“The villa-style layout of the house limited options, but from the start Diarmaid demonstrated the ability to listen to our requirements & turn them into realistic design ideas, within the agreed budget, inspiring our confidence quickly.” Private Clients, Portobello
Refurbishment in Portobello
This project involved the full refurbishment of this Protected Structure - a mid 19th terrace single storey over basement property with a 2 storey return to the rear. While the property retained much original fabric, it was in a poor state and was fully refurbished to create a modern comfortable home, while retaining it’s authentic character.
The two main rooms upstairs have been interconnected to provide a kitchen to the rear, overlooking the west facing garden, with a formal dining room to the front.
Downstairs, bedrooms are accommodated in the 2 main rooms. Ancillary spaces, such as storage, laundry and a ‘boot room’ are discretely accommodated, making the most of the available floor area while keeping the ‘back of house’ functions hidden from everyday view.
Downstairs at garden level the new living room, located in the return, is glazed on one side to open onto a new patio area. A large picture window at the end of the room doubles as a window seat and gives a framed view of the garden.
Energy efficient measures include insulation in discrete locations to maintain the character of the existing house, draught proofing of windows and doors including a number of new double glazed sash windows matching the style of the existing, the installation of a decentralised ventilation system and a new heating system with the latest web enabled controls.
Completed in 2015
Photography by Ros Kavanagh, © 2015