Oak Tree Road, Stillorgan
From Disconnected Rooms
to a Garden-Centred Home
Located on Oak Tree Road in Stillorgan, this detached bungalow was transformed to solve a simple but frustrating problem: the home’s main living areas had little connection to the beautiful west-facing garden behind it. The goal was to create a bright, multi-functional space where cooking, dining, and relaxing could happen together, while opening the home fully to the garden.
The brief from the client was clear. They wanted a new open-plan living area that would bring the kitchen, dining, and living spaces together while improving access to and views of the rear garden. The existing layout kept these spaces disconnected, and views of the garden were largely limited to the rear conservatory.
The solution was a new open-plan extension to the rear that unites the kitchen, dining, and living areas into one generous, light-filled space. Large windows frame views of the west-facing garden and allow daylight to pour into the heart of the home throughout the day.
A carefully designed canopy provides shelter and defines the transition between inside and outside, encouraging the clients to use the garden as a natural extension of their living space.
By relocating the main communal functions to the new rear extension, the original interior rooms could be reconfigured for more practical uses, including a utility room and an additional bathroom, improving the overall functionality of the home.
A new side extension steps back from the front of the house, minimising its impact on the original character of the bungalow. This additional space allows for a new ensuite connected to the existing master bedroom, while also enabling the two rear rooms along this side of the house to expand, creating more generous bedrooms for
when the clients’ children come to stay.
The new rear living space now acts as the true heart of the house. Everyday activities flow easily between cooking, dining, relaxing, and spending time in the garden. The connection between inside and outside has been completely transformed, bringing light, views, and a sense of openness to the home.
For the clients, the project has created a home that works better for daily life while making the most of one of its greatest assets, the beautiful west-facing garden.
