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Home Improvements

If you are always on the look out for inspiration and tips to improve your home then you have come to the right place.

<p>The open-plan kitchen living area. Pictures: Miki Barlok</p>

home and gardens

The Great House Revival: See how Knocknagoshel man made his dream home a reality

'Kerry football could be in big trouble in 10 years' time', if we fail to revive rural Ireland, says Kieran Cotter. He tells Eve Kelliher about his passion for giving old buildings a new lease of life

Kya deLongchamps.jpeg

How to deal with the storm of hair hitting your carpeting and hard flooring

<p>An A-frame wooden cabin house. Currently, we can only build 25sq m detached structures behind the house. File picture</p>

home and gardens

Back-garden cabin proposals: All you need to know

Jennifer Sheahan: The interior design mistakes to avoid

home and gardens

Jennifer Sheahan: The interior design mistakes to avoid

The Great House Revival: See the home Cork teacher and landscaper 'grew organically’

home and gardens

The Great House Revival: See the home Cork teacher and landscaper 'grew organically’

Indiustral composition of concrete living room with mock up poster frame, stylish grey sofa, green pillow, black coffee table, p

home and gardens

Put practicality first when buying materials for your home

Home of the Year: See why this tiny-space design scored a perfect 10 and a spot in final

Home of the Year: See why this tiny-space design scored a perfect 10 and a spot in final

Judge Amanda Bone says the amount the owners have managed to fit into the 'tight site' means the property 'has real architectural merit'

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Empty minimalist living room with large window

Six top DIY tips to dodge home decorating disasters

From samples to structural changes and from measurements to consulting a pro, here's your quick and easy guide to getting it right first time

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Bespoke Western Red Cedar Clad Home Garden Office with Bifold Doors, Slate Terrace, Barbecue and Firepit with Raised Flower Beds

Home Q&A: Garage conversions, modular buildings and cabins

Kya deLongchamps answers frequently asked questions about planning permission and new proposals and rules

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

The Great House Revival: How artist turned Cork city centre shop into dream home

The Great House Revival: How artist turned Cork city centre shop into dream home

Inside 42 Douglas Street as Hugh Wallace visits Cora Murphy's studio and home, formerly the 'front-room shop' of Mary and Desmond Lynch

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Boyd Neighbourhood at Rutherford Road and Islington Ave, Woodbridge, Canada

Slate, clay or fibre cement? How to choose roof tiles for your home

Kya deLongchamps looks up to outline the pros and cons of Ireland's traditionally popular roof material choices

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Woman meditating in back yard

Get grounded: Connect with the garden to boost your wellbeing

Rediscover your room outside this spring with these top tips for a sustainable experience to benefit both you and your garden

Tue, 25 Feb, 2025

Renovation inspiration: How to avoid delays and mistakes

Renovation inspiration: How to avoid delays and mistakes

We visit Barnahown in Co Cork whose owner Ciara O'Brien shares the secret to how she revamped this 1880s farmhouse

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan answers your top home renovation questions

Jennifer Sheahan answers your top home renovation questions

Jennifer reveals the most challenging, interesting and frequent questions she gets — as well as the funniest

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

3D rendering of simple kitchen design with green wall

Kitchen cabinets: All you need to know when buying new or second-hand

Here's your practical guide to the structural smarts of a sustainable kitchen

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Home Q&A: Should I get rid of wall cabinets in my galley kitchen?

Home Q&A: Should I get rid of wall cabinets in my galley kitchen?

It’s not a binary decision. There are multiple ways to open your kitchen and retain blind storage where you need it

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Revealed: The cordless and robot vacuum cleaners with va-va-voom

Revealed: The cordless and robot vacuum cleaners with va-va-voom

Here are the top cordless vacuum cleaners to suit all budgets and add sparkle to all spaces

Sun, 16 Feb, 2025

How to run your home through your smart speaker

How to run your home through your smart speaker

Kya deLongchamps outlines the potential, reality and unintended consequences of living cabins in back gardens

Sat, 15 Feb, 2025

Young woman wagging finger at her Weimar puppy for peeing on the floor

Home Q&A: How do I stop my robot vacuum cleaner from going over dog mess?

'This can be a disaster over a larger area, horrendously unhygienic — and nothing short of domestic terrorism by a trusted appliance'

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

The Great House Revival: See Cork post office transformed into family home

The Great House Revival: See Cork post office transformed into family home

Meitheal tradition helps push build over the line: 'We’d be renting forever if it wasn’t for family and friends'

Sun, 09 Feb, 2025

The Great House Revival: 'We named our patio the Hugh Wallace Terrace'

The Great House Revival: 'We named our patio the Hugh Wallace Terrace'

Siobhan O’Mahony tells Eve Kelliher why she and her family enlisted the celebrity architect as they transformed the former post office in Butlerstown, Co Cork

Sun, 09 Feb, 2025

Home Q&A: What is the most environmentally friendly wood flooring?

Home Q&A: What is the most environmentally friendly wood flooring?

'It might seem natural to jump to reclaimed flooring as utterly sustainable but this will depend on the finish after installation'

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Red paper cutout car on stacks of gold coins on green background. Illustration of the concept of increasing car prices, surging

Why sustainability in Ireland demands more than goodwill

In the race against climate change, an approach that leaves behind those who can’t afford the starting fee is bound to fail, not only ethically but practically

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Loft Bedroom

Six top tips for cleaning wooden flooring

From solid timber to laminates and from mopping to vacuuming, here's your one-stop spring clean guide to hard floor maintenance

Thu, 06 Feb, 2025

Walk the plank: How to choose a wood floor to suit your home

Walk the plank: How to choose a wood floor to suit your home

Wide planks, narrow boards or parquets, which wood style is for you?

Thu, 06 Feb, 2025

How vanity units are taking the spotlight in bathroom upgrades

How vanity units are taking the spotlight in bathroom upgrades

Given their functional versatility and statement-making potential, bathroom vanity units are a priority amongst revamps

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan: These are the biggest home renovation mistakes to avoid

Jennifer Sheahan: These are the biggest home renovation mistakes to avoid

Save unnecessary expense and stress by learning from those who went (and spent) before you

Wed, 05 Feb, 2025

Former post office in Cork to star in new series of The Great House Revival

Former post office in Cork to star in new series of The Great House Revival

Hugh Wallace visits Butlerstown, Co Cork, where the one-time village hub is to be transformed into a family home

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

Room to Improve: We all root for Sean and Cal in 'uphill battle'

Room to Improve: We all root for Sean and Cal in 'uphill battle'

And Dermot Bannon observes: 'It's a long time since I've been in a house with a grotto'

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025

Inside Cork city woodland haven perched at the top of the awards tree

Inside Cork city woodland haven perched at the top of the awards tree

The interior designer, architect and owners of The Montenotte's urban forest retreat tell Eve Kelliher how they created the five-star escape

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan: I have a tiny kitchen but my countertops are clutter-free. Here's how

Jennifer Sheahan: I have a tiny kitchen but my countertops are clutter-free. Here's how

For those appliances you use frequently, you need quick access to make life easier. These are the cleverest solutions I've seen

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025