So last night after weeks of quality drama on RTE1 on Sunday night from the likes of Charlie, Love/Hate and The Fall, we had a whole different batch of drama to deal with as architect Dermot Bannon faced one of his greatest challenges yet - turning a storage unit into a fully functioning gaff, with an atrium of course. Obvs.
Avril and Andrew Wilson-Rankin have been together ten years, the last few of which had been spent living pretty much in a shed at the end of a back garden. All to save for their dream home, which they decided would take shape in a two-storey disused commercial lock-up on a side street in Dun Laoghaire.
Yes, that's right. It seemed like Dermot had found Dublin's original hipsters, and this house in Dun Laoghaire would be like hipster ground zero.
Avril was a lady of eclectic taste you see, and while herself and Andrew seemed like a lovely couple in every way, we would not have liked to have been in Dermo's shoes, as nothing seemed to be quite right for Avril the whole way through.... and she also had some rather unique ideas of her own for the place.
Avril wanted to make lampshades out of old tins of beans, put wood from an old dance floor on the wall, and make some sort of fixture out of what looked to us like a piece of rust. Oh and it had to be vast, we need more vastness people! Stat!
In fairness though, the result was unbelievable and we kind of now want to be mates with Andrew and Avril just so they invite us over. We'll bring LOADS of empty tins of beans guys!!
As usual, social media was where judgement was passed on the opening episode of this first series, with the show still trending in the top ten.
So, Bosco's grown up and wants a box apartment. #RoomtoImprove
— Jack Hammer (@JackHammerDD) January 25, 2015
Suprise suprise.. #RoomtoImprove kicks off with a pair of hipsters! Would ye feck off with your lampshades from bean tins!
— Dick Clerkin (@dickclerkin8) January 25, 2015
I knew she reminded me of someone!! #RoomtoImprove #rugrats pic.twitter.com/8QUfE9SHZN
— Louis Moloney (@louismoloney) January 25, 2015
Jaysus, is that yer wan from Gimme Gimme Gimme getting her house renovated on #RoomtoImprove tonight? pic.twitter.com/1Bcy9lQPe8
— Siobhan Doyle (@thekickart) January 25, 2015
The Council!! Making pipes into your property your responsibility and Billing you for it since 1923!!! #roomtoimprove
— Patrick Cullivan (@paddycullivan) January 25, 2015
I used to work in the Galtymore years ago - trust me, you don't want those floor boards #roomtoimprove
— Suzanne Chase (@SuzanneChase_) January 25, 2015
At the pub she probably drinks this #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/hOlvRrCcbQ
— Some Dad (@ImSomeDad) January 25, 2015
Dermot said "atrium" again. Twice. I can't refill the shot glass this quickly. #RoomToImprove #Bingo
— Philip Nolan (@philipnolan1) January 25, 2015
Watching #RoomToImprove makes me feel less panicked about renting. 'Let's make a house in this bean can!' *bean can explodes*
— Maria (@Twistedlilkitty) January 25, 2015
She wants a much bigger gaff but bought a small one. And dancing floor walls. And invisible stairs that no one designed. #roomtoimprove
— jill (@jillajordan) January 25, 2015
That's it.You stay in the shed at the back of the garden. Because no one can be bothered listening to you #roomtoimprove
— Chris Doyle (@Christdoyle) January 25, 2015
This might be the first time I feel sorry for Dermot Bannon. #roomtoimprove
— Baz (@bazlyons) January 25, 2015
Oh and the goat. The final hipster seal of approval.
"He's downstairs painting the goat" - #roomtoimprove
— Will Leahy (@willleahy) January 25, 2015