Room to Improve

Room to Improve
Genre Makeover
Created by Coco Television[1]
Directed by Luke McManus
Starring Dermot Bannon
Country of origin Ireland
Original language(s) English
No. of series 9
No. of episodes 60+
Production
Executive producer(s) Linda Cullen
Producer(s) Hilary O'Donovan
Cinematography Piaras MacCionnaith, Andrew Cummins
Editor(s) Stephen Vickers
Release
Original network RTÉ One
Picture format Digibeta
Original release 2007 – present
External links
Website

Room to Improve is an Irish architectural renovation TV series broadcast on RTÉ One. It is also broadcast on the UK's Home channel.

Format

Presented by the architect Dermot Bannon, his aim is to improve his clients' living conditions by renovating their homes without spending excessive sums of money. The budgets differ for each client, ranging from €27,000 to €250,000. Bannon has never completed a project within the client's budget.

Bannon's architectural designs frequently include box-shaped extensions with large windows and interior 'courtyard' gardens. He favours open-plan interior layouts and spacious rooms and he generally seeks to maximise the penetration of natural light into the plans. He has a keen interest in gardens and outdoor space and his designs usually provide access to these outdoor spaces and make the most of any views. He has a love of natural materials and often uses timber in kitchens. He has a dislike of fussy ornamentation and ostentatious "bling" and a strong preference for restraint and simplicity. His strong opinions on decor often brings him into conflict with his clients.

Room To Improve often features candid coverage of disagreements or problems on site and presents a "warts and all" picture of the realities of managing a building project.

Episode list

Series 1

The first series had six episodes.[2]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
20 June 2007 Original Archive Killiney €20,000 Complete remodelling of entire downstairs of a two-bedroomed home
27 June 2007 Original Archive Glasnevin €40,000 Entire downstairs in need of wheelchair accessibility due to client's multiple sclerosis
4 July 2007 Original Archive Castleknock €50,000 Renovation of dark, dismal, north facing, uninsulated, cold extension used as a kitchen, dining and homework area
11 July 2007 Original Archive Enniscorthy €65,000 Renovation of an old 1850s cottage in preparation for a new baby
18 July 2007 Original Archive Dalkey Renovation of a dark, cold and unviewable kitchen
25 July 2007 Original Archive Ballygarrett Creating a kitchen, dining room and spare bedroom without losing the cottage's 1930s charm

Series 2

The second series had eight episodes.[3]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
4 June 2008 Original Archive Donnycarney €30,000 Improving a dark, dreary ex-council house
11 June 2008 Original Archive Timahoe €60,000 Overcrowded house
18 June 2008 Original Archive Ennis Family unable to eat at the same table and to watch TV comfortably together
25 June 2008 Original Archive Clontarf €80,000 More rooms required
2 July 2008 Original Archive South Circular Road €120,000 Improve a Victorian house including the demolition of three unsightly extensions
9 July 2009 Original Archive Edenderry €60,000 Improve previous disastrous planning
16 July 2009 Original Archive Rathfarnham €150,000 Client has multiple sclerosis
23 July 2009 Original Archive Ballinteer €80,000 Running out of space

Series 3

The third series had eight episodes.[4]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
3 June 2009 Original Archive Artane, Dublin 5 €35,000 Solving the problems remaining following an unsuccessful renovation. Creating a family kitchen/living area.
10 June 2009 Original Archive Enniskerry €90,000 Full refit of house and maximising the view of Glencree and the Sugarloaf mountain.
17 June 2009 Original Archive Killiney €70,000 Creating a "bungalow downstairs" for Tommy whose mobility has been impaired by MS.
24 June 2009 Original Archive Whitehall, Dublin 9 €90,000 Redesigning the rear of the house, which contained "the worst room I've ever seen"
1 July 2009 Original Archive Rathcoole €100,000 Create a space that is insulated from the sound of the busy M7 motorway
8 July 2009 Original Archive Knocktopher €65,000 Create a new living area beyond the kitchen.
15 July 2009 Original Archive Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 €90,000 Extending a very cramped urban cottage
22 July 2009 Original Archive Templetuohy €100,000 Improving the quality of the family living spaces
Christmas Special (2009)

A Room To Improve For Christmas[5]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
23 December 2009 Original Archive Ratoath €70,000 Transform a bungalow that dominated by the abandoned industrial unit to the rear into an elegant home for one that can also accommodate a whole family of visitors.

Series 4

The fourth series had eight episodes.[4]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
Original Archive Foxrock €200,000
Original Archive Clonakilty €100,000
Original Archive Laytown €60,000
Original Archive Dalkey €180,000
Original Archive Clontarf €95,000
Original Archive Tullow €150,000
Original Archive Dundalk
Original Archive Sutton €170,000

Series 5

The fifth series had six episodes.[4]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
Wednesday 14 September Original Archive Cork (city)
Wednesday 21 September Original Archive Legan €80,000
Wednesday 28 September Original Archive Wicklow €120,000, then €150,000
Wednesday 5 October Original Archive Dundrum €190,000
Wednesday 12 October Original Archive Dalkey €250,000
Wednesday 19 October Original Archive Blackrock €160,000

Series 6

The sixth series had four episodes.[4]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
Sunday 14 October Original Archive Tipperary €180,000
Original Archive Bishopstown
Original Archive Finglas
Original Archive Donnybrook
Christmas special (2012)

Tallaght's National Children's Hospital commissions Bannon to create an outdoor garden and recreation area for children and their families.[6]

Series 7

The seventh series had six episodes.[4]

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
Sunday 17 November Original Archive Mullingar
Sunday 24 November Original Archive Clane
Sunday 1 December Original Archive Brittas feat. Senator Katherine Zappone and her wife
Sunday 8 December Original Archive Killawalla
Sunday 15 December Original Archive Firhouse
Sunday 22 November Original Archive Stillorgan €90,000

Series 8

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances

Series 9

Date Details Location Budget Circumstances
Sunday, February 7th, 2016[7] Original Puckaun, Co Tipperary €200,000 Remodeling of the inside of a '60s bungalow situated in the heart of the village to include two separate living spaces for a mother and son - with his family.
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. ↑ "RTÉ Reveals Summer Schedule". Irish Film and Television Network. IFTN. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  2. ↑ "Series One". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Series 2". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Programmes". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "The Christmas Special". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Room to Improve - Christmas special". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Independent.ie Article - February 7th, 2016". Irish Independent. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
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