The owners: Mike Finegan, a company director, and wife Helena, a librarian, live here with their youngest son Fionn, a student
The property: A five-bedroom detached house built in 1986 in Rathfarnham, Dublin
Costs
Building costs, including professional fees: £155,000
Total: £204,000
Mike and Helena Finegan decided to extend and reorientate the back of their property to maximise the light, make the most of the view, and to create an energy-efficient, contemporary kitchen extension.
Having gathered enough information, the couple presented a brief to six architects selected on the basis of their award-winning designs. ‘Each architect responded, but Garbhan Doran really understood what we wanted and met all our requirements,’ says Mike.
As the additional area of the kitchen extension was less than 40 square metres, it could be completed under permitted development rights. The foundations were excavated, the floor level lowered at the rear of the house, and the new kitchen extension built up incorporating steel supports and a huge amount of insulation.
Penny is an established interiors stylist and writer. She is also the founder of ChiqueChaque, a company specialising in Swarovski jewellery and lighting design.