The ideal duo to refurbish a house? Think a project manager and an accountant who has a knack for interior design. The duo in question would be Laura Larkin and her spouse, Brian McCaffrey. They have accomplished a remarkable renovation of their residence in Dundrum, Dublin, delivering a homely, welcoming and luminous environment for them and their two children – all completed within the stipulated time and budget.
Having spent a decade in their previous home just around the corner, they adored the neighbourhood, necessitating a bigger space but not wanting to move elsewhere. “We loved it here,” comments Laura. With their son enrolled in a nearby school, they had formed bonds and cherished the communal spirit.
In 2023, when a four-bedroom property needing a bit of TLC became available, it was just what they were looking for. Before refurbishment commenced at the start of this year, they stayed in the house for half a year, helping them understand the dynamics of the house. Laura believes that one learns a lot about a house’s functionality by residing in it before a renovation.
Among their goals were an integrated kitchen/living area, greater outdoor space and for Laura, a red brick arch over the front entrance. The desire for the latter stemmed from her time living with her aunt in Rathmines, Dublin when she relocated from Galway in 2006, where she admired several houses with red brick arches. They managed to fulfill all their wishes in the refurbishment.
“Our builders, the OHO Building Services were simply outstanding,” Laura adds. “They were collaborative and industrious. Promising to finish the job in 5½ months, and they delivered just after that timescale. With Brian’s construction project management experience, his understanding of the jargon, along with my clear-cut vision of the house’s end look, our coordination was impeccable.”
Being an expert in accounting, she maintained a meticulously updated spreadsheet throughout the process. For those embarking on home renovations, she advises always staying a step ahead of your builder and constantly being prepared for what your project demands next. According to her, decisions about seemingly simple choices like tiles, bathroom fixtures, and paint could greatly influence the project timeline. She found keeping decisions prompt avoiding builder delays.
Her interest in interior design felt a source of joy during the renovation, but required careful budget control. She managed separate budgets for the construction and fitting, noticing that the early estimates tended to increase slightly when final measurements were taken. This experience led her to realise the importance of maintaining a contingency budget for any fit-out operation.
When the furniture prices went above her budget, she sought advice from her father, acquired a sander, and began upcycling herself. Her downstairs washroom vanity unit, sourced from adverts.ie for approx £60, was improved with sandpaper, stain, new handles, and a piece of stone for the top, sourced by Granite Tops.
Her growing confidence led her to refurbish a vintage chest of drawers for around £170 on gaffinteriors.ie, placed on the landing. Similarly, she gave new life to an old bed from a friend for her son’s room with blue chalk paint. Updating her daughter’s room Ikea wardrobes involved new handles, paint, and the addition of linen fabric inside the glass doors.
“Although time-consuming, these upcycling tasks helped achieve unique aesthetics in each room,” she said, “It’s calming and focussed work, hours spent productively refining one thing with no distractions. It’s a mindful way to do home decor.”
Her quest for cost-effective furniture was not limited to Ireland. When an appropriately priced console table proved elusive, she turned towards the Studio McGee range at Target in the US. She leveraged An Post’s AddressPal service to transport the flat-pack. Despite the additional shipping and customs charges, the total cost of €380 turned out to be lower than the prices she had encountered locally. To learn more about this sustainability initiative, refer to her Instagram profile @project_no.31 where she shares insights about her project.
The renovated property now bears little resemblance to its initial state, when the frigid temperatures necessitated her son wearing his dressing gown to bed and the use of two duvets on their bed.
However, even with her confidence in making decisions, she felt the necessity for professional counsel. “Since I had no background in open-plan living, I required guidance. I had a virtual design consultation with Avenue Interior Design’s Moya Farrell, which proved to be extremely beneficial,” she recounts. Moya assisted with the furniture dimension recommendations and shared lighting advice, including not previously considered accent and wall lighting options.
The kitchen, furnished by Mooney’s Kitchens in Meath, was a conception in her mind long before the house was acquired. “The existing kitchen was claustrophobic with a separate dining room. We enjoy hosting friends and their children and envisioned a space that allows us to engage with our guests while preparing meals instead of being in isolation.”
The pantry serves as an efficient space to stash away dishware and clutter when company is present.
Due to the house’s updated A2 rating, they have not tested the new air-to-water heating system yet, a stark contrast to the initial freezing house where their son had to sleep in his dressing gown and two duvets were needed.
The renovation revealed not only undesired surprises but pleasant ones as well; the unkempt garden, once cleared, revealed an unexpected spaciousness. “One of the highlights of the renovation was discovering the actual size of the grounds after removing the overgrowth, a revelation that astounded even us,” she recollects.
After seeing Joe Eustace from Online Garden Designs at the Bloom event the previous year, they reached out to the landscape design firm, having no funds reserved for such an endeavour. The studio was instrumental in creating a layout of their garden, planning different zones for relaxation, dining, and a children’s area. They also provided assistance with the planting scheme, furnishing them with a pdf that specified the appropriate plants to be placed in different locations. They found exceptional value in this expense.
Reflecting on the past, she commented on the intense and exhaustive five and a half months it took to complete the project. However, they were fortunate it was a short span of time and they were absolutely thrilled with the final results. It was precisely the family abode they had envisioned.
The most significant advantage was the enhanced brightness and spaciousness. Laura professed a tremendous sense of pride at what they had accomplished.
The most significant shortcoming was their inability to convert the loft due to budgetary constraints. Ideally, they would have preferred to have a functional office or a separate area for the children as they aged. This could be a potential future endeavour.