Extension with open plan kitchen and window seat

When Breda and Simon Cassidy decided to extend their Co Kildare home, they had a fair idea of what they wanted – a large bright space where the whole family could spend time together.

In this article we cover:

  • How to angle the extension to make the most of the light
  • Speed dating architects and what the main turnoffs were
  • Adjusting the design to the actual build cost
  • Installing convection radiators
  • Details for glazed doors and windows
  • Interior design and lighting choices
  • Full details on insulation, including old part of the house
  • Natural ventilation
  • Pros and cons of living on site during the build
  • The case in favour of extending instead of moving
  • Supplier list, specification and professional photographs

Original house size: 1,700 sqft 
Extension size: 28sqm at rear of house 
Total cost: Approx. €60,000

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Written by Astrid Madsen

Astrid Madsen is the editor of the SelfBuild magazine. She previously held the same role in an Irish trade publication, before that she worked at the National Standards Authority of Ireland. She graduated with a BA in Urban Studies from Columbia University in New York and holds an MBA from the Instituto de Estudios Bursatiles in Madrid. France of origin, she now lives in Portarlington, County Laois, where she's taken on the task of renovating a listed building! Email astrid.madsen@selfbuild.ie

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