ROOM TO IMPROVE
Room to Improve is a factual entertainment series broadcast on RTÉ ONE. Fronted by Architect Dermot Bannon, this home renovation series features a diverse mix of renovations, rescues and new builds.
Dermot Bannon balances his role of designer with that of a diplomat, mediator and project manager as he fights his corner with feisty contractors and has his diplomacy skills tested by clients who know exactly what they want.
Many diverse projects – one headstrong architect.
Still – there’s always Room To Improve.
If you'd like to apply for Room To Improve we accept both paper and online applications. You find links to both below.
Episodes
Series 15
Episode 1 – Kilkenny
Gráinne Murphy and Ivan Williams have been dreaming about renovating Ivan’s forefather's old farmhouse which is based near Urlingford in Co.Killkenny for many years. When Dermot first visited the house, Gráinne and Ivan had started renovating the exterior of the farmhouse with a limestone render, with the help of a local council grant. Gráinne and Ivan managed to attain the vacant homes grant of €50,000 due to the fact the house had not been lived more than two years. Given that the house needed structural work they were able to attain a top up of €20,000, as well as an SEAI grant.
Episode 2 – CASHEL
Brian Carrigg and Kate Molony attempt to renovate a bungalow with a view of the Rock of Cashel that Kate has dreamed of owning all her life. As their budget is limited, the derelict and vacant homes grant and the SEAI grant have been integral to making this home build possible. The house needs a complete renovation, and the only view of the Rock was through a frosted bathroom window, so Dermot has been challenged to create a new design that captures the stunning view.
Episode 3 – knocklyon
Sandra and Daniel Davey bought their dream home in Knocklyon, Dublin over four years ago. However, a conservatory added by its previous owners is leaking and as a result, the house is so cold that Sandra, Daniel and their two young children spend most their time in the front room. The Davey's got in touch with Dermot with an incredibly tight budget and their main ask was to create a more functional, energy efficient home. With a total budget of €130k and the SEAI grant, QS Claire had brought in the expertise of a one-stop-shop, Larkrock Ltd to complete the entire build.
EPISODE 4 - SANTRY
Ann Brannigan and David Mooney found love later in life. They now live in Ann’s former family home in Santry with their son Desmond. Ann bought the home from her grandfather, so it is hugely sentimental to her, and her sister Emer also lives next door. This project is very ambitious and will be a huge transformation.
Series 14
Episode 1 – Tullamore
Conor and Amy are a young couple who have made the decision to put down roots together by renovating an old farmhouse in the heartland of Tullamore. The old dwelling has a special significance for the couple as it was where Conor’s father grew up and was the homestead of his paternal grandmother and family for many years. The house was effectively derelict for decades and is in need of a full overhaul. Their budget is very tight, to renovate the old farm dwelling and incorporate a contemporary extension to the side of the house is going to cost a total of €325,000.
Episode 2 – Lucan
Ross and Caitriona Boxhall from Lucan in Dublin, purchased their dream home in 2017. Their home, an old 1950’s council house was a massive renovation job, which included an extension especially since it had to accommodate their young family of four children. The family who were also renting nearby had a tight budget of €195,500. They sought Dermot’s help and needed him to deliver a design that could facilitate their large family’s needs but that could be constructed under their very tight budget.
Episode 3 – Blessington
Carmel and Hugh O’ Neill featured in last year’s series – they are the parents of Hilary and Paul Fairbrother. Hilary, Paul and their two children had moved into her old family home, while her parents wanted to downsize to a brand new build on their land with its stunning views overlooking Blessington Lakes in West Wicklow.
Carmel and Hugh wanted a home which was going to be manageable for them both going into their later years in life and Dermot’s brief was to deliver this.
EPISODE 4 – CASTLEKNOCK
Andy & Ann-Marie Gray currently live their two sons in a three bed semi-detached house in Castleknock in West Dublin. The Gray family have been living in the house for seventeen years when it was built in the mid-nineties, so it is a modern house, but they wanted to future proof it – they want to increase the BER rating from a C1 to an A3, as well as build a rear extension onto the home.
Dermot is bringing them on a road to discovery that it is not all about adding loads more space but more about discovering what space they actually need in their home.
SERIES 13
Episode 1 – Kilmacud
Room to Improve returns for its thirteenth season on RTE One in February 2022. Dermot Bannon has certainly been very busy since the series was on air last in 2019. This season features builds of different shapes and sizes. Dermot has designed a brand new home for Marc & Lisa Daly in the suburb of Dublin, Kilmacud. This is brand new build from what was originally a plot of land on the side of Marc & Lisa’s old family home. Marc & Lisa had specific needs for their dream home for themselves and their three boys, Jake, Liam & Alex.
