Home Rescue: Sharon and Gavin's kitchen transformation in Dunboyne

Sharon and Gavin's old kitchen

Dublin Bus scheduler Gavin shares a house with his mother Sharon in Dunboyne, Co. Meath. They've lived there since he was a teenager. Sharon is full of life and optimism but she has limited mobility following a bus accident. Subsequent health issues mean that Gavin is her right-hand man. Very little has changed in the house over the last 20 years and the kitchen is not fit for purpose. Dee Coleman was challenged to create a bright space that was accessible without feeling clinical. Together with Cash & Carry Kitchens expert Dee Morrissey, she came up with a new kitchen design that opens up the room and dispels the gloom.

Sharon and Gavin's new kitchen

Dee Coleman weighed up all the options and decided that the Modica Forest Green was the perfect kitchen for Sharon and Gavin. This on-trend kitchen is part of Cash & Carry Kitchens' Contemporary collection. It marries an industrial vibe with sleek lines and a super matte finish. Dee talks us through the design process while Sharon and Gavin tell us about their favourite features.

Accessibility and functionality

Due to Sharon's mobility issues, accessibility was the top priority. She needed to be able to move around the kitchen freely and have the ability to carry out her tasks without any hindrance. Gavin explains that the old kitchen was poorly laid out and it wasn't functional. However, the Home Rescue team were able to knock a wall which enabled Dee to design a kitchen with a much more open layout - "Originally this kitchen was was right in front of the doorway from the hall. That was creating mobility problems for Sharon. We scooched everything over to this side, which allowed us to extend into the living room". Sharon is beyond impressed: "It’s so accessible. It’s more practical". Apart from completely revamping the layout, Dee was able to improve functionality through making small changes, like moving the location of the sink: "The kitchen sink and all the mess is over here and tucked behind. We’re hoping now that Sharon is less irritated by the dishes which we can’t guarantee that Gavin will now wash".

Kitchen peninsula

The peninsula is perhaps the kitchen's most striking feature. Dee tells us all about it: "This peninsula is a standard unit depth but it also has an extra 300 mm serving a dual purpose. You can get bar stools under here. This makes it a very social seating area, but it also allows for a deeper space for prepping". Gavin is a massive fan. "I love the peninsula", he says. And he already has lots of ideas for how he'll use it: "This is where I’m going to spend most of my time. I’m going to be hanging out here. If I’m not cooking, I’ll be drinking wine. I can’t get my head around it". 

Appliances

A key consideration when designing a kitchen is deciding how you intend to use the space. Both Sharon and Gavin had very different needs for the room, so Dee had to factor these in. Appliances played a key role in allowing the kitchen to serve everyone's needs. Dee explains: "Gavin cooks from scratch five times a day and Sharon likes to assemble and microwave and toast and tea. So, what we had to find was a compromise for the two. The fridge freezer is 70% fridge, 30% freezer which reflects the needs of this particular family". She continues, "There's a double oven. It was important that the microwave was held separate because Sharon likes to use it and Gavin may also want to use the ovens at the same time".

Storage

As in any kitchen, storage was fundamental. Dee shares some of the ways she was able to incorporate storage into her design. "We’ve got great storage above the microwave. We have storage up above and loads of storage for your pots below". She also reveals that "a personal favourite is this fabulous pull-out spice rack which has all your oils spices and anything else that you need for cooking". The is also a very handy Le Mans storage unit in the corner and an integrated bin system in the peninsula.

The end result

Sharon and Gavin are delighted with their new kitchen. "There are no words", says Sharon. "I just never ever thought that I would have a kitchen like this in my lifetime. I am going to look after it and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. It’s just so functional, it’s so big. You’d never think it was the same place". Gavin is equally speechless. "My mind’s blown, it really is. It feels like I’m dreaming". Sharon's favourite part is the light and openness. She also loves that functionality hasn't been achieved by sacrificing the overall feel and aesthetic. "This is gorgeously accessible. Do you know what I mean? It’s not clinical. It’s just fabulous. It’s just a fantasy dream".

This kitchen was featured on Episode 5 of the 2023 series of Home Rescue: The Big Fix on RTÉ 2. Watch the full episode on the RTÉ Player.