As a matter of interest, if this was her parents house why did they move out?
You think this woman lied on national television about her mother so Dermot wouldnt use the space for something else?
I dont think they said the mother was in bad health. Her father is and when he dies, her mother may want to live with them. Nothing got to do with health on the mothers side, but perhaps loneliness or peace of mind. Maybe the mother suffers from depression and she is worried about her being on her own. This way she would live with one of her daughters and be beside the other.
I get that the regular posters in here like to think of themselves as experts in building, architecture and planning when they probably couldnt build a Lego set but I think a post like that is in very poor taste tbh
Thanks for that. I figured someone would know or find the area.
The respondent got an architects opinion, then just made onservations. Maybe the architect told them it was pointless to object.
A precedent has been set now for others to do this in the immediate area.
I would do something like this, but perhaps keep the area open, car port style. The comments on how it looks don't dispell from what it did for /adds to the living space. Outside is not that important to the utility value of the interior.
Its big money but its literally why "location, location, location" is so important.
They know what they are getting, and essentially the full "service history" of the house.
They loved the location, for practical purposes, there's a massive "useable" green area in the middle of the eestate (these are damn near impossible to find in newer and evey older estates) - they had plenty family links and I suppose most importantly for them - they could afford it.
Why do they need to be practical?
They can afford it and it's what they want.
Everyone spends their money the way they see fit.
For example, at one point my brother's car loan was more than my mortgage...to me that was crazy, but he does alot of driving and wanted comfort, he also wanted that particular brand....he could afford it....while I was rattling around in my lil fiesta 😂 our priorities were different, but we'd still end up in the same destination at the same time.(once speed limits were kept)
I know but you need to be practical about the emotional connection. The new building bears zero resemblance to their old home anyway.
If they bought a house in similar condition requiring upgrading but on a corner site the options and ultimately their levels of comfort and luxury would be so much better.
Nope, he mentioned starting work as a messenger boy so he may well have left school early. If he left school at 17 in 82, he'd still be in his late fifties now.
Have you the eircode by any chance?
Surgeons don't deal with red herrings. This lady was very capable of communicating her needs to Bannon without playing games.
Yes but it wouldn't have the emotional connection.
The house also looked like it hadn't been touched in years. So just general upgrading would cost a pretty penny.
I though he mentioned working in the 1980's so in his 60's?
Wife graduated from UCD in 93 so she is prob 53-54.
Husband looks late fifties.
Only one observation from the neighbour next door it seems;
Am I going nuts 800k is what this build cost 800k twice what the original house is worth, honestly can anyone justify that cost for what was given in return, absolutely mental money mental.
Difficult to age them,her mother seemed quite young, anyone know their age approximately?
They seemed quite old to have a young child. I'd say they are partly thinking of themselves in future years as much as anything.
But I can't understand why they didn't buy a house close by with a slightly bigger garden, maybe a corner site.
For the same money they would have a pretty decent one bed apartment with a separate front door, along with everything else on their wishlist and more.
That is true, but it does not alter the fact that about a dozen different people on this thread saw fit to comment they thought the outside front extension is Vile, and wonder how planning is granted to buildings that change the aesthetics of an area so much.
Has anyone ever seen a front extension that is uglier and more out of keeping with its neighbours? Photos please.
Well, they didn't object at planning stage in a way that stopped it or convinced the planning authorities and I haven't heard any objection since. Have you?
In the absence of all that we have to assume that they are at least ok with it. Might not like it, but are happy to live and let live.
The planners we can absolutely say are happy as they passed it.
And we have to assume the clients are ok with it too.
Its not a red herring - its a den and office for now but could be used as a bedroom if ever needed.
Most new builds ( in country areas anyway) have similar - a room downstairs thats used as an office or playroom for now but could always be a bedroom down the line. It make sense to future proof a house.
How do you know the neighbours are happy, did you interview them? As others like Heroditus and Xander10 have said above, they would be very unhappy or bulling if that was built next to them.
And when everyone, or the vast majority of people, do not like something, it is not great architecture.
As KevRossi said, "just don't get how they got permission for the front bit. It can set a sort of precedent regarding planning."
Yes, I am amazed it got through planning too.
Yes. It's the room after the bike shed.
Yes, but neighbours happy, planners happy, client happy.
What are you gonna do, call around and tear it down?
It's ok not to like something Francis. That's art and architecture for you since the dawn of time.
Agree with you all above, and others who have posted that what an eyesore the front extension is, even photographed from the most sympathetic angle (ie to the right - it would look even worse from the left). I wouldn't fancy that ugly front extension next door to me either. The proportion and positioning of the window, the form, the roof, the material on the lower front: it is all wrong and out of place. OMG.
I just hope her sister never moves too, who would like to live next door almost in the shadow of that front extension?
I may have missed it but is there a downstairs bathroom in the house?
I'm starting to think the mother's room is a red herring. It's a sitting room and home office. End of. As someone said earlier, the mother looked in fine health. Doubt she's going to need that room for quite a long time. I think they might have used the mother coming to stay to stop Dermot from using the space for something else in his design.
If neighbours, planners and most importantly the clients are happy, so be it.
Not my bag as a frontage but then the interior is.. Met the client brief and was well executed as a living space that can change with the clients needs.
Bannon's Fees / the Q.S. fees ( I think these were paid by the TV programme but a "not Room to Improve" client would have had to pay them )
My understanding is that you have to pay for Dermot's services - he would be unlikely to take on a run of the mill domestic extension under normal (non-TV) circumstances, so this is how you get him.
Planners are not infallible, they sometimes make a mistake or make a wrong decision, for whatever reasons.
No surprise every single one of loads of people on this thread commented how ugly the front extension was / how surprised they are it was allowed to be built, before I commented on it, so it is not just me.
The ugliest front extension on a house ever? The hyperbole is strong today
Maybe they thought it would be better in reality than it looked on paper,
The planning officials are professionals. That is no excuse for them. They obviously had no issue with it.
Not to my taste but then it is not my taste that has to be satisfied.
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