“We love watching property shows,” says one of the owners of 6 Oakfield Place in Dublin 8, as is clear by the savvy Scandi-modern design of their two-bedroom bungalow. Their renovation experience came eerily close to the drama of Grand Designs, one of their favourites, when they found out they had a baby on the way while they were living in the house during its renovation.
The imminent arrival spurred them on to complete the work against the backdrop of Covid uncertainty, which affected the price and availability of building supplies. They knew the home would need a full renovation when they bought it – for €450,000 in 2021, according to the Property Price Register – and they enlisted RMA Architects to bring their expertise to the couple’s considered vision.
The makeover has resulted in a bright, modern home that manages to imbue a feeling of airiness within its 63sq m (678sq ft) footprint. Stepping inside from the cul-de-sac, your line of sight is drawn right through to the bright kitchen to the rear of the house. It’s all about getting light into these period homes, the owner says, and they have certainly achieved that.
The livingroom at the end of the hall welcomes you with a wow-factor vaulted ceiling punctuated by two large roof lights. One of the owners is a furniture dealer who specialises in mid-century modern pieces, and for this room he has chosen a floating sideboard below a picture-frame TV and a high wall of floating shelves, adorned by books on designers such as Eileen Gray and Charles and Ray Eames. A large window behind the sofa looks out to the rear courtyard.
