In 2021, Vivian Wong-McKendry and her husband Philip purchased a home that had been left unfinished and unoccupied since the financial crash of 2008. Located in a small housing estate in the Curragh, Co. Kildare, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom, country-style house with a pitched roof and stone façade had functioning heating, water and electricity, but not much else.
During the height of the pandemic, the couple moved in with their two dogs – but there was no kitchen, flooring, or functional bathroom. “It was a difficult time, and finding a reliable builder was a challenge,” says Vivian. “To make do, we put together some basic items like a temporary kitchen from Ikea, a perspex sheet-lined shower and covered the concrete floor with a temporary flooring cover.
” After eight long months, Vivian and Philip found the “perfect builder” in Bridgefield Construction led by Peter Doyle, and in just three weeks the interior layout alterations were complete. Vivian oversaw the project and used online tools like floorplanner.com to design the entire house and create detailed layout plans and 3D renderings for the builder to follow.
“The renovation process required a lot of coordination between various tradesmen and suppliers. We ordered new doors and windows, kitchen fixtures, tiles, flooring, and bathroom accessories, and worked closely with different tradesmen to ensure everything was installed and fitted perfectly,” she adds. As with most renovations, it wasn’t al.