How “theGREENHOUSE” got its name
"The Greenhouse" was coined as a project name long before we even found our 1950s bungalow. In fact, we secured the domain name and Instagram handle a full two years before finding the actual property!
That might sound backward to some people—naming a renovation before having a house to renovate—but for us, it was about clarifying our vision. "The Greenhouse" represented everything we wanted in our future home, and having that name in place helped guide our property search. When we finally walked into this 1950s bungalow, we knew immediately: this was The Greenhouse we'd been waiting for.
The Aspirational
Our sustainable vision
At its heart, "The Greenhouse" perfectly encapsulates our commitment to creating an environmentally conscious home and lifestyle:
We're targeting an A-rating for energy efficiency (potentially A2 BER)
The renovation includes comprehensive insulation upgrades throughout
We're installing systems that minimize our carbon footprint
Material selections prioritize sustainability where possible
Smart design will maximize natural light to reduce energy consumption
The garden plays a crucial role in our sustainable vision too. We're planning:
Water butts to collect and reuse rainwater
Sustainable planting that works with our local climate
Dedicated space to grow our own vegetables
Design elements that encourage wildlife and biodiversity
As parents, we want our children to experience sustainable living in practical, everyday ways - from seeing where food comes from by growing vegetables and using rainwater to water them.
As climate considerations become increasingly important, we wanted our home to reflect our values. A greenhouse nurtures growth while creating the optimal environment for its inhabitants – exactly what we're aiming to do with our family home.
The Functional
Light-filled living and adaptable spaces
The house already has big windows and bright rooms
One of our absolute priorities for this renovation is maximizing natural light. The original 1950s bungalow, while solidly built, has more compartmentalized spaces than we'd like. Our plan opens this up with strategically placed windows to capture views, skylights, and an open-plan design that allows light and people to flow throughout.
We're also designing spaces that can evolve as our family does:
Bedrooms that work for different ages and stages
Flexible spaces that can adapt to changing needs
Dedicated work-from-home areas
Communal spaces for family time
These adaptable features reflect another quality of a greenhouse - it's a space designed for growth and change.
The literal
A greenhouse and a green house
We are hoping to salvage the greenhouse with it’s old vine
In a wonderful bit of serendipity, the property actually came with a real greenhouse in the garden. Inside grows a 30-year-old vine that we're determined to preserve during the renovation.
This unexpected feature felt like confirmation that we'd found the right place – especially since we'd chosen the name years before finding the property.
Salvaging this greenhouse and its mature vine has become one of our special side projects within the larger renovation (outsourced to Colm’s mum!).
We might even paint the house green too! We've been considering Colourtrend's "Four Arches," a muted green that would make the house disappear into its leafy surroundings - watch this space. We previously tested this colour on the fence in our old garden but it made the small space feel absolutely tiny.
We experimented with Four Arches in our previous garden but it made the small space feel even smaller.
So there you have it – "The Greenhouse" works on a few different levels for our project. It represents our sustainable values, the light-filled spaces we're creating, and even includes a real greenhouse with a vine that's been growing for three decades.
Sometimes the right name finds the right house, even if it takes two years to bring them together!
