LOL,
How wrong were you?
The hob on the island had an extractor built into it.
You would love to go back in a few months and see it. Were there curtains and blinds on the windows? How practical did the tiny utility work out? Did the kids toys end up being thrown in to the gym? Does the smell from the hob ( without an extractor over it ) annoy those in the nearby living area if / when they are trying to relax?
If any of use are driving through the neighbourhood some weekend in a few months time, we should knock and ask. Say we are thinking of getting an extension done and if it all worked out ok? All they can say is yes or no.
I wonder were there objections from the neighbour most affected by the new front elevation, or others.
Many houses in my locale have had substantial extensions but always to the rear, nothing like this on front elevation.
Jesus, the thoughts of Francis knocking on the door in her Miss Marple outfit, insisting you are living in a dangerous kip that Bannon robbed you on is horrendous. 😁 Have these people not suffered enough! 😁
I do not know what you are talking about. Miss Marple outfit? Have not a clue.
What is not surprising is you making a personal attack. It says more about you than it does about me.
Sense of humour is absent is it?
You have been going over these homes and lives with a magnifying glass to try and get at Bannon Francis.
That is what I was getting at. Please don't call at anyone's house in your quest or encourage anyone else. It won't end well.
Look who has not the sense of humour now. I wrote that "The inside of the house is nice" but I did not say I wanted to see the inside of the house in real life. And when I wrote "If any of use are driving through the neighbourhood some weekend in a few months time, we should knock and ask. Say we are thinking of getting an extension done and if it all worked out ok? All they can say is yes or no." , it was after I wrote "You would love to go back in a few months and see it. Were there curtains and blinds on the windows? How practical did the tiny utility work out? Did the kids toys end up being thrown in to the gym? Does the smell from the hob ( without an extractor over it ) annoy those in the nearby living area if / when they are trying to relax?"
I was joking, as the occupants are entitled to their privacy. Sometimes people do ask others " who was the architect", "what shade is that on the window", "where did you buy that" etc - I am not advocating people being so intrusive / nosey.
I was joking
Phew! Thank goodness for that. I was just getting back to a regular sleep pattern after worrying myself sick about kids banging their heads and granny tummbling down the cheap plywood monstrosity like the end of Eastenders...thump thump thump!
All is good. 😁
This was great entertainment - the producers and Bannon couldn't have done a better job of drawing attention and winding people up. Controversial extension, big sums of money, a "budget" that means very little and a couple that are far removed from the norm.
I'd say there are thousands of normies around the country experiencing a mix of bemusement and jealously after watching that
"Ah here, why didn't they just build a 5000 sq foot house down the country, shur she could get a job in da local hopsital"
or
"OMG, loike, why didn't they loike, BUY a house in a good area in the Southside, loike"
there are thousands of normies around the country experiencing a mix of bemusement and jealously
The other three episodes in this series featured 'normies' and there was a lot more bemusement and jealousy directed at them than at last night's couple.
Possibly is. And add in the €28,000 SEAI grant and 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 ) and you could see the work last night costing 800k when all work carried out.
If the average semi-d in Santry is 400 to 450k, that means a total of 1.2 or 1.25 million being the total cost of last nights house. Huge money, considering the view of the house / extension from the front, tiny back garden etc. Although there were parts of the inside that were nice.
Screenshot of Dermot's original plan.
Not sure the mothers bathroom being across the corridor is the best solution, but they'll work it out.
I was wondering where she'd watch TV after her mother moves in, but there's a guest room upstairs for that, and he could convert the gym into an office for that period, if he's still at working age.
Young lad has a big enough room for his toys, he'll grow out of them soon enough and will need less space.
I like the solution overall, just don't get how they got permission for the front bit. It can set a sort of precedent regarding planning.
Obviously the neighbours or the council had no strong issues with the front facade or they surely would have objected.
Maybe they thought it would be better in reality than it looked on paper, and they thought Bannon could deliver?
Probably a dozen or more people on this thread have commented how horrible it is, and wonder how the planners allowed it.
Arguably the ugliest front extension on a house ever, and least sympathetic to the character of the neighbourhood.
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.
The ugliest front extension on a house ever? The hyperbole is strong today
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.
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.
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.
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.
I may have missed it but is there a downstairs bathroom in the house?
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?
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.
Yes. It's the room after the bike shed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
