponsor the show so is affordable.

Peter seems on the ball and able to turn his hand to anything she suggests.

frash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118665840#Comment_118665840

They were also in DPL on Kill Ave in Dun Laoghaire

Sleepy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118667132#Comment_118667132

Home Rescue could be great but they spend far too much focus on how great the (usually hoarder) client is for throwing out some of their crap (or on their sob-story) and not near enough focus on the design and build. I've also noticed a severe lack of storage in a lot of the end results: the houses look great because they've just thrown out half their stuff, but they no longer have anywhere obvious to keep the kids bikes / the bins / the lawnmower etc.

gmisk

Glad they got the house they needed.

The front and the black internal windows and stairs etc wouldn't work for me personally.

I liked the interiors in general, not sure about the kitchen (the thing over the kitchen staining thing felt a bit silly...they wanted some drama for the show...)

They got serious bang for their buck! Seems like builder probably lost a fair whack on it.

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118669015#Comment_118669015

Agree - Home rescue is about decluttering and less about design . Roisins designs/plans are awful in my opinion ( admittedly though the last series the designs did improve). Roisins pushes her taste on people - tacky, cheap and off the wall. The rooms only look good because they were such a mess before and the owners are clueless re interior design. Most of the time the rooms dont even look finished.