The Family Home Extension Showhouse
A CHANGE IN THE SIZE OR LIFESTYLE OF YOUR FAMILY DOESN’T MEAN YOU NEED TO START LOOKING FOR A NEW HOUSE TO MOVE INTO – AS YOU’LL DISCOVER AT THE FAMILY HOME EXTENSION SHOWHOUSE AT THE PERMANENT TSB IDEAL HOME SHOW
“To move or to renovate is a consideration that is at the foremind of many people today,” says wellknown interior designer Kathtrina Furlong of Yours Personally, a bespoke interiors design shop in Dun Laoghaire, which is turning 30 next year. “Our lives are constantly changing, whether it’s welcoming a new baby, kids becoming adults, or a family member suddenly needing an accessible space downstairs due to an illness or immobility. “You don’t need to move to have the home of your dreams. When I design a home, I always ask a client what is on their wish list and for the Family Home Extension Showhouse, I considered the wish list of the everyday client and the common stages of family life they will experience. “It is a future-proofed home: relevant for today, that will adapt to future requirements, and will last years with a timeless design.” Kathtrina created the Showhouse based on a real-life floor plan of a standard three-bed, semidetached house with a side garage. Construct Plus Ireland then built on an open-plan extension. “By keeping an extension under 40sq metres, you don’t need planning permission or an architect, it’s more budget-friendly and less stressful than bidding for a new home!” says Kathtrina. “We will have the original plan at the permanent tsb Ideal Home Show, so that you can see exactly how the open-plan extension (with kitchen, living and dining area) was added. There is also a new pantry and utility room, which sit between both the old and new parts of the house. The garage has been re-modelled as a downstairs bedroom which doubles as a study, and a bathroom next door.” Martin Prunty of Construct Plus adds, “An extension is a modern way to upgrade your space and any house in the countryside can add this 40sq-metre extension. But, people may not realise that so too can the majority of houses in Dublin. You need to step back to see what the possibilities are. That’s where we come in.”
A WELCOMING SPACE
Kathtrina says one mistake many people make when they’re renovating, is “following today’s trends and buying on a whim, instead of thinking about what they’re actually putting in their house. A home should be durable and able to stand the test of time.” However, a functional house does not need to mean a bland design, “You can still aim for a home which looks warm and inviting, not sterile and crisp,” says Kathtrina. This takes careful consideration of fabrics, draperies, colours and surfaces, as well as effectively utilising space. “For example, the hall is the gateway to the home. I have re-positioned the doors, supplied by Grady Joinery, so that the eye is instantly drawn down along the wall panelling by Grain and Groove, to the bright open-plan extension at the end of the hall. Then, further to the patio doors leading out to the garden. This seamless, visual movement enhances the feeling of space, creating curiosity and a welcoming atmosphere.” Although the front sitting room is the original part of the house and is re-modelled, Kathtrina wanted to keep it traditional by updating the ‘old’ furniture. “I covered two statement chairs, from Yours Personally, with a velvet from Linwood called Rainforest Rabble, which has colourful printed jungle-like patterns. To add a modern element, there is an electric Evonic Fireby Heatco Stoves, which has a sandstone surround and a traditional log finish inside. “To add to the intimate, luxurious feel, I’ve used a teal paint by Colourtrend alongside the velvets in this room. Although this is typically an adult room, it’s still kid-friendly. The plush fabric of the carpet from Matt Britton won’t perish if there is a spillage.”
MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS
Kathtrina has used many other clever techniques to transform each room into one that is “multipurpose”. Next to the sitting room, lies the study/bedroom. This contains a Murphy (pull-out) bed incorporated into a shelving unit with adeskby The Cabinet Shop (also owned by Martin Prunty) and a bespoke table corner by Yours Personally, which uses a wipeable Aqua Clean Fabric. Kathtrina says this space can be used as a “study for teenagers, play den for kids, guest bedroom or a reading space”. Meanwhile, the bathroom, which can be entered from either the office/bedroom or hall, is wheelchair-accessible. “All of the rooms are wheelchair-accessible, without it being obvious,” says Kathtrina. “The Mira shower is controlled with a remote and there is also an anti-slip granite shower tray. The sink unit is designed in a unique way so that a wheelchair can fit underneath it. Davies Bathroom Centre supplied these elements, as well as the combination of soft dove-grey and off-white tiles on the walls, and British Stone Anthracite porcelain tiles on the floor (flint-like design).” Kathtrina adds that the choice of flooring in a home is vital, particularly in the open-plan extension (kitchen, living and dining space). “To withstand the high traffic around the kitchen and provide a natural warmth for the TV area, I used a semi-glazed porcelain tile from Spain that has a realistic wood effect. This was supplied by Tiles At A Click and fitted by Tile With Style. “The extension is a sleek and airy space. I’ve reversed the colour scheme here: I had used dark tones on the walls withlight-coloured accessories at the front of the house, now it’s light tones on the walls with dark or jewel-coloured accessories. “To the right of the open-plan room, is the living/conversational space with a shelving unit holding a special Frame TV supplied by DID Electrical. The modern solid oak, full-height kitchen is on the left. It includes indestructible neolith worktop surfaces and island supplied by Stone Merchant, along with an in-frame storage cabinet by The Cabinet Shop.” In the dining area, even the table can be stored away neatly – into the window! There are bespoke benches by Yours Personally fitted into two windows, one of which doubles up as part of the seating arrangement for the dining table. “If there was a get-together, you can pull the dining table out of the bay window and extend it into the middle of room,” says Kathtrina. “With every room I design, I’m always thinking about the family gathering, birthday or quiet dinner I might have. The open-plan area has to adapt. Caragh Nurseries have designed and planted the Showhouse garden, with selections from the great array of specimens, trees and plants they stock. “The Family Home Extension Showhouse atthe permanent tsb Ideal Home Show is all about having present-day solutions that will provide for whatever challenges or eventualities come up tomorrow. It shows that something which is functional can also be well-designed and look elegant.” Visit www.idealhome.ie, www.yourspersonally.ie, and www.thecabinetshop.ie