Carrickmines House Extension

Info

Description

The home you want is within your grasp. To deliver on the client’s brief, the existing constraints must be unlocked. Good design will do this. In this house, two constraints were the disconnection with the rear garden and a cluster at the centre of the home.

This detached home in a quiet cul-de-sac with beautifully landscaped front and rear gardens looked almost flawless from the outside. With good ground floor living space, the failure of the home to meet the requirements of the young, busy family had reached a tipping point. Unwilling to use up much of their west-facing rear garden, the brief given was to transform the house without a significant extension to provide a home that would handle the family’s needs, and social gatherings and that would be a joy to be in. The family also wanted more views and better access to their rear garden.

Re-Ordering Space To Transform Family Life

At the centre of the house, internal partitions, cabinetry and plumbing services formed an imposing block that was suffocating the main lobby, kitchen and living area. The entrance lobby is double-height but to access the living area one is corralled into a tight area under the stairs. Though it was not possible to re-route the services, by stripping back to the bare minimum, the main lobby has been opened up and a redesign of the open-plan living area has transformed family life.

Layout and light can make or kill space. Though the house was only marginally extended (6 SQM), through the re-ordering of space, removal of partitions and cabinetry and the introduction of large glazing on the rear elevation, this house feels and functions as a much bigger family home.

An existing small single-storey extension to the rear was removed and a new, slightly larger extension was built. However, in the new design, the rear wall of the house (fourth wall of the outdoor space) was completely redesigned up to first floor window-sill height. The rear wall was framed out, insulated and clad in a composite cladding, made from 60% recycled wood and 30% recycled plastic. The effect is to bring the new extension and the main volume of the house together. Larch cladding was inserted on the reveals and panel in the run of glazing.

The utility room was too small and had become a frustration for the owners. By moving the partition to increase the area by a very small amount (500mm), using a sliding door instead of a swing (hinged) door, the room is now scopey enough to deal with the family’s everyday requirements.

Joinery

A key feature of the internal design is the joinery and panelling. Crittal-style doors and bespoke timber joinery doors including a large pivot door, connect the living spaces and spread light throughout the house.

Family Room

The family room in the main living area has been fitted with a media wall and panelling to ensure optimisation of space and a cosy environment for life in the evenings.

Kitchen

The kitchen is narrow and the redesign of cabinetry and introduction of a peninsula has transformed how it works for a busy household.

Kerb and Garden Appeal

The front porch was given a very subtle and small extension by means of glazing elements and new front door. The porch entrance is now brighter and more spacious to welcome guests and provide coat-hanging and a boot drop area.

The rear garden has a westerly aspect and was recently landscaped to create a beautiful space to be in and to look at. The central feature of the rear garden design is a sculpture set with a Kilkenny limestone backdrop. This sculpture was not easily seen from the house. Now with the connection to the garden established, the sculpture and rear garden can be viewed from the main hall and a number of vantage points throughout the family living area. Access to the garden has also been enhanced.