REAL HOME
Back in 2006 when Rachel and James Tyrrell bought their first home together in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, the red brick bungalow was perfect for the two of them. ‘The only jobs we tackled initially were a bit of redecoration and revamping the bathroom,’ recalls Rachel. ‘We wanted something a bit more contemporary so we fitted it with modern tiles and incorporated a wet room in the space.’ But when their first child arrived they realised the layout just didn’t work for them anymore. ‘The house suddenly seemed a lot smaller and there wasn’t enough storage,’ she explains. ‘We decided we didn’t need to extend, because by re-jigging the layout and changing the function of the rooms the house would suit our growing family and be more practical for our day-to-day lives.’