Daniel fit to burst at Dermot’s €395k plan
Grand design had to be scaled back after singer’s meltdown at cost
DANIEL O’DONNELL was horrified when plans to redesign his luxury Donegal home nearly doubled in price to almost €400,000.
The singer and his wife Majella had agreed to take part in the popular RTÉ show Room To Improve presented by Dermot Bannon.
A budget limit of €200,000 had been set to bring more light into the Kincasslagh mansion by tearing down walls, removing ceilings and introducing glass into the roof. But after Daniel added to the plans with extra en-suite bathrooms, the cost spiralled to €395,000.
On hearing the new price tag for the extension, the couple were visibly shell-shocked with Majella shouting out: ‘What!’
Daniel said: ‘It’s ridiculous. That’s a ridicuwas lous figure. You came with a fantastic plan and now you are taking it all away again. There’s no point in beating about the bush.’
Dermot Bannon explained that because of extra changes added to his original plan, steel supports would have to be put in so all the
‘I couldn’t care less if there was nothing done’
ceilings would need to come down. The renowned architect said: ‘It was like someone popped a balloon and all the energy and the life was sucked out of him [Daniel].’
He tried to calm the singer by explaining they could chip away at the overall cost by getting rid of some of the extra features which was ‘a normal process’.
But a furious Daniel replied: ‘You would need some chisel and hammer to get this back to something I like.’
And talking to the camera later he said: ‘I couldn’t care less if there nothing done [to the house].’
Majella explained that it was her idea to renovate their home to bring in more light and make it cosy.
She said: ‘Daniel is probably home six weeks a year and I want to feel cosy, safe and comfortable when he is not here. This is going to be our forever home for the rest of our lives so I would like to be in love with it more than I am now.
‘I’m not sure I know what I’m letting myself in for but I’m really looking forward to the end product. I’m very impatient.’
After much discussion the trio cut back on the building works and got rid of plans for decking, a small extension and other features to get the price back down to €280,000.
Renovation work began while Daniel went off on an American tour, and his wife was happy he was not there! The singer joked: ‘I would love to be here. I can’t drive a nail but I know exactly where the nail should go.’
But Majella said: ‘It would be a disaster if he was here. He would suggest putting a door in there and another bathroom there and it grows and grows. I’m kind of glad he is not going to be here.’ On initially seeing the house, Dermot said it did not connect with nature the way Majella wanted despite a stunning view from the sitting room. She had to put the light on every time she entered the kitchen because it was so dark.
Daniel also showed off his pride and joy – the master bedroom. He said: ‘There is not a thing wrong with it before you start and we’re not changing it. You can’t change this.’ But Majella replied: ‘Of course you can change it.’
A reluctant Daniel said: ‘There’s no point coming up here and throwing good money after bad.
I’m happy enough with the house. I probably wouldn’t have got involved with this but for Majella. But I’m very happy about it so far.’
Straight to the point as always, Dermot told them how all the appendages, such as the castle stone and Gothic arches and windows, were destroying the house’s character. And when he first showed off his plans, a delighted Majella said: ‘This is nothing I could have envisaged. I can’t believe this house could be that. I am speechless.’
Producers are keeping secret Daniel and Majella’s reaction, and he final cost, when the house is finished until tonight’s programme.
‘This is nothing I could have envisaged’
Room To Improve is on RTÉ One tonight at 9.30pm