The new series of Room To Improve arrived on RTÉ last night, with Dermot Bannon tasked with updating an old house in Offaly into a suitable home for a young couple by updating the main building and adding an extension.
Amy and Conor were the couple in question, who tasked the architect with updating the home belonging to Conor’s grandmother into a sleek and modern property that still featured plenty of homely touches. Fairly straightforward so.
He had a budget of €325,000 to get the job done. While that is a very healthy amount, it would be stretched when you consider the amount of work that had to be done.
Bannon had some disagreements with the home owners over a few different issues, but none more so than the pergola.
Those of you who are avid Room To Improve viewers will know that Bannon is prone to an auld pergola or two, seemingly insisting on their use in every design in the show.
For those who have no idea what we’re talking about, a pergola is an outdoor feature that essentially provides a shaded walkway or pathway. They are quite often smaller additions to outdoor spaces such as gardens, although they can also be features of a house itself.
You can see it in the blueprints for the design here.
‘Room To Improve’ viewers confused by pergola obsession
Now, Dermot Bannon loves himself a pergola.
Before last night’s episode of Room To Improve had even got underway, viewers were already anticipating that we would be seeing one in the property on the outskirts of Tullamore.
I give it 5 minutes before we get a pergola #RoomToImprove
— Richard (@rgrant89) January 8, 2023
The pergola would be placed on the outside of the extension to the original house, although Conor wasn’t convinced about their inclusion. He felt the vertical fins being used were a bit oversized and ask Dermot if he would consider halving them in size.
Dermot: What is the worry, is the worry with the view?
Conor: It’s the view out.
Dermot: Why don’t we go in and have a look at them? They’re fine from here…
Conor: No, I’d rather have the view out than have them framed.
Dermot: There is nothing in the yard that you can’t see, you just can’t see it all in one go. Is that a big issue? We’re not looking out at Skellig Michael.
Conor: I would halve them at minimum, depth wise.
Dermot: Why bother then?
They did come around in the end, with the feature ending up being a major feature of the design.
Still, viewers were bemused by their prominence on the show once again.
WE HAVE A PERGOLA!!!! It’s been under 5 minutes! #RoomToImprove
— Ben L (@purplebenny) January 8, 2023
I thought a Pergola was something they had in Venice til I watched #RoomToImprove
— Urlofcork (@urlofcork) January 8, 2023
“Double height ceiling spaces and concrete feature walls were seasons three and four, you’re getting a fcuking pergola…”#RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/bv9pCWzeIr
— Sweet Lanterin’ Divine Holy Mother of Jay-Z… (@pwalshnow) January 8, 2023
Finished house is fab…..except there’s no ensuite…. and there is a pointless pergola. #RoomToImprove
— Olivia King (@chuckles33) January 8, 2023
#roomtoimprove Pergola? pic.twitter.com/GcQAenqN58
— Steve McCroskey (@Dazoo1977) January 8, 2023
Where can I get a pergola? #Roomtoimprove
— Paddy Andrews (@PaddyAMetis) January 8, 2023
I would take a sledge to that fucking pergola #RoomToImprove
— John Francis Seery (@johnfseery) January 8, 2023
Pergola? 🫣 #RoomToImprove
— Anthony O’Donovan 🇺🇦 (@anthonyodonovan) January 8, 2023
What is the point of that pergola 🤔🤔 Am I missing something??? #RoomToImprove
— Olivia King (@chuckles33) January 8, 2023
Is there anything to be said for another pergola? #RoomToImprove
— Ciara (@epic_ciara) January 8, 2023
Well if it isn’t #RoomToImprove … you get a pergola, you get a pergola, you all get a pergola….. @DermotBannon pic.twitter.com/MwufHUG9Xj
— Thomas Curran (@Tcurran0) January 8, 2023
An odd obsession to have.
In fairness the place looked lovely in the end, pergola included.
Wow, that pergola & extension really works as Dermot said it would – recedes so well behind the original house! #DermotKnowsBest 😁 #RoomToImprove
— Grace O’Sullivan (@gosulli) January 8, 2023
We’re already looking forward to seeing were he can stick a pergola into this week’s episode.