The GREENHOUSE: Building Our Sustainable Family Home

When we sold our modern sea-view home in Greystones, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Trading a comfortable new build for a dated 1950s bungalow might seem like an unusual choice, but we had a vision: creating a sustainable family home that works as hard as we do.

Currently, we're living in a characterful (read: chilly) period rental while we finalize the purchase of what we hope will be "the one" - a flat-roof bungalow sitting on nearly half an acre. It needs everything from a new roof to rewiring, but those solid walls hold the potential for exactly what we've been searching for.

Getting here hasn't been straightforward. Our first attempt at finding the perfect project - a promising 0.2-acre site - fell through, teaching us some valuable lessons about patience and Ireland's property market. But that disappointment led us to this bungalow, with its generous garden and endless possibilities.

As a family that lives for process optimisation (you should see our morning routine checklist with lights for each task), project management, and the satisfaction of a well-organized spreadsheet, we're approaching this renovation the way we approach everything - with meticulous planning and perhaps a few too many check lists.

We love entertaining, clean surfaces, and the kind of efficient systems that make family life run smoothly. The Green House will follow our journey from those first conversations about selling through to the nitty-gritty of planning applications and renovation decisions. We'll document every milestone, decision matrix, and lesson learned as we attempt to transform this dated property into an eco-conscious forever home.

Follow along as we navigate the challenges, celebrate the wins, and put our project management skills to the ultimate test.

Welcome to The Green House.