Aoife Greene and Stephen O’Brien faced the challenge of accommodating their growing family within the confines of a former Dublin Corporation house on Loreto Row. Initially purchasing the property in 2005 with plans to eventually move to a larger home, the economic downturn halted their aspirations. The family, now with two children, saw the potential in their three-bedroomed residence and decided to explore the possibilities of a smart renovation. Opting for a transformative approach, they enlisted the expertise of Ciara Murray from Newmark Architects, who specialized in renovating corporation houses like theirs.

With an original floor area of 79 square meters and a narrow width of 5.5 meters, the house presented spatial limitations. However, the fortunate presence of a generously sized 18-meter-long garden offered an opportunity for expansion. The resulting 39.5-square-meter extension seamlessly integrates with the existing structure while significantly enhancing the living space. From the exterior, the house maintains its classic 1940s/50s terraced appearance, but upon entering, a glass-framed courtyard directs the gaze through to the expansive back garden. Ingenious storage solutions behind floor-to-ceiling doors contribute to the extension’s sense of spaciousness, creating a harmonious blend of form and function.

The renovation strategically redefined the interior layout, converting the original kitchen into a sizable utility room and downstairs toilet. A distinctive threshold area, finished in a deep terracotta hue, marks the transition between the old and new sections of the house. The result is a thoughtfully redesigned home that not only accommodates the practical needs of a growing family but also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal, demonstrating the transformative power of strategic architectural interventions.

Trying to redesign your home by yourself can be a hard task, but if you have the guidance of a professional interior designer things can get much simpler. So if you are looking to make some improvements in the look of your home, Home Design features 10+ great ideas. For instance, if you are a proud dog owner and want to make a cozy space for your little friend and also save some space, you can build a bedroom for your dog right under the stairs. Of maybe you want to focus on your living room and create a funky set up. Then you can lower the living room, by creating a separate area for chilling and fun times. To learn more about clever home design tricks, make sure to check the entire list of ideas…

1.Create A Dog Bedroom Under The Stairs

Save space in your home and create a bedroom under-the-stairs for the family dog.

2. Lower the living room…The Advantages of Sunken Living Rooms

Sunken rooms define areas without the use of walls.
Sunken rooms also known as “conversation pits” are great cozy areas for conversing with friends and family.

3. A sink in the laundry room with jets so you can wash delicates without destroying them

4. Storage spaces under staircase are the best tricks to use the area underneath the stairs.

5. Create a shelf bar outside kitchen window

Harlech House is famous for its dragon gates, was originally built in 1798 but in 1993 a huge redesign commenced which sought to celebrate the Jubilee, and also provide a home to a large family.  The materials principally used were glass (blown and fused), stainless and mild steel (fabricated and forged), stone (marble, granite, limestone), timber (oak, walnut, iroko, cherry) and ceramic (mosaic, painted broken tile and hand-made).

There is no unnecessary decoration; everything has a function. One of these functions is to provide pleasure to the eye and touch; in this case through the way the changing light falls on materials at different times of the day. Contrary to common assumption polished steel is not ‘cold’, but borrows the colours from the ceramics, timber and glass next to it.