Houzz Tour: A Dated Bungalow is Restored For Modern Living
This 1960s dormer bungalow in Dublin has been revamped and extended for a busy family
Nailing the perfect layout is crucial if every room in a home is going to work to its full potential, and some serious rejigging was required when the owners bought this 1960s Dublin bungalow. It was in a reasonable state, but the flow and layout were very much lacking for their young family.
“The clients wanted to reconfigure the layout to make it work for them and their three children,” says Denise O’Connor from Optimise Design, an architecture and design firm based in Dublin. “The kitchen was quite small and there was a very large reception room to the front that was difficult to furnish.”
“The clients wanted to reconfigure the layout to make it work for them and their three children,” says Denise O’Connor from Optimise Design, an architecture and design firm based in Dublin. “The kitchen was quite small and there was a very large reception room to the front that was difficult to furnish.”
The new kitchen is now effectively in the middle of the house, but merges seamlessly with an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.
“We extended to the rear of the house at the ground floor to create a more open-plan space, and also to create a utility and boot room,” says the designer.
“Because we were moving the kitchen into the centre of the house, the challenge was to ensure that the space felt bright. We introduced a new window into the side wall of the house and a large roof light to maximise the amount of natural light coming in.”
The handprinted timber kitchen has a classic style offset with a smart black-tiled splashback.
Kitchen, Paul Sweeney of Sweeney Handcrafted Furniture. Stools, Eden Home & Garden.
“We extended to the rear of the house at the ground floor to create a more open-plan space, and also to create a utility and boot room,” says the designer.
“Because we were moving the kitchen into the centre of the house, the challenge was to ensure that the space felt bright. We introduced a new window into the side wall of the house and a large roof light to maximise the amount of natural light coming in.”
The handprinted timber kitchen has a classic style offset with a smart black-tiled splashback.
Kitchen, Paul Sweeney of Sweeney Handcrafted Furniture. Stools, Eden Home & Garden.
The entire house has a contemporary country décor, with a slightly eclectic feel.
The main kitchen units are painted in a simple white, and the island in a contrasting dark grey shade, all finished with a tough quartz worktop.
“The worktops are quartz as the clients wanted something durable but bright,” explains O’Connor. “Quartz offered more options and better durability than natural stone.”
Kitchen units painted in Loft White, and island in Scree, both Little Greene.
The main kitchen units are painted in a simple white, and the island in a contrasting dark grey shade, all finished with a tough quartz worktop.
“The worktops are quartz as the clients wanted something durable but bright,” explains O’Connor. “Quartz offered more options and better durability than natural stone.”
Kitchen units painted in Loft White, and island in Scree, both Little Greene.
The open-plan kitchen, living and dining room is now the hub of the house for this young family.
Muted tones and handcrafted furniture enhance the gentle theme of the décor.
Bespoke bench, Sweeney Handcrafted Furniture. Walls painted in Mid Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
Muted tones and handcrafted furniture enhance the gentle theme of the décor.
Bespoke bench, Sweeney Handcrafted Furniture. Walls painted in Mid Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
Full-length double doors lead directly onto the garden.
Although the door frames look like painted wood, they are actually made from a coloured PVC.
Windows in Painswick, by Residence 9 supplied by McMahon & Nagle.
Although the door frames look like painted wood, they are actually made from a coloured PVC.
Windows in Painswick, by Residence 9 supplied by McMahon & Nagle.
The new layout and downstairs extension also created extra space for a utility and boot room, just off the open-plan kitchen, living and dining room.
The bespoke shoe rack and shelving was designed by Optimise and made by Paul Sweeny.
Floor tiles, Tilestyle.
The bespoke shoe rack and shelving was designed by Optimise and made by Paul Sweeny.
Floor tiles, Tilestyle.
Earthy paint shades and smart wall panelling create a welcoming entrance hall, offset with sky-blue floor tiles for a dose of colour.
Walls painted in Pure Shadow, Dulux Signature Collection. Floor tiles, Tilestyle. Console, Eden Home & Garden. Mirror, Rowell Design.
Walls painted in Pure Shadow, Dulux Signature Collection. Floor tiles, Tilestyle. Console, Eden Home & Garden. Mirror, Rowell Design.
The exterior of the dormer bungalow has been transformed in line with the design overhaul inside.
“This was a huge transformation,” explains the designer. “The new timber cladding, new windows and new porch dramatically changed the appearance of the property.”
Outside painted in Portland, Dulux.
“This was a huge transformation,” explains the designer. “The new timber cladding, new windows and new porch dramatically changed the appearance of the property.”
Outside painted in Portland, Dulux.
A ‘before’ image of the property’s exterior illustrates how much it has been transformed.
There are three bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor of the property, including the master bedroom where the décor was refreshed with new colours and furniture updates.
“The wardrobes were existing – we simply replaced the doors and colour matched them to the walls,” says O’Connor.
There is another bedroom, en suite and study on the floor above.
Walls and wardrobes painted in Pure Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
“The wardrobes were existing – we simply replaced the doors and colour matched them to the walls,” says O’Connor.
There is another bedroom, en suite and study on the floor above.
Walls and wardrobes painted in Pure Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
On the ground floor, a children’s bedroom continues in the same muted palette, with bespoke bunkbeds by Sweeney Handcrafted Furniture.
Walls painted in Mid Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
Walls painted in Mid Cinder, Dulux Signature Collection.
The ground-floor family bathroom is a crisp, coastal mix of blue and white.
“We knocked the en suite from the master bedroom into the existing bathroom to create a large family bathroom that could take a bath and a large, walk-in shower,” explains the designer.
Walls painted in Pure Cloud, Dulux Signature Collection.
What do you think of this extended and modernised dormer bungalow in Dublin? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
“We knocked the en suite from the master bedroom into the existing bathroom to create a large family bathroom that could take a bath and a large, walk-in shower,” explains the designer.
Walls painted in Pure Cloud, Dulux Signature Collection.
What do you think of this extended and modernised dormer bungalow in Dublin? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A young couple and their three children
Location Foxrock, Dublin
Property 1960s dormer bungalow
Size 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Denise O’Connor of Optimise Design
The reception room at the front of the bungalow was originally very large, and tricky to get right.
“We reduced the size of the room at the front by moving a wall, allowing us to steal some space for the kitchen. The new size is still very generous, but much more intimate and far easier to furnish,” says designer Denise O’Connor of Optimise Design who had worked with the clients on a previous project a couple of years ago. “We also put a new bay window onto the front of this room.”
The original neutral décor was lacking in personality and the clients wanted a darker colour.
“I helped them select Fine Line, a dark statement colour from the Signature Collection of paints I developed with Dulux,” she says. “It’s a collection of colours chosen to work specifically in Irish homes.”