T


his photogenic farmhouse in County Cork in the south of Ireland has been causing a stir online thanks to its effortless modern


country style. Yet getting to this point has been a real journey for owners Sharon and Jer Holland. “It all started in 2018,” says Sharon. “Jer’s


parents lived in the farmhouse and were beginning to think about futureproofing.’ There we were, living in a bungalow next door. e were a little surprised at first when they suggested an exchange, but it was too good an opportunity to miss.” Sharon and Jer are both teachers. They have


three children, two of whom are still at home, and they live on Jer’s family farm. At a time when the couple’s children were growing and needing more space, the idea of moving into a house with two living rooms and five bedrooms was perfectly timed. Yet for this stone farmhouse to become a new home for their family, Sharon knew it would require some work. “It was in a good, liveable condition, as it had been renovated in the early 1990s and well maintained,” recalls Sharon. “But some things were on the verge of breaking and


54 www.sbhonline.co.uk


certain sections were unheated.” With a full renovation, a replumb and even a single storey extension in mind, Sharon and Jer wanted to make sure their plans held no surprises for the wider family. “We had to have a conversation about the changes with er’s parents and they were fine. We talked it all out, which was so important. None of us wanted to fall out.” Sharon and Jer had a huge advantage over most home renovators when they started this project – they already knew the building thoroughly. “We knew what did and didn’t work before we committed to the extension,” says Sharon. aking that time made us more confident. Although the etension was the most significant part of the project, it began only about six months after the family had moved in. Sharon’s first step was to ask a structural engineer to look at the fabric of the building; there wouldn’t be much of a budget for a new kitchen if the roof needed replacing. With the all-clear on that, Sharon, who took on most of the planning, sourcing and project management of the renovation hired a local building firm that she


nov/dec 2024


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