A home for every lifestage
Clever design has created the ideal flexible living space for a mum and her adult sons
Like many parents, Ruth Deasy was discovering that spiralling house prices meant her two grown-up sons were unlikely to move out of her little townhouse in Dublin’s Stoneybatter any time soon. So she decided to look for somewhere more spacious that wouldn’t leave her ‘rattling around’ once they did leave home. ‘I had a clear idea of what I was after,’ says Ruth. ‘I wanted a space where three grown-ups could have privacy when needed but that could still open out to accommodate us as a family. It should have only one stair – Georgian and Victorian homes frequently have many half-levels and, having sprained my ankle, I realised how difficult that can be to manage – and a downstairs bathroom so that I could live on one level if necessary in the future.’
After two years of searching, Ruth finally found what she was looking for. ‘As soon as I got out of the car in front of this house, I liked it,’ she says. ‘I loved the little cul-de-sac, and although the building was divided into two flats and very neglected, it had good bones. I was prepared to take on a renovation.’
She employed an architect and a structural engineer to help her with the work. ‘It was really useful to have the engineer on board as there were structural problems to be addressed and she could give me an idea of the costs involved,’ Ruth explains. ‘I had a budget, so I set a red line and worked from there.’
Most of the major renovation was on the ground floor where Ruth’s wishlist included a family-friendly extension, modular spaces that could be opened or enclosed to give privacy when needed, a downstairs WC/shower room, and a laundry area that could be closed off from the kitchen. She also wanted a low-maintenance, energy-efficient home that let in as much light as possible.
Ruth had spent months cutting out images from magazines and researching online to show her
architect what she wanted: he came up with three plans and Ruth chose one. She then sat down with him to work out the details, where everything would be placed, down to light sockets and power points. ‘I can’t emphasise enough how essential a good architect is – it’s money well spent,’ says Ruth. ‘This home would be very different without his input.’
Now the kitchen is part of a new open-plan area that includes the extension and has a massive rooflight to make the space bright and airy. Original large sliding pocket doors to the living room have been kept so that it can be closed off for privacy. Ruth selected the kitchen cabinets herself. ‘I needed a cost-effective solution as I’d spent most of my budget on the build,’ she says. She settled on units from German firm Nobilia, with a mirrored kickboard to create a feeling of light and space, in a dark grey finish as it was the cheapest option and worked well. ‘I would quite like a colour, but it can always be sprayed at a later date,’ she says.
Ruth decided against a large sliding door to the outside. ‘It didn’t match my style, which I felt was more “loft” or “cosy industrial”,’ she explains. ‘I also wanted the option of being able to open a window for fresh air without also letting in leaves, wind and cats!’
Ruth has retained the front room as a separate sitting room, which can be closed off with sliding pocket doors. She likes to go in there at weekends to curl up and read the papers, while her sons are using the living area for TV and games.
‘Designing the renovation of your property means that you get the home that suits you and your lifestyle,’ says Ruth. ‘I have my downstairs shower room and a laundry space with sliding doors, as well as a fantastic light-drenched open plan family space and a cosy sitting room where I can light a fire and curl up for a good read. It’s just perfect.’