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RTÉ Home Rescue: architect Róisín Murphy and architect Peter Finn. Photography: Andres Poveda

Carlo bedroom with MDF headboard and hanging wardrobe

Carlow bedroom with MDF headboard

Paneling in Carlo's Kitchen

Paneling in Carlo's Kitchen

The wall of this kitchen in Tallaght’s house was demolished

A wall was demolished in the kitchen of this Tarragut house

The TV show Home Rescue on RTÉ is very popular with viewers, and this season has been extended from 30 minutes to one hour. What really wins the audience is the accessibility of the ideas presented. The fact is that the architect Róisín Murphy is not afraid to speak simple English, and the architect Peter Finn knows exactly what works and what is not. They provide serious and actionable ideas for real families.

The public is doing DIY in droves. Part of the rise in popularity is due to the blockade of the pandemic, but Murphy also quoted the Gaff goddess Laura de Barra (Laura de Barra) as saying that it transforms women into required skills. Murphy believes that we can all put our hands on some work at home and start with a simple task, such as shelving.  

She said that improved tools have also helped.

"They have become very lightweight. As a result, what used to be physical games has become a game of skill, creating a fairer playing field for women who want to be themselves rather than controlled by anyone."

This is important, especially because the handymanus genus seems to be on the brink of extinction. Try to get anyone to do some small work at home, and you will realize that you will improve your skills faster than waiting for any such person to come to your door.

The father of three also believes in educating everyone to be capable people. He asked his three daughters to help him.

"These are life skills that everyone should know. The satisfaction of achieving goals is huge. It will give you a good little adrenaline impulse."

Murphy said that setting up a shelf is a very satisfying thing. The building boards used for scaffolding are thick and strong, and can be used as open shelves with galvanized brackets below or as simple mantles. There are many tutorials on the Internet. The main considerations are the type of wall you are going to drill into, and you will not touch wires or water pipes.

Finn said that this is a job most people can do. You just need to prepare the surface properly, fill in any cracks and sand the area to get a better surface. You need furniture and floor coverings and good uniform brush strokes to minimize marks. Invest in mid-range brushes and rollers to minimize brush shedding.

The stylish panelling you see in ancient houses is really easy to replicate. Using glue like No More Nails to attach the back panel to the wall creates the illusion of paneling. In a home with a standard 2.4m high ceiling, the panel only occupies two-thirds of the wall to maintain a sense of space. You can also change the color according to the season.  

In a small middle-row house with a front room, a back room and a dishwasher kitchen, you can create a better sense of connectivity between the room and the rear by knocking a hole in the partition wall and installing a hatch. This idea has been in every such family. She said, don't be mean. Make it a suitable size, such as 120 cm wide. It allows you to set up a variety of breakfast bars between the two spaces and create an open feeling without using steel beams. There is a wall in the kitchen of the Tallaght house above.

The built-in wardrobe in the small bedroom may overwhelm the space. Sometimes it is easier to create a dividing wall and install many deep drawers at chest level, with clever hanging space above, instead of installing expensive and space-consuming built-in types. Murphy explained that by not using a door, you can get a floor and circulation space. You can bring texture to the panel that separates the sleeping area from the storage area. This also means that when you are lying on the bed, you cannot see any hanging clothes.

The tall and flat headboard will create an illusion of space in the small bedroom. Murphy said that the arch was huge. An easy way to make a headboard is to cut out the MDF panel and paint it with a striking color-here is Colortrend Honky Tonk Blue. These can be glued to the wall using No More Nails.

In a small room, window sills can play a dual role as a shelf, but the reality is that most window sills are too narrow to really function. By extending the door sill by about 10 cm and installing it with a new timber top, you will get a dressing room and shelf. By lining the window frames and window sills with mirror panels, beveling and cutting on all sides, you can also reflect light back to the dark room.

Murphy said that mobile radiators can provide more wall space for furniture. In this Tallaght home, she lifted it up and placed it above the bench so that it could also provide warmth to the back. You can also consider upgrading rads to a more efficient model. This is easier to do in a wooden floored home than in a concrete floored home. For this, you need to seek the help of a plumber.

Start in the bedroom. Go back to the original floor. If it is a concrete foundation, use floor leveling compound to level it. Use plywood on the wooden floor. Invest in padding to make it feel stronger under your feet. Remove the skirting for a more polished look-you may need a new skirting to fit the new floor. If the depth of the room is greater than the width, lay the wooden boards parallel to the outer wall. The length of the running space in a hall. The depth of most laminates is similar to carpet, but if you find that the door is now stuck, loosen it and plan it a few millimeters from the bottom.  

Finn said that if the restrictions are restored, the sheltered space in the garden can become a lifeguard. It can be a home gym or a place to meet with friends and family, safe and unimpeded. All you need is a four-inch by four-inch structural base joist and some corrugated board. This is a fairly simple structure because it is very light, but please watch some tutorials online before starting.    

Home Rescue – The Big Fix will be broadcast on RTÉ 2 at 9pm on Thursday

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