The Design Doctors
Donnybrook, Dublin
E5 Oct 2, 2013 25m
Modernising a home and mixing old styles with new
Morlin and Martin have spent most of their married life living in a large semi-detached house in Donnybrook. Morlin is a retired PE teacher who taught Olympics gymnastics and Martin works with marine electronics and is away a lot. Most of their kitchen dates from the 1970s, the oven is a relic from 1964. They have stopped having guests over as they are embarrassed by how the house looks. Morlin feels like if she doesn’t do something now to modernise the house and make it into the home she wants then it will never happen. She wants somewhere to be proud of and comfortable in her golden years.
Their children have now flown the nest and Morlin’s new babies are two pedigree poodles and a shitzu groomed to show standards, who have pride of place in the home. She and her husband Martin have very different interests and require different things from their home. He’s more practical, concerned about energy and insulation whereas she wants a kitchen which is a sociable space and a sunroom where she can feel part of her beloved garden. At the moment no space feels right for them to spend time in, the rooms aren’t functioning as they should.
The Design Doctors need to figure out how to make the living areas work for both of them. They will give their advice on bringing the house up to date and tips on mixing old styles with new so that Morlin and Martin can hang on to some of their beautiful antique furniture while living in a thoroughly modernized home.
Morlin and Martin have spent most of their married life living in a large semi-detached house in Donnybrook. Morlin is a retired PE teacher who taught Olympics gymnastics and Martin works with marine electronics and is away a lot. Most of their kitchen dates from the 1970s, the oven is a relic from 1964. They have stopped having guests over as they are embarrassed by how the house looks. Morlin feels like if she doesn’t do something now to modernise the house and make it into the home she wants then it will never happen. She wants somewhere to be proud of and comfortable in her golden years.
Their children have now flown the nest and Morlin’s new babies are two pedigree poodles and a shitzu groomed to show standards, who have pride of place in the home. She and her husband Martin have very different interests and require different things from their home. He’s more practical, concerned about energy and insulation whereas she wants a kitchen which is a sociable space and a sunroom where she can feel part of her beloved garden. At the moment no space feels right for them to spend time in, the rooms aren’t functioning as they should.
The Design Doctors need to figure out how to make the living areas work for both of them. They will give their advice on bringing the house up to date and tips on mixing old styles with new so that Morlin and Martin can hang on to some of their beautiful antique furniture while living in a thoroughly modernized home.