DIY SOS working on home renovations for Berry family
DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland is currently renovating the home of Patrick (Pa) Berry, the Athlone firefighter and father of three who was seriously injured when a wall collapsed on him at a house fire last October.
The building work got underway at the Berrys' home on March 1 and the build is due to finish this week. The DIY show sees Baz Ashmawy and his team renovate the homes of deserving families, through the work of volunteers, with just nine days to transform each home,
Their work involves making the Berry household more accessible for Patrick's needs and to provide a comfortable area for his rehabilitation.
A huge number of local people have volunteered to work on the renovations alongside carpenters, landscapers, plumbers, electricians, painters and plasterers.
Interior designer Kerry Hiddleston has been involved with the DIY television series since the second season and her work involves drawing up designs and choosing tiles. She says working on a build in such a short period is absolute chaos. “We are working within certain parameters and had a short meeting with the family to see what they like and don't like. We source everything for free from general suppliers.”
The interior designer wants the home to be a bigger and brighter family space. “I'm just basically trying to make it a much brighter, lighter, more luxurious, kind of family home and somewhere that they can all hang out and together.”
Meanwhile, Garden Designer Leonie Cornelius says the time pressure presented with this show makes it completely different to any other project she's worked on.
“The story about Pa's accident is very touching and we wanted to simplify his life and make it better for him on an everyday basis. I wanted to create a space where he could relax and recuperate which is so important to his family.”
“Gardens need to work for people as opposed to against them. We want the Berry family to be drawn out to the garden as an added living space which is the concept behind everything we're doing.”
“There are various things we've considered in terms of Pa's needs and his recuperation to make it a positive space for him. The family have been through a lot psychologically and this will provide an emotional healing space for them.”
When Ms Cornelius first came in she thought the work wasn't possible in such a short period but she believes it is coming together due to the great work of the tradespeople and local volunteers. “I think that's what makes this show what it is, is that everybody's just willing to do anything that's needed to get it done.”
She has a plan for all seasons of the year and for flowers to bloom at all times. “I think that's important that even though it is a TV show, and the big reveal will be at a certain time that the garden keeps growing with the family.
Lead Carpenter Nicky McMahon has previously worked on other builds for the programme and hopes to make the house as habitable and comfortable as possible.
“Pa had started doing so much work on the house himself so it was a DIY SOS. That's the difference between this project and others.”
Nicky feels it is special to be able to help the family to stay in their own home through the new renovations as the family have lived in the house for generations.
Head Foreman Richie Doyle says the biggest problem that they face is the limited time to get the project completed. “We have nine days to get this house ready to hand back.”
“It makes it really easy to get volunteers when people see the need there. When people know that it's especially when it's a local family, people are jumping up at the chance to help out. We're changing the home for them and we're going to give them a lot more comfort and something that is definitely a wow factor for them.”
Patrick Berry suffered multiple broken bones, lacerations to his neck and tongue and swelling on the brain when he was injured at the scene of a house fire in Mount Temple last year.
The new renovations take his rehabilitation in mind along with the needs of a young family.