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Tommy's transformed by his new house

Friday, 26 June 2009

A Southside man whose mobility was impaired after he suffered a series of health setbacks has had his house transformed in a television property makeover show. Tommy Breen's daughter Joanne had originally contacted RTE's Room To Improve team but little did he realise how much the changes to his home would enhance his life. In a bid to accommodate Tommy the modest three-bed semi detached bungalow in Killiney where he lives with his wife Ann has been turned into a spacious extension that is full of light throughout the day. Tommy, who is wheelchair bound, explained that he had to do something about the house after he suffered from a number of different problems over the last few years, including being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. “My house wasn't suitable at all because I couldn't get around the lower floor and the garage was three steps down, as was the outside toilet,” he said.  “I was caught in a situation whereby the house was totally unsuitable for me although I had been here for 38 years. Decided “I couldn't get upstairs to the bathroom and I couldn't go down the stairs either, so you were nearly talking about putting a commode in the front room. The doors were all too narrow for a wheelchair to go through as well.” He added: “We always watched the programme and my daughter decided to write and ask them if they could look at our house. She was very persistent with them and eventually Bannon, the architect came out to look at the house. I asked him if he had any ideas and he said 'yeah I think I have'.” Dermot Bannon is the head architect of the Room To Improve programme and his main challenge was to work within the existing framework of the house. Before the modifications the garage and a neighbouring house blocked much of the afternoon and evening sun from entering the abode. But now the house opens into a bright open plan space with large windows. Tommy and Ann's original sitting room on the ground floor is now their bedroom with an ensuite wet room. And the dark garage has been transformed with velux windows in the roof to catch lots of light. As well as that all the doors have been widened, a curving wheelchair ramp has been installed all the way up to the front door and new decking has also been laid out in the front garden. “He has taken the gable end of the wall off the house and incorporated what was the garage into the house proper,” Tommy added. “The ground space has now been increased by what was the garage and with these extra windows he has brought in light on three sides of the house. Positive “For me one of the biggest things is that I have ended up spending more time in the house than I normally would have done,” Tommy  added. “It's fantastic to have more light coming into it. All I can see is greenery when I look out my front at my garden.” As Tommy has found out to his benefit there are positive aspects to the property downturn as well. With fierce competition among builders for new business costs have dropped about 30 per cent in recent months and the whole project came in for just over e70,000.