Dermot Bannon drops into Kildare woman's house to give free advice

A Kildare family has been selected as one of four winners in a nationwide competition aimed at helping homeowners reimagine their living spaces with sustainability in mind.

The initiative, run by Irish company WillowWarm, offered households the chance to win a home consultation with architect and TV personality Dermot Bannon. More than 2,500 entries were received from across the country.

Among the winners was Sinead O’Reilly from Kildare, whose story stood out due to the unique needs of her growing family. Living with her husband and three children in a semi-detached home, Sinead explained that while moving house is not an option, their current space is no longer meeting their needs.

The family’s situation is further shaped by the health challenges faced by one of their children, who was born with severe congenital heart defects and is now navigating an ongoing cerebral palsy diagnosis, alongside additional medical and mobility needs.

Sinead said the family wants to adapt their home to better support daily life. “We would happily sacrifice garden space to create a functional, future-proofed downstairs: wider clear pathways, integrated storage, open sightlines, defined zones for cooking, play and rest,” she said. “We don’t want to leave this house as it holds many special moments for us… we just need it to catch up with our life.”

During his visit, Dermot Bannon proposed a creative solution that would expand the home while preserving the family’s cherished outdoor space. Instead of a traditional extension, he suggested sinking the new structure and adding a low-pitched roof to minimise impact on sunlight.

“Sinead was in desperate need of additional living space,” he said. “We hatched a plan to sink the extension and put a low-pitched roof to protect the sunlight to their cherished outdoor space, while allowing internal window seats at the same level as the outdoor planting, really bringing the outside in.”

The competition was designed to inspire homeowners to make thoughtful, sustainable changes, from improving layouts to enhancing energy efficiency. WillowWarm, known for producing carbon-neutral briquettes made from renewable Irish-grown materials, said the campaign reflects its wider mission to support more sustainable living across the country.

The Kildare family’s story has resonated as an example of how small but meaningful design changes can make a significant difference, particularly for households adapting to complex needs while remaining rooted in their community.