EPISODE 2 – HOWTH
Kenny & Laura Brown live in the beautiful suburb of Howth in North Co.Dublin. Their home was in a bad state when Dermot visited them at first. It was run down and in need of a serious renovation for the family of five, with another baby on the way. Kenny & Laura were renting but when the delay of the lockdown just kept going, money was being spent on rent that they simply couldn’t afford. Claire the QS really had a tough job managing the budget but also keeping in line with the homeowners expectations. Would Laura & Kenny’s dreams and expectations be delivered by Dermot?
EPISODE 3 – BLESSINGTON
Hilary Fairbrother and her husband Paul are moving back to Hilary’s family home in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Hilarys parents Carmel & Hugh O’Neill want to downsize and with them living on a 4 ½ acre size it is possible for a new build for Carmel & Hugh. As well as really making it possible for the stunning view of the Blessington lakes to be a feature of the house – that they have not been able to see completely prior the build. Hilary and Paul have a tight budget to keep to but they are sensible with their decisions but it is does get tricky with rising construction costs – but they do manage to make their dream come true.
EPISODE 4 – THURLES
This week Dermot Bannon travels to Thurles in Co. Tipperary, to transform the home of Jim & Mary Moloney. Jim & Mary want to bring their home up to the 21st century and do a deep retrofit of their home, as well as make their home meet the outside for these passionate outdoor people. Jim and Mary built their home 30 years ago and have not really changed it in anyway since 1990. Both their adult children have flown the nest and they want to make the house ready for the next chapter in their lives.
Suppliers List & Photography
Dermot’s Home
After 13 blissful years in the house where he and his wife raised their three children – the place where he created his first ‘room to improve’ - Architect Dermot Bannon is moving on. A new home awaits in the form of a run down 1930s house in Drumcondra – soon to be fitted with a massive two storey extension that will triple its size! For the first time ever, Dermot is both client and architect – a dual role in which he’s far from comfortable. And as he struggles to realise his vision, he’ll need all the help he can get.
SERIES 12
EPISODE 1 – KILDARE
David and Nessa’s split level house is in a cul-de-sac, close to The Curragh, and is full of interesting quirks, like curved interior walls, a corridor with 7 doors leading into bedrooms and bathrooms and most alarmingly - a 600 square meter garden, with a 40 degree slope rising to a height well above the roof of the house. With a budget of just over 220k, architect Dermot Bannon has a huge challenge on his hands, both inside and outside the house.
EPISODE 2 – BORRISOLEIGH
In the second episode of Room To Improve, Dermot Bannon heads to Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperarry, to meet Joe Kenny and his bride to be Mary Hayes.
Joe’s house is a 3 bedroom, 2 storey house on a half acre site about half a mile from Borrisoleigh, with beautiful views of green fields. Mary and he are creating their dream home, to move into just after their wedding.
EPISODE 3 – Rathfarnham
Yvonne and Adrian’s house is a detached 1950s two-bedroom property, in need of massive transformation. Dermot likens it to a ‘Hansel and Gretel’ house.
For Dermot, one of the most appealing features is the pebbledash exterior. The couple, however, has a completely different opinion on the outside walls. They want to get rid of the pebbledash, Dermot has other ideas.
EPISODE 4 – ASHFORD
In Ashford Co. Wicklow stands the house of Nigel and Frances Coffey. Frances’s parents live next door. Several years ago her father built a private road and gave seven plots of land to his seven children.
The house is a typical 1990’s bungalow, built from a handbook. It was perfect for them 20 years ago, but with 5 children ranging in ages from 9 to 26 and with girlfriends, friends, a dog and family living near by, the house is just too cramped and they struggle for space.
EPISODE 5 – TRAMORE
Claudia and Tom bought this 1920’s bungalow with panoramic views of Tramore Bay in 2012 for €305K. Just back from living abroad (Spain, Dubai and Germany) they have been living in the house for the past year.
Dermot has his work cut out for him, to fulfill Claudia’s Feng Shui brief and to make the most of the sea views, without compromising their privacy. He creates a design that hopefully will make his clients happy.
EPISODE 6 – DRUMCONDRA
Glenn Keating and Gustav van der Westhuizen live in Grace Park, Drumcondra, with their 5-year-old son Noah and two pet Weimaraner dogs.
The house comes with it’s own difficulties; previously owned by siblings the property was carved into two separate living spaces and is filled with quirky features alongside it’s original features and separate heating systems.
SERIES 11
EPISODE 1 - DONEGAL
Country and Irish legend Daniel O’Donnell and his wife Majella share a large four bed detached home in Kincasslagh West Donegal. Unlike Daniel, who’s fairly happy with the place, Majella is keen to upgrade and reconfigure the interior. With her husband on tour, she’s determined to get the very best from her architect.
Episode 2 - fermoy
Nine years ago, Susie and Dave bought their dream home on the outskirts of Fermoy in Cork – a 170 year old three storey mansion that Susie has admired since she was a teenager. The house however, has begun to show its age and Susie and Dave want to extend and upgrade to create the ultimate family home.
EPISODE 3 - CLONTARF
IT manager Christine has bought herself a red brick terraced house in Clontarf, North Dublin. Christine has big plans for the place but as Dermot quickly discovers, they’re far bigger than her 130K budget will allow. And despite his best efforts, Dermot is unable to convince Christine to modify her 25 page wish list.
EPISODE 4 - PORTRANE
At the seaside village of Portrane in North Dublin, Dermot creates a workable home for three generations of the one family under the watchful, budget-conscious eyes of two sisters.
EPISODE 5 - KILLESTER
Recently returned to Ireland after 12 years in London, new parents website designer Cliona and IT manager Micheal have already spent 30 grand renovating a 1950s semi-D at Killester in North Dublin in their own distinctive, industrial style.
EPISODE 6 - TIPPERARY
Dairy farmer Padraig and schoolteacher Katie are hoping to create their ‘forever’ home by renovating a century-old farmhouse on a half acre of land recently inherited from Padraig’s uncle. But delivering this dream won’t be easy for their architect. Dermot’s problems begin when he presents his initial design and it Katie announces that she has no time for ‘open plan’ living. Awarding Dermot ‘zero out of ten’, she promptly sends him back to the drawing board.
EPISODE 7 - STILLORGAN
At a 1960s ‘Semi D’ in Stillorgan, Dermot’s vision of a million euro ‘Malibu style’ house for Rory and Lorna from the west of Ireland descends into an ongoing battle over the style and position of the front door.
SERIES 10
Episode 1 - Malahide
Robbie and Julie from Darndale in North Dublin have saved for over 20 years to buy the house of their dreams - a 1940s cottage in the picturesque north Dublin suburb of Malahide. With a budget of 180K, Dermot’s clients plan to gut the cottage, doubling its size with a spacious new two-storey extension to the rear, but the remediation costs are high. Can Dermot create the home his client’s have dreamed of, or will this build descend into a nightmare?
EPISODE 2 - RUSH
Farmer and Boatbuilder Enda and his wife Mags live on a 55 acre Brussel Sprout farm at Balheary near Swords in North Dublin. After three decades of life in the country, they’re moving back to Enda’s home town – the picturesque seaside village of Rush. Their new home, formerly owned by Enda’s aunt is an old fisherman’s house near the harbour, but as Dermot is about to discover, Enda is NO ordinary client.
EPISodE 3 - MOATE
Moate in County Westmeath, is a place where football is part sport, part religion. On an overgrown plot on the outskirts of town lies the abandoned future home of county GAA All Star Dessie Dolan, his wife Kelly and their 3-year-old son Nathan. They have bought themselves a dilapidated cottage on a hopelessly exposed site in the village.. Hemmed in by a housing estate, a golf course and an old railway line, they want a family home with the one thing this site doesn't offer - privacy.
EPISODE 4 - SUTTON
At Sutton in North Dublin, Dermot extends a 1960s suburban house, changing a beloved childhood home into a sumptuous new one for Hannah, James and their twin sons. To give the couple the ‘wow factor’ they’ve asked for, Dermot designs a large L-shaped extension at the rear of the house with a soaring mezzanine level but, even before the plan goes out to tender, QS Lisa and the site engineer Keith realise that Dermot’s ‘piece of magic’ will impact the budget.
EPISODE 5 - Kildalkey
Having rented a house in Navan for the last two years, teacher Celine and sound engineer Dave are excited at the prospect of moving to a farmhouse once owned by her grandparents at Kildalkey village in County Meath where Celine grew up.
The couple will be the fourth generation to live there and retaining the charm and character of the old place is a major concern for the whole family
EPISODE 6 - TEMPLEOGUE
In the three years since newlyweds Rosie and Keith bought their five-bed house in Templeogue, Dublin 6, they haven't changed a thing. From the dark, cold interiors to the cavity block, flat roofed extension, this house is a relic of 1970s design, with décor to match.
Keen to create a unique take on the rather unimaginative suburban semi, Dermot designs a radical, steep-roofed extension to the rear of the house, much to the concern of the neighbours who worry it will overshadow their garden